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#Estonia #GrandPiano #Acoustic
Greetings and welcome to the Merriam Pianos KZfaq channel. We’re hopping back over to an acoustic grand piano today as we’ll be taking a close look at Estonia’s smallest grand piano, the L168.
At 5’6”, the L168 is on the fringe size-wise in terms of what might be called a baby grand, but it is the entry point into the world of Estonia and is widely regarded as one of the highest value smaller handmade performance grand pianos currently available.
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Initial Thoughts
Given that Estonia is a newer line for us here at Merriam Music, we simply haven't spent as much time in front of their instruments as we have some of the other usual suspects like Kawai, Yamaha, Steinway, or C. Bechstein for example.
But the process of getting to know a piano of the caliber of an Estonia takes time to fully grasp the subtleties and intricacies, just like a fine wine for example.
Piano Sound
Right off the hop, the L168 seems to give the player more the less the player tries to force things. This is in contrast to the top concert grands available which are all aimed at offering the widest possible dynamic range, where what you give to the piano is what you get back.
The L168 is more nuanced in a sense, and there’s an incredible bloom in the mid and upper mid-range of the piano with an amazing sustain.
The fundamental tone is very prominent, and the scale design, as well as Estonia’s unique approach to their soundboards, are a big reason for this.
The bass register is incredibly clear, which is not common for other grand pianos of this size. The break is still a little bit audible, which is close to impossible to fully mask with pianos of this size.
The top octave and a half have a bit less colour than some comparable instruments in the quality range, and this is likely due to Estonia’s bridge design, which trades colour for superior sustain.
Action
The action plays very nicely out of the box due to some great regulation that occurs at the factory. It’s a fairly conventional feeling European action since it’s built by Renner, and Renner supplies most of the high-end European piano manufacturers with their actions.
There’s not much more to say here - this is a very high-quality Renner action that is par for the course with handmade European pianos.
Finishing & Cabinetry
Estonia puts an inordinate amount of time into the finishing and cabinetry of their pianos. There’s complex joinery where the beams connect with the rim and the underside of the L168 is very impressive.
When you consider the price point an L168 is available for, the level of carpentry here is simply astounding.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re looking for an instrument that really talks to you, the L168 has the potential to be an incredibly compelling musical partner. Bravo Estonia!
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