So I was looking up the SP404 at my local gear shop. They've had a bunch of B-stock units for $300, but they recently ran out. When I was checking today I noticed they marked the normal "new" Sp404 as "discontinued". I wonder if this is error on their part or an indication that new hardware is on the way. Check it out for yourselves.

http://www.platinum-records.com/Boss-Ro ... od7438.htm

maybe the 555 will just get a price drop..

or maybe the 555 has been selling well enough that they'll cut the 404 and not do anything to the 555 price..


It would be nice if a new SP came out.. I hope its portable/battery powered.

yes that would be nice..laptop batteries for the win.
but with the trends they way they have been going, its most likely going to be a mpc/computer replacement
a lot of the money to be made is in software so i wouldnt be surprised if they try to make a unique box to compete along side DAWS but without being complete workstations like the MV's

heres hoping its a wild card of something we didnt know we needed...

good point actually,
could be a maschine like thing..

http://roland.co.uk/products/productlis ... 282&lp=S-U

It's not discontinued, the shop probably just doesn't carry them anymore. Having said that, the SP-404 is the only remaining battery powered sampler, so I don't see Roland discontinuing it anytime soon.

There's something fishy going on with that website anyway when it comes to 'discontinued' products, after all, until recently they were apparently still selling the long discontinued SP-606...

In other news, there's certainly stuff happening, with a Roland Connect marketing campaign being started a few days back. Apparently 1st of September or so will be a very interesting day, but we're still left in the dark what kind of new equipment to expect.

Thing about the SP606 is that were just selling them last month. They had some demo units and some B-Stocks. I've gone into the shop and talked to the people about the B-Stock Sp404 and they said they were getting more in and to keep looking at the website. That's why I found it odd when I saw they were discontinued over the weekend. I agree it would be a dumb move to stop carrying the 404 since it's their best selling sampler. Platinum Records in Portland and Seattle are one of the only places to pick up gear that's NOT guitar center.

Yeah, but apparently webstores have been selling SP-606s on and off for years. I'm thinking their usage of 'discontinued' is a bit off when they do sell the officially discontinued SP-606 too, regardless of b-stock / trade-in units and so on.

All good with me though, I'm sure Roland won't discontinue anything without an official notice.

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.c ... ku=700451X

that one says its discontinued too

edit: oops that was a scratch and dent item... my bad

Naw man, they're just clearing off the shelves to make way for the Beat Thang!

There will be space for that for sure, but not in place of the SP-404 as it's still selling like hotdogs. Everybody and his mother seems to want a portable device like the SP-404, be it stand-alone or as FX tool. Yeah, the Beat Thang is portable, but it's like 4 times as expensive.

I sort of want one too though so I can make beats while on vacation, damn did I miss that ish.

beat thang isnt really that portable.. it's like a battery powered elephant

Also to add to the speculations,

korg is supposedly releasing new gear early september as well!

i would love a new fancy electribe..


i want a love child of a 404 an electribe an 80(mc not tr) and an mpc... maybe a little beat thang in there cuz you know how i like things southern...

i head the new thing they have cookin will have a mix of an electribe and the KP line.. which im not at excited about...