Advice on buying an MPC (60?)

Hi everyone!

I've been digging & sampling for five years now, and I want to switch from computer to MPC. I just don't use all those features and I want something more simple and hands-on.

If it helps, this is the kind of music I usually make:
http://martin-finke.de/music/Hiraita.mp3
http://martin-finke.de/music/Vivian.mp3

I have the chance to get a good-condition MPC 60 for 500 euros in Berlin, and I'm really tempted because I know how it sounds! I'm a student, so 500 is about the max I can spend on this for now. Would you recommend getting it?

Also, I have some questions:
- I read the "MPC 60 BIBLE" thread and I'm a little worried that the MPC 60 will need fixing every few months...it looks very solid on the outside, but I can't afford to buy those vintage parts (floppy drive, switches, display, backlight, ...) too often.
- For 500 euros, I could also get a used MPC 2000 or MPC 500. From experience I know I won't need more than the MPC 60's 26 seconds sample time, but I think the newer MPCs will be easier to maintain. What do you think?
- I have read about the Akai S20. It seems similar, without the sequencer and rubber pads. I could use it with a four-track tape, do things the even more old-school, Anticon way.

So what do you recommend in my situation?
Get the MPC 60, kinda like getting a vintage Mercedes as your first car?
Get a newer MPC, like a Volkswagen (convenient and solid, but without the flair)?
Get the S20, like a cheap Fiat Punto?

What gave you the impression that the new mpcs are solid? the 60 is by far more solid than any mpcs on the market today. For your decision, make sure that it has os 3.10 (I don't have it) it makes the mpc60 atleast 3 times more useful. The sampling time is 13 seconds and upgradable to 26 plus with 3.10 you can compress sounds 1/2 size so it double whatever the memory can hold

Consider this: the mpc 60 was designed to be the best. so was the 3000, 4000, 5000(but aparently nuakai failed badly on the 5k)

I read up on the s20 and it's more basic than the 60, and being designed for live dj use it lacks in features.

the s20 is 16 bit opposed the 12 bit of the 60

get the 60 if you want quality, get s20 if you want your money, get a new mpc if you don't care

Thank you for your answers!

Two questions for people owning an MPC 60:

Can you copy one pad to another on the MPC 60? I read that there's something like "COPY TO TEMP"...this would be very important for me.

About how many parts will need to get replaced (on average) in five years of using it? Of course it depends on a lot of things, but I would appreciate an estimate

martin wrote:About how many parts will need to get replaced (on average) in five years of using it? Of course it depends on a lot of things, but I would appreciate an estimate

There is not really a good answer for this, as it depends on the current condition of the machine.

Don't expect a 20 year old piece of equipment to work like a brand new one.

If the MPC still has the original factory parts installed, you will likely need to replace some, if not all of them at some point. Most switches are rated for 1 million cycles, however if they get dirt or liquid damage in them it will shorten their life. You should not have to replace an LCD unless it is physically damaged. Backlights will burn out over time, depending on how long the MPC is left on. Floppy drives are prone to fail the older they get, you can often find a used compatible drive for cheap.

You can harvest many of the parts for an MPC 60 such as LCDs, inverters, floppy drives from cheaper Akai S1000 and S3000 series samplers. There are multiple threads in the forums on this topic.

Keep in mind that some repairs will require soldering. If you are not able to do this, then you may be better off sticking with a newer machine.

I would stay away from the MPC 2000 as there is not currently a LCD replacement for these machines -- and the LCD will fail at some point.

Don't overlook the MPC 1000, these often sell for well under 500 euros used.