Why Buy a Used MPC 1000?

I recently bought a used MPC1000 off ebay. Looked good from the outside, was described to be in working order.

Problems upon arrival:

1. Pads had sensitivity issues (even at highest sensitivity setting), some just took a hammer to trigger

2. Navigation buttons had to be pressed real hard (up, down, mode, window)

3. Playback/record buttons had similar problems

4. Audio output dropout and crackling on main outs

I thought the black one was supposed to be less prone to problems? Maybe I was unlucky, I returned it though, not knowing how much cost would be involved in fixing.

I have read the blue ones are especially prone to bad pads. Not as much about the triggers being problematic, but it's a pain to replace the individual triggers one-by-one, and mpcstuff has a replacement PCB starting at 150. Maybe that solves 2 of 4 issues.

But, are all of these requiring fixes? Why the inflated prices? I guess you always read more about problems than perfectly working ones, but I'm leaning towards thinking all of them will require repair. Am I unlucky?

(previous other-model owner, never had problems with those)

The first issue of the black model also had the original badly designed pads. They had a silver back panel. Maybe you bought one of those.

Those original MPC1000s are getting quite old now (must be well over ten years) so the buttons are bound to be worn out - fact of life -
Cheap trick to tell you it was fully working though. Good job you returned it though it can all be fixed.

*Pilchard* wrote:The first issue of the black model also had the original badly designed pads. They had a silver back panel. Maybe you bought one of those.

I did get one with a silver back panel. That did not come up in my searches, good info to know! I guess that solves one of my potential future problems if I decide to buy another. I'm still a bit hesitant, not sure about the rest of the components, and the need to replace parts by default.

Thank you!

It really is case by case ... you have to research (as it sounds like you have) to learn what questions to ask. I've been rebuilding and selling them for awhile, and the first things I always ask are:
1. Do the pads trigger, are there any dead pads
2. Does the compact flash slot work (people constantly bend the pins)
3. Does the LCD have any lines
4. Do the inputs/outputs all work.

Yes the pads are always a problem, which is why you get the upgrade.

My personal advise is that a stock MPC should be less than $300 if it has the old pads.
then you put $200 into pads, $100 into a hard drive, and the rest is cosmetic (buttons, LCD's, upgrades)

A good working MPC with fresh pads should be around $500, then you can add all the stuff you want. I've sold them for anywhere from $400 to $900, I actually have one on eBay right now completely maxed out with white LED's installed for $900, expecting to get an offer in the $800 neighborhood.

My other advice is to check out the MPC Stuff website and see how much various parts cost for replacement, so you'll know which ones are crazy expensive to replace.

My first question is usually about the flash reader because a new board is $125.

Hope that helps

I just got a 1000 and i found that the pads behaved like they were on full level. I turned the sensitivity down to 1 on all the pads, and the curve to D and was able to get more variation in velocity that way.

It really is on a case-by-case sort of basis since the machine is pretty old now. You can always find the new black models but the only caveat in buying a (more recent) MPC second-hand is that you already need to know what you're looking at before you throw the money down. Just requires a bit of research before.

On the up-side... if you get an MPC 1K cheap, they don't cost much to fix (usually) and it's a blast to work on yourself. If that isn't your style then I would strongly suggest you pick up a 2500 or one of the more settled in "classics", if you can work with their limitations.

Just my two copper pieces, it ain't worth that even.

i would actually never buy a new mpc 1k, but i would def do the research, and wait till i found one that looked like it had been taken care of by the previous owner.

a lot of times you see an mpc on ebay for like 350 or 400 buy it now, but then you might have to replace some parts and that can get expensive quick, i just like to find the cleanest one that already has most of the upgrades that i want on it, and get that one.

yeah the benefits of an 1k is the optional HD, the CF reader. It's a real MPC so it still has it's place. I got one recently and there's a great sample library someone put together on one of the CF cards. Really great!