<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT COLOR="#030000" SIZE=2>In a message dated 11/10/01 11:00:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, rrg@unlv.edu writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">The Astonia pianos that I have encountered, (uprights mostly but a couple grands), were far below what I would consider acceptable quality. Perhaps they are improving but I would want to go through one completely first hand before I would be able to make any recommendations.
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<BR>Maybe you and Richard aren't talking about the same pianos. I'm quite sure Richard is talking about the Estonia pianos, not the Astonia. I say this, because unless they just started building them this year, *Estonia* does not build a vertical for anyone to encounter. I've never seen an *Astonia*, so I don't know whether their verticals are any good or not.
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<BR>As to the *Estonia* grands however, the ones I've seen lately seem to be reasonably well made.
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<BR>Larry Fletcher
<BR>Atlanta Chapter</FONT></HTML>