If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Seeburg R verses Rockola 1448 - Opinions wanted
I currently own a Wurlitzer 1700HF. I'm looking into my next juke.
What are people's opinions on Seeburgs verses Rockolas? The Seeburg seems to have endless reproduction parts and are built like a tank. The 1448 has 120 selections and looks similar in outside appearance to the R. I know the 'black head' cartridges for the Seeburgs are scarce. Not sure about the situation with Rockolas. I've read in other postings that the Rockolas are not known for handling records gently. Of course this might be because someone set-up their Rockola poorly. One reason I selected the 1700 was I liked the way it handed records. Personally, I like the exposed mechanism of the Rockola 1448. I also like the way title strips are shown 40 at a time (similar to the Seeburg V/VL). I've also read some negative postings about the 'Rockola sound' which seemed to indicate less than stellar sound. My 1700 has that 'Cobra' sound which is an acquired taste. I'd love to hear people's experiences with Rockolas (especially the 1448 and similar models). All things being equal (in terms of condition) is a Seeburg R worth more than a Rockola 1448? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Here is my opinion on the Rock ola #1448 which I have in my collection
at the present time. I also have a totally restored Seeburg VL-200 which I have restored myself and a Seeburg W that I am almost finished with the restoration. I have had the pleasure of owning a Seeburg DS-160, KD-200, Q-100, AMI J -200, AMI -H, and the list goes on. I have heard all the talk (and put downs) just like in the posting above about the Rock ola # 1448, but always heard good things from Rock ola jukebox lovers and wanted to get one anyway because of the great look of the record being played flat like your old record player did, plus it had the rotating title drum which is cool and gives a bigger window for viewing pleasure plus I wanted to hear it for myself. Here is ther story on my Rock ola #1448 that I recently picked up over two or three years ago. I never plugged it in at the person house when I bought it or even check to see if it worked, because I knew I could fix most problems if it had any. When I got it home it basically play with some minor problems I had to repair from the juke not being use for some years. Remember, I did not do any work to the amp at all. When it finally played a record for the first time, I was shock to hear such a sweet sounding jukebox especially after all the bad talk you hear about this juke, plus it was smaller in size then most 1950's jukeboxes. I had plan on taking out the amp and replacing every capacitor like I normally do for all the jukes that are keepers but I'm content the way it is sounding now . I wouldn't turn down a nice original Rock ola #1448 if I were you ! It rates up there with the Seeburg R. You couldn't lose out on either jukebox you choose. Both the R and the 1448 have certain good quality's about them that make it a coin flip. I do not think you would be unhappy with either of them. Visit my website click on jukeboxes. I have some info and pictures there, but none of my Rock ola #1448. If you want to see some pictures of my all original Rock ola #1448 email me and I will send some out. Check it out ! I hope you enjoy your visit. Please LMK.. any comments welcome... http://gallery.fdu.edu/wsc/pluchino/campgames/ Here is the Gameroom Magazine article for Nov 2003 featured is my pinball gameroom as the "Gameroom of the Month" click on all 6 pages of pictures... http://www.gameroommagazine.com/gm1103_1.htm Thanks for being interested. Vic "mike" wrote in message ink.net... I have to agree with Phil. While I have never heard one personally, I have heard several other seasoned juke collectors claim that the R was the best sounding juke they have ever heard (although I cant imagine it being better than my VL) Parts for the Seeburg R are going to be much more plentiful than the 1448. The cartridges for the Seeburg can get pricey and there are no repros.......yet. While both mechs can have their technical quirks, I think the Rock-ola mech and rotating title drum offers a more visually stimulating machine. The Seeburg is going to be a more valuable box - between $1500-$2000 more valuable than the 1448 grades 1 and 2 equivalent (according to AJPG 2003) If you are going for sound the R is going to be it. If you are going for looks and visual appeal, the 1448 would be a good choice. In the end its going to be a personal preference; both are very nice boxes with lots of great features Good luck Mike "Philip Nasadowski" wrote in message ... In article , (Fred) wrote: I'd love to hear people's experiences with Rockolas (especially the 1448 and similar models). All things being equal (in terms of condition) is a Seeburg R worth more than a Rockola 1448? I'd go for the R. Seeburgs are better on records, more robust, and sound better. I know the Rock-Ola crowd will hang me, but I've yet to hear a 40's 50's early 60's Rock-Ola that didn't sound like crap. seeburgs can be all over the place (IMHO the A, B and C sound lousy too), but the R is a nice box. Rock-Olas look nice, but the DC motor thing gets annoying, they're prone to 'thumpers' if the drive wheel goes flat, I've heard the pinbanks don't really work well, and they're spotty on records, though I can't see why they'd be any harsher than any other machine, if setup right. The clincher is Seeburg remote equipment is available everywhere, and if you like wallboxes, that's a plus. Seeburgs can be a real bear to work on, though, and there's a LOT of adjustments to go over, and it takes a lot of time to get them just right. They're a VERY tight mech, really an acomplishment in miniature engineering. A 50's Seeburg mech makes everything else from the era look crude. I wonder if the 'tech appeal' of them helped sell them origionally, I've heard they were very profitable, but also expensive machines... Of course, if you want sound quality, you want an AMI F or G, or the ever popular H/I/J/K/whatever machines. Or a Conti. The three cone Wurlitzer sound system's nice, but IMHO, an AMI F will blow a Cobra Wurlizter out the door. And you can stick an NP/AC cartridge on them and they're good on stereo records then, but you might wanna tone down the top end (which is hot on that amp as it is - I'm guessing they go up higher than most juke amps?). JBC had an article about this the other month. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Seeburg 100b parts WANTED | Brent | Juke Boxes | 0 | March 4th 04 04:55 PM |
Seeburg USC2 Firestar Jukebox - Value / Opinions | Fred | Juke Boxes | 10 | December 16th 03 02:28 PM |
FS/T: Jukebox Projects - Rockola 450, 437, 426 & Seeburg Home (central NY) | Joshua DeLorenzo | Juke Boxes | 0 | October 18th 03 10:50 PM |
Wanted: Rockola model 1448 or 1454 | Nimko Lodewijk | Juke Boxes | 1 | September 12th 03 02:58 PM |
Record Handling; Seeburg vs. Rockola, how about AMI or Wurlitzers? | KLR | Juke Boxes | 5 | July 1st 03 04:19 PM |