I'm looking for some info on this amp i've had for ages but never used its just too loud as i live in a home unit and noise is a big problem, however it sounds ok but i'm not sure about any settings for harp, just have a Bottle O blues mic, i think i need a lone wolf delay pedal or something to get better tone or whatever it is i need, plus its always had a musty smell like and old attic or something, links or tips would helpfull if thats ok. S.S.
Realistic is a brand name for stuff sold by Radioshack. Mostly during the 70's annd 80's. I have a Realistic MPA 20 from the '70's. It's a two channel 20 watt PA amp. Good discreet components (transistors), and a decent sound. Should be some info online if you search hard enough! ---------- == I S A A C ==
That's his reverb page. Look in his photos. Is that the same one you have Stan? What about you Isaac?
On another note, I will say that Realistic equipment is a gamble. I've seen good stuff with the Realistic stamp, like home stereos, tape recorders, CB radios, even a small mixer that performed very admirably. But I've also seen Realistic crap. Lavalier microphones, vocal mics, speakers that would blow at any given moment. Radio Shack was smart to rethink their product line. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Nov 03, 2011 7:26 AM
I grew up in a place where everyone I knew bought some kind of realistic product at one time or another. Some of the hi fi products in particular were surprisingly good for the era and the price paid and they lasted forever, but you could also buy something ever once and awhile that was awful all the way around.
I was always told the same thing - Radio Shack just subcontracts that stuff out to many different manufacturers all of whose quality output varies widely.
joelee's amp is different than the one I have. Mine's not a combo, just a little stand-alone head. I've have built a combo enclosure and mounted it in there with some speakers so that it's more convenient to use. I can try to take some pictures of it if you like, but you can sort of see it in my second video for the BYBO3 (for the song I call "flow"), which I'll embed below. When you watch that video, remember that I made the combo cab, and just mounted the MPA20 head in it.
Interestingly, I also at one point came across a newer model MPA20, and bought it for something like $6 (at the goodwill). It was complete crap. I opened it up to find that they had switched from a discreet power transistor circuit to a an IC chip. I'm not sure when they switched, but I'll bet it was in the early '80's. The only cosmetic difference between the good older one and the crappy newer one is that the older one has a real light bulb pilot light, and the newer one has and LED. I'm not sure if this difference exists on other model Realistic amps, but I'll bet that it does. If so, it might be a good indicator of product quality. ---------- == I S A A C ==
