That's crazy, but it works. The best fuzz i ever had was one my father made for me from some magazine back in the early 80s. It was just a few components in an old wooden speaker box with a 9v battery but it sounded like hendrix. If i recall i thought i heard that Jimmy page used a tape machine to get some of the driven sounds for black dog. So you're onto something. I never thought I'd see those old realistic electronics again. Wow
I've got this exact unit sitting in a box in my basement; I used to use it to mix a bass and drum machine, which I'd then record on a hi-fi VCR (to get the best possible audio results) in my ad-hoc home recording process (way before 'in-the-box' recording was a thing). I've been thinking of selling it, but maybe I'll give this a try instead.
@@davidkulmaczewski4911 I'm glad to have given a bit of inspiration! you can also run it into a PC audio interface and get (almost) the same results, though it tends to be more OD than fuzz. When you say record to VCR, do you mean audio into a VCR as the power amp? or direct to cassette? either way, that sounds like something I might have to try haha.
@@uncle_komrade I used two hi-fi VCRs to bounce tracks, like you'd do with a 4-track cassette machine. Basically, I'd set up a drum beat into one input on mixer and play bass into other. Output goes to audio input of VCR, while video input just records noise. Then, I take the high quality audio output of that VCR as mixer input 1 (bass + drums) and put my guitar into input 2..... the output of this (drums+bass+guitar) would go into VCR #2 which recorded it onto hi-fi audio track with noise in video. Rinse and repeat. One VCR was our normal one we used, the other was an old one I'd pull out and plug in. Basically a DIY version of a 4-track recorder using the highest quality audio recording available at the time (affordable, that is). This was back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. After that I bought a 4-track cassette recorder, but honestly it didn't sound nearly as good because VCR hi-fi audio was *much* better than most other sources before digital became a thing. Brings back great memories......
@@davidkulmaczewski4911 I did this on a much simpler level, with just a normal TS cable into a VHS, with something that had a 1/8” input, and a way to go into the VCR’s audio L and R. I’d done the same thing on a mid 80’s Vinyl, radio and dual cassette deck stereo, that had actual 1/8” TS inputs for L and R. I didn’t have a splitter, or AB/Y box, so if just record the parts one side at a time. I made instrumentals for a lot of people, after they heard my stuff through my car stereo. I even made terrible loops of beats, at the begging of a song, then just pause, and repeat recording it, as close as possible. It was a cool thing, that really helped my playing too.
The realistic mixers from that era and the electronic reverb are all great for gnarly distortion. Got the electronic reverb for xmas when i was a youngster in 95 i think and figured out really quick that it made a wall of crushing noise haha. A lot more than my wimpy dod overdrive plus could dream of putting out. Solid state reel to reels are also excellent for this.
I've been looking at the reverb units, and really want one. I'm glad to know there are great first hand experiences with it! Hopefully I can get my hands on one soon!
What in the Hank Hill have you done? This brings me way back. I actually got that same mixer for my wife. Keep experimenting and posting videos! As some may bring up, Richie Blackmore used a tape deck as a front end boost to his Marshall back in the day.
@@bretfuzz925 I've done what some guitarists refuse to do. Admit that cheap unconventional gear is fun and usable 😎 If I find gear, I'll more than likely end up posting it same day, after messing with it a little. Experimentation and discovery are the best parts! I also did know that about Ritchie Blackmore! My dad got me into Deep Purple when I was super young, and they've been a mainstay in my playlists for years.
I've seen a few around, but I'm always nervous about the shipping. the Silvertone I used in this vid actually arrived damaged, despite how well it was packed. They do sound super sick though, I do agree!
@@uncle_komrade well i bought mine for equivalent of 5 dollara. It has stereo and one channel is burnt, so it always produces the nastiest fuzz you can imagine :) not very expensive for an experiment
@@echology It sounds like I'll have to do some digging around! Thanks for the info! If i do snag one, I'll more than likely make a video on it. Who knows, I may build a rig of unconventional gear. Also, if I'm remembering correctly, I think Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple/Rainbow used an old reel to reel deck as a boost on his rig
@@tab10tim Like how some people bridge the channels on these kinds of amps? thatd sound pretty sick. I'll have to give that a try! Thanks for the suggestion!
