For all of you who have been patiently waiting for me to reveal (admit?) the brand of my new piano, this is the thread.

For those who insisted they already know what it is, and couldn't resist telling everyone, shame on you for trying to ruin our fun. For those who claimed to know (and the few who actually did) and chose to go along with the game, thank you for playing along.

For those who were reasonably sure they guessed right, the answer will be revealed shortly in this thread.

And finally, for those who have no clue what I'm talking about, I've been stringing people along (pun intended) for quite some time now. Mostly because the game was fun, but also partly because I just didn't have the time to put this together correctly. Now Kathy and I are making the time.

I will start with pictures of my piano in its new home in my music room. I will then backtrack and share with you pictures and details of my adventure selecting the piano.

Here she is sitting at the far end of my music room...


A full length shot viewed from tail to front


A long side view (before I moved it around)...



Shot at night, Kirby the Wonder Dog Guards the New Piano...



And now for the shot you've all been asking for (and yes, those are my hands)...
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And a View Under the Hood showing the signatures of Dr. Indrek Laul, his Dad Venno, and the head of piano production at Laul Estonia Pianos in Tallinn, Estonia (story to follow)



And with her blanket on...



(throw is available in our Online Store if you're curious)

And now for the story behind the story (or as Paul Harvery used to say "And now for the rest of the story").

It all began at the NAMM show in Anaheim (Jan. 2011). I was making my usual rounds saying hello to friends old and new, and playing pianos whenever I got the chance.

We (Kathy and I) had stopped by the Estonia Piano booth, which as everyone who attends NAMM knows not only contains lovely pianos, but also the most comfortable chairs in the show:-)

I sat down and played one of the Estonia pianos for a while. When I stopped Indrek (Dr. Indrek Laul, owner of Estonia Piano company) came by to chat. He complimented me on my playing, I mentioned that it was somewhat of a challenge for me to play a real grand as I only have a digital piano at home.

He couldn't believe "Mr. PianoWorld" didn't have a real (acoustic) piano at home. He said that just didn't seem right, I agreed. We talked more about it and how we might fix the problem. Bottom line, we came to an agreement that worked for both of us, and meant I'd finally get to have a real piano in my home.

Here we are enjoying the Estonia Booth comfortable chairs...


On top of that, Indrek knew we were planning a European Piano Tour with a group of forums members for June 2011, so he invited us to visit the Estonia piano factory in Tallinn before starting our tour.

Kathy and I accepted, and my sister and her husband agreed to meet us over there (they were joining us on the tour as well).

And so the adventure begins.

On May 31 Kathy and I boarded a plane in Miami, 22 hours 3 plane changes, and 4 airports later we landed in Tallinn, Estonia. My sister Barbara and her husband Larry left a day earlier because they fly standby, and beat us to the hotel in Estonia (but not by much).

Indrek picked Kathy and I up at the airport and took us to our hotel, pointing out some of the sights as we drove.

Thursday June 2 we made our first visit to the Estonia Piano Factory where they had 3 pianos all ready for me to try.


Arriving at the Estonia Piano Factory (that's Indrek's Dad Venno waving. Venno by the way is a famous choir conductor and instrumental in getting a beautiful music school constructed in Tallinn)



Chatting with Venno Laul (Indrek's dad who overseas factory operations).


Indek Laul telling me I have 3 pianos to choose from, and that they are going to leave me alone to make my choice.


The View Outside the Estonia Factory Window...


Me trying out the pianos...


The three pianos...


Frank & Kathy with the Chosen Piano


Indrek, Frank, Venno (Indrek's dad), and the head of Production...


Kathy, Frank, Barbara (Frank's sister), Larry (Frank's brother-in-law)


Indrek & Frank with chosen piano



CONTINUED BELOW....

Touring the Estonia Piano Factory...





Stringing Area


Winding Bass Strings


Brace Yourself


Rims with Braces


Plate Home (plates are curing)


Lid, note there are no seams where the veneer curves over the edges.


Additional factory pictures will be posted later.

While we were in Tallinn, Estonia we toured the area courtesy of Indrek and his Dad.

They were very gracious hosts, and obviously quite proud of their country and their city. Thanks to their connections we got to see some behind the scenes sights, experience wonderful live music performances, and tour the old city with a private guide (Indrek's cousin, a professional guide and interpreter) who did an amazing job.

I'm posting a few pictures below, I'll try to follow up with more pictures and stories of our visit to Estonia soon.
I can tell you all four of us would go back in a heartbeat if we could.

Part of the huge wall and fortification surrounding the hill overlooking old Tallinn. Built in medieval times (as was much of the old city).



Old Town Tallinn




















Additional pictures of Tallinn and Estonia Piano later.
I will also post some videos of me playing the new piano.

