About a month or so ago I had the undeniable urge to begin the search for another piano. I recently sold my Steinway B and Bechstein A, foolishly believing I could get along just fine with just one acoustic Concert Grand and one terrific digital. I was wrong....very wrong. I had been spoiled by the wonderful ability to play different instruments, with different characters and personalities, whenever I felt like it, and there was no going back. Those of you who have spent time in great piano showrooms know what I mean. So my search began. Having read many, many posts on this forum by and about Ori Bukai of Allegro Pianos in Stamford, CT, I was drawn to his showroom, and curious to meet the "man behind the myth". Well, the first thing I have to say is that it is NO myth. Ori, and his wife Rebecca, run the most amazing operation I have ever encountered in ANY business I have dealt with. YOU, the customer, become the focus of their day. You are given the time, respect, attention and education a person deserves when about to make, what is likely to be, one of the single largest, and most meaningful, purchases they will ever make in their lifetime. The collection Allegro displays is nothing short of astounding. Masons, Steinways, Bluthners, Bohemias, Estonias....they are all there in all their magnificent glory, prepped, regulated, voiced and tuned to perfection, so that your buying experience is nothing short of spectacular!!! Ori spends hours and hours on each piano, bringing out the most each has to offer, so that his customers can make an informed decision. Suffice it to say that I did NOT leave empty handed that day....below is the result of my time with Ori and Rebecca. My Mason CC2 has a wonderful new mate to share the room with. This is truly one of the most incredible pianos I have ever played. Ori and Rebecca, thank you!!!!! (Those of you with questions, I will be happy to answer them now )










[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f212/dcammara/Estonia1906feet3inch[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f212/dcammara/Estonia1906feet3inches[/img]

Yowza that's a nice case for a contemporary room! Enjoy.

Thanks PD. I'm lovin' it!!!

Fabulous piano, congratulations. You must be in seventh heaven.

(Now you just need a leopard skin on the floor to complement the Bubinga.)

What a fantastic piano and setting...(need a roommate??) lol ... jk is that a 190? -you posted something between a couple of pics..but they didn't come thru on my screen. Congrats CC2, gorgeous piano...just love the finish..

Good eye CN, you know your rare African Woods!!! Thanks for the well wishes. I'm actually in eigth or ninth heaven with this one!! Now I know why there are so many Estonia fanatics out there....I can now count myself among them. The day I was at Ori's and had consummated the purchase, he called Indrek Laul and we spoke for a while. I now understand why this piano is what it is....he is truly committed to his dream of making the ultimate piano for pianists!! What a gentleman!

Thanks, MM&H. It is a 190 in African Bubinga. My CC2 is happy for the company!

Congratulations, CC2! What a striking piano!

p.s. You know, you are setting a dangerous precedent for all of us who may now be thinking "you know, it WOULD be nice to have different grands for playing in different moods..."

Monica,
Thanks so much, as usual! I know that you'll have another one in the not so distant future. I can feel it coming.

Yeah, I guess I'll have to go out and get a Fazioli 228 to keep my Grotrian company now, won't I.

Now you're talking PD!! I bet your Grotrian would love that!

Gorgeous! It must be a very lovely musical complement to the Mason.


Sophia

Awesome choice,
Its the perfect romantic singer to complement your powerful CC2. One of our composers here needs to write a duet for two pianos that maximizes the potential of each of these fantastic instruments. Then you and a friend could perform it at a PW Party!

Congratulations!

I wish I didn't have to go home empty handed last week...but my time will come. The trouble is, I had planned more shopping, but after Allegro, where else is there to shop?

I was always a diehard ebony high gloss fan..
but that bubinga looks gorgeous! many years of enjoyment for you.. Bob

Thanks to all of you for the kind thoughts and words. I feel VERY fortunate. Ryan, I have no doubt you will find a really spectacular piano at Ori's when the time is right. Bob and Sophia, it really is unique and the perfect complement to my "Big Boy". I will have to have a Piano Party, for those of you that would be willing to come, in the not so distant future, then you can all have a go at them!!!

