JerrS88,

I printed out a link to your purchasing post and was going to read it later this evening when all is quiet in the house. Lots of reading from your post. I am excited that you replied to me to validate my purchase. Should I buy now (Ebony) or wait for February (Rosewood)?

Tough choice. The rosewood would pull together the colors of the room. However, Black goes with everything. Of course there is an additional premium in the price for the Rosewood finish - but it still is affordable and within our budget.

My wife likes the Rosewood. I'm open.

Thanks Again,

Eddie

I have to log off now and go to work. Thanks everyone!!!

Hi Eddie,
Thanks for your kind words.
I too enjoyed our meeting very much, and was impressed by your openness, dedication and commitment to provide your family with a piano they could love and enjoy for many years.

In regards to the finishes, the case may be veneered in different woods, but it makes no difference to the tonal qualities of the pianos.
The rim itself is made out of the same materials and by using the same production methods regardless of the outside finish.


To everyone else that posted on this thread:

Thank you too for your kind words and vote of confidence.
While some of you visited here and purchased pianos from me, and others have only known me through phone calls, emails or this public forum, I’m overwhelmed by your positive response.

Thank you all!

I bought an Estonia 190 at the end of August and I've played it every day since it arrived. It's wonderful. It's only been six weeks, but now when I play other pianos, I can tell a huge difference in the sound and feel.

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/19126/6.html

I also haven't had the least bit of queasiness over the magnitude of the purchase. And that does surprise me a bit as much, much smaller, but still major purchases have left me worrying over whether or not I did the right thing.

I just want to be able to play Chopin now, but I've got lots more practicing to do before then.

Best of luck in your decision,

cscl

I found the Estonia to be an excellent piano, if a bit reserved. It was more than I wanted to pay, and not discounted, so I decided to purchase a different brand.

There are some on this forum that think it would be a good idea to take a look at the Brodmann, as it is suspected that it is just as good, and a better value.

Hi Eddie,

Another encouragement to ease your pre-buyer jitters.

We have the previlege to have the company of "Bella", the Estonian (satin ebony 190) for more than 2 years now. Our experience: http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/14633.html#000001

Choice of rosewood or satin: side by side comparison. We did that when we have to choose over a polish-laquered or a satin ebony. My daughter chose the mellow sounding satin over the more bright-toned polish-laquered. In addition to that, I felt the satin ebony exudes the kind of subtle elegance which make me gaze long and be drawn into it's quiet beauty.

Our Bella has helped developed my daughter's appreciation for music along with the motivation to practice longer ... one time she even managed to pull a 5-hours practice on Easter Monday! (no mean feat for a 12 years old, who just like other normal kids, love the music but can't say the same about practising) - voluntarily especially when it was only lightly suggested by her teacher as a preparation for a piano concerto competition (I snickered hearing the suggestion, I though he was joking ...).

Besides that particular event, I do notice a clear trend that my kid increasingly looks forward to her daily playdate with Bella, and I knows she is enjoying those moments. I also found myself sitting more and more on the piano enjoying that sound that feels so right in my ears and heart.

Now, if Bella has that positive influence and give joy to me and my kid; understanding how the Lauls combined high-tech and TLC into the making of each Estonia piano; it will not be too far out to say that its sibling would have the same effect and give the same joy to you and your family.

so ... CONGRATULATION on your choice ... may you have days after days of musical enjoyment with your Estonia piano.


Best Regards,
Pauline

with all due respect, there are many that think that's a bunch of sales'bull and are surprised that the name is sprinkled among various threads and chuckle at some of the claims like the guy who said that the Brodmann was destined to be as good as a Steinway, and will be regarded as an excellent and high resale value piano in the future even tho he had never played one.

..not in anyway suggesting the Brodman unworthy of investigation.

3 years and counting and I love it more every day! Go for it!

Ditto what Apple says. I've played one and IMO it can't touch an Estonia. It does seem to be a decent entry-level grand for someone whose budget won't accomodate an Estonia. Estonia is no longer entry-level, but still a great musical value. But why would you expect a piano as great as Estonia to be priced at entry level?

Congratulations to YOU!!

Congratulations to a fabulous piano!!

Congratulations also to Ori!

[remaining nay-sayers will eventually have to oblige once this piano is finally in tier 1!]

Norbert

While people regret many things, the purchase of a fine piano is rarely one of them.

Estonias are a cult piano - use the search function and you'll see that their owners love them.

As for Ori, everyone who enters their store buys a piano - some even two (e.g. Jeffrey)...I've already shown myself to be a serial purchaser so I have to be especially careful.

Estonia is a fine piano, but a fine piano must also have a fine technician to bring it to its fullest potential.

Sounds like you may have both!! You are extremely fortunate!

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Ori. (Funny, he has the same name as my cat!)

Sieze the opportunity. It is not easy to find both: fine piano and fine technician/salesperson to go with it!

pianobuff,
I've always said that Ori is the cat's meow. Knowing Ori, I'm sure he's honored.

I spoke with Ori on the phone and we are going to finalize everything by the end of next week. My wife and I are still talking about holding out for the Rosewood 190 due in around Febrauary 2009. either way I'll leave a deposit for an Estonia 190 on this upcoming Saturday.

Now I'm ready,

Eddie

ready Eddie!

You know, the rosewood just sounds so wonderful...

