What should I look out for when purchasing?

So I'm scouting for a 2500. Is there anything specific I need to look out for?
What would be a good price range for a second hand but fully functional 2500?
Are they all installed with cd drives + memory card slots?

Thanks!

memory card reader is standard feature, cd-rw isnt...but it's only $20 upgrade, so is the ram....

Some 2500's suffer from left output not putting out sound, so I'd definitely check both stereo outs and record in to make sure they are all good as they're most frequently used...standard check volume/rec pots, pads, press every button make sure tact switches are all good

CF card slot is not the most robust and it's easy to bend or snap pins. Tact switches can go.

Look for machines already upgraded with the max 128mb ram (no brainer), HD (very useful), CD-drive (depends) , etc. as it's much better value getting them up front than installing them later.

Some may have paid JJOS versions on them but the free JJOS is er, free, and a good upgrade on the Akai OS.

konc3pt wrote:memory card reader is standard feature, cd-rw isnt...but it's only $20 upgrade, so is the ram....

Some 2500's suffer from left output not putting out sound, so I'd definitely check both stereo outs and record in to make sure they are all good as they're most frequently used...standard check volume/rec pots, pads, press every button make sure tact switches are all good

Thanks for that.

groovemonger wrote:CF card slot is not the most robust and it's easy to bend or snap pins. Tact switches can go.

Look for machines already upgraded with the max 128mb ram (no brainer), HD (very useful), CD-drive (depends) , etc. as it's much better value getting them up front than installing them later.

Some may have paid JJOS versions on them but the free JJOS is er, free, and a good upgrade on the Akai OS.

Maybe I'll take a CF card filled with sounds to test it all out. One of the prospects is maxed out: how much would you say it should cost me roughly? The average price they go by?

What does paid JJOS mean? I've heard this before and not quite sure what it's all about.

The different JJOS versions are here. I've never moved beyond the free version but some swear by the paid versions.

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mpc1000/mpc2500/

Don't know what a good price is in the US. I'm in the UK and paid £450 for mine with everything but a CD drive and a CF slot with bent pins (managed to unbend enough to get card in but think I fatigued the metal as one snapped eventually - replaced it for £40 via InMusic's parts department), which seemed very good at the time as plenty were listed at around £800.

As with any used gear, beware false economies. Aside from the bent pins mine had no signs of wear and I don't think the first owner ever really used it much. There's lots of those barely touched machines knocking around so why go for the beat-up gigged unit that's covered in grime and smells of smoke to save a few bucks?

I have a 2500 for sale if you are interested.

16MB w/ CD drive, no JJOS. super clean machine.

PM me for more details if youd like