Shop by type

Vintage drum machines

Roland's TR-808 arrived in 1980 and builds each drum sound from analog circuits, where its pricier rival, the Linn LM-1, played recorded samples. It was a commercial failure at first, and Roland stopped making it after about 12,000 units, once its semiconductors could no longer be restocked. Through the 1980s it found a cult following among underground musicians who could pick one up used. The TR-909 followed in 1983. It mixed analog drums with samples for some sounds, and it was the first MIDI drum machine. Both have modern stand-ins, like Roland's TR-08 and Behringer's RD-8, so read listing titles carefully. On an original, look at the battery compartment underneath for corrosion, and ask for a video of every drum sound and every step key.