Why people getting rid of theirs?

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
1

Hello,

It’s a bit of an anxiety post, hehe, so excuse me.

In recent few months i see A4’s popping up on the sale sections of different music-related forums with the worrying frequency, at least one every couple of weeks or so, and the prices people are asking for theirs are going lower and lower, the last one i’ve seen this week was going only for 6900 swedish kronor, where the new price from the Elektron store is 11000 kronor…

Since i’ve bought new A4 directly from the company not so ing time ago, it makes me worried about the value of my investment. I’m talking not only about resale value of course.

Here’s what i thought could be the reasons, but it’d be nice to hear other owners’ opinions on the matter, so i could maybe calm myself down a bit by seeing all the cool guys saying how wonderful the A4 is and that those who sell theirs are just not getting it :wink:

Anyways. I think people started to sell lot of A4 since the release of both Analog Keys and Analog Rytm. Quite logical, many would prefer proper keyboard, individual outputs, improved bass response, and the feeling of having big black Synth in their studio to having a quirky little groovebox…Again, some people used A4 for drums and percussive sounds, so AR fits the bill better

If this is the case, then i’m quite happy, since i already have AR, hate keyboards on electronic instruments and have no space for anything bigger anyways…

BUT. What if there’s other reasons? For example maybe that ‘bass response’ of the AK is so much better that A4 sounds weak in comparison? Or maybe A4 proved to be not such a versatile or good sounding instrument? OR, what if it is obvious for people that Elektron gonna release new version of A4 with the individual outputs and better bass and the owners of the original version going to have to sell theirs for real cheap?

Of course i might be just feeling stupid of spending so much money on the item which loses it’s value so fast, and there’s absolutely no other reasons, and i’m just of those guys who worries about chipped paint instead of enjoying making music, but i never bought anything so expensive in terms of music equipment, and for me it took some sacrifices to afford it, so…

Long post, sorry.

2

Well there are people saying they can’t hear the difference with regards to the bass, so I don’t think that’s a big issue. There will be quite a few people who like the A4 so much they ‘upgrade’ to the AK so sell their A4.

On the other side some people just don’t gel with it so sell it.

Regarding resale value, in the UK the average resale price these last 6 months is still very high. Only 10% less than new. I notice they are going for a lot less in the US though, as much as 50% less than new, so it seems to depend where you live.

If you are happy with the A4 then no need to worry about current resale values.

I don’t think anyone is thinking there is going to be an A4 mk2 anytime soon. If anything once Overbridge is launched later this year, (which will provide individual outputs) the re-sale value of the A4 may well increase.

3

If you want to buy a musical instrument that’s also an investment, maybe a Synthi or Minimoog would have been a better choice. I recently got an A4 and am delighted to have done so because of what it can do for me. Yes, I’d have loved the keyboard version (and might get one at some point, if they change the design to add protection for the keys) but this is beautifully portable, has a huge capacity for projects, patches, patterns and sounds fantastic. I can’t tell you what you should do, except maybe suggest you not worry quite so much about the motives of strangers selling theirs…

4

The resale value of A4 does seem to be quite low for how old (or rather new) it is. But I think they also sell really quickly, at least in the couple of places I follow. I think you can get one sold for a price much closer to the retail price if you’re willing to wait a bit, some people are just in a hurry!

We’re seeing a lot of cool stuff being released this year, so people may just be selling A4s out of “necessity”. RYTM, Sub37, Aira, Pro 2 etc… I sold mine to fund an OT since I figured it will be more useful for me at this point. No hard feelings towards the A4, and I’ll consider grabbing one again when I can afford it :slight_smile:

5

I certainly won’t be selling my A4, it’s a brilliant synth. This is the only opinion that matters :wink:

Peace,
Andy.

6

my only tip with finding value in the A4 outside of all the amazing sounds it can generate are the CV functions and FX

The A4 is an irreplaceable machine IMO. You can achieve some really wonderful things sequencing CV, its internal tracks for audio processing, and the FX track to sculpt some powerful and intricate patterns and sounds.

The reverb+delay+chorus is killer. Overbridge will individually track the external inputs unlike the AR.

Go buy one!

7

early adopters hitting the wall, theirs not the machines

you see it with a lot of new gear

guys think they are going to be the next guetta or deadmouse

and when they cant make it sound better than the presets

the sell them

1 Like
8

because they are cowards who are afraid of the infinite possibilities in this machine.

maybe a TB-3 is more their speed

9

I did actually sell my A4, kept OT and MD non-UW. This was entirely for idiosyncratic reasons - wanting to restrict myself to 2 Elektron boxes, not having any modular stuff and really trying not to get sucked in, having other analog options around, and, okay, not really feeling the UI. The navigation and layout just didn’t do it for me - I’d get what I wanted eventually, but fell out of creative mode into “how does this work again” mode too often for my liking. Nothing to do with A4’s sound quality.

10

I sold mine, for neither sound quality or functionality. . It’s a great machine capable of great sounds, with very little effort. As well, it really shines as a live instrument. The ability to save individual sounds (not just kits like on the MDUW) is a godsend.

My reason’s were a little weird. I sold mine because it was too easy for me to go and make music similar to the stuff I was doing in DAWs… I sold my machine in order to push me away from my comfort zone and focus on making different sounds with the MDUW.

12

Sorry but who cares what people are doing with their… if you like it and produce well with it use it. The machine is awesome. the AK may effect players in desires having the integrated keys. but it is mainly the same machine.

We all love the tb-303 right? did you know they have a pile of them in the corner at roland ready for crushing a year after they came out? don’t follow the market, follow your ear!

1 Like
13

i had it for a short period and i would definitely buy one; it’s a great sounding synth with lots of features. in the end though, it’s all up to your taste and what you’re looking for in a machine… i won’t be looking at its money value because if you do so, well, it sounds like you’re already thinking about selling it :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: so then, why buy it? :astonished:

14

In all seriousness, who cares why people are selling? Shouldn’t you be happy that there are so many used options on the market for this fantastic synth?

15

The lack of midi out to DAW and the inability to control midi externally is a major turn off to some people, and a reason some sell it. I really need note out to DAW as I do the major arranging stuff on the computer. I actually bought a A4 more as a scratchpad, something I could sit on the couch with or take to to coffee shops and jam out ideas. I’ve been grossly dissapointed by being unable to simply share the notes I’ve programed with my DAW and personally have considered selling it.

However, I love the sound. The unison function is remarkable in an analog synth and can make face melting supersaws, the feedback osc can blow a hole in your speakers, and filter 2 is one of my favorite filters I’ve heard.

So I’ve kept it, but I’m still frustrated. And I know I’m not the only one. At least one other person on this forum has sold their for the same reason, and if you scroll through youtube, people get a little pissy about it.

It’s such a basic feature that simply shouldn’t be left out, and I’m really hoping Overbridge adds midi note on/off data and pitch to DAW. If it doesn’t, I honestly might sell it then. Even if I do love the sound, I need the ability to edit and expand on musical ideas I’ve composed in the sequencer. Otherwise it’s just a sound module, and it’s not as attractive when half of the features aren’t practical to use.