Thinking about purchasing an MPC 1000

Hello everyone, I am new to the world of MPCs and would like some feedback.

I have been messing around with an MPD 18 and Logic for a few months, but I'm tired of having to stare at a laptop screen for so long. I'm already on my laptop a lot more than I need to be due to school work, which led me to contemplate purchasing an MPC 1000.

When it comes to music production, I'm still a beginner so do you guys recommend I make the transition and purchase a used MPC 1000? After doing some research, I found a black one on the Guitar Center online store for about $419. With a price like that, I am very tempted to purchase one and start messing around on it, especially to avoid my laptop and just groove on a couch or wherever.

What do you guys recommend? Any advice will be much appreciated

$419 sounds pretty decent. Does the one you saw have the new style pad upgrade, and the 128mb RAM expansion? Those are two things you definitely want, the old style pads are really insensitive and prone to dying, and the stock 16mb RAM is not much at all.
Oh, and also see if it has any of the JJOS versions installed. (a third-party operating system that, although the higher versions are paid versions, they're miles above the stock Akai OS)

I think that the transition from software to the mpc will be pretty smooth for you, since you're just a beginner. You haven't yet really come to expect everything that software can do for you, so the MPC's limitations (obviously not as versatile as software) won't be off-putting.
Just don't expect it to be like, woop, got an mpc, boom, instant sweet beats. It'll take some learning and experience. But it'll be fun all the way.

On the Forums here; I purchased an old used blue/red model with upgraded pad sensors, white screen, jjos1 and internal hard drive mod for $550.
I consider this a good deal. I'm glad I bought it from an MPC Forum person and not Ebay or Craiglist or even from the retards at Guitar Center.

I've had it for over a year and it's a solid piece. A few tacts have given me a problem but I'm a button smasher anyway. I since installed the XLCD screen with jjos128XL.

You're gonna pay around $500 or more for a fully blown 2000XL, too. A 2000XL ain't a **** toy either, I learned on one and still own it and it will still blow your **** mind.

Thanks for the prompt replies guys.

@sciguys I found another one on craigslist for $499 and I'm asking about the features you mentioned. I am actually waiting for the email so i'll get back to you guys

well hopefully you're in luck.

though I mean, worst case, you have to pay a little extra to get the upgrades yourself.
jjos, you can live without it for at least some time, even the free version's better than the akai one.
the memory upgrade, it's cheap, I'd say $30 max, because you don't buy the official RAM cards, but just any generic RAM.
the pad upgrade, I would guess would be the most common thing to be in an mpc now, so I think there's a good chance the one you found would have it.

I remember I got mine for $430, it was a stock mpc, no pad, memory, or OS upgrade. Probably not the best deal I could have found, but I didn't know any better then.

according to the seller, the one I found on craigslist is not the BK-N model so I'm assuming it doesn't have the upgraded pads. He said the only extra feature it has is the 128mb ram expansion. It's funny that you mention that because I've been searching for a decent used MPC 1000 for a couple weeks now and still haven't found one with the upgraded pads hahaha

If I have the money to purchase a new MPC 1000, do you recommend that I buy a new one?

I read somewhere on the forum that Akai has stopped manufacturing new MPC 1000s since 2011 and that the ones remaining in stock are the last ones left. If that's true, I think it would be better to purchase a new model instead of worrying about a used one dying out on me after awhile.

i really appreciate you helping out a newbie such as myself. sometimes i wish music wasn't as technologically advanced these days, but i guess there are definitely pros and cons to that view. it sucks that we have to worry about so many technical features

I literally just recieved a used MPC1000 from guitar center. It wasn't a BK-N model, so I checked the pads, various buttons and Outs to make sure everything was working, and it doesn't have the dead pad problem, atleast not yet.

