Buying A New Piccolo...

[Midnightblue93]

Hey!

I am currently searching for a good cheap piccolo to buy. I have been playing flute for two and a half years now, tried the piccolo last year, loved it, and now want to buy one of my own. I am a freshman in high school and want a piccolo that I can play safely in the marching band but will also do semi-well in concert band.

I was wondering if I could get some advice on what piccolos would be okay to buy. My parents said that I'd have to buy it completely by myself, so I am saving all my money (a lousy $21 a week) for a cheap instrument that I can have by next marching band season.

There is no way that I can test an instrument before I buy it (my parents don't trust that sort of system) and I know that there are badly made ones circulating these days. I found this out personally when my parents bought me a Rossetti Intermediate model last year for Christmas. (It plays well but the pads are weak and the screws are really messed up.)

Looking online, I have found several brands under five hundred dollars. Bundy, Artley, and Conn-Selmer were among them. I saw a Jupiter piccolo for a decent price and was thinking about buying it. (I also have a Jupiter student model with open holes that plays excellently.) Should I buy this? Will it be worth it? Or are there some other options that I should try?

I'd appreciate some advice.

[PiccoloShorty]

I am a sophomore in high school and i got a piccolo last year for band. I love it! mine is an Armstrong; it was used but it still plays great! I have had a few minor probelms with it, but my instructor has been able to fix it.
Another girl plays piccolo in my band and she has an Emerson. hers is also used but sounds good.

*just remember to look around for deals. you may find the same piccolo in 2 different places but one may cost less!

[fluteguy18]

If you are wanting something that is in that price range, but yet is very suitable for both marching AND concert settings, I would recommend looking into piccolos that have a metal headjoint and a plastic/resin body.

I personally own two of that variety [besides my wooden yamaha], and they are practically indestructible. Generally [although there have been exceptions to this "stereotype" if you will], metal piccs tend to be penetrating in their sound quality, and wooden piccs tend to be more mellow in their sound quality. The metal/plastic hybrid piccs tend to be a nice compromise, and they usually sell a little cheaper than most piccs. They are very low maintenance, and for the money, depending on the specific instrument you purchase, you can get a lot of bang for your buck.

Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, selmer, and several others make piccs of that type.

But, I don't want to discourage you from all metal piccs either. There are several very nice metal piccolos out there in the price range you are looking at. Don't get a wooden one unless you will ONLY be playing it indoors.

Don't be afraid to look around at used piccolos either. By purchasing a used piccolo, you can get an instrument of much higher quality for much less $$$. If you choose that route, just make sure that a technician looks it over.