Apple says it's gorgeous...

I think you meant Feb 2008, not 2009, so it's really not that long a wait...

Decisions, decisions...

Estonia and Ori are both fantastic. You won't regret your purchase.

John

I have an obvious bias, because I sell Estonia pianos, but you can't go wrong buying one!

My personal preference would be ebony over rosewood, but it sounds like the important decision has been made.

Oops! I did mean February 2008. Not 2009.

Eddie

Yes, the Rosewood is slated for February of 2008 and not 2009.
Customers often need to wait sometime for such pianos, but not for THAT long as until 2009...

In regards to the Rosewood versus Ebony, Eddie and his family will have to decide on their own based on some of the pianos and wood samples they saw here, since very few people have actually seen the Rosewood finish that Eddie is considering.

Although Apple is right that these are gorgeous , neither her nor David Marsden (who stated a preference for an Ebony piano) have actually seen one of THESE Estonia Rosewood finishes, since these were custom finishes that were delivered only here.


More than a year and a half ago, I asked the Estonia piano factory to produce three custom Rosewood pianos for us, and to obtain veneers for yet three other such pianos that were to be built after I have seen the completed instruments and provided comments.

One of the first three that were made never left Estonia, as a local family who visited the factory purchased it (yes, Indrek asked me to give up this piano, which I did…before knowing how beautiful they turned out to be).
The other two were shipped here, one of which making a stop at the NAMM show.

The two pianos finally arrived and sold soon thereafter.

I know that some dealers have asked for such Rosewood pianos after seeing them at NAMM, but since getting the right veneers and producing these pianos isn’t that easy, none have yet to be delivered to any other dealer.
In any case, these pianos, including the piano that was presented at NAMM were different than the Rosewood piano that Eddie is considering.

As intended, the other veneers, the other pianos were put into production only after I saw the first two instruments.

This time, I asked for the veneer arrangement, as well as the wood stain, to be different and darker… and the result was simply amazing.
As beautiful as the lighter Rosewood pianos were, the darker ones were simply astonishing.

The first two of the Dark Rosewood pianos arrived in August, and sold within a week. The third piano is due early next year, and is also already pre sold.
Once I saw how beautiful the dark Rosewoods were, I asked Indrek to make me as many as possible, but unfortunately, getting the right veneers for these is not that easy, and the woodwork, veneer matching and preparation takes quite some time as well.

The Estonia piano factory managed to get some more of the right veneers, and they have promised (quite sometime ago) to supply me with such a piano instead of the one that was sent to the Estonian family over one year ago.
This is the one Eddie is considering, and it is due in February of 2008.

Until now, and since it was a special custom order made by Allegro Pianos, all the Rosewood pianos that Estonia made to date, with this stain and particular wood grain arrangement were sent here, and no other dealer, or anyone else who did not visit our store during this a short period of time in late August had actually seen one.

Ori, is the dark rosewood the one pictured on your website?



If this is it, it IS gorgeous. If the dark rosewood is even more beautiful, I don't think I want to see it.

NOT FAIR!

We wanna see them...You know how many of us like beautiful wood cabinetry.

Sounds like pics are in order, Ori! Can you post any, as we are drooling...

Or do we have to wait until the 'other' LL takes his delivery?

;-)

LL

edit: where'd that come from Monica? LOL! we must have been posting at the same time!!!

No Monica, the picture on my website is of the light Rosewood piano.

I did take a couple of the dark Estonia...but I'm not much of a photographer, and when the photo is taken from less than 15 ft away, the flash makes the grain of the wood stand out more than in reality.

I can post these pictures, but although one can see in these the great woodwork, the actual pianos are FAR more beautiful when seen in person.

Thanks library lover, thanks Ori, thanks Monica!!

I just put my order in......

Norbert

I have seen Ori touch up an already sold piano, I have no doubt that your instrument will be prepped to the max.

OK, I have to put a plug in here for my African Bubinga 190, purchased, of course, from Ori about one year ago to the day. I'm sure the Rosewood is gorgeous as well. I'm anxious to see it. LJC, let me guess where you saw Ori do that "touch up"

Hey Dan, Long time!! I thought it was fine BEFORE the touch up and afterwards perfect. On next tuning you have to come over. Lee

I think I saw that bubinga when I was at Ori's place. Absolutely unreal. That is some of the most beautiful wood on earth. You are a lucky man!

Is that Rosewood of the Brazilian variety? Or Indian?

Hi Lee,
I would love to come over to see, and play, your "D". I would certainly tune it for you as well. Let me know when you'd like. I just sent the Mason CC2's keyboard out to Oregon. I'm having all the keys, keybuttons, bushings, balance and front rails, keypins, felts and backchecks replaced with brand new ones. Then I'm sending it over to Roy Peters in Cincinnati for installation of a Magnetic Balanced Action, new Tokiwa wippens, action geometry adjustment with strikeweights and front weights and capstan placement, then a full top to bottom concert regulation in the piano. Should have it back by mid January. In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying this gorgeous Estonia and my Kawai.
J. Mark,
You are so right.....I am VERY lucky to own such incredible instruments. They bring joy to my life that is immeasurable by any standard. If you'd ever like to come by to play them, just PM me and we can set it up.
Dan

Dan I lost your tel #, can you send it? thanks.