Pianotech

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

I have one Estonia that I service. It's a 168, (5' 6"), from 2007 so not a concert grand by any means. When I first saw it in 2010 it was painfully obvious that it had never received any new piano prep, and the tech that had been servicing it prior to my taking it over was hesitant to provide the service that it needed. In my opinion it is one of the nicer pianos that I service, and once I had brought it up to acceptable playing and tonal possibilities, (and trust me, there is still room for someone, like you, to raise this piano still higher), it was immediately embraced by the owner as the piano he had been dreaming of. The environment in the home is stable so it never drifts more than a little bit from tuning to tuning. The only thing that bothers me, and only while I'm actually tuning, is that the wound bi-chords won't produce a really clean unison. However, when tuning is complete and I remove my ear protection, those unison's sound more than acceptably clean the the piano as a whole sounds a lot bigger than it really is. 

As you probably already know, Estonia is German made with Renner parts. High quality all around.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Estonia is Estonian made with German sourced parts, I would say...no?

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 15:47
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Estonia concert grands

I have one Estonia that I service. It's a 168, (5' 6"), from 2007 so not a concert grand by any means. When I first saw it in 2010 it was painfully obvious that it had never received any new piano prep, and the tech that had been servicing it prior to my taking it over was hesitant to provide the service that it needed. In my opinion it is one of the nicer pianos that I service, and once I had brought it up to acceptable playing and tonal possibilities, (and trust me, there is still room for someone, like you, to raise this piano still higher), it was immediately embraced by the owner as the piano he had been dreaming of. The environment in the home is stable so it never drifts more than a little bit from tuning to tuning. The only thing that bothers me, and only while I'm actually tuning, is that the wound bi-chords won't produce a really clean unison. However, when tuning is complete and I remove my ear protection, those unison's sound more than acceptably clean the the piano as a whole sounds a lot bigger than it really is.

As you probably already know, Estonia is German made with Renner parts. High quality all around.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

The Estonia Piano website supports your statement, JIm.

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 15:54
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: Estonia concert grands

Estonia is Estonian made with German sourced parts, I would say...no?

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 15:47
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Estonia concert grands

I have one Estonia that I service. It's a 168, (5' 6"), from 2007 so not a concert grand by any means. When I first saw it in 2010 it was painfully obvious that it had never received any new piano prep, and the tech that had been servicing it prior to my taking it over was hesitant to provide the service that it needed. In my opinion it is one of the nicer pianos that I service, and once I had brought it up to acceptable playing and tonal possibilities, (and trust me, there is still room for someone, like you, to raise this piano still higher), it was immediately embraced by the owner as the piano he had been dreaming of. The environment in the home is stable so it never drifts more than a little bit from tuning to tuning. The only thing that bothers me, and only while I'm actually tuning, is that the wound bi-chords won't produce a really clean unison. However, when tuning is complete and I remove my ear protection, those unison's sound more than acceptably clean the the piano as a whole sounds a lot bigger than it really is.

As you probably already know, Estonia is German made with Renner parts. High quality all around.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Thanks, Geoff. That information is helpful.

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 15:47
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Estonia concert grands

I have one Estonia that I service. It's a 168, (5' 6"), from 2007 so not a concert grand by any means. When I first saw it in 2010 it was painfully obvious that it had never received any new piano prep, and the tech that had been servicing it prior to my taking it over was hesitant to provide the service that it needed. In my opinion it is one of the nicer pianos that I service, and once I had brought it up to acceptable playing and tonal possibilities, (and trust me, there is still room for someone, like you, to raise this piano still higher), it was immediately embraced by the owner as the piano he had been dreaming of. The environment in the home is stable so it never drifts more than a little bit from tuning to tuning. The only thing that bothers me, and only while I'm actually tuning, is that the wound bi-chords won't produce a really clean unison. However, when tuning is complete and I remove my ear protection, those unison's sound more than acceptably clean the the piano as a whole sounds a lot bigger than it really is.

