I once owned a Korg MS-20, and while it was fun and could do a whole lot, it took a while to produce the sounds I wanted. While the Monotron does not have the shear capabilities present in the MS-20, does it need to? Most people use Microsoft products because (most of the time) they simply work. Now, with digital audio workstations, it is possible to achieve whatever sounds you want, and when I pickup hardware, I want easily reproducible sounds, or at least easily attainable. The Korg Monotron is superior to any vintage synth in terms of plug and playability.
I don’t know if I’m paranoid about something breaking right before a show, but I need stuff that works one hundred percent of the time. I cannot be sitting ten minutes before a show with a soldering iron hoping that the potentiometer does not break on me this time. I also don’t have the budget to buy spare parts, I want something that works all the time (maybe I’m just cheap). Regardless, for me not having to buy spare parts was one of the things that sealed the deal.
With the Korg Monotron, you know you are buying a new product. This means you have a warranty and you have a company to ask for support. Although I can’t imagine what questions could possibly be asked, it is still great to have backup if something happens. On a vintage synth, they are vintage because there is no support, there are limited resources online, and there is no guarantee or warranty at all.
When buying from a major site like Sweetwater or Musicians Friend, you have shipping support as well, where eBay can be difficult at times, especially if you and the shipper value the contents, but the shipping company does not. It is like deciding between an Xbox 360 Slim and a Nintendo, with one you get support and brand new stuff, the other you go retro which can be a benefit as well. You never know what could happen, so if you are on a budget and the Monotron does everything you need to, by all means go get one.
