Suggestions for vintage drum machine.....

[denhamt]

any good ones? Wanna get one but don't really know where to start. Doesn't need any bells and whistles, something simple. Or crazy. Whatever, basically, as long as it's old and interesting.

[dragline]

the only one I really know is the Roland TR-606, which is the drum machine used by Big Black on most of their records.

It's also been used by the likes of Aphex Twin and Autechre, it has quite a nice, simple, "old skool" sound.

[royaltrux]

909.

Look at what these motherfuckers come up with in like 30 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfemTj8Rqs

[less_cunning]

get a Roland TR-808 they are SO AWESOME !!!

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

roland tr 626 is a pretty nice and basic one to get u started. i've had mine for awhile although i dont really use it much anymore. its got some cool sounds, some nice variety and are hella cheap on ebay last time i checked.

[un1ted]

i think the badass-ness of the machine comes with how much you wanna spend. especially when it comes to vintage or somewhat vintage. 808's are the shit though, especially if you have effects and whatnot to go with. The entire TR line is cool IMO, i made a circuit bent 505, adding new stuff to it now.

[Wizard]

808 FTW.

casio made a cool drum machine.

this thing is real neat:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvtssL8WlJA[/youtube]

[veteransdaypoppy]

the fuckin drum buddy is sweet. i wish i had one of those things real bad.

[my bloody television]

god, I've wanted a tr-909 for sooo long...just can't justify the cost. I've been thinking about drum machines again though...maybe not vintage...something simple like the alesis sr-16? anyone used one?

[less_cunning]

god, I've wanted a tr-909 for sooo long...just can't justify the cost. I've been thinking about drum machines again though...maybe not vintage...something simple like the alesis sr-16? anyone used one?

have not used either but i want a SR-18. i consistently see the SR-16 go for about a hundo on craigslist. so you should be in luck getting a SR-16 for a good price. running cheap drum-machines thru filters make them sound better IMO.

i love Roland. i have a Roland t-shirt & everything. but unless i came up on a good deal or saw one reasonably priced @ a pawn shop, in no way, shape or form would i stress myself out over trying to cop one.

[sev]

It depends on what kind of sounds you want. Most of the early '80s drum machines only had one kit of sounds...and that was the signature sound for that machine. Producers would tweak different tones out of them through heavy eq, reverbs, etc.
Listen to some old records and figure out which sound you're trying to get.
Out of the early ones, I dig the DMX and the Linndrum. So many hit records were made in the '80s on those two. The 808/909/606 are obvious classics...they have a more electronic sound so, they're best for synthy stuff or hiphop.


I have owned:
Oberheim DMX
Oberheim DX
Linn LM-2 (Linndrum)
E-mu Drumulator
Sequential Circuits Drumtraks
Alesis HR16
Yamaha RX7
Boss DR660
E-mu SP1200
Akai MPC 60
Akai MPC 2000xl

I love drum machines!!
They each have their own thing. I sampled most of them before selling.
Now I just have the MPC and SP, and I keep the Boss just to use as a click in the studio.

[less_cunning]

you gotta an SP-1200?

[sev]

you gotta an SP-1200?

Yep. Still got it. I bought it in 2000 after totally geeking on Madlib's early productions on the Lootpack album (an all time fave), the first couple of Declaime records, and the first Quasimoto LP.
I hardly use it any more. Just once in a while to sample back into the MPC.
I keep threatening to sell it. Catch me on a good day...

[less_cunning]

damn !!! which MPC do you have/use ???

[sev]

damn !!! which MPC do you have/use ???

2000XL. I swear by it. It's way easy to navigate....and has just enough features, but not too many....and the pads are on the right hand side instead of the left (key for me).
I have two of them...one is a backup for when I go out on the road.