Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Sounds like a case of "supply and demand" to me. Roland was doing
    the same thing for a while with the MKS-20.
    
    Good luck,
    Derek

    There's only one way to find a cheaper price on an ESQ-1....
    
    Buy one for $1395 and then look in the first music store you see
    on the way home.
    
    Edd

    I bought a bunch of stuff including an ESQ-1 as part of a large
    deal.   The price they listed for the ESQ-1 on my receipt was $1200
    but being that it part of a deal involving other equipment I'm not
    sure if that's meaningful.
    
    I got my stuff from Daddy's Junky Music store in Manchester, NH.
    I dealt with a guy named Ralph, whom I believe is a manager type
    for that store.
    
    	Dave Blickstein

	Union in Framingham said the price was non-negotiable, but they'd
throw in expander cartridges and give drastic discounts on cases, stands, 
cords, etc.

	I've just seen the first ad for a used ESQ-1 in The Boston Phoenix
for the extraordinary low price of $1300.  $100 ain't worth the risk..to me.

    
    
          I got mine through the want ads in December 1986 for $1150.
    It was not a 'headline' ad but I had to read through every ad to
    find it nestled in with an ad for a TR505. The guy who owned it
    had no idea of its potential. The want ads are great if you can
    read through all those endless ads..........
    
    Good luck.
    
    Frank

    I talk to a friend of mine who works in a music store.  The basic
    story is that the ESQ-1 is so popular that each store can easily
    sell all the units that Ensoniq is able to send them.  
    
    Thus there is no reason for them to discount it.   Why should they
    sell it to you for $1350 if they KNOW they can sell it to someone
    else for $1395?
    
    I really don't consider this to be immoral at all.  It's just
    capitalism at work.  There is no conspiracy.
    
    I suggest you try to getting a unit here in NH, and at least that
    way you can save a good amount on taxes (taxes on $1400 is NOT
    small change).   Daddy's Junky Music seems to be the NH distributor
    for Ensoniq.  I have reason to believe that if you tell them about
    the deal Steve K. got ($1395 for ESQ-1 and sequencer expansion option),
    they'll probably match it.   I prefer dealing with Ralph at the
    Manchester store.   He seems to be more willing to work out things
    like package deals, one-pluses, etc. than the guys at the other stores.

    $1395 for a synth like an ESQ-1 and a 10K note sequencer is a 
    bargain anyway.  (I mean that's why they're going like hotcakes
    even at list price.)
    
    Maybe one of these days we can distribute a mini-COMMUSIC tape
    containing not audio recordings but ESQ-1 patch and sequencer data???

    	db

    COMMUSIC Junior.. ESQ Sequences and patches on audio cassette..
    neat idea. Why don't all you ESQ owners post yourselves here,
    so you can see what the prospective audience/contributors is/are?
    
    This will be, by definition, a somewhat exclusive tape.

    I question the value of this idea...
    
    I ordered one of the tapes advertised in the back of Keyboard,
    "64 Usefull Patches for your DX21".
    
    I picked it up at the post office and, full of anticipation, listened
    to it in the car on the way home. IT WAS TERRIBLE!! All the patches
    just sounded like white noise....
    
    Edd

    I've already sent a tape of all my ensonic patches across the pond
    to David Braithwaite. Quite painless really.
    
    Andrew
    

    
           There are a few ESQ-1 patches in note 656 that are worthwile
    programing into your ESQ-1. The harpsichord is quite good.
    
    Frank

    I guess I would like to get some advice.  I've never had a synthezier
    but have thought it would be fun to have one to play with.  I know
    someone who has a Ensoniq ESQ-1 for sale for $650.  Can anyone tell
    me if this is a good price. Someone else has informed me that he
    had seen one in the newspaper for $500.

    thanks

I bought one a couple months ago for $450. It had the latest software rev,
although only the minimum memory (which I quickly upgraded to the maximum for 
another $50).

Bargains are out there, I think its just a matter of patience and luck....

alan

I have gotten several response via mail regarding the pricing.  It seems
that most people have said that $650 is a bit high and that $450 - $500
is a better range.  I sent mail to the person asking additional questions
and here is his reply:

To:	[email protected] 
CC:	
Subj:	ESQ-1 

Michael,
 
md>    1. You said that you have lots of different patches.  Are these
md>       on patch cartridges or tapes and how many?  Since this is an
md>       older model that has been discontinued, is it still possible to
md>       buy patch cartridges (I understand ProSound is the dealer here in
md>       town)?

I have 3 or 4 cassette patch tapes loaded into machine via cassette player.
I have 2 plug in EROM cartridges, 4 patches per
 
md>    2.  Is the control voltage pedal included? 

YES
 
md>    3.  Does a sustain pedal come with it?

Yes, plus volume pedal.
 
md>    4.  Does it have the stock sequencer with 2400 notes or does it
md>        include a note expander. If so, the number of notes? I understand
md>     that 10k and 20k note expanders were made.

I have a sequencer note expander, not sure how many total notes.
My understanding is that it was the maximum amount.

md>
md>    5.  What is software rev? I understand that 3.5 is the latest.

I believe it is 3.5.

-Paul