ESTONIA
Exclusive Dealer of "Estonia" Pianos from Europe
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"Estonia" is an exceptional high-end brand has the same name as its nation. Founded in 1893, Estonia pianos are truly hand-crafted piano in the European tradition. Estonia sets the standard and then seeks out only proven European partners to supply each selected component in the pianos.
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Estonia only makes grand pianos.
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Only Grand Pianos
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Estonia grand and concert pianos are the result of an ideal - to craft inspirational instruments by hand using only the best suited, and therefore limited, materials, parts and experienced craftsmen in Europe.
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Please click the pictures to view more details.
Model 168
Model 190
Model 210
Model 225
Grand Model 274
The History
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Piano making in Estonia was an art practiced during the late 18th century and has been documented as early as 1779.
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The craft had flourished, and during the late 19th and the early 20th century there were nearly 20 independent piano companies. The most notable of these manufacturers was Ernst Hiis-Ihse, whose handmade piano from 1893 became the prototype of the Estonia piano. After the WW II, Mr. Hiis was invited to establish a larger facility, known today as the Estonia Piano Factory.
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Estonia made pianos received awards for excellence in design and manufacturing at international competitions in Europe.
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They became prominent on concert stages throughout the East, and over 7 400 Concert Grand instruments have been made. Many great pianists, such as Sviatoslav Richter, Dmitry Shostakovitch, Emil Gilels and Claudio Arrau, among others, performed on these pianos. After Mr. Hiis' death in 1964, however, the quality of the pianos gradually declined in part due to the scarcity of high quality parts and materials during the communist regime, and changes that were made to the production methods.
When the country regained its independence in 1991, the factory's employees struggled to keep production going, and few years later bought the factory. Through the end of 1990's, dr. Indrek Laul, an Estonian pianist, gradually purchased company stock and became its majority owner. With a team of managers he initiated the rise of the company. The instruments were redesigned through collaborating with foremost piano experts, aiming to create an instrument of the highest level.
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Since 2001
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...while becoming factory's sole owner and uniting its US distribution, dr. Laul's musical family, along with pianist Reet Laul and conductor Venno Laul, has turned the tides and brought the piano yet to a higher level. Hundreds of changes and advancements were implemented in all piano models, a new production building was constructed, and new piano models were added. In recent years, two new piano models were added – 210 and 225. By improving the sound, performance, appearance and durability, the instrument is now rated very highly. (www.pianobuyer.com, page 42).
In recent years, Estonia pianos have gained much recognition throughout the world, and features stories have been broadcast or printed in many countries, including by Bloomberg News Network, Forbes, Deutsche Welle, and The Associated Press.
Craftmanship
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Estonia grand and concert pianos are the result of an ideal - to craft inspirational instruments by hand using only the best suited, and therefore limited, materials, parts and experienced craftsmen in Europe.
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To build a truly hand-crafted piano in the European tradition, Estonia sets the standard and then seeks out only proven European partners to supply each selected component in the pianos we build.
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Our iron plates come from Finland, and are made the old-fashioned, European way.
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In order to qarantee the right quality, they are sand-cast, seasoned, and only the best plates pass the final selection. We have one year of iron plates in our inventory, and only the best would be selected. It takes modern machinery to make even the rough surfaces and prepare for our mirror-like polish finishes,, at which our craftsmen show their experience. We continue to test them, to make sure that they do not interfere with the piano sound but are there to support the structure. Shiny, smooth, and even, they have received a lot of praise at international music trade shows, and are considered among the best from Europe.
Our rims are strong and thick, much thicker than most other pianos.
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Dense rims are important for a rich sound, plus solid beams support the overall tension of the piano structure, further adding to the balance and longevity of the instrument. Multiple layers of select North-European birch are glued together in a press where they dry over a long time; in addition, the outer frame is set aside to cure separately thereafter. After curing and testing, the wood is further shaped according to exact measurements to form the rim.
The keybed on our pianos is built into the rim.
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This uniques feature - to have the piano components all connected and supportive - is an old tradition. How many other makers would spend the time to set the keybed into the piano rim? It is a lot more time consuming process, as compared to attaching the keybed separately under the rim. Estonia continues the old traditions of European piano making.