Always remember - garbage is your friend. Unless it's you're enemy. But even then, it's your friend. Okay I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this. I just know old rubbish is often fun. I have a 424 mkiii that can almost create a DI tone not a trillion miles away from early Husker Du. Especially if I add a dab of stereo chorus.
@@Unfunny_Username_389 I actually dug up an old karaoke machine from Goodwill (which I made a video on) that I use as an echo to compliment the Realistic. I'm thinkin of butchering the echo to turn the 2nd input into a 1/4" out instead of having to use the RCA out on it. I haven't listened to Husker Du in a hot minute, so I'll have to check em out again, but that sounds like itd be sick!
it does sound a lot better for the most part. what it lacks in the usual muddy fuzz sound if makes up for in clarity. I will say, though, i love my dads Univox Superfuzz. thats by far the best fuzz I've ever played. the Realistic is a very very close second
@@uncle_komrade Oh waw dude ! thank you so much for this feedback ! If there is no doubt that Univox Superfuzz is one of the best Fuzz ever made, this is definitly not the same price range VS a Realistic mixer ( I can find one of them for around 20 bucks ) So in despite of it's size, it's seem to be a very good/ cheap alternative !
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My first « amp » was a similar Realistic « Disco » mixer plugged into my parents stereo system. I quickly got a Boss DS-1. Good memories!
Old school You Tube style.. love it, thanks.
glad you enjoyed! old school youtube had a charm that not many channels have nowadays, its almost like a lost art haha
That's crazy, but it works. The best fuzz i ever had was one my father made for me from some magazine back in the early 80s. It was just a few components in an old wooden speaker box with a 9v battery but it sounded like hendrix. If i recall i thought i heard that Jimmy page used a tape machine to get some of the driven sounds for black dog. So you're onto something. I never thought I'd see those old realistic electronics again. Wow
I've got this exact unit sitting in a box in my basement; I used to use it to mix a bass and drum machine, which I'd then record on a hi-fi VCR (to get the best possible audio results) in my ad-hoc home recording process (way before 'in-the-box' recording was a thing). I've been thinking of selling it, but maybe I'll give this a try instead.
@@davidkulmaczewski4911 I'm glad to have given a bit of inspiration! you can also run it into a PC audio interface and get (almost) the same results, though it tends to be more OD than fuzz.
When you say record to VCR, do you mean audio into a VCR as the power amp? or direct to cassette? either way, that sounds like something I might have to try haha.
@@uncle_komrade I used two hi-fi VCRs to bounce tracks, like you'd do with a 4-track cassette machine. Basically, I'd set up a drum beat into one input on mixer and play bass into other. Output goes to audio input of VCR, while video input just records noise. Then, I take the high quality audio output of that VCR as mixer input 1 (bass + drums) and put my guitar into input 2..... the output of this (drums+bass+guitar) would go into VCR #2 which recorded it onto hi-fi audio track with noise in video. Rinse and repeat. One VCR was our normal one we used, the other was an old one I'd pull out and plug in. Basically a DIY version of a 4-track recorder using the highest quality audio recording available at the time (affordable, that is). This was back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. After that I bought a 4-track cassette recorder, but honestly it didn't sound nearly as good because VCR hi-fi audio was *much* better than most other sources before digital became a thing. Brings back great memories......
@@davidkulmaczewski4911
I did this on a much simpler level, with just a normal TS cable into a VHS, with something that had a 1/8” input, and a way to go into the VCR’s audio L and R.
I’d done the same thing on a mid 80’s Vinyl, radio and dual cassette deck stereo, that had actual 1/8” TS inputs for L and R.
I didn’t have a splitter, or AB/Y box, so if just record the parts one side at a time.
I made instrumentals for a lot of people, after they heard my stuff through my car stereo.
I even made terrible loops of beats, at the begging of a song, then just pause, and repeat recording it, as close as possible.
It was a cool thing, that really helped my playing too.
I love using odd and ends for distortion. This sounds cool. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! Hopefully more cool stuff will come around that I will be able to share!
