What is this Radio Shack EQ Everybody's Talking About?

[stinkpot]

It seemed that we hadn't determined which model was the desired unit, so I wrote about the box I knew something about.

I would like to check the sound of the one you describe with open ears.

We've made headway by agreeing the 10 band is what you'd expect from a RS sonic Band-Aid.

fair enough, I guess! It's the 31-1989. If you find one, crack it open, switch out the ceramic caps in the signal path with poly caps (the two-bit green caps from mouser/digikey are fine) and take it for a test drive!

Isn't 31-1989 the model # of what everyone's looking for? If so, I found one on ebay for $12. That included shipping. I figure even if it's a complete piece of garbage - which it may very well be, I'll pay $12 just to see. It is a silver face though.

My question is wouldn't a company like radio shack just have 2 versions (colors) with the same guts, trying to match consumers' existing stereo colors? Meaning does black face/ silver face of the same model really make a difference? I dunno, just askin'.

sorry, that's the semi-worthless silverfaced (brushed-aluminium 80s) version.

you're looking for the blackfaced (enamel-finished 70s) version which are a bit difficult to come by anymore.

they are from different decades and the guts/construction are wildly different.

Damn! And he thought he saved $2,988.00!

I know, right...

Makes a very stylish bookend, though.

[jtienhaara]

Very interesting thread. I was talking to a friend the other day about EQ plugins, and he mentioned that the next version of Fruity Loops is going to have an emulation mode for some fancy shmancy 7-band graphic EQ from the 70s. He said he had seen the original outboard unit at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver years ago, but couldn't remember if it was a Lang or a Pultec or etc... I wonder... Could it be? It would be sweet if FL do release an emulation of this baby...

[Mark Alan Miller]

I'm still waiting for the elusive model number to appear in this thread...

[RefD]

finally got to my cousin's place to take the shot.

turns out he's gutted the original case and put the electronics in a 2U rack case cos he was sick of "a little garage sale in the middle of my racks"!

he threw out the old case, too.

he also replaced the sliders with rotary pots for some reason, maybe 30 years of dust contamination had finally become too much?

we're digging in his garage to see if he still has the manual, however.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

ok...so i'm digging threw my friends attic (why are all these shak eqs in attics?)

find a 5 band old as hell eq...
#39-1986

and you're saying it's worthless...good...i can't figure out where to put it in my rack...

ah well

[RefD]

ok...so i'm digging threw my friends attic (why are all these shak eqs in attics?)

find a 5 band old as hell eq...
#39-1986

and you're saying it's worthless...good...i can't figure out where to put it in my rack...

ah well

plug it in and try it out anyway.

it's just gear, after all.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

but of course...

later

after opening the bugger up i see soo many transist0rs but no trannys
no ics either!

[RefD]

but of course...

later

after opening the bugger up i see soo many transist0rs but no trannys
no ics either!

unpossible, there should be at least ONE for the power supply.

it didn't run off a wallwart, after all.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

and by the way

[r0ck1r0ck2]

and the tranny for the power supply doesn't count

[RefD]

and the tranny for the power supply doesn't count

never mind the fact that it wasn't being used to pass audio, but there was one!

[r0ck1r0ck2]

fair enough...

[A-Barr]

Well at least it looks better than a blackface...

Always found that "realistic" logo amusing, like they're admitting their products are toys of real equipment, but very realistic toys.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

still no photo of the magic box tho...
damn

[Mark Alan Miller]

still no photo of the magic box tho...
damn

nor a cat. no.

I hear the sound of a chain being yanked somewhere...