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The look of the ebony polish finish, made with the Euroepan, shiny polyester laquer, is classic - very elegant and very European. It protects the piano surface and lets minor scratches, if they were to come from using the instrument, to be polished out.
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The highest quality resonance spruce for our soundboard might require more explanation, for it is one of the most important parts of the piano and its sound creation.
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The wood is resonance spruce, it has a high number of growth rings per inch, from the heartwood of clear grain, and acquires very minimal coloring over the years. It comes from the high altitudes of Swiss or Italian Alps, as the spruce has to to grow slowly. Special boards are then shipped to Germany, further selected and matched, and glued into boards. The highest grade is shipped to the Estonia factory, where our craftsmen will now set their years and years of experience into making the most musical board for your piano. Very important is the way the wood would be treated – to have instrument’s musical tones as natural as possible, as pure as possible. The same highest quality resonance spruce is used on all piano models, from smallest to the largest grands. Listen to the sounds and you will hear the Scandinavian landscapes, the untouched nature of Estonia, the history and tradition of Northern Europe...
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The bridge and its position are measured for each piano individually.
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Experienced craftsmen set the exact location of the bridge and bridge pins – experience counts as each string termination is cut and carved by hand. As on the picture, craftsmanship is a big part of creating the Estonia sound.
The pin-block is made of Dehonit material, imported from Germany. There are about 20 layers of beech that would hold the pins in place and help to sustain the tunings.
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The special scale design (length, thickness & spacing of the strings over the whole instrument) has been developed in cooperation of Estonia Piano Factory, Tallinn University of Technology, and specialists from Europe.
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Individually tuned duplex scaling, front and rear, on all grand models.
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Beyond the speaking length of the string, duplex scales add rich overtones to the overall piano sound. By having movable duplex aliquots, technicians can change the tuning according to their wishes and necessary acoustics. This level of control over the sound is found on only a few of the finest pianos.
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Estonia pianos must have treble strings made of the best wire, etc. To execute the Estonia bass tone, we must must make and wind each string within our factory walls.
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The wound bass strings are made by a specialist in our factory.
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The process of stringing the instrument begins by inserting a wire through the hole in the tuning pin. The wire makes three coils around the tuning pin before being driven into the pin-block beneath the cast iron plate. The system works together, as the cast iron plate resists the tension of the wires while the pin-block resists the torque to create stability between tunings. Our pins come from the Biene Company in Germany, and have been long tested for your quality. The treble strings are imported from Germany, and we receive their highest quality steel string wires.
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Estonia pianos must have precise & responsive keys, so each key set is made in the Estonia factory or by Kluge Klaviaturen GmbH of Remscheid, Germany.
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Our keyboards are built to be most responsive and smooth.
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The responsiveness enables subtle expression within the musical interpretations, whereas the smoothness enables pianists to perform technically difficult passages with ease, extending pianists' physical endurance and performance precision. Our keyboards are either handmade in our factory or ordered from the Kluge Company, Germany. Each key is carefully crafted, sanded, and tested. We use the highest quality resonance spruce for its light weight and reponsiveness. Keytop material is from the Kluge company as well. Felts come from the Renner factory, the same that makes the actions.
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Estonia seeks out the most reliable, serviceable & traditional action parts, and selects Louis Renner GMBH & Company of Stuttgart, Germany.
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The Estonia pianos have the Renner actions, chosen for their highest quality and performance by professional pianists. Louis Renner GMBH & Company, founded in 1882 in Stuttgart, Germany, are being used by many high-end European piano makers. All Estonia piano models have the full Renner actions. In addition, all piano models have the selected, premium Renner Blue hammers for ideal tone and longevity. For more information, please visit http://www.louisrenner.com
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Each piano receives several tunings and voicings. First, our pianos get played by a player machine at the factory, so that the stings would be streched and piano action would get a good workout. Thereafter it is tuned, voiced and regulated again. Second, the piano is played and evaluated by a member of the Laul family, and when necessary, more tuning and voicing would get done. Each piano receives the heightened degree of attention to detail that makes your piano performance a pure joy.
Others about Estonia
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"To ESTONIA! Sincere thanks for a marvelous instrument."
