Should one first buy an EI or an EII?

[clark]

I'm still kicking myself over missing out on buying a well-maintained EI, last year, for only $400.  I've also been waiting to match times when I have the extra money to buy an EII at a good price.

Now, I have a chance at another EI, but something tells me to wait.  I apologize in advance to the Emax supporters, but its sound doesn't do it for me.  I need to get my Emulator fix. 

But, should it first be an EI or an EII?   

[Elmbeatz]

EI is a pretty "simple" machine. It doesn't even compare to the Emax in any way. EII is very similar to Emax in lots of ways - though it sounds better and looks smarter. 
BUT - EI's a collectors item and gets rarer and rarer, so IF you NEED to own one, grab it as soon as you can 

P.S.: Emax got quite some features that I REALLY miss on EII - better transposition possibilities, more lfo options to name just a few...

If you want to make music primarily, I'd go for the EII first. then go hunting for an EI if you got even more GAS.

[12bit]

I absolutely agree with Elmbeatz here.

If you're looking for a capable studio grade hardware sampler go for the EII.
If you're into history and collecting get the EI (which is in every way a fantastic machine but also - as Elmbeatz wrote - simple and not a first-go-to sampler in the studio :/)

KennethA
theEMUs.com

[clark]

Thanks for the replies. 

I already understood that the EI was super simple.  I should have clarified that I would be using the keyboard somewhat like a processor/effect black box--meaning, I would use other devices for much of the editing.  I'm primarily concerned with the EI's and the EII's sound signatures.  So, I'm curious about the differences in their warmth/grit/character and the quality of their respective filters.

But, the EI having very limited sample time concerns me, somewhat.

[clark]

Oh, and what should one expect to pay for an EI.  I've been watching EII prices for some years.

[Elmbeatz]

The last EI I can recall was butt-ugly painted black and sat on ebay for ages. Seller wanted about 500 € for it I think. I remember another one from france in quite good condition (even longer ago maybe 4 or 5 years)  which went for 1000 € iirc...

[ahaigh01]

There's an EI on ebay right now...

[12bit]

There's an EI on ebay right now...

Well. It only has one voice board installed - no wonder not all the voices work :-)
But maybe it is a rare 4 voice version. As far as I know only a few were made. I mean; the cabling in the one for sale looks like it is only supposed to support one voice board - weird. Or maybe it's just well done.

No matter the reason it is only a four voice version.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=281057833372&globalID=EBAY-US

KennethA
theEMUs.com