Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Hello again---

Back in 1993, I started out with a VFX SD that belonged to my son, 
which developed problems and he wouldn't use it for gigs.  So he gave 
it to me (it was only 3 years old). I tried to get it fixed at an 
Authorized Ensoniq dealer, but it worked for them, so they said 
nothing needed doing to it.  Of course, that wasn't true----it kept 
giving me the "calibration error" and sometimes wouldn't go past it 
when I hit "ignore".  Then it gave me low battery messages AND the 
calibration problem.  Finally it simply would not get past these 
things at all, so it sat in its case for years.  Then,  I bought 
another, a VFX SD 1/32, hoping it wouldn't have the keyboard 
connection problem.  Instead, it would refuse to light up the display 
board.  I finally got it to come on, but, after a while, it got hot 
enough to fry an egg, and gave up.  So I called every place I could, 
trying to get someone to fix it.  All I heard were mumbles about' not 
being able to get parts'.  At last, I found Thevan out in California 
and sent it to him.  He informed me that it needed a new main board 
(very expensive!) which he is replacing and will ship it back to me.  
Meantime, because I am a very impatient character, and had some money 
to spare, bought another VFX SD.  I was SO sick of trying to do 
something about this problem for, at least, 11 years!  This one works 
just fine---no low battery; no calibration errors. But, since I only 
use this instrument for piano playing, having only 61 keys means I 
run out sometimes and don't know what to do about that.

So now I have three keyboards, the first which will be sent to 
California when I have more dollars to spare, one on the way back, 
full operating, and one here which works (but for how long?).  And, 
since, I have been doing a lot of research online about Ensoniqs, I 
found out there are 76 and 88-key models.   Mainly the E-Prime and 
the ASR-88.  Are these to be recommended?  I do not use any of the 
myriad of features these machines have; I simply play it, as I would 
an acoustic piano. By the way, they have an incredible sound, and 
NEVER need tuning! Do I get each of these three fully repaired so 
they never give anyone an ounce of trouble and sell them, so I can 
recoup some of my outlay and get one of the 76 key or 88 key models?  
Will they sound just as wonderful? There is no place where I could 
test one of these out, and I have to assume that ALL Ensoniqs have 
the same sound quality.  Whatcha think?------Dorothy