Opinions please

[macadamia]

Hi,
I'm currently looking to upgrade my piccolo from a plastic one to a wooden one. I have been looking around e-bay because they seem to have some pretty good deals for piccolos. Anyway, I was just wodering if I could get a few opinions on the following piccolos. I'm not %100 sure about the brands etc.

Here they are:

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... BIX_Stores[/url]

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CIBAILI-Quality- ... dZViewItem[/url]

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... %3AIT&rd=1[/url]

Any opinions would be great, Thanks

[fluttiegurl]

A good wooden piccolo will cost upwards of $1000 new. With that said, I have not heard 2 of the brands that you have listed (besides the Roy Seaman). I have played several Seaman piccolos, and I feel that there are better ones out there. However, if this piccolo is truly in the condition that the seller describes, that is a pretty good deal. I have had bad experiences with pawn brokers on ebay simply because most (not all) have no clue as to the condition of the item. Just be cautions and ask lots of questions about the pads, does it play, does it have any cracks, when was it serviced last, and how old it is. Ebay is a wonderful tool, as I have said many times, but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you want to invest in a wooden piccolo, try new ones out first, and try a lot of them. Once you have narrowed them down to a few, decide how much you can spend and look for a used one (preferrably on ethat you can return if you do not like). If you play piccolo as much as me (very littel), this is a good way to go. No matter how well you like your plastic picc, a wooden one will be different (sound, response, feel, etc) and take a great deal more care, so it is very wise to be sure before making a huge investment.

Has anyone here heard of Cibaili? I am always interested to find new makers worldwide, and this one seems to be from Australia.

[flutepicc06]

Unfortunately, both Cibaili and Venus fall into the category of junker piccolos. They play, but they don't offer you the kind of quality that a name brand picc would. I advise you to steer away from them, particularly for wooden piccs. The Roy Seamans are decent, but by no means the best quality out there. My advice to people looking into a wooden instrument is always to look at used ones. Wooden instruments mature over time, during which period their playing characteristics and tone change, generally growing darker. New instruments also require a breaking in period, during which you can only play the instrument for a designated amount of time per day, and new instruments are more susceptible to cracking. Also, for whatever money you are willing to spend, you can find a MUCH nicer piccolo used than new. I agree with fluttiegirl that if you go the eBay route, you need to ask many questions to be sure that you're getting a decent buy. eBay also does not offer you the chance to play test instruments to find one that's a good match for you, and (perhaps even more so than in flutes) finding a good piccolo for you can make a world of difference. Watch Fluteworld's used piccolo section, or contact the Flute Center of New York, or Carolyn Nussbaum. All that said, my primary suggestions in the realm of used piccolos are Zentner, old Roy Seamans (which are different from the ones made by Gemeinhardt, of which you've found a specimen), an old Haynes, Burkart, Powell, or even a Yamaha.

[fluttiegurl]

Thanks for the info on Cibaili.

I have delt with Carolyn Nussbaum on many occasions, and she will work with you to help find a piccolo if you let her know what you are looking for. Ginger Hendrick at The Flute Exchange (www.flutes.com) provides a similar service. She has helped me find some amazing used instruments for students.

Used wooden Yamaha's turn up quite regularly at Fluteworld, so check their website frequently.

[macadamia]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the replies and the information. It has all been really helpful, except that I'm in the land down under, so it makes things a bit difficult with international sellers. I will keep looking and keep trying. I'm partial to the Yamaha, so thanks for letting me know where they often turn up. My first piccolo came to me through pure serendipity, so hopefully the same will apply for the next one.
Once again many thanks

Macadamia

[jayneice]

personally, if you're wanting to upgrade your instrument then go for the a new piccolo from a reputable dealer. There is a reason ebay says "buyer beware."
You might have to save a bit longer, or wait awhile, but the investment will be much better in the long term.

[macadamia]

Hi out there,
Thanks so much for everyone's opinions and input. Just thought I would let you know that I am now the proud owner of a nearly new YPC 62. I am very happy with it and glad I didn't spend my money on a brand that I couldn't trust.
Thanks again
macadamia

[fluttiegurl]

Congrats!

[flutepicc06]

A good choice! Congratulations on your new picc! I hope it brings you many years of musical pleasure!