Roland Drops SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition
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Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition, a custom-skinned version of the popular SP-404MKII phrase sampler, includes Stones Throw artist-created sample banks, a vinyl record and mixtape.
Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition
Honestly, I’m usually a little apprehensive when I hear about a limited edition version of an instrument. This is specially when it’s a signature model. They can often feel like shameless cash grabs. Not all, of course. The AFX Station comes to mind as a limited edition done right. I think it’s safe to include Roland’s SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition in the category of “limited edition models that kick ass”.
Custom faceplate on the Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition · Source: Roland
So Much Stones Throw, So Much Want
The new Stones Throw SP-404MKII is a reskinned SP-404MKII phrase sampler done in collaboration with the good people at Stones Throw Records. If you don’t know, Stones Throw is a Los Angeles-based independent hip-hop label founded in 1996 by artist Peanut Butter Wolf.
There’s a lot of cool happening here so let’s unpack each element one by one. I’m not really much of a hip-hop guy but even I want this.
Skin in the Game
The first thing you’ll likely notice is the new high-shine aluminium faceplate. Longtime Stones Throw art director and illustrator, Jeff Jank, designed the faceplate along with the custom packaging. The SP-404 series has a long history of custom skins and faceplates, as I talked about in my recent article, Accidental icons: The Roland TR-808, TB-303, SP-404 and More.
Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition · Source: Roland
Sounds of Stones
The Stones Throw connection continues inside the unit, with 10 banks of brand-new samples and patterns from Stones Throw artists Kiefer, Sudan Archives, Mndsgn, J.Rocc, and DJ Harrison.
Source: Roland
Collectors take note: the new Stones Throw SP-404MKII also comes with a seven-inch vinyl record. This highly collectible record features two tracks from Kiefer and Mndsgn made with their sample banks. There’s even a 30-minute mixtape from J.Rocc comprised of music from the participating artists. Yes, an actual cassette. How soon until these show up on Discogs for crazy money?
Source: Roland
About the Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition
For those unfamiliar with the SP-404MKII, it’s the latest model in a long-running series of SP phrase samplers from Roland and Boss. It features 17 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, a circular OLED display, onboard effects and more.
This new version doesn’t seem to add any new functionality, with the sample banks and custom faceplate being the selling point.
The Roland SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition is now available at Thomann for $794. Get yours before an eBay reseller does.
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3 responses to “Roland Drops SP-404MKII Stones Throw Limited Edition”
Im actually in the market for a SP so I was excited to see this headline. More than twice the price for a paintjob that makes reading the labels impossible, some samples nobody needs because you want to sample stuff and not use premade crap, a casette I cant play anywhere… I think I´ll pass.
Also you linked the AFX Station to an article saying that a paintjob and some presets is not the way to go for a special edition. I don´t understand your logic here.
straight cash grab. No other way to look at this.
I think that the new SP -404MkII is pretty cool, Iove to find about new gear and what it does.