Oscar Peterson
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"...the Concert Grand, on which I had the opportunity to play, is an excellent instrument with very good characteristics. The especially soft and singing tone, and the light touch are the outstanding features."
Claudio Arrau
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"Thanks so very much for the use of such a wonderful piano. I know you will have great success."
Dave Brubeck
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"There simply is more music in this Grand. With its higher notes of greatly improved structure it also feature s more powerful sound volumes and keys, which yield to the slightest touch. The basses can be made to sound and reverberate like organ pipes, but nevertheless are clear to the lowest notes. The treble is delicate and effulgent, but, by no means only `bright`. Well proportioned, with exquisitely rounded corners, stands the Grand ESTONIA - large, beautyful and imposing."
Svjatoslav Richter, Richter and Estonia
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"I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how pleased I was to play the ESTONIA concert grand piano. It is indeed a wonderful instrument and has a lovely tone - which is the most important quality for any instrument."
Daniel Pollack
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"One of the best decisions I`ve ever made in my life is owning an ESTONIA piano."
David Kan, Music critic, Toronto/Hong Kong
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"I have owned and played ESTONIA grand pianos for many years. These fine instruments are built in the best European tradition, combining superb tone and touch and hand crafted of the highest quality materials. I am confident an ESTONIA piano would make a treasured addition to your home. It is gratifying me to recommend the ESTONIA piano - one of the best kept secrets in piano-making today."
Neeme Järvi, Chief Conductor and Music Director, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
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"Today's ESTONIA has its own sound sound-personality and shares the psychology of Steinway and Bösendorfer."
Prof. Dr. h. c. Arbo Valdma, Piano professor, Cologne Academy of Music, Germany
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"The ESTONIA Concert Grand is the only piano comparable to the Europian Steinway."
Thierry Gudel, Concert pianist, Switzerland
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"Here it is very apparent the distinction from other world big companies, in that this is not a purveyor of wooden or metallic products, but an instrument of the warmth of hands and human soul. Therefore, it sounds great and meets the professional requirements. Lord - let us bow for you and pray for the most powerful concerts. At the Holy Hour give ESTONIA their success in Music."
V. Tchernushenko, President, St. Petersburg Conservatory of Rimski-Korsakov.
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"Tonight I had the privilege of playing the ESTONIA Grand Piano. It is a beautifully made instrument whose craftmanship speaks for itself in its feel and sound. It has a lovely touch, a dark rich color, and a lyrical voice which invites music makeng at its best, all at a price unheard of for such quality. I look forward to my next opportunity to play an ESTONIA."
Robert Gustafson, Music Director, Les Miserables
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"During my visit at the KLAVER '98 festival in Tallinn, I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with new ESTONIA grand pianos. I was happy to observe an improved quality of the mechanism, and was impressed by the open, interested and ambitious attitude of the officials of the company, attending to a genuine wish to keep progressing in the development of these fine instruments. I wish the ESTONIA piano company all possible success in the future. I feel they are doing very important work."
Matti Raekallio
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"It is a marvellous experience to have discovered two of the ESTONIA pianos (especially the 190). The warmth and richness of the sound is deeply touching, they are instruments with noble acoustic properties, and a speaking psaltery tone. I wish a great success to these instruments in the coming years. I have no doubt about their success, for a lot of pianists will find in this instrument the sound that has so much disappeared since the grand's period of the beginning of the century."
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
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"After having had the great opportunity of giving Master Classes on two Estonia Grand pianos in Montepulciano this summer, it was particularly enjoyable to visit the factory and to admire the "old-style" ( and therefore remarkable) workmanship displayed in your instruments. I certainly wish you many centuries of piano-making - so that we poor pianists may continue to enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Keep up the good work."
Daniel Blumenthal
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"As a new owner of an ESTONIA piano, it has been a real pleasure to work on such a fine instrument and I am sure that the musical fulfillment I am experiencing will grow over the years. The level of craftsmanship in the ESTONIA piano can only inspire the highest respect and I have no doubt that this piano will continue to prove essential to sensitive musicians."
Marc-Andre Hamelin, two-time Grammy nominee and an internationally claimed pianist who recorded on the ESTONIA model 190 (6'3) grand piano.
Hear Our Pianos
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Model 168
Model 190
Model 210
Model 225
Model 274