After our visit to Estonia we headed for Hamburg, Germany where
we met up with the rest of our European Piano Tour Group

Cheers! Thanks for all the wonderful photos and story.

I'll be sending that $1 very soon.

Congratulations on your wonderful new grand. Imagine, an Estonia. I would never have guessed......
Great pictures from the factory and Tallinn, I never got to see it in sunshine, but even in the pouring rain, it was delightful.
May you enjoy your fine instrument for many, many years to come.

Congratulations!

I was on the phone with Indrek Laul while you were choosing your piano. It took all of my will power to keep my pie hole shut!

Congratulations, Frank! The reveal was worth the wait. Your photos were lovely. It makes me wish I could visit Estonia some day.

If you have the chance, I'd love to hear more about how you decided among the three possibilities. Were they very similar and it was basically a matter of very slight preferences? Or did you perceive a bigger difference that made it easier to choose?

An inspiring, intriguing, interesting and wonderful thread, Frank!

Thanks for posting the pictures along with the narration (the rest of the story ).

Congratulations again on your most excellent Estonia grand piano! I’ll look forward to the videos of your playing the piano.

All the best!

Rick

Congrats, Frank - nice piano!

Congrats, Frank. As a very happy Estonia owner I know you will love your new instrument. I also went straight from a digital to the Estonia and can assure you after a month you won't believe how different it feels. Enjoy.

(oh, and I think I guessed right - er... well, at least one of my guesses :grin )

Edit to add that I too would enjoy hearing about choosing among the three. I spent almost all day at Cunningham going back and forth between two L190's and still couldn't decide which I liked better even though they were clearly different. Three would have driven me mad!

Finally! Congratulations! Now its time to change your signature!

Thanks Keith,

Indrek mentioned he had been on the phone with you.
I told him I thought you'd be fine keeping my little secret :-)

FINALLY!

Such a great adventure for you and Kathy to find the piano of your dreams.

I now no longer need to find an enticement to visit hot and steamy Florida - I found it!

May you enjoy your Estonia forever!

I spoke to Indrek at NAMM and again in New York a month or so later. He told me of your decision. (He was deservedly quite proud that you chose an Estonia.)

Keeping the secret was a challenge. The only person I told was Larry Fine and I swore him to secrecy!

Congrats on a great instrument and a great series of threads!

Geez Frank, and I thought it was a Rippen. Boy was I off! Seriously, congratulations on what appears to be a stunning instrument. Nice job on the photo essay by the way.

Oh - and what is the story behind choosing THE ONE OF THE THREE?

WHY THAT ONE?

edit -

if it took this long to find out the ONE, I am sorry to ask, WHY was it THIS ONE....this might takes months to hear the answer!

giggle giggle!

do you mean the five of us?

Frank you are such a gracious host to keep all of us piano lovers together and have so many topics to discuss. You deserve this wonderful piano and I am ecstatic for you.

Enjoy yourself and thank you! (now that I am getting paychecks again I'll renew my membership).... after I get my piano tuned.

Wonderful! My gut feelings proved correct, at least this time anyway!

Enjoy...........I for one understand why Estonia was your choice, they make a fine instrument!

Best wishes, Teri

congratulations frank!

and to think it all began with you fooling around with building a website 'way back in the dawn of the internet age.

see where following your passions gets you?

may you and your estonia have many happy years together.

and the factory and scenes of talinn look wonderful. what a dream to get to visit there.

Congratulations on the new piano!

Congratulations! Great photos, a beautiful piano, and a cute dog.

But those curtains!

Congratulations Frank! It just proves you are indeed a man of discerning taste

That's a really cool story. Thanks for that and the pictures. I'd also be interested in what you thought playing the three different Estonias and why you chose the one you did.

That's a nice piano, and a way cool way to pick one out.

I have to admit that I was a bit put off by the endless non-information, however I congratulate you for your new piano!

Searches for "our" pianos often make interesting stories, but what a wonderful opportunity to choose it right at the factory, especially in an exotic land such as Estonia!

I played many many pianos in my search, and the Estonia was the most wonderful sounding piano I have played - ever!

Here's wishing you many years of playing bliss!

Congrats on your new piano - it is a beauty for sure! May you have many happy years of making music together!!!

And thanks for the pics - It was fun to see the various stages of piano building, and to see shots of Tallinn, what a beautiful town.

p.s....I too am curious to hear the story behind choosing 1 out of the three!

Congratulations Frank!

Now you can be a full member at Estonia World!

http://www.estoniaworld.com/

What model is that gorgeous hunk of piano?

Frank, what a lovely piano and what a wonderful production with all those pictures! Congratulations on your new Estonia. May she (and Kathy!) bring you many years of great joy.