mpc 3000 backlight

About to cop a LE. It's cosmetically in superb condition, but the backlight is dim. The LE was hardly used, but the backlight still needs replacement. Is this possible? Are the backlights that fragile? The LE is 1600$

Any tips I should look for before buying?

CoinOP! wrote:Any tips I should look for before buying?

The backlights aren't fragile. They wear out over time. The longer it's on the less bright it gets.
Use the forum search for more info. I've lost count of how many people ask about backlights.

Acid Mitch wrote:

CoinOP! wrote:Any tips I should look for before buying?

Use the forum search for more info. I've lost count of how many people ask about backlights.

Exactly! You try to find an answer to my particular question in all those posts. I don't care about replacing it, just want to know if it's possible for a 3000 that's hardly used to have a dim display already.

Depends on your definition of hardly used.
If it was left switched on but not used ,then yes the backlight will be dim.
It could have been used for a few months out of every year for the past 10 years which would still count as hardly used.

Has it only had 1 owner ? Is it an ex-display model ?
It could have been hardly used by last owner and used more by previous owners.

Most EL foils last 4 or 5 years with regular usage.

CoinOP! wrote: The LE is 1600$

That seems like a lot for a unit that has any issues.
I would renegotiate the price based on this.
The backlight is a simple easy repair but still not one I would be willing to do for $1600.

When I got my 3k it was dirt cheap because the seller didn't know about being able to switch the backlight off.

I wish we still had used dealers like that.

I've seen Limited Edition MPC 3000s sell anywhere from $800 - $2000 depending on condition and configuration. Units with Valixi and internal SCSI card readers will always command a premium.

RAM and backlights are affordable to replace/upgrade.

That price isn't necessarily terrible, though at $1600 I would expect the MPC was at least looked at by a technician to verify everything is functional (tact switches, pads, encoders, inputs, outputs, etc).

I've been in studios where all the gear is always turned on even when it's not being used. It's possible that this MPC may not have much use.

If the pads are stained with either dirt or cheetos I would not consider it "hardly used" and would stay away at that price.

It's second owner. He bought it three months a go as part of a complete studio. That person hardly used it. Some wannabee poducer with too much money. Going from the pics he sent me it realy looks amazing.

The unit is basic with max RAM, scsi and 3.11 or 3.10 OS. SN is 1314, maybe that will ring a bell:)?

I can see the unit in person though, but I'm no technician. I always buy stuff new just so I don't have to go through this nerves.

Where I live the 3000 is rare. Let alone the LE. Don't want to risk ebay etc.

I have a few days to think about though and realy need advise. I won't lye, I'm nervous to take the risk.

I make the solder-free backlights for the MPC3000, and as has been mentioned above it's very possible that the machine has seen very little use even though the backlight is dim. It's just so easy to leave these machines switched on all the time. It could have sat unused but powered on for years. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you turn off the backlight (by pressing in the contrast switch).

Don't let the dim backlight put you off too much. The replacement of a backlight isn't incredibly difficult, and mine don't need any soldering. Perhaps the current owner is not aware of the replacements, or not inclined to open the machine to do the work.

The backlight and the circuit that drives it is only a very small part of the MPC3000. The things you should be checking as MPC Hunter said, are the condition and response of pads, switches, encoder - they are more of an indicator of how much physical use a machine has seen, and test the inputs and outputs and SCSI operation.

MPCHunter wrote:

That price isn't necessarily terrible, though at $1600 I would expect the MPC was at least looked at by a technician to verify everything is functional (tact switches, pads, encoders, inputs, outputs, etc).

My point exactly.
$1600 to me would be a dealer with a return policy and checkout period.
A 3k isn't worth $1600 from someone who is gonna say it was used so it's as is.

I have found that very few things are hard to find it typically just means you are looking in the wrong places.

Guess what. Asked the dude if the displaty was dim or just turned off by accident. Explained the press contrast button thing.

Never heard from him again! Checked his ad. He raised the price from 16 to 1900$!!

CoinOP! wrote:Guess what. Asked the dude if the displaty was dim or just turned off by accident. Explained the press contrast button thing.

Never heard from him again! Checked his ad. He raised the price from 16 to 1900$!!

Now what did we learn today ?

CoinOP! wrote:Guess what. Asked the dude if the displaty was dim or just turned off by accident. Explained the press contrast button thing.

Never heard from him again! Checked his ad. He raised the price from 16 to 1900$!!

Lmao