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
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