The realistic mixers from that era and the electronic reverb are all great for gnarly distortion. Got the electronic reverb for xmas when i was a youngster in 95 i think and figured out really quick that it made a wall of crushing noise haha. A lot more than my wimpy dod overdrive plus could dream of putting out. Solid state reel to reels are also excellent for this.
I've been looking at the reverb units, and really want one. I'm glad to know there are great first hand experiences with it! Hopefully I can get my hands on one soon!
What in the Hank Hill have you done? This brings me way back. I actually got that same mixer for my wife. Keep experimenting and posting videos! As some may bring up, Richie Blackmore used a tape deck as a front end boost to his Marshall back in the day.
@@bretfuzz925 I've done what some guitarists refuse to do. Admit that cheap unconventional gear is fun and usable 😎
If I find gear, I'll more than likely end up posting it same day, after messing with it a little. Experimentation and discovery are the best parts!
I also did know that about Ritchie Blackmore! My dad got me into Deep Purple when I was super young, and they've been a mainstay in my playlists for years.
I’ll have to try it out. I have two PZM Radio Shack microphones. Got some great live band recordings.
Wow I still got mine sinc 90's
old casette decks are awesome as a fuzz pedal, try it out!
I've seen a few around, but I'm always nervous about the shipping. the Silvertone I used in this vid actually arrived damaged, despite how well it was packed. They do sound super sick though, I do agree!
@@uncle_komrade well i bought mine for equivalent of 5 dollara. It has stereo and one channel is burnt, so it always produces the nastiest fuzz you can imagine :) not very expensive for an experiment
@@echology It sounds like I'll have to do some digging around! Thanks for the info! If i do snag one, I'll more than likely make a video on it. Who knows, I may build a rig of unconventional gear.
Also, if I'm remembering correctly, I think Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple/Rainbow used an old reel to reel deck as a boost on his rig
I have a Realistic Electronic Reverb. I have done the same thing with it.
@@roybrooks I've seen a lot of people talk about that being a solid unit. I may have to try and get one to see what all the hypes about haha
You should try the phono input as well and you could even use them both and mix them together
@@tab10tim Like how some people bridge the channels on these kinds of amps? thatd sound pretty sick. I'll have to give that a try! Thanks for the suggestion!
Always remember - garbage is your friend. Unless it's you're enemy. But even then, it's your friend. Okay I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this. I just know old rubbish is often fun. I have a 424 mkiii that can almost create a DI tone not a trillion miles away from early Husker Du. Especially if I add a dab of stereo chorus.
@@Unfunny_Username_389 I actually dug up an old karaoke machine from Goodwill (which I made a video on) that I use as an echo to compliment the Realistic. I'm thinkin of butchering the echo to turn the 2nd input into a 1/4" out instead of having to use the RCA out on it.
I haven't listened to Husker Du in a hot minute, so I'll have to check em out again, but that sounds like itd be sick!
@@uncle_komrade revisit their cover of 8 miles high - it's only identifiable from its dental records after they're done with it 😆
Insane dude ! does it sound better at your ears than your regular fuzz pedals ?
it does sound a lot better for the most part. what it lacks in the usual muddy fuzz sound if makes up for in clarity. I will say, though, i love my dads Univox Superfuzz. thats by far the best fuzz I've ever played. the Realistic is a very very close second
@@uncle_komrade Oh waw dude ! thank you so much for this feedback ! If there is no doubt that Univox Superfuzz is one of the best Fuzz ever made, this is definitly not the same price range VS a Realistic mixer ( I can find one of them for around 20 bucks ) So in despite of it's size, it's seem to be a very good/ cheap alternative !
@@ArthurAlison For 10x less, the Realistic is a kickass alternative, and an unconventional one at that. It might turn as many heads as a Superfuzz too
Very nice!!!!
Thank you, my friend! Glad you enjoyed, and I hope you're well!
I have to disagree the Realistic TapeRecorder was the most Realistic Fuzz device.......
@@thomaslthomas1506 I can't say I disagree, but wouldn't they all be the most Realistic? 🤔
@ since the “realistic” tape recorder was my first booster into an old tube radio. I am biased….
Nice.
@@leonsubbotsky6087 Thanks!
lets talk music and projects sometime man hmu sometime