Used on eBay right now
Linn Electronics Linndrum LM-2 Rare Vintage Drum Machine Synthesizer WorkingUsed · Buy It Now$5,150
Linn Electronics Linndrum LM-2 Rare Vintage Drum Machine Synthesizer LM2Used · Buy It Now$5,600
LinnDrum LM-2 w/ FORAT MIDI Retrofit - Recent Service - Excellent ConditionUsed · Buy It Now$7,700
LinnDrum LM-2 w/ Forat MIDI Retrofit, Fully ServicedUsed · Buy It Now$8,000
LinnDrum LM2 JLCooper MIDI Drum Machine Excellent ConditionUsed · Buy It Now$26,494
Linn Electronics Linndrum LM2 Digital Drum Machine Vintage Rare Historic + EpromUsed · Buy It Now$9,100
The LinnDrum (LM-2) is Roger Linn’s follow-up to the LM-1, released in 1982 and made until 1985. Cheaper than its predecessor and the first Linn with sampled crash and ride cymbals, it became a studio standard of 1980s pop and R&B and a raw tool for early rap.
History
About 5,000 LinnDrums were built, more than the LM-1 and Linn 9000 combined. It carries 15 sampled sounds at 8 bits, 12 voices, 15 pads, 56 user and 42 preset patterns and 49 songs, with individual outputs and per-voice level and pan. Tuning is limited to snare, toms and congas. It listed at $2,995. MIDI was only available through third-party retrofit kits, and after Linn Electronics closed in 1986, Forat Electronics took over service.
In hip hop
Too $hort’s 1985 debut Don’t Stop Rappin’ ran on raw LinnDrum beats, years before his move to the 808. More broadly, the LinnDrum’s sampled kit is all over the 80s records that rap producers later sampled, on songs by Michael Jackson, Madonna, a-ha and Trevor Horn and Stock Aitken Waterman productions.
Buying one today
Original LinnDrums are sought-after vintage pieces. Check that all 15 sounds play, that the pads and sliders work, and whether a MIDI retrofit is installed. GForce’s IconDrum and many sample packs recreate the sound if you only want the samples.
LinnDrum videos: demos, history and breakdowns
