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That piano sounds splendid, Sam.

I believe that the NAMM 7'4" Estonia was sold to California. Anyone played it in the 'natural' environment in its current location?

F

Impressive sounding instrument.

Nice job, Sam.

For those wondering, the terrific music being played is Liszt's sonata in B min.

If ever there was a piece of music sufficient to test a piano, the Liszt Sonata would be it.

I'm sure that was Liszt's intention when he composed it.

Very nice even without the finish. What style legs are those?

We call those gate legs. It kinda gives the piano that harpsichord look.

sawhorse legs

The 7'4 grand was in the making for several years but factory chose not to introduce until it was deemed perfect.

Incidentally I brought up German designer Lothar Thomma who inspected piano for some time. Very impressed.

What signifies Estonia is not just someone making another piano, but someone reaching for the top.

Eager when the first ones will become available.

Norbert

Wonderful sounding piano and Liszt piece as played by Indrek Laul.

That's a nice quality recording Sam.
Were you using one of the portable handheld recorders, recorder from your camera, or more professional gear? Just curious.

Thank you. It was a simple, inexpensive set up + much practice getting the most out of it. I was really surprised it turned out that well given the environment.

Well it does sound splendid Sam, and like you say, surprisingly good considering the noisy environment.

However, just to be totally unfair to piano, performer, and recording quality, and to put into perspective the comment that the B minor is one of the sternest tests of a piano imaginable (which it is in total, but not in a snippet), and finally to measure the piano against the spin I keep hearing that Estonia would be category 1 if not for the low price ), here is Economou's performance of the Lizst B minor on a a Hamburg Steinway before his tragic death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcPdaG3xXTI

Note: For those who like it, the entire performance can be heard in three links.

Call it what you will, but I got to play the Estonia 225 at NAMM and I preferred it to the Fazioli 228 in the next booth and the Bosendorfer 225 across the street! It is an impressive instrument. But of course, for this class of instruments it boils down to taste.

Jazzyprof,

I really don't know what to say here. The quote you excerpted reiterated my earlier comment that the piano sounded splendid. I believe I was the first to respond to Sam's youtube link. "Splendid" seems pretty good to me, but somehow such comments never seem to be enough when messing with the Estonia lobby here.

I also said in the post you excerpted that the comparison of a trade show piano wide open for every Tom, Dick and Harriet to play on, and recorded in a very trying acoustic environment to a concert-prepped Hamburg Steinway concert grand professionally miked for recording was unfair, so you might add that into the "Call it what you will" reference.

I made the post because I don't think that the challenges to a piano that are definitely present in the Lizst B Minor were present in the snippet submitted here, and that the inference by an Estonia dealer that that Estonia passed a stern test based on that snippet was bogus. Those challenges can only be anallyzed from a fuller hearing of that particular work on a piano, a hearing that brings to light the extremes of dynamic range called for (among other things).

As to your preference for the Estonia over the Bosie or the Faz, say what you will. I don't know what you were playing, but my impression is that there is a lot of classical lit that would reveal the strengths of those two pianos, but that that lit does not include the Lizst B Minor. I've never heard a live or recorded performance of the B Minor on either a Bosie 225 or a Faz 228. It would be interesting, a matter of the meat on the bone versus the exquisite character of the bone itself.

Just to be perfectly clear, I generally agree with this statement. I hope that you are not saying that I inferred that the Estonia 225 passed some stern test based on Sam's recording. I couldn't figure out if you were referring to my post or someone elses'.

What is forgotten is that there were a large group of people playing this piano during NAMM who tried this piano at length and had also something to say after.

This was particularly interesting as Estonia was placed right besides Fazioli during the show.

It was the statements and observation of those including a number of competitors [Steve Cohen..] and even Lothar Thomma who still ring in my ears.

From my recollection, there weren't many ifs and buts.

Of course I wouldn't dare to even indicate any more for fear of piano Taliban raising its ugly,cowardly head again...

Norbert

I spent a good deal of time at the Estonia booth and listened to many who evaluated the new 7'4". The comments were universally positive. I would go so far as to say it was "acclaimed"...and deservedly so.

I also had the pleasure of going to dinner with Indrek the two nights before the show opened to dealers. The first night is was just Indrek and me, eating ribs at Tony Roma's. The second night Larry joined us.

Indrek is every bit the delight as others have described.

Whil all of this is undoubtedly delightful, and camaraderie has its points (and perks! ) it is interesting to see how what's important to our retailrr brethren may be of no consequence to consumers with ears and fingers of their own.

Many of us have only NAMM sound clips to go on. A lot of those clips are pretty useless because of the background noise and other issues. Sam's clip was the best IMO. The piano sounded splendid...sweet lyrical treble, alluring tonal qualities. But based on the smaller Estonias that's hardly a surprise. I mean.... who would expect that Indrek Laul would travel to NAMM to lay an egg?

For us consumers who have ears, fingers, and confidence in our powers of evaluation (not our taste -- that's different), we should not factor in the nice guy variable any more than we should factor in the Tony Roma ribs. At some point we'll get a chance to size up one of the new Estonias (unless Ori devoours whole consignments before they reach their intended destination.

(Easy, Ori! It's a joke.)

Please count under 'consumers' also some dealers roaming the [show] land....

And since my wife is world's best cook, going out to dinner was of less interest to me anyways. Staying right besides Tony Roma I must admit however, their ribs are indeed very good!

Norbert

One other factor to consider is that not all potential buyers of pianos play or trust their ability to evaluate the tonality and rsponsiveness of pianos they are considering. Many buy a piano to "grow into".

They often rely on the opinions of others.

I didn't get the impression from Steve's post that we are supposed to "factor in the nice guy." I thought he was making two separate points...

1. The Estonia 225 was well received at NAMM
2. Indrek Laul is a nice guy.