Hi Lucky

1. The smaller the manufacture, the fewer dealers you will find, so be prepared to travel.

2. Most manufactures boards have owners clubs or forums, so just contact them and you will usually find some owners locally who will allow you to try there baby out. (It’s also a more relaxed atmosphere, and you will find out things that the salesman doesn’t know, or won’t tell you about)

3. Record some of your own songs as Midi files, and then play them back on the instrument you try, and see if you can modify them to get the sound you like. (If you can get the Midi file sounding decent, then you should easily be able to get the board set up as you want)

4. Most smaller manufactures also produce organs; however most use the same sound and style system as their keyboards, so you will still be able to find out if it will suit.

5. If you have niggling doubts after you have tried it, then by all means try it another time, but if the niggles are still there, be wary, as what start out as small niggles, can end up being a major issue.

6. Don’t expect perfection, because it doesn’t exist.

Hope this helps

Regards

Bill