Estonia Pianos: A Distinctive Singing Sound and Rich Heritage

The Estonia piano is celebrated for its meticulous craftsmanship and the high-quality materials used in its construction, including these key elements:

• Soundboard: There are many levels of quality in soundboards, and Estonia uses only the very highest resonant grade wood, usually reserved for musical instruments and sometimes concert hall performance floors. Known as “resonance spruce,” it grows slowly in high altitudes in Germany and is carefully selected for its tight grain and exceptional acoustic properties.
• Strings: The strings are crafted of the highest quality steel piano wire, imported from Germany, and the bass wires are core wound with pure copper and handmade at the Estonia Piano Factory. These strings are responsible for the instrument’s clarity, sustain, and wide dynamic range.
• Hammers: The hammers in Estonia pianos are crafted of high-density felt from Germany and England to produce a warm and expressive tone. Skilled artisans shape and voice the hammers to achieve the desired sound.
• Rims: The piano’s rim is made of thick Baltic birch to support the structure, allowing for great flexibility in sounds and voice. Keybeds on Estonia pianos are built into the rim.
• Action mechanism: The action mechanism, including the keys, levers, and hammers, is precision-engineered to deliver excellent touch responsiveness, allowing for nuanced expression.
• Harps and plates: These come from Finland and are made with wet sand-casting, an old-world process.
• Duplex scaling: Estonia pianos often feature individually tuned duplex scaling, front and rear, which allow sympathetic vibrations in the strings to enhance harmonics and sustain power.
• Finishing touches: Estonia uses a special treatment on their soundboards, applying only a slight layer of lacquer so as not to weigh down the pianos. This approach is similar to that of the finest violin makers and allows less use of the pedal to create romantic and lyrical tones.

Estonia pianos are often perceived as offering exceptional quality at a more affordable price than some other high-end piano brands. Several factors contribute to Estonia pianos’ relatively lower overhead costs, a saving it passes on to customers:

• Location and labor: Estonia, the country where these pianos are made, has lower production costs, no corporate income tax, and a lower cost of living, especially compared to countries like Germany or the United States. It’s also a port city, meaning that its instruments are shipped directly from the Baltic Sea — more affordable than transporting materials over land.
• Manufacturing practices: Estonia has streamlined its manufacturing process to maximize efficiency and reduce waste, allowing it to produce high-quality pianos without excessive overhead expenses.
• Material sourcing: Estonia benefits from access to high-quality European materials, which are sourced more affordably due to their proximity.
• Approach to partnerships: Estonia Piano Company is family-owned and operated. It often sells pianos through a network of authorized dealers or directly to customers to remove outside fees and reduce its distribution costs.
• Smaller Scale Production: Estonia pianos are made in smaller quantities than other well-known piano brands, reducing overhead while making it easier to maintain quality.