Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Bohemia compared to Estonia

The closest Bohemia dealer is 2.5 hours away and they don't have any stock anyhow.

Can somebody compare the sound and build quality of these two pianos to each other.

I'm interested in a six foot model.

Thanks.

allow me to bump this for you - both are fine pianos - i don't have a specific answer for you but there are dozens on the forum who do, but they probably missed the post for some reason...

Good question -

I have a strong preference for the Estonia based on only comparing both at this year's NAMM convention. Of course I may be biased - I sell the Estonia and love the piano.

Ori is a dealer for both - he may be the best man for this job. Where are you Ori?

I'm here Rich, but I apologize as I cant help too much this time...
How can a father compare between his children

Hiracer,
If you were in my neck of the woods, I would invite you to come here and try the pianos (and other instruments) for yourself.
Alas, you are so far away

In any case, should you plan a trip to the NYC area (our showroom is only a 45 minutes by car or train from mid town Manhattan) I will be glad to have you here so you can try these fine pianos side by side.

OK, what I'm hearing between the lines is that the sound of the Bohemia is similar enough to the Estonia that you don't care to comment. I suspect that if this was a Yamaha-type sound compared to an Estonia, it would be easier to make gross comparisons.

This means it is really unfortunate that I can't test play a Bohemia. I'm willing to make the 5 hour round trip drive (Seattle to Portland), but they don't have one in stock.

hiracer,
I don't think the Bohemia sounds like an Estonia. To my ear it has a slightly brighter tone, but not brittle. It really sings. Since the Bohemia is new to the US it should cost less than the Estonia. No expert here on quality but doubt you would have any build quality issues with either instrument. Both are fine pianos, but different. It is a shame that the closest Bohemia dealer does not have one in stock for you to try.

Rich

Why would a Bohemia dealer not have them in stock? Is it that they are authorized to sell them, but don't stock them? Maybe they sold out. . .highly unlikely and not good business if they don't have any to demonstrate.

I always find this interesting when I hear a dealer not have any in stock (and not just Bohemia). Is Bohemia very limited production?

I found a Bohemia Dealer who is also supposedly an Estonia Dealer.

They stock the Bohemia but will only "special order" an Estonia. :rolleyes:

I have played both. I own an Estonia 190 btw.

I prefer the Estonia sound and even though the Bohemia that I played had a Renner action, it did not have the dynamic range that I have with the Estonia. The salesperson told me that the Bohemia action was actually a better action to get in a Bohemia piano but I could not confirm that because he didn't have one in stock with the Bohemia action. I also didn't feel that the Bohemia had as much substantial mass to it. The rim looked to be thinner than the Estonia rim.

The dealer here was selling a Polished Ebony 6 footer for $16.5k as listed on the price tag hanging from the lid prop. I did not ask what they charge for the Estonia. I know that prices in the Chicago area have gone up to about $25k sell price for the Estonia 190 in Polished Ebony.

I ran into a situation where the dealer had no pianos. I wanted to try a CW 190 when I went to Seattle. The dealer had no grands and would not have until fall. This was in July. He kindly took me to someone's home to play one, but it wasn't really a fair trial. It was the only trial I could do though, so I bought an Estonia! More thrilled with it every day!

"Why would a Bohemia dealer not have them in stock? Is it that they are authorized to sell them, but don't stock them? Maybe they sold out. . .highly unlikely and not good business if they don't have any to demonstrate."

Chris:

The other question is why do I have to travel from Seattle to Portland to find a dealer for Bohemia. I called the manufacturere's rep in Florida and was told Portland OR was the nearest authorized dealer. I would much prefer to buy locally in the unfortunate event of service issues.

John,

You are lucky to be in the area of Classical Grands, in Seattle. I highly doubt a Bohemia will sound anywhere near as wonderful as an Estonia prepped and worked on by Alex Hernandez of Classical Grands. Unless you could get Alex to work on the Bohemia!

The dealer, the prep work, and the follow up service are as important, and often more important than the particular piano ( assuming it is fundamentally a good piano ).

I would buy a piano from Alex and Classical Grands, and have total confidence that I made the right decision.

What Keith said! Hear! Hear!

More than satisfied client of Alex Hernandez and Classical Grands!

My initial meeting with Alex was very pleasant.

But Alex and I have agreed that it's the piano I'm taking home. (giggle)

OTOH, I confess to being a bit obsessive about researching major purchases before splitting with my money. Spendng gobs of money doesn't come easy for me, and if my son was a lesser pianist I could have avoided this experience all together. Obviously I wasn't thinking ahead 8.5 years ago when I agreed with my wife that piano lessons would be a good idea!!!

The good news is that I got two boys and the younger one is following his older brother's foot steps four years behind. So I get two instruments for the price of one. Such a deal.

Careful John!

I am probably going to be buying a second grand here in the not too distant future.

Katie has aspirations of becoming a concert pianist.

If she starts practicing three or four hours each day I will not have much chance to play at all!

I am looking at a 1930s Busch & Gertz 5'3" I think. My technician owns it and tells me it is in very good shape. It has never been rebuilt but it has been well maintained apparently.

I am going to check it out soon. :rolleyes: