Parts from Radio Shack?

[Bissell, Harry]

Radio Shack parts seem to vary with the vendor and country of manufacturer.
They buy on the jelly-bean market and quality varies. Worst parts seem to be
jacks and plugs, etc. Resistors, pots, relays, and semiconductors seem to be
O.K. Buy 1 and examine the quality.  Jack & Plug warning... sometimes the RS
parts won't take solder (a fatal flaw) :-(   Harry

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Rob & Heather Williams [SMTP:will7370 at tao.sou.edu]
> Sent:	Thursday, February 04, 1999 2:40 AM
> To:	analogue at hyperreal.org
> Cc:	Synth Do-It-Yourselfers
> Subject:	Parts from Radio Shack?
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> I've always heard (and subsequently passed along) advice to
> my friends, customers and fellow kit builders not to buy
> their electronic parts from Radio Shack if they can help
> it.  It's okay in a bind, but should be avoided.  It was
> something that was taught to me years ago, and I have just
> perpetuated it.  But now I wonder.
> 
> What exactly is the basis for this advice we keep passing on
> to avoid RS parts?  Is it just that they are of inferior
> quality, or what?  Maybe I've been slamming RS for no good
> reason.  Since I live in a very rural area, I've always just
> bought my parts mail-order.  Does it hurt a synth to run on
> RS parts?
> 
> Robert