CC2andchopinlover,
Thank you for your kind words.
I’m glad that you had a good time during your visit here.
Both Rebecca and I had a great time meeting with you too.
For those who don’t know Dan, he is truly a piano aficionado, and had quite a few nice pianos in his collection (and still has…).
Of course, Rebecca and I are very glad to hear how much you’re enjoying your piano, and I’m looking forward to visiting you, and both your Estonia and M&H.

If there is a piano party planned then count me in!!!

Congrats on a wonderful looking and, I'm sure, wonderful sounding instrument. Many happy years!

Wow. That's awesome. I thought my gloss ebony piano looked good, but that just blows me away.

Stunning, abosolutely stunning. Makes my ebony 190 look plain. Now, can we see a wider view of the room showing the Mason as well.

Love the rug.

Wow.

Thank you all,
I wanted to say something else that I forgot to mention earlier. Just to emphasize the level of detail Indrek and the Estonia craftsmen go to to make a truly exceptional piano. EVERY screw on every component of the piano is turned to exactly the same point so that all the grooves line up. The piano comes with a Janssen (spelling?) concert bench, but, since they don't make one in African Bubinga, Indrek has them ship the legs to the Estonia factory and the woodworking experts there veneer the legs of the bench in the exact wood the piano is finished in, so that they match!!! This piano has a sweet, singing tone, with plenty of bottom and fullness in the bass. Every note is clean, clear and rich in tone. Lots of harmonics and resonance. Almost like a blending of the finest European and American Pianos. It's hard to describe in words. The action is like velvet....very responsive, quick and buttery smooth. Just thought you guys would be interested. Have to go play now.

CC2,

Seems it wasn't that long ago we were in awe celebrating your S/B and B/A along with your CC2!

Now we get to celebrate the Estonia CG too?

Fantastic! Is this the Concert Grand (CG) that Indrek traveled with recently?

Can you supply us with more comparisons between the instruments that you have owned? It might take a day or two, or maybe week or two, but I would love to hear about it/them.

Best enjoyment to you on your recent addition!

LL

As requested by Starting Over, here's the Mason on the other side of the room:

Wow Dan! What a beautiful piano. I wish you all the best - another Estoniac joins the fold. I'm still trying to find a good time when both Nevart and I can get out to visit you.
All the best,
Roger

Okay, so now I want to see a picture of the bench!

Here you go Monica, the Bubinga Bench!!

LilyLady,
This Estonia is the 6'3" Model 190, not the 9 foot Concert Grand that Indrek was using on his tour, but please don't put that idea in my head....I might just have to track that one down!

They even put their name in the crank handle...how kool is that...

CC2 - I think Ori will give you full trade if you want an Estonia Concert Grand!! I'm up for a piano party.

That's one purty pianah... If it sounds half as good as it looks, you're an awfully lucky guy.

Congrats - hope you have much joy making music on that piano.

A quick note about the African Bubinga finish.
When our customers choose this finish I usually tell them to have a spot light with a dimmer shining on the piano, preferably a halogen light.
In a darker setting, the grain of the wood can be very subtle, and sometimes appear to be almost black. As the spotlight shines on the case, the finish comes alive and it looks more "outgoing".

In the pictures Dan posted, one can see the difference easily. It is looks like the pictures were taken with a flash. The last picture is taken from a bit further away, and the flash isn't as bright. If one were to look at the front left leg and the side of the case near the keys from one side, and the tail of the piano from the other side, while covering the center… then it's easy to see what I mean.

Both these areas, which were not exposed to the flash of the camera look almost black, while the center shows the wood stain and the Bubinga grain.
In the fourth picture, the flash was very close to the piano and the grain of the wood is much more alive.

Although this kind of affect may also appear on other wood grains to some level, it seems to be very obvious with a dark stained Bubinga such as this.
Using a spotlight and a dimmer, one can almost create the impression that a single instrument is two completely different pianos.