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Thank you for the kind words everyone. It was quite an adventure I can tell you that.

Over the years Indrek and I've become good friends, by the time we left Estonia I felt like we'd become family.

This was my first trip to Europe too, but I certainly hope it won't be my last.

Now ... a few more Tallinn pictures, and a little more to the story.

Catherine the Great's Summer Palace in Tallinn, Estonia


An inside shot


Indrek Laul playing an Estonia piano inside the palace


I play "Kathy's Song" inside Catherine the Great's summer palace (a piece I wrote for Kathy based on us playing together as kids, losing touch around age 12 or 13 and finding each other again a couple of years ago). For which I got a standing ovation from guests touring the palace (mainly because there was no place to sit).




Some more of Old Tallinn (note there are no cars in the old town section. I love that).

Oh....those shots inside the palace took my breath away! What a wonderful journey, both literally and figuratively, to your new piano. Congratulations!

Congratulations! Your Estonia grand is beautiful and so is the country. Great photos and story, with a happy ending, the way it should be.

Thanks for the pics. Enjoy, Estonia is an excellent choice.

Now I'll try to answer the question many people have been asking. How I chose "the" one.

It was not an easy choice by any stretch of the imagination.
First because I'm quite frankly not that good of a pianist, second because all three pianos were wonderful, and third because I'm used to playing a digital piano, so this was all new territory for me.

I considered asking Indrek to play them for me, but decided against it until the very end. He's an accomplished concert pianist and a top 100 graduate of Julliard. I'm a mostly self taught old rock and blues player with sketchy technique and near zero theory knowledge.

I had the luxury of knowing we weren't being rushed and that I had my support group with me (Kathy, my sister, and my brother-in-law).

Weeks prior to our arrival Indrek had asked me what type of sound I was looking for, and how I wanted the piano(s) voiced.
I've never been asked that before because I've never been in a position that would warrant asking me, not even when I had my own music store.

It isn't an easy question to answer. I compare it to trying to explain to someone how you want something to taste.
I did the best I could. It's one of those things you can't necessarily explain, but you know it when you hear it :-)

I like a bell-like tone in the upper register, a full-bodied round tone in the middle, and a rich but not intrusive depth in the bass section. And oh by the way, I'd like sprinkles with that.

Indrek made note and passed the information on to the people at the factory. He then made sure he arrived a few days before me to make sure everything was set.

Now this being the Piano World Piano Forums, many of you have experienced the pleasure of trying new pianos as you search for the one. In spite of my 40+ years associated with the piano industry, and being the founder and host of Piano World, this was my first time!

It was very exciting, but also a bit nerve racking.

I tried to remain calm, moving methodically from piano to piano playing the same pieces with the same expression.
No problem, I like them all. Just send me all 3 and I'll send back the two I don't want :-)

Within the first hour I'd pretty much narrowed it to two pianos. Not because there was anything wrong with the third one, but it just didn't "speak" to me.

The other two were a different story. It was like trying to choose your favorite child.
After a couple of hours Indrek and his dad came to check on us. They wanted to show us some things in Tallinn (including getting us front row seats to some incredible concerts). So we decided there would need to be a day two.
Which is why the pictures in the factory show me in different clothes.

I mentioned that I was down to two, but one of them had a couple of bass notes producing odd overtones on sustained notes. Any of you who have hung around the forums any length of time know new pianos are often prepped by the dealers when they get them, much like new cars.

The pianos I was playing were freshly minted and although they were certainly set up and tuned, they hadn't been subjected to the fine adjustments a good dealership will make.
Indrek called a technician into the room, they both listened and agreed they heard what I described. The piano would be worked on that night.

Day two back in the factory, the odd overtones were gone.
I played one piano, then the other, then the first one.
I had my sister play them both while I listened with my eyes closed, not knowing which one she was playing.

I played them with the lid open, and the lid closed.
Played hard rock and soft ballads, my one classical piece (1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata), a little jazz, ragtime, some blues, and my own pieces.

I was pretty sure I'd decided. That's when I picked up the house phone and dialed Indrek's office, I asked him to come up to the room. When he and his dad arrived, I asked Indrek to play the two pianos I'd narrowed it down to.

He played a few minutes on each, it was still the one I had decided upon earlier. The decision was made.

I had Indrek, his dad, and his head of production sign the plate.

Model L-190 # 7326 now lives in my music room.
Welcome home baby!

what a beautiful city! and what a great story. kudos to indrek for righting a great wrong--mr. pianoworld was long overdue for a real acoustic piano.

frank, how long did it take to get it shipped? and did you set it up at home yourself? or did you call in a tech?

Congratulations, Frank!! I'm sure it was worth the wait. Wishing you many happy hours and years playing your beautiful new Estonia.

Sophia

Nice. What I'm thinking here is that a double wide with an Estonia, is far, far better than a mansion without!

Good priorities, in other words.

Thanks pique'.

It arrived in the states July 20, about seven weeks after I chose it.
Then had to make its way down to Florida, where it arrived at the movers on July 29.
They delivered it Aug. 1. The movers put it together.

I removed the action packing, checked the regulation, and tuned the piano myself.
So far it hasn't needed any regulation. I brought it to concert pitch on the first tuning, played it for a couple weeks and tweaked it again. I'm having some guests over Sept. 18th so I'll tune her up again before then.

At this point I don't think it will need any voicing, but we'll see after a few more months.
Once the tuning has settled in (it holds nicely now, mainly minor unison tweaks) and the piano is fully acclimated I'll decide if it needs any voicing. If so, I'll have to bring someone in, I'm a pretty good tuner, but I'm no voicer.

As it is now, I keep looking at it and reminding myself it's really mine.
I get up in the morning and go to the music room (ok, after I walk Kirby). I say good morning to her and play a few tunes.
The last thing I do before bed is play it again.

Now I just need to get people to drop by to see/hear/play her.
To me half the fun is sharing, and anyone who knows me knows I love to play for people.

Well said Gary, and I'd agree :-)

Wonderful, congrats, Frank. You deserve it!

so when is the inaugural piano party?

Congrats Frank! The Estonia's I have played have sounded wonderful and I am sure they set you up with the best of the best!

It's Time to update your signature!

Awesome! Congratulations.

Congratulations, Frank! I suspected from the recordings that it was an Estonia, but wasn't certain. I have yet to play one of these wonderful instruments, but I have heard quite a few recordings. Yours has that Estonia sound. An excellent piano for an excellent player. Thanks for posting all the wonderful photos of Estonia. They are beautiful.

Frank, Congrats!!! I got to play an Estonia at Rich's store in Philly a while back. A beautiful piano. Many, many happy years of playing.

pianos do settle and i think become what you want to become by how you play them.. hard to describe.

Congratulations, Frank! It's beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos and story.

May you make many years of beautiful music together. :-)

Congrats Frank! What a wonderful piano. You deserve it!

Congratulations, Frank!