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.
Michelles Piano has a great selection of Estonia pianos that are both new and pre-owned. Stop by our Portland piano showroom location to see, hear, and play our Estonia pianos. The sound and tone from an Estonia piano is beautiful. We welcome you to come enjoy it, hear it and play it.
Please contact Michelle’s Piano with any questions about our Estonia pianos, what Estonia pianos we have available that might not be on our web site yet, and compare the Estonia piano line with other pianos.