As you probably already know, Estonia is German made with Renner parts. High quality all around.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Hi Alan, 

I don't have anything 10 years old but I have several younger than that and the one I saw Friday after two Chicago winters, the pinblock is actually a little more snug than I wish it was.
Otherwise, the tone is very clean the actions are fine. 

Michael

------------------------------
Michael Gutowski, RPT, TEC
Chicago Chapter, VP
chicagotuner@aol.com
847-759-0369
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

All good to know, Michael. Thanks!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 21:35
From: Michael Gutowski
Subject: Estonia concert grands

Hi Alan,

I don't have anything 10 years old but I have several younger than that and the one I saw Friday after two Chicago winters, the pinblock is actually a little more snug than I wish it was.
Otherwise, the tone is very clean the actions are fine.

Michael

------------------------------
Michael Gutowski, RPT, TEC
Chicago Chapter, VP
chicagotuner@aol.com
847-759-0369

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

I have one I service, about a 6' grand,  that has a problem with the veneer on the legs delaminating.  It's not in a hostile environment, not too dry or sitting in the sun.   I haven't seen that  on any others but I don't run across many of them.  Good quality piano with a beautiful treble.

------------------------------
Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 21:49
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

All good to know, Michael. Thanks!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 21:35
From: Michael Gutowski
Subject: Estonia concert grands

Hi Alan,

I don't have anything 10 years old but I have several younger than that and the one I saw Friday after two Chicago winters, the pinblock is actually a little more snug than I wish it was.
Otherwise, the tone is very clean the actions are fine.

Michael

------------------------------
Michael Gutowski, RPT, TEC
Chicago Chapter, VP
chicagotuner@aol.com
847-759-0369

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Thanks for this, Cecil. Do you know what vintage your six-foot Estonia is?

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-05-2018 10:39
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

I have one I service, about a 6' grand,  that has a problem with the veneer on the legs delaminating.  It's not in a hostile environment, not too dry or sitting in the sun.   I haven't seen that  on any others but I don't run across many of them.  Good quality piano with a beautiful treble.

------------------------------
Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 21:49
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

All good to know, Michael. Thanks!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 21:35
From: Michael Gutowski
Subject: Estonia concert grands

Hi Alan,

I don't have anything 10 years old but I have several younger than that and the one I saw Friday after two Chicago winters, the pinblock is actually a little more snug than I wish it was.
Otherwise, the tone is very clean the actions are fine.

Michael

------------------------------
Michael Gutowski, RPT, TEC
Chicago Chapter, VP
chicagotuner@aol.com
847-759-0369

Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2018 12:29
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Estonia concert grands

A client, who is a particularly well-versed "consumer of pianos" is looking for his next acquisition. He has played several of the larger Estonia grands of recent vintage, and liked them quite a lot. The price is certainly right!

The question is this: How will they fare over time. Apparently, Estonia seriously stepped up their game some time in the last ten to twenty years. Any one out the have any experience with an Estonia concert grand that is ten to fifteen years old? If you have, your input would be a prized commodity to my client. Respond on list or off, if you prefer.

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message------

Thanks for this, Cecil. Do you know what vintage your six-foot Estonia is?

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

This one I service is around 7 or 8 years old,   I recall now when I was talking with the customer about this she told me that when she had contacted the dealer, he mentioned that he'd had another complaint of a similar nature.  To the best of my recollection they sent her a replacement.

------------------------------
Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-08-2018 13:21
From: Nicholas Gravagne
Subject: Estonia concert grands

Late to this discussion, but Estonia grand actions are a mix as of the last several years: Kluge keyboards, Renner top stack (inc. whippens and S/F) built and assembled by Renner, Germany, along with Abel hammers which have flexible shoulders (needles enter easily) but very tight felt high up toward the strike-point. Needling works and opens up the tone.

NG

On Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 8:11 AM, Alan Eder via Piano Technicians Guild

--

Nick Gravagne, RPT
AST Mechanical Engineering

Original Message------

Thanks for this, Cecil. Do you know what vintage your six-foot Estonia is?

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------