A beautifully preserved Alesis HR-16 with a rare EPROM sound upgrade featuring additional drum sounds from legendary vintage machines, including the Roland TR-808 and TR-606. Complete with its original Alesis power supply and original factory box.

The HR-16 is already a vintage classic, but this upgraded version brings even more sonic character to the table. The custom EPROM sound set expands its creative possibilities with sounds inspired by some of the most recognizable drum machines in electronic music history.

The unit itself is in great condition, remarkably well preserved for its age. A wonderful example of this American-made drum machine, with the added appeal of its upgraded sound library.

Included

• Alesis HR-16 Drum Machine
• Rare EPROM Sound Upgrade – including TR-808, TR-606 and other vintage drum machine sounds
• Original Alesis Power Supply
• Original Alesis Factory Box

Condition: The drum machine has been very well preserved and remains in great overall cosmetic condition.

About the Original Box: The factory box is solid, sturdy, and structurally sound. Unfortunately, somewhere along its decades-long journey, it appears to have developed a bit of a coffee addiction! ☕ As the photographs show, there is noticeable coffee-like staining and discoloration on portions of the cardboard. Aside from this cosmetic issue, the original box is in remarkably good shape for its age.

Whether you're producing old-school electro, industrial, synthpop, house, hip-hop, or simply enjoy the unmistakable character of vintage digital drum machines, this EPROM-upgraded HR-16 is a particularly interesting piece of hardware to own.

Fun Fact 🎹

Introduced in 1988, the Alesis HR-16 was among the more affordable 16-bit digital drum machines of its era, offering a level of sampled drum sound quality that previously required considerably more expensive hardware.

Its socketed sound EPROM architecture also made it a favorite among hardware enthusiasts and circuit-modification communities. By replacing the original sound chips with custom-programmed EPROMs, users could give the machine an entirely different sonic personality — helping keep the HR-16 relevant decades after its introduction.

Thanks for Visiting Dear Gear Island — Ready to Create

Dear Gear Island believes the fun should start as soon as you open the box. Whenever possible, we include the cables, batteries, power supplies, memory cards, adapters, and other practical extras that help you get up and running right away.

Less time searching for accessories. More time making music.

Ships fast, packed securely, and ready for its next studio, vintage drum machine collection, or electronic music adventure.