Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
It's unfortunate that I see that your posts are usually very negative about your Estonia, when the majority of posts on the brand (for the last ten years of production) are extremely positive.
I'd imagine Mark thinks it's a lot more "unfortunate" than you do given that it's his piano that's the lemon.
It's unfortunate that I see that your posts are usually very negative about your Estonia, when the majority of posts on the brand (for the last ten years of production) are extremely positive.
I'd imagine Mark thinks it's a lot more "unfortunate" than you do given that it's his piano that's the lemon.
I experienced a sour string on my 190. Replacing it made all the difference and while the action needs regulation (it's 5 years old and feels a bit heavy) I do enjoy playing it. I've played some newer 190s which felt lighter and quicker and sounded as good or better.
Be that as it may if I'd had many strings on my Estonia that were sour it would have driven me crazy. Given that the cliche says, "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me," I can quite understand if he's a bit gun shy (at least as regards the Estonia brand).
Having said all that I'm really looking forward to hearing the 7' Estonia, but I'm not sure I'll ever have the opportunity.
Yes, most of the strings were replaced because there were kinks in them, but it still sounds poor. It has/had other issues as well. It's just a lemon.
Wow, that really sucks! Did you try to get the dealer to replace the piano with another?
Intially he did, but my tech and the dealer agreed that the L190s he had at the dealership all had some similar issues with metallic overtones. So we decided to go the string replacement route. A guy in Utah had it done for the same problem and was happy. Mine didn't work as well.
I'm to the point where I just live with beast and deal with it, but look forward when time and money will allow me to get something else. I might have to wait till I retire in about ten years. And although I'm quite the piano hack, I do practice about 2 hours a day, everyday on it.
I just finished the online recital here, and many noticed the problems with my freshly tuned piano.
I experienced a sour string on my 190. Replacing it made all the difference and while the action needs regulation (it's 5 years old and feels a bit heavy) I do enjoy playing it. I've played some newer 190s which felt lighter and quicker and sounded as good or better.
You’d be surprised what a little Protek CLP lubricant on the flanges, powdered Teflon on the shank knuckles, and polishing the tops of the brass cap-stands will do for your action. Next time your tech comes to tune it, ask her/him about it.
I remember reading about a couple of PW members having some problems with their Estonia grand pianos. It’s unfortunate that anyone would get a lemon in any high-end piano, but I suppose it does happen. My thinking is that when you pay a lot of money for a high-end piano, you want it to be perfect, or at least as close to perfect as you can get. You would think they'd be superior in quality to lesser expensive pianos. Maybe my way of thinking is all wrong.
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
I just finished the online recital here, and many noticed the problems with my freshly tuned piano.
Wow, Mark I just listened to your recording and it was clear there was something funny with the bass on the piano. Perhaps you should contact Indrek Laul and send him this video. I don't think he'd want that sound to be representative of a new Estonia.
"Playing the piano is my greatest joy...period."......JP
Wow, Mark I just listened to your recording and it was clear there was something funny with the bass on the piano. Perhaps you should contact Indrek Laul and send him this video. I don't think he'd want that sound to be representative of a new Estonia.
ditto +1
A little out of tune, but definately an unusual twang. Playing was nice though.
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
Wow, Mark I just listened to your recording and it was clear there was something funny with the bass on the piano. Perhaps you should contact Indrek Laul and send him this video. I don't think he'd want that sound to be representative of a new Estonia.
ditto +1
A little out of tune, but definately an unusual twang. Playing was nice though.
Rick
It was tuned just a few days prior, but I trust your judgment, I can hear off sounds but generally oblivious to off tuning.
There seems to be several things going on here. The tech should definitely have looked at all factors involving seating of strings, hammers, hammer line up,regulation, etc
It may be a day's job but can be done.
I can't believe that this piano can't be brought up to snuff by someone who knows his stuff.
I've seen same or even worse with some of world's finest. One sorry case recently involving one of world's most admired...
This IMHO is a totally doable job. But you need the right person to do it. Too bad you're so far from us, know a guy who would be able to handle this.
Ever thought of bringing in a top tech from outside?
Ever thought of bringing in a top tech from outside?
Norbert
My tech has over 30 years experience as a tuner and a re-builder. He's worked on the E Street bands concert piano when they were on tour in the north east. He even restrung their concert piano. He seems very competent. He noticed the piano was a problem right away when I first got it. He was hoping that a few tuning would clear up the new strings, but its been about 16 months and 3-4 tuning later.
I think my problem has taken us way off topic, since it's really about the new Estonia 7 footer.
So any ideas of the cost for a Estonia 7 footer?
Well I think the 7' 4" has great potential and probably worth a look. But given your past relationship with your 190 I can certainly understand your hesitation.
Quote
I just listened to the piano and can assure it doesn't sound like any Estonia we ever had.
Mark: I pmed you and will do some investigations for you. I was one of the first Estonia dealer and we never had a piano with this type sound.
Norbert, I think that would be great. Mark deserves a better fate than this. The piano has a fundamentally different sound than any Estonia I have listened to.
It's unfortunate that I see that your posts are usually very negative about your Estonia, when the majority of posts on the brand (for the last ten years of production) are extremely positive.
I'd imagine Mark thinks it's a lot more "unfortunate" than you do given that it's his piano that's the lemon.
I never meant any bad feelings here.
Wow, I listened to Mark's recital and that is NOT how our Estonia sounds at all! Yeah, I have empathy for Mark's situation.
Don't know if this thread is still alive. Did the 7'4 Estonia arrive in the NYC area? I would love to try one. I have a 190 and I find the F2 area slightly unsatisfying. The rest is superb.
I guess the 7'4" has not arrived anywhere at any dealer's showroom yet as I have not seen it announced on any Estonia dealer website in the world.
There is even not a trace of it on the official Estonia Pianos website: it is not yet in the model list and there in no trace of it neither in the news section (press releases) or 'Estonia in the World' section!
The new 225 was presented at the NAMM 2011 in January yes but as long as the first species that were ordered are not shipped out to dealers, for me it is not officially launched as not readily available. The first to leave the factory must still be somewhere in the production process, hopefully for those waiting for one, close to the end stage of it.
Rest assured that the first Estonia dealer participating here who gets one delivered will not be too shy announcing it on the forum.
I made this video for those who are interested. I recommend headphones for full effect.
Sam Bennett PianoWorks - Atlanta Piano Dealer Bösendorfer, Estonia, Seiler, Grotrian, Hailun Pre-Owned: Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway & other fine pianos Full Restoration Shop www.PianoWorks.com www.youtube.com/PianoWorksAtlanta