<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 11/7/01 11:24:32 AM Central Standard Time, tonyanj@hotmail.com writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I have a friend who is a budding concert pianist and is looking for an instrument. He has moved from my area but is asking for direction in his search. He found an Astonia(?) grand that he likes and is within his budget but I know nothing about this brand.</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Anyone? Anyone?</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
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<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Thanks,</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">John Tonyan </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
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<BR>It's Estonia, built in the republic of Estonia. Let's put it this way, there are 16 brands of grand pianos 9' and over, ranging in price from $39,500 to $108,390. Guess where the Estonian is? As the old adage says, you get what you pay for.
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<BR>I don't have any personal experience with the instrument as far as tuning is concerned, but there is a 9' Estonia grand in the show room of the local piano dealer. It sounds great, and plays nice. So if your friend likes it, then by all means, have him buy it. But if his budget only allows him to pay $39,000 for a piano, perhaps a 7'- 7'9" grand for the same price (Petrof, Yamaha, Kawai, Schimmel), might be a better investment.
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<BR>Wim </FONT></HTML>