Greetings,

I am 99% certain that I am going to purchase a NEW Estonia 190 6'3" Grand Piano from Ori at Allegro Pianos.

Does anyone else own or have either positive/negative experiences re: the Estonia brand? Please be critically honest in your assessments.

Regards,

Eddie

Eddie

Come on - you know as well as I do it is a no-brainer.

Estonias are fantastic.

They are undervalued by at least $10k

Go for it.

Furtwangler,

Pre-buyers jitters! I woke up this morning and realized that I am actually going to spend more on a piano than I have on any car I ever owned.

Honestly, I'm a bit panicked. Outside of purchasing my Co-op (paid off mortgage) I have only spent this much money one other time and that was for my Wedding Day and Honeymoon combined.

It's a big step financially and emotionally. Just wanted some positive reinforcement before I take the plunge.

Thanks for the honesty!!!

Eddie

Estonia 190 is a world class great piano.
Ori is a class act. He is the Estonia guru.
Go for it without hesitation!

Craigen,

Thank you!

To my mind Ori is gifted and 100% trustworthy. It felt like he was inviting me to be a part of an extended family - rather than just a salesman selling pianos to a customer. My wife and I both felt a "Positive Vibe" from him throughout our time at his shop.

Thanks again for steering me in the right direction on my Estonia 190 decision.

Feeling Better,

Eddie

lbrary lover :

I believe that you won't be sorry. In fact, with the combination of piano and dealer, I believe you will be thrilled, and that the thrill will last.

Congratulations in advance!

Regards,

FogVilleLad,

Thanks for the big "thumbs up!"

Eddie

Look, you don't have to marry Ori. You just have to pay him.

Congrats Eddie. It is a gift when this much uncertainty is removed in one's mind. The rest of the jitters is uncontrollable, its just nervous anticipation and then maybe a little cognitive dissonance for a day or two when you finally get. After that we'll likely have to live with all your posts about how great Estonia is. :rolleyes:

Turandot,

Very funny - in a good way!!! Appreciate the humor at this (tense time) in the decision process. It is great to laugh at oneself.

Smiling,

Eddie

Turandot (and perhaps Ori) -- Even though we aren't talking marriage here, don't you think that size of a check at least deserves a hug (and possibly an "I love you, man!")?

I was extremely impressed by Estonia on my recent piano comparison trip- lots of character, sweet singing, complex tone like the mighty Bs, Bluthner, Bose, Bechstein - I still don't get the Steinway thing- but am still looking
D

You'll love it, don't worry. And the 190 just keeps improving with each passing month so it only gets better. :3hearts: Not sure what they cost now but it was the best value in town when I bought mine which just added to the pleasure.

Go for it. Don't look back!

Read this one, Eddie, from someone who did what you are about to do...

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/14763.html#000000

I was in your same exact situation and made the purchase. Although I did not purchase from Ori as I'm several hundred miles away, he helped me with my decision-making process. If it was more practical to purchase from Ori, I would have done so (I have the usual excuses of work, family, too far away, etc.). Although now that I think about it, the next time I purchase a piano I will make the attempt to visit Ori's store as I got the same positive vibe that you did via my conversations with Ori. Having a piano in our homes/lives is just too important an event not to make the effort to visit someone who can make the experience result in a positive fulfulling outcome.

My Estonia is a wonderful instrument, you will enjoy it. And yes, I still have palpitations over the amount of $$$ that I spent, but it WAS worth it.

fathertopianist,

Thanks for the support and you are right -- I know I will be posting on how wonderful my new Estonia 190 is once I get it home.

Clavierman,

Good one!

Danielou,

That's how I feel. Especially, the Steinway thing - HIGH COST to support advertising, I guess.

Starting Over,

Finally , an actual Estonia owner. Thanks. What model and finish did you purchase? Right now we are looking at purchasing either an Ebony 190 in stock or waiting for a Rosewood 190 to be delivered in Feb. 2008. Does the case wood affect sound? Ebony vs. Rosewood vs. Bubinga vs. Mahogany - or is it just an eye candy treat?

birchy,

I printed out thread you posted and will read it tonight when all is quiet in the home.

Thanks again EVERYONE!!!

Misha,

Your post made me feel great. Same feelings I'm feeling and same concerns. It made me joyful that you have zero buyers remorse with the brand. Does the casework/rim wood affect the sound? Mahogany vs. Rosewood vs. Walnut vs. Bubinga vs. Ebony vs. Hidden Beauty combinations? My wife and I were wondering about this today. Is it just for visual beauty that the fancier rims cost more?

