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Janky-A Rigs of Doom
- Thread starter S.Harrison
- Start date
Not saying they didn't have decent stuff at decent prices (and yes I had a rewards card there) and not saying I don't miss it (every time I need an electronic component).Ha ha never heard that one before...
But let's face it: Realistic wasn't in the same league as say, Yamaha.
I did considerable touring throughout the west coast and east of the Rockies. Many of the Radio Shacks had both bass and guitar strings and often had electronic components that we often could use for repairs when in the middle of nowhere. It would be silly to go audiophile shopping at a Radio Shack. I did like the super small all metal stereo system cabs that got very loud for their size years before small cabs were popular. Now if you don't mind let's agree to disagree and end this discussion. We're arguing apples and oranges here.
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I think it's got to do with the subjectivity of words like janky and ugly and attachment some have to their gear, and the ensuing discord that can sometimes come when a guy calls another guy's bass ugly when that guy doesn't think it is. Kinda odd to me that it doesn't carry over to amps, but whatever - it is what it is.
Back before the Internets were invented, when one lived in a small town with no other known sources for electronic components, wire, etc. and one didn't want to wait to order something from DigiKey through the mail, Radio Shack was the place to go.
I still have and use my RadioShack by Koss headphones from about 1975 as well as my turntable from, perhaps, 1980 and my son has my circa 1981 Minimus 7s mounted on his bedroom wall.
Beyond that, my teenage years local Radio Shack had an independent electronics repair shop in the back of the store (run by a guy named Mac). He once repaired my blown Carvin bass head (or as he called it "the Calvin Unit") so Mac-in-the-back-at-Radio-Shack was my hero!
Edit: Adding photo of semi Janky rig of doom. The Carvin head and horizontal 2x15 were mine, purchased from my bass teacher at the time. He and friends built both the 2x15 and 1x15s on the bottom (borrowed for the photo shoot). Cabinets are of EV design (TB series) pre-dating the TL606 cabinets and all three cabinets were loaded with EV SRO 15s.
Before I bought it, the head had been modified by someone and the output transistors used in the Sunn Coliseum Bass head were used. That required the use of some weird series-connecting speaker cable when only one cabinet was used. I was 15 when I bought it and didn't ask (or know to ask) too many questions. After it died, Mac brought it back to life in its original state when he repaired it.
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And speaking from personally owning a LOT of different stuff from RS over the years, nothing spells jank like 'Realistic', 'Optimus' or 'Tandy'!!!
Greetings from the North,
My very first combo amp was a Realistic (Radio Shack)15" Bass amp. I was just a young teenager but it helped get me playing along with my Grand Funk, Mountain, & Jimi Hendrix records. That thing was loud enough for a starter garage band and was indestructible! lol
Rezdog
My very first combo amp was a Realistic (Radio Shack)15" Bass amp. I was just a young teenager but it helped get me playing along with my Grand Funk, Mountain, & Jimi Hendrix records. That thing was loud enough for a starter garage band and was indestructible! lol
Rezdog
Well, it is with mixed emotions that I post this...I've finished recovering the crappy Carvin cab and...it turned out way better than I expected! The Yamaha head is maybe weird enough to stay in the Janky A.R.O.D. thread, but the cab may get the boot.
I'm gonna start that Janky to Swanky thread so this guy has a home! Anyway, here it is...
I'm gonna start that Janky to Swanky thread so this guy has a home! Anyway, here it is...
Would you feel better if we called it a Cost-Co / RadioShack B-15?
Forgot I had this...kinda like hiding a defective family member in the attic...
Trace 130 amp and Crate 115-B...a full 75 watts of unbridled fury. The cab still sports the "Genuine Eminence Inside" badge on the reverse.
Trace 130 amp and Crate 115-B...a full 75 watts of unbridled fury. The cab still sports the "Genuine Eminence Inside" badge on the reverse.
I don't think bat guano, lag screws or fender washers are necessary for jank thread inclusion. The interesting configuration and successfully-applied elbow grease gets it over the hump for me; I say nice job and stick around!
That white piping on the cab is treading a fine line though.
(Looks pretty sharp!)
Hello from the north! I am also in the north.
- Feb 5, 2013
- 1,686
- 2,281
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Used Fender Lead Sleds and Hartke cabs with bent grills
Reminds me of a Buddhist cartoon I saw when I was a monk (yeah ... I actually was).
First figure: "You know ... the Buddha had a saying."
Second Figure: "Yeah? When did he say it?"
First Figure: "Thursdays."
I guess ya had to be there. The cartoon was actually funny.
I don't care whether it's authentic jank or what it is, I think this is gorgeous.
Hey kids, for just $49.99 you too can be janky!
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Kinda seems like cheating though--store bought jankiness.
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Kinda seems like cheating though--store bought jankiness.
While dirty and beat can be janky,
I think "Jankiness of Doom" involves a questionable DIY aspect and a kluge of components.
