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My Favorite Coin-Operated Pianos
By Stephen Kent Goodman

I would have to agree with Don Teach about cabinet vs. keyboard pianos
--  the piano physics are different between the machines.  For one thing,
the string scales tend to be larger and there is just more sounding
board space with keyboard styles.  It's a similar principle to why the
larger the grand piano, the "better" the sound.  And when the coin
piano sits on an all-wood floor, an acoustical coupling takes place that
is magical.

An exception to the value principle is the poor Seeburg E Special.
It contains all the instruments of the popular KT Special, but never
even approached the KT Special's value amongst collectors.  If memory
serves, I restored an E Special many years ago that played a full 88-note
keyboard.  It sounded really rich and full, despite the ear-numbing
reiterating xylophone!

I think that the Nelson Wiggen equivalent is the Style 7; again,
it's worth far less than the much desired Style 6 cabinet.  And the
single-strike xylophone Seeburg E is one of my all-time favorites
as well.

Stephen Kent Goodman



(Message sent Fri, 16 Sep 2005 18:25:00 -0700 (PDT) , from time zone -0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Coin-Operated, Favorite, My, Pianos

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