Eddie

library lover,
Not only will you love your Estonia 190, but I cannot begin to tell you how fortunate you are to live near Ori. He's worked on my Estonia and Ori is a phenomenal tech (and a very talented pianist as well). Having move to Houston recently, I'm fortunate to have a tech who is very skilled (especially with Estonias) and he's a concert pianist as well. If I ever lost him, I wouldn't think twice of paying for Ori to fly to Houston to work on my piano if needed. And I do NOT say that in jest. And if I ever upgrade to a Bluthner or Bosie, I would very likely fly up to Connecticut and buy it from Ori. Based on my experience with him, his wife and the Faust Harrison family, that's how much I trust them. Even the extra cash to ship it to Houston would be worth every penny!

FYI, before moving to Houston, I visited a friend who had recently purchased a 190 in a bubinga finish from Ori. When I walked in his living room and saw it under halogen lights he had installed just to showcase the finish, it was positively breathtaking! While each piano has it's own sound signature (no 2 pianos are exactly alike - even from the same manufacturer), the finish itself is basically eye candy, as you put it.

Good luck and post pics when you make your final decision.
Regards,
Roger

Liblove, my Estonia is the L190, Ebony polish. It's also available in a satin finish. It is actually the Serial number just one before the one in the thread you printed out with the cake and all. Regarding the choice of case veneer, I doubt if that would affect the tone but you would have to play them side by side to be sure. I think it's generally best to play the piano you will be buying anyway so if you really like the rosewood, maybe you should wait for it to come into stock so you can compare it to the ebony. The rosewood sounds like it would be stunning to look at; the Estonia has very clean lines with little adornment so the rosewood finish will really dress it up.

On the other hand, if you can't wait and you really like the black one, then go ahead and buy it now. You can't go wrong with a black piano!

Good luck!

i own a 168 which i ordered without playing it. i've been astounded at it's professionality from day one. i give it a great workout daily and it has been problem free. it has strength, finesse and an amazing tone. i play other fine and not so fine pianos regularly. my 168 is my favorite.

jollyroger,

Thanks for the vote of confidence in Ori and Estonia pianos. I will definitely post pics of the whole piano moving day and Ori's visit to my home to voice the piano to my room.

The music room is 13 feet by 28 feet with large archways that open up to the Formal Dining Room and Entry Hall. It's a big space. However, we only have 8 foot ceilings. Plus, the entire Co-op is wall to wall carpeting excluding Kitchen and Bathroom.

The floor plan on the second floor where the Estonia 190 will be lovingly housed amounts to a little over 1400 square feet. I'm hoping the piano will sound HUGE given the living space!!!

My Best To You,

Eddie

Before I upgraded to my 190, I owned a 168 that I got from Ori. I too lived in an apartment on Long Island with 8 foot ceilings and a little over 1000 sq. ft (fully carpeted). The sound was incredible. With a 190 in 1400 square feet, it will most certainly fill your coop with a heavenly sound.

apple,

I am so happy that another Estonia owner (YOU)checked in with a positive life experience.
My pre-purchase jitters have been vanquished.

Rosewood vs. Ebony is the only decision now.

If I have to wait for the Rosewood model 190 - I'll just keep slogging it out with my current Kurzweil digital keyboard until the REAL DEAL arrives.

Eddie

Bruce D,

Well said!!!

A winning combination to be sure.

How is your Satin 190 voiced?

Eddie

Both Ori and Estonia have excellent reputations, Congratulations!.

Stevester,

I love your quote about integrity at the bottom of your post. Thanks for the BIG thumbs up also!

Eddie

man.. the Rosewood is gorgeous.

(-apple who saw one once)

Eddie :

After about a year and a half of two to two and a half hours daily practice and playing, my Estonia will probably have some minor voicing done at its next tuning. It's in a 28 x 15 foot room with 9 foot ceilings, wall to wall carpeting and traditional upholstered furniture. Its sound fills the space beautifully.

Regards,

Eddie - the Estonia 190 is an AMAZING instrument, and you cannot go wrong with Ori - I know because I bought mine from him - his presentation was unforgettable and the most educational I ever experienced, his pianos meticulously prepped, and his support has been second to none. I LOVE the Ebony satin finish on mine. I know exactly how you feel - it was my biggest purchase ever, other than the house. My best advice is to try everything you can get your hands on, including pianos way out of your price range for comparison - that's what I did when I shopped. Best of luck.
Jerry