should I buy mpc2000xl at pawn shop

Never done a forum before so I hope im doing this right, but there is an mpc2000xl at the pawn shop by my house and they want $300 for it. I have never used an mpc before and have always wanted one. I know that it is kind of old now but i see upgrades i can get for it on mpcstuff.com, my question is, should i get it fix it up and use it or is it a waste of money. I really like using hardware and not software but people are telling me not to mess with it. But its hard for me not to when i hear so many good things and see so many of the top producers using them. I also thought it would be good for me to learn how producers did things back in the day but at the same time use it with new things like logic. Since i dont know much about mpc's im hoping someone hear can help me. I dont want an mpd32 because i already have a controller and Triton.

All it has is the power chord and I do not know how to check the condition because i have never used one, and it still has the floppy disk drive on it.

Bravocrazy wrote:All it has is the power chord.

I wish my mpc came with power chords....lol

Cop it if you want man, the xl is dope. You just have to invest a lot of time into it.

I play piano so im used to spelling chords not cords, but thanks for the info because anytime i see a post about this its always form 2008 lol

That's a fair price, if that's what you are asking. Understand you are really 'doing it like they did back in the day' and it will cost a bit more money and definitely more time and preparation to use it properly.

But yes it is a great machine at that price.

There's really too much to tell you to check for, but this would be a great diagnostic page to check if all the pads are working.

http://www.mpc2000xl.com/secret.htm

You want the PADCHK screen. Your 'velocity' should read anywhere from 0-127 when you hit a pad and then after you hit it how hard you press it....127 is the hardest 0 is the lightest (you might not be able to get that light).

thanks for the info because anytime i see a post about this its always form 2008 lol

You aint looking too hard because i imagine the first 20 pages of this forum are since 2008. ;]

You say fix it up like you know somethings wrong with it?
I buy tons of stuff from Pawn Shops both locally and online, you can generally tell the quality of a Pawn Shop by looking at the type of stuff they sell and how the store is setup.
The worst Pawn Shops tend to have a funky environment and pricing.


Make sure you turn the unit on check to see if the display has lines in it.
Also offer them $250

A friend who owns an mpc told me to upgrade the floppy disk drive and get a back up screen, the fader seems like it drags on the machine and a couple buttons or pushed in a little, fixing that is what I mean by fixing it up.

screen is currently not an easy or cheap fix.

buttons and slider are easy fixes, if you know how to solder.

but that is definite grounds to drive the price down. it's a pawn shop, don't pay sticker price.

If there is any defect in the screen you should find a replacement before jumping on it.
The screens exist in 3 forms:
1. Hard to find
2. Expensive to find
3. Expensive and hard to find

Buying a 2k/2k xl that you will need a screen for can easily cost more than buying a working unit.

everything everyone has said is good advice. I bought my MPC XL from a music/pawn shop and I paid 300 bucks for it.

But, in the end it needed a new screen, and I wanted the upgrades like CF card reader, FX, and 8 Outs. I probably could have gotten the unit for less than 3 but it is what it is. All in all, my MPC is worth about 800$

the screen was the kicker, about 300 dollars, the same price as the MPC itself.

Good luck with it.

the MPC is a really fun machine.

Slightly diff. predicament for me. I purchased mine from an online source. When inquiring I asked various questions. Is it mint? Scratches? The knob? Does it have 8 outs? Answer to all of 'em was yes. I got the MPC with only main outs..no expansion...slight scuffs, and the knob is a lil odd at times. Overall I'm content with it though.

Since you're actually going into the store I'd expect it inside out. Literally (turns out the expansion card was removed by the seller and sold). Hopefully, theres a return policy that'll give you enough time to test things out.

I'm content with my purchase even in spite of the lil defects..but if you can check it out physically..ball all means do it. Bring in floppies w/ samples..test the drive, etc. etc. If you don't like it..don't get it. Another one will come around and it may be a better fit for you. gl

browniez wrote:Slightly diff. predicament for me. I purchased mine from an online source. When inquiring I asked various questions. Is it mint? Scratches? The knob? Does it have 8 outs? Answer to all of 'em was yes. I got the MPC with only main outs..no expansion...slight scuffs, and the knob is a lil odd at times. Overall I'm content with it though.

How can you be content?

Sovereign wrote:

browniez wrote:Slightly diff. predicament for me. I purchased mine from an online source. When inquiring I asked various questions. Is it mint? Scratches? The knob? Does it have 8 outs? Answer to all of 'em was yes. I got the MPC with only main outs..no expansion...slight scuffs, and the knob is a lil odd at times. Overall I'm content with it though.

How can you be content?

i know man, i know.

browniez wrote:Slightly diff. predicament for me. I purchased mine from an online source. When inquiring I asked various questions. Is it mint? Scratches? The knob? Does it have 8 outs? Answer to all of 'em was yes. I got the MPC with only main outs..no expansion...slight scuffs, and the knob is a lil odd at times. Overall I'm content with it though.

Since you're actually going into the store I'd expect it inside out. Literally (turns out the expansion card was removed by the seller and sold). Hopefully, theres a return policy that'll give you enough time to test things out.

I'm content with my purchase even in spite of the lil defects..but if you can check it out physically..ball all means do it. Bring in floppies w/ samples..test the drive, etc. etc. If you don't like it..don't get it. Another one will come around and it may be a better fit for you. gl

Ok thanks for the info but I really dont know what im looking for. I can turn it on and see if the screen works and twits/turn the knobs but other than that i have no idea how to work it. I dont know what an expansian card is, and i dont have any floppies w/ samples (if i did i wouldnt know how to use them lol). Other than checking the screen and buttons is there anything that i can look for that doesnt require me to know about mpc's? Should i open it up and check the inside for ram or something? Can mpc's be fixed it something is wrong with it when I get it home, as in can I send it to akai or something?

The expansion card, in a very vague, definition is just an optional card that you can install within the MPC which allows you to have more assignable mixouts instead of the default main in/outs that the MPC originally has. It allows for you to have more outs to route to a mixer/effects unit. It also comes with effects (reverb/ additional filtering capabilities). Alot of dudes get the expansion card cause it allows for more flexibility in allowing them to do more with their MPC.

As far as looking inside the actual MPC? Yea. I would..I'd make sure that the memory is clean..not chipped or has any sort of sign of tear. Check to see that the belts to the floppy aren't torn...just be observing and make sure no ones switched a shitty part to hustle you.

As far as everything else..I guess you sort of have to figure out on your time when you've got samples. What's the return policy on the MPC? How long are the giving you? Hopefully you'll have enough time to check to make sure that the pads are not shocked or dead, the floppy works correctly in that it saves and reads from your disk, the main ins/outs produce good sound, etc.

If you're skeptical. Take it back. Keep the money stored to the side and wait for another one to come along.

browniez wrote: It also comes with effects (reverb/ additional filtering capabilities).

What the **** are you talking about!? 8 outs is part # IB-M208P and the effects card is part # EB16...There are no effects on the 8 outs. lol.....

jonestown massacre wrote:You just have to invest a lot of time into it.

The 8 outs and effects card and all the other info you need is in the manual, homie. Its RTFM around here, get to reading.