Fluctuating xl prices...WTF?

After much deliberating between the 1000 and 2000xl, I eventually decided that the xl sounded like the right model for me. The solid build quality and the value retention swung it for me, but it helped that they seemed to be going for around a hundred pounds less In the last couple of weeks I followed a few Ebay auctions and saw two sell, for £285 then £242. I started bidding on XLs as they were listed and so far I have seen two more sell for £370 then £433! I should point out that none of these were 'fully loaded', I think they all had zip drives and no other expansions. Is it normal for prices to vary like this? For the UK members, am I tripping or is it worth being patient and holding out for another sub-£300 xl?

The worst thing is I'm now seeing 1000s going for £300...but that's a discussion for the comparison forum

I got £460 for mine about 6 months back, but that was fully loaded and in great condition. I'd be wary of picking one up that was under £250 personally, but there's always bargains out there if you get lucky.

Yeah that's a fair point. Guess it's the cheap-ass scot stereotype coming through

Wait for the right one. I paid 300 Euro (280 GBP) for my 2000 classic with 32MB 8outs and external zip drive. And its in a really good condition.

I wonder how much someone is willing to pay for this "special editon" in the "industrial look"

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0368973576


peace

I just sold 2 2000XL's recently.

Beige one for $600, with my Card Reader - New Pads - Max Ram - Perfect Screen - Super Clean
SE-1 Special Edition for $700, with my Card Reader - Max Ram - Perfect Screen - Minor Cosmetic Bleimishes

I went through them both and cleaned & protected all contacts, reflowed some bad solder joints,
replaced some bad electrical components (Caps, resisters, regulators, rectifiers, etc),
Replaced all funky tact switches, rotary encoders, slide potentiometers (Faders), etc

These units work like new now and were well worth the price the new owners paid.

That being said, there are deals to be had, but expect to be fixing things on your own.
All of the above components I mentioned will fail over time, ESPECIALLY CAPS AND TACT SWITCES!!!!!
These are old machines. And before too long they'll be getting phased out unless someone finds a screen solution.

At any rate, good luck shopping.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't pay more than $400 for a good working and looking XL with no upgrades.

thanks for the feedback dudes

i'm still searching, got my ensoniq eps 16+ on ebay now so I will hopefully have a bit more dough once that sells, to get a really good MPC.

if it's the keyboard model I could be interested ..would you mindo posting the link to the auction ?

peterpiper wrote:Wait for the right one.

+1

Best advise ever. Be patient. It's a buyer's market out there.

chekk out mpchunter.com
very nice site runned by a dude, that seems to have a lot of time.
but he puts every mpc or akai sampler based stuff, that is offerd on ebay in his blog....
then just klickk on mpc 2000 (xl) and there you go!

and one advise....buy ur machine better now, or in 3 month, cause f******* x-mas is next month,
and everybody gets money, and is willing to pay more than usual....

I picked up a MPC2000XL on ebay.co.uk about 2 weeks ago for 125ukp, the guy is refunding me 35ukp as the note varation slider didn't work. I have just got this fixed and added 32mb memory as it had no upgrades.
That must be a one of the cheapest 2000XL's around, so you can still get them cheap just have to be lucky to get one.

Cheers,

Graham

I saw a Blue 2000xl MCD go for $370 USD yesterday.It was in great condition

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

I was offered an MPC2000 for £190, but was advised against it. Have been looking for fairly cheap 2000XL, but nothing out there is the lower price brackets I would be willing to pay ?!

Truth is, the MPC1000 can do everything and more than a 2000XL can and it's far superior technologically to the 2000XL... so, I totally refuse to pay £450 plus for a drum box that is a good few years old and dated in terms of it's capabilities. The only appeal to these older units for me is an aestetic consideration and little else ... so, just because I like the look of sometuing doesn't mean that I would be willing to pay well over the odds for it !!

I still might buy the 2000 mentioned above, though ... at only £190 it's not a huge gamble and it can sit in my collection of toys happily.

Oh, also, I do predict that the prices of all the MPC range will come down a fair amount over the coming two years.

There is so many Pc based controller hardwares being brought to market and in development. All of these units will be able to do so very much more and leave our old MPCs looking postively primitive. Yes, of course, the MPC will still have it's own appeal ( I love my lil 1000, for sure ), but, en mass, the second hand prices we are seeing will not remain anywhere near as high as they have been ... better all get use to this fact.
I read recently that Nukai are infact considering moving away from the MPC altogether - this seems to be borne out by the current rush of hardware controllers being released by Akai/Numark recently. Also, there is massive pressure on Akai to reduce the costs of their MPC5000 ... they have rather large stocks sitting around unsold and returned by retails outlets, according to the source I read. They attribute the developement of NI Maschine and their ilk to the slump in interest. But look, lets be honest, the MPC5000 can't match the Machine in anyway and the Maschine can be picked up for as little as £370 here in the UK ( a 5000 is still averaging around £1,199 new ... although I have seen the units recently for around £950 online ). I think the MPC may become an endangered species in the not too distant future ... ( give or take five years ).

... but - yes - I will still have and be using my MPC regardless !

If I manage to pick up a 2000XL or a 60II during this time too, then they will be added to my collection of dinosaurs.