Yo I just thought of one more for me:
Back in like 2000, I copped a TR-808 at a Garage Sale and got that ish for $150! It worked but was kinda fu(ked up! I spent $300 restoring it and (OK here is the worst thing I have ever done) I sold that ish for $1000! A good profit but I should have kept it! At the time, I needed a new Computer and was broke, so I made a terrible mistake!
ONE
That's an interesting story. I have 2 808s right now (one with MIDI and one MIDIless) both in great working condition. Scored a heck of a deal on the first one (the MIDIless one) as it had a minor problem with it. I had it repaired and it works perfect now with total cost of the 808 including repairs for under $600. That was back in late 2005/early 2006. Now that I have a second one with MIDI (scored it back in late 2007 for under $1500 total).
Both units are nice. So here's my current situation. I got 2 808s. I'm broke, and I need a serious computer audio interface upgrade for my studio. I was (and still am) thinking about sampling the heck out of one of my 808s (the original MIDIless one) and putting that joint on ebay considering how much I could get for each one of these units now. However, after reading this post, I believe I better think twice and hold off on the interface for now because I don't want to sell an 808 and kick my own a** later wishing I hadn't!!!!!!!! Digital computer crap gets obsolete and depreciates quickly. TR808s on the other hand appreciate in value. Considering how much 808s are going for on ebay these days, I'm glad I got mine when I could because I definitely couldn't afford one now. Yeah, I better hold on to these babies!!!!!!!!! I think the current rise and popularity of dirty south rap brought about increase in value of the 808s over the past few years.
Since I'm still broke and need an audio interface upgrade to improve my mixing and production quality, I guess I better sell some beats or something!!!!!!
Bad economy. Hard times, or as they say "good times."
As far as the topic of this thread goes, I'd say the EMU-MP7, Yamaha RM1x, Alesis QS6.2, Novation Drumstation, and Roland R8 module are nice pieces. Same goes for
my EMU E4XT Ultra. All six of which I got for under $500 each. Oh yeah, and
my Yamaha QY100 which I miss. That was a nice lil' toy. Sometimes I wish I still had it.