KVR Audio

SODDI · Post by **SODDI** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:26 am

We drove past the local one and they didn't even have a closing sale - it was closed and being rapidly taken over by a Verizon store. Yet another Verizon store.

Yeah, they were too expensive, what you can get for $1.98 online would have cost you at $6.98, but they were selling stuff you needed. I got Radio Shack gear around here someplace. Oh yeah - the velcro cable ties.

They had Moog build them a retail synthesizer once upon a time -

http://www.vintagesynth.com/moog/mg1.php

surferman · Post by **surferman** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:45 am

Loved RadioShack. I had that synth or one like. Wish I'd kept it.

They had a close out sale near me. Got a few things.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 4:07 am

The MG-1 synth was actually designed by Paul Schreiber, who is more well-known in recent years for his MOTM modules.

Bombadil · Post by **Bombadil** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:40 pm

I still have a pair of RS headphones from the mid-90s. Yeah, they were a good place to find equipment do-dads that could be hard to find in other electronics store, at least for a while. My first decent recordings were made with a couple of RS mics and mixer and a few RCA => 1/4" cable adaptors. Too bad.

StudioDave · Post by **StudioDave** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:04 pm

Greetings,

Yep, they're gone here too.

In Ye Olden Tymes when my band pulled into a new town the first place we looked up was a Radio Shack. Tube amps don't fare too well in U-Hauls, you never knew just when you'd need an extra 6L6 or 12AX7.

Best,

dp

Jafo · Post by **Jafo** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:09 pm

Yep, totally gone here in the Armpit of the Mitten (Saginaw Bay area of Michigan). I saw a "Sale" sign, went in, then noticed they were going out of business. Felt like I was picking over a friend's corpse.

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:17 pm

RIP RadioShack, we hardly knew yee

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:23 pm

They disappeared from the UK almost 20 years back. I have one of their DJ mixers from back then, and tons of cable adaptors.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:37 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:They disappeared from the UK almost 20 years back. I have one of their DJ mixers from back then, and tons of cable adaptors.

When the local Tandy went down here, they cleared out leads and adapters for pennies. Yeah, stocked up and felt kind of bad (which I shouldn't have as a lot of the cables were DOA...

)

At least we still have Maplin...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 5:41 pm

back in the 70's we use to have Lafayette Radio Electronics here that competed with RadioShack but they went out of business in the late 70's. IMO much better quality all the way around. I have spent tons at RS but the truth is I stopped buying from them because of the internet. For instance I can buy switchcraft connectors on Amazon Prime for the same price (or close enough) as those ultra cheap RS connectors. RS mini toggles were also another thing I would settle for but now I can go any number of places in get better quality and selection for about the same. (once trying to find an on/on/on mini toggle around here was almost impossible)

RadioShack slit their own throats but in my tiny little town on the coast of Maine there actually is a RS but it's quite small and I have not been in it. I think it's combined with a NAPA auto parts store but I'm not sure, it could be a RS franchise store. They use to have those around here (that's what we called them), they carried RS brands but sold other stuff too. I remember one in the town my dad lived in (and I did for a few years, Chelmsford Mass) sold Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Harmon Karden and a whole bunch of typical stereo gear companies (speakers, tape decks, receivers, turntables and such).

MFXxx · Post by **MFXxx** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:34 am

GaryG wrote:
thecontrolcentre wrote:They disappeared from the UK almost 20 years back. I have one of their DJ mixers from back then, and tons of cable adaptors.
When the local Tandy went down here, they cleared out leads and adapters for pennies. Yeah, stocked up and felt kind of bad (which I shouldn't have as a lot of the cables were DOA... )

At least we still have Maplin...

LOL I was jsut about to mention Tandy's...what a store!

xoxos · Post by **xoxos** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 12:55 pm

yeah, worth acknowledging -

- first computers i used (apart from sinclair)

- electronic parts!

- forrest mims electronics books!

- fastest place to find a soldering iron for $7 to build a vaporiser out of in a hurry

- scads of obscure treasures from realistic (plate mic!)

- employment/life support for nerds

back then if you were pocket protector crowd you were low on employment options. i mean, it might seem like i'd write this post out of nostalgia for a place where you can buy plastic and small amounts of conductive metals from distant ravaged lands, but the 'employment haven' really illustrates for me what an oppressive culture the states has been. true age brings nostalgia but called rat shack for a reason, exorbitant pricing i remember.

fluffy_little_something · Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:19 pm

MFXxx wrote:
GaryG wrote:
thecontrolcentre wrote:They disappeared from the UK almost 20 years back. I have one of their DJ mixers from back then, and tons of cable adaptors.
When the local Tandy went down here, they cleared out leads and adapters for pennies. Yeah, stocked up and felt kind of bad (which I shouldn't have as a lot of the cables were DOA... )

At least we still have Maplin...
LOL I was jsut about to mention Tandy's...what a store!

There was one in my hometown 30 years ago, it was like Woolworth on cables

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:21 pm

xoxos wrote: - scads of obscure treasures from realistic (plate mic!)

Indeed. I forgot I still have one of those ... I've used mine as a contact mic on acoustic guitar.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:26 pm

So after writing my post above I was driving down Main Street and noticed the building that had RS is completely empty. I guess I should start paying more attention

Bye bye Radio Shack