Prelude Piccolo.

squints · Post by **squints** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:33 pm

What can you tell me prelude riccolo? I found one for 200$ bucks and wanted to know is it a really poor instrument that I should ignore.

The Advertisment reads.
Composite body with silver-plated head, conical bore, and split E mechanism. Includes case.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:15 pm

The Prelude piccolo is the lower line of instruments from Selmer (much as Bundy used to be). $200 is about what it's worth. It really is designed just for beginner piccoloists, and likely will not take you too far musically, so depending on what your goals are for piccolo, it may be a good instrument. If you are just going to screw around with it, with no real desire to perform on it, a Prelude might suit your needs nicely. If you're looking for an instrument that could carry you through college, or one suited to a talented group, there are probably some better options available. Just as with any other purchase of an instrument, you should playtest anything you want to buy (or if you're new on piccolo, have someone with more experience play test it for you), to be sure it meets your needs.

More info on the Prelude series can be found at http://www.selmer.com/content/prelude/index.php

squints · Post by **squints** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:42 pm

O.k. that sounds good for me then I don't play with any group and I am really just looking for somthing to play for my enjoyment. If it has a good life I am content.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:06 am

No, it's not like Bundy. This was Conn-Selmer's answer to "how can we compete with this steady stream of horrible, but really cheap, instruments from overseas?". I haven't tried the piccolo, but I have played the flute, and for the price it's pretty good. The scale is alright--it can be played in tune, with relative ease--and it doesn't feel as if it's going to melt in your hands. I've always disliked Bundy flutes, but their salient feature was incredible durability. The Bundy line was discontinued a few years ago.
The Prelude's not the caliber of Bundy, Artley, Armstrong, Bach, Gemeinhardt, or entry-level Yamahas. However, it's not made of that terrible pot-metal junk that bends when you look at it (expect some durability), and repair parts are available from Selmer, so if you can buy this from your local Selmer dealer in order for them to provide you with warranty service, it's certainly an ok picc to mess around with. I wouldn't recommend it to a serious player for various reasons, but it would probably be ok even to play in many schools' performing groups, excluding top wind ensembles and orchestras.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:51 am

MeLizzard wrote:No, it's not like Bundy. This was Conn-Selmer's answer to "how can we compete with this steady stream of horrible, but really cheap, instruments from overseas?"

I'm sorry if my last post was ambiguous. I do realize that Bundys and Preludes are different, but occasionally I do not type what I am thinking, or leave out parts of my message. Thank you for catching that.

Symphony · Post by **Symphony** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:21 am

I wouldn't touch a Prelude with a ten foot pole ever again. One of my students plays one and has had nothing but trouble trouble trouble with pads, keys, springs etc. Had it a year and already seven breakages with it. Luckily over the Cork Flute Society I had it fixed for free, by the guy that works with All Flutes Plus in London but holy hell I'd advise to stay away from this brand!