Hi i just joined the board and will post an intro soon but i have a ??
i am a 16 yr old who has played flute for about 3 years and i want to play piccolo.... i want to buy one but am unsure where to start the ones i am currently looking at are the Gemeinhart 4P and a Venus
my budget is slim so i am going to get a used one .....any advice??
I suggest you try piccolos in stores at first (I know, most of them will be new), just so you get a feel for them, and a feel for what you like.
Then, you can look at flutesmith.com or the FLute Network: flutenet.com (online or the paper copy of their newsletter) and see what's for sale. Usually, you get to try the instrument of your choosing (it will be shipped to you) and then you can dcide if you want to buy it send it back. Good luck!
I in general do not like these. But they will work, and are pretty easy to play on
Venus
I own one of the internet specials. It plays good, but it did require some minor adjustment when I got it. Also be aware that almost noone will even bother to work on it. But hey, they are cool looking, and costs less the $100
If you are on a budjet, I would recommend checking these people out. There are pics under $200 , and they are made in china. However, the dealer will work on and support what they sell. You may have to try more than one, but you will get a little more security out of the deal than buying off Ebay. I would highly recommend the Barrington 996. You will have to baby the cork, but it is by far the best pic you can get for under $300 dollars
I highly recomend the Gemeinhardt 4PMH. I bought this one myself from woodwind and brasswind.com, and have really enjoyed. I play it in the marching band and concert band, and works excellently for both! I got the silver and plastic headjoint with it for less than $500.
We've got two brand-new, two-to-three-year-old Gemeinhardt piccs in our store, both with SERIOUS intonation issues. This is the reason they remain unpurchased. However, many Yamahas, Armstrongs, and Emersons have been purchased from us during the past few years. One of these instruments, used, would be a good value for a beginner. If selection is negligible in your area, Google "used piccolo________" (fill in the brand). Honest sellers will let you try the instrument before buying. If one you want to buy is gonna need any major repairs, try not to pay more than, say, $250 for a student piccolo. Try to stick with a reputable brand (for which American repairmen can get parts, etc.). Piccolos are tricky enough without handicapping yourself with design-induced intonation problems and inferior metal/workmanship. As Boglarka suggested, go to a store and try some before you start shopping.
Read your question regarding which pic to go with. Just checked my daughter's case since I knew she had a Gemeinhardt. She's playing a gemeinhardt 4PSH. Plastic body with solid silver head. We got this on ebay from a college student who just upgraded to a grenadilla pic, and got a good buy. Though Geminhardt is not our choice for a flute, we thought we'd give it a try since we needed one for marching. At first she was frustrated with tuning, but once this was adjusted with the cork it was great. This pic has been fine through 4 years of marching, concert band and orchestra. Other than marching band where she primarily is playing piccolo, 90% of concert band and orchestra is spent on flute, so that's where we put the money. We've had no repairs needed during this period. If you've had a chance to play it and are happy with the sound I'd go for it.
