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The Estonia piano story just might be the most romantic
and dramatic in the piano industry.
All piano companies have had their high and low points over
time. Piano manufacturers often place their best years in
the past---the golden years. Steinway had its peak in the
1920’s, evidenced by the fact that we are all searching
the country for older models to restore. Their low point was
during the late 1960’s and 1970s when it was acquired
by The Columbia Broadcasting System (The CBS Period). Yamaha
did its best to impress the U.S. market by building fantastic
pianos in Japan in the late 1970s through 1987, before they
were unnerved by Young Chang and the other Korean builders.
Today they are moving a substantial amount of their production
to Indonesia and China to keep cost down.
Estonia and the people of this unique country are passionately
showing the world what it can do. They want to fully leave
the Soviet- era and enter the modern and international European
Union. And they are working flat out to do it. Any pianist
can feel it in their pianos; the touch, the tone, the warm
soul of these pianos! There are only three models available
from this Scandinavian woodshop: we import the 168 (5’6”
baby grand) and the 190 (6’3” grand). No uprights
are currently available.
Our customers can not believe that these hand-made grands
compete directly with the German builders at 40% of their
cost. We are often at a loss to explain their modest pricing.
The company is owned primarily by an Estonian concert pianist
and Julliard graduate---Dr Paul Laul---- who has sold 70,
000 CD recordings, which are available on their modest website.
The factory workers own the balance of the company. These
hand-built pianos contrast sharply when compared to the modern
robot constructed pianos in Asia.
Piano retailers in the United States are placing orders for
more than we expect to receive. The factory is working at
full capacity and can not keep up with demand. One can only
marvel at their value. The golden age is now at Estonia. And
we know the pricing can not last forever.
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