ok these old machines are nice but....i think that with a rm1x(yamaha)or mc505 you can produce similar and interesting things.an idea is most important thing-you can have all the gear liam uses but you want be able to get his feelin for track.how many people have same equipment but not a same style? so...i cant wait for a new roland mc909-look here for some pictures etc www.mc-909.com or www.the-abc.de make your own style of music!
Absolutely, it doesn't depend on the drummachine, good music comes out of nearly every piece of equipment.
No one would have believed that an album like MFTJG could have been written with something like the W-30.
It's just a question of taste, imagination and innovation and of course how much time you are willing (and/or are able to) to spend for those things.
But still the drummachine-thing is important sometimes.
I personally wouldn't go for anything less than e SP1200.
For a hundred reasons, but mainly because you don't need to alter the sound much, it comes very fat and punchy as it is and it has a very deep and extended character. Hard but yet broad and warm. I'm talking about the BD's right now...
Way too expensice, though.