I think anything you buy is a risk, but sometimes it's better to just take the plunge isntead of stressing whether or not to dip your toes in. If that makes any sense. If you go through a reputable site or seller, they'll allow a refund if the item doesn't work. That may be the way to go. I just don't think spending upwards of 800 is reasonable when you can get gear that's still kickin' for 400. But if you have the money, then go with new gear. If I had the money, I would. But I don't, so i went used, and it worked out.

monkeysennin wrote:according to the seller, the one I found on craigslist is not the BK-N model so I'm assuming it doesn't have the upgraded pads. He said the only extra feature it has is the 128mb ram expansion. It's funny that you mention that because I've been searching for a decent used MPC 1000 for a couple weeks now and still haven't found one with the upgraded pads hahaha

If I have the money to purchase a new MPC 1000, do you recommend that I buy a new one?

I read somewhere on the forum that Akai has stopped manufacturing new MPC 1000s since 2011 and that the ones remaining in stock are the last ones left. If that's true, I think it would be better to purchase a new model instead of worrying about a used one dying out on me after awhile.

i really appreciate you helping out a newbie such as myself. sometimes i wish music wasn't as technologically advanced these days, but i guess there are definitely pros and cons to that view. it sucks that we have to worry about so many technical features

Some non "N" black models had the pads stock while others got upgraded by the owners when Akai made the switchover. So like itsKalan mentioned it's best to check the machine and person for the "wiggle test" to discern if the pads are the better single sheet/sensors underneath design.

I also have to agree with itsKalan on skip a new one. Normally yes a warranty, and no use on an electronics piece is the way to go. But the 1000 is only built so well. So basically everyone who has one will have tact switches die (most common issue). If you can solder well it's a cheap easy fix. Even at inflated places to have it done for you would still be way less than the premium you'd pay for a boxed 1000.

So yeah I think to save literally hundreds of dollars I would risk a tact switch dying sooner and the like. Also a lot of people don't even like their MPC after buying it and people sell units with less than 50 hours of real use on them.

Always good to have extra money to buy JJOS2XL if you are going to use the 1000 as a main piece too.

I've bought 5 MPC's used, no issues on any (3 at Guitar Center, 2 on Craigslist). I just bring a zip of CF with sounds or the seller loads one and test the pads, buttons, phone jack and outputs. Takes only a few minutes. Take them home get a screw driver blow out the dust check the connections, and clean off the previous owners DNA as Clint called it recently.

Yeah, if you're worried about a used mpc having a shorter life, really the only parts that would be at all more likely to die after use are the tact switches, which you'd prolly have to replace anyway at some point. The pads too, if it doesn't have the upgrade, otherwise, they'd need to have taken a pretty hard beating from the previous user for it to be a worry. The q-link sliders I guess might be the next to go, but again only if they were really abused.

Otherwise, it's a pretty solid machine, you don't have to worry about used ones having a shorted lifespan than new. (within reason, obviously don't go for one that was obviously beaten up or something like that)

Just my two cents.... I did extensive research 3 months ago before buying my MPC 1000, and looked everywhere for a BK-N model. I have yet to see an actual picture that shows BK-N, however I ended up buying the last new MPC 1K from a local retailer who agreed that I could return it if it had the individual pads inside. The one I bought says MPC1000BK on the box, and the actual unit says MPC1000 on the back. I opened it up and confirmed that it has a single sensor sheet and rubber pad. So... no -N in the part number, but it has the good pads. I suggest checking inside the unit if possible, or having the selling party confirm that the unit has the good pads, because there doesn't seem to be an exact model number convention for these things. Good luck

I'd say just grab one, everything is pretty easy to swap out.
I like my 1000 better than my 2500.
And I think anything under $500. Is pretty good for a
Descent machine.
And I feel if you can test the pads , old or not, if they
Trigger than grab it, if the pads bug you, swap it out.
Even if you do a pad upgrade on a 1000 that was $450
Your still way under the $1000. Cost of a new in box unit.
Just my way of thought
Expect to put money into any used item