[derriz]

Yeah but you can pick one up for a fraction of that these days - here's one for €350[0] and given the typical difference between Europe and the US for used gear, you could probably pick one up for under $300 in the US.

[0] https://reverb.com/item/74573558-akai-s3000-xl

[brockrockman]

They are cheap to find -- on Yahoo Auctions Japan I got an s3000xl for ~$80 since the 8-out works in the MPC2k/xl and go for as much as ~$400 alone.

But that doesn't mean anything about the cost to repair, upgrade, or in the case of LCD replacement, modernize. The memory, flash, effects, and expansion cards are highly sought after, and you're competing with bigger budget established producers.

[derriz]

I don't understand your point, to be honest.

My point was that it reasonable to be reluctant to spend $200 to $250 to replace a small component of a device that is only worth $300.

This was in response to someone who claimed the OP should just sell it if he didn't want to spend $200 to fix it - because it originally cost $3000-$5000.

[brockrockman]

Agreed -- the price contrast between the unit itself and the component replacements and upgrades is a turn-off, however going into a ~30 year vintage pro audio sampler thinking it will have a low cost of ownership or repair feels unfair.

Yes, the base unit themselves might be cheap. But once you're looking at enthusiast-produced LCD replacements or optionally-purchased-in-the-90s expansion cards, having sticker shock is expected.

LCD parts are cheap if you want to put the domain engineering work and solve engineering challenges yourself. They are expensive if you're one-stop buying a targeted kit and just trying to max out your upgrades.

An HN poster might be willing to put in significantly more time head-desking and soldering to save $200. A producer buying a vintage Akai is not necessarily looking for an EE project.

To that producer, the functionally upgraded unit is "worth" a lot more than $300 since they're selling the products of it.

[mistyvales]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255438098835 this one is $160 roughly.. and it's worth it if you really like the sound and want to partially modernize. I got my S3000XL for $200, got the screen for another $160, DIMMs to max memory was only $20. The Zulu SCSI was $80.. So yeah, I did put a bunch into it but all that's worth it to me.

I agree that using original MSRP is absurd though. The S3000XL is a later model from them and can be found for cheap all over the place - they made a bunch of them.

S1100 series are sought after but those are usually close to $1k in excellent condition, and getting maxed out memory could cost $3-400.

S950 sell for over $1k usually as well.

[b20000]

why do you think a subassembly cannot cost $250 if you picked up the device for $300? just go buy another device then? what is your point? you want to buy a porsche for 20k and then you are surprised that a new gearbox is 30k???

[derriz]

Your tone is overly aggressive.

And I don't know how I can be clearer than in the comment you are replying to: "My point was that it reasonable to be reluctant to spend $200 to $250 to replace a small component of a device that is only worth $300."

Which part of this sentence is unclear?

Your Porshe analogy is not appropriate. If a Porsche with a working gearbox is worth 35k, then yes, I'd be reluctant to spend 30k on a gearbox alone.

[b20000]

the device is worth $3,000 but listed for $300 because it is used and likely has problems

[yojo]

I think you are talking past each other.

The grandparent’s point was that these things retailed for lots of money when new, so they make the claim that the relatively small $250 LCD repair is reasonable.

I don’t agree that this is a logical conclusion to draw - anchoring on a 30 year old sale price seems self-evidently invalid.

All I was pointing out is these things did in fact retail for $X,000, regardless of the current value.