Piccolos

[flutepicc06]

Good luck getting a great piccolo! Just a word of advice: It may be best to buy the instrument before you hit college. If you intend to be involved in the music program at your school of choice, chances are you will be in innumerable rehearsals, lessons, auditions, etc. and (if at all possible) you want to avoid having to struggle to become accustomed to a new instrument during this crucial time in your musical education. Even buying just a few months before the end of senior year may give you the time you need, but you'll be practising for entrance and placement auditions long before you ever get to college, and should be doing so on whatever instrument you'll be performing on. Optimally, the summer before your senior year (or earlier) would be when you should move up, so that you have time to adjust to the instrument before having to prepare audition material. I don't know whether that's viable for you, but keep it tucked in the back of your head. Also, keep in mind that while many high quality piccolos are wooden, the fact that a piccolo is wood does not indicate an excellent instrument, nor does metal indicate a poor one. When the time comes to buy a picc, try various different materials (and maybe combinations of materials) to find the one that suits you best.

[andy957]

Has anyone had any experience with the Gemeinhardt 4P? Just curious. Thanks.

[fluteguy18]

No, I dont believe so. I know someone who plays the 4sp, and she likes it a lot, but she sees that she has outgrown it and needs a new one. I did play hers for a few minutes though, and the 4sp is a decent picc. So, I would venture to say that probably the 4p is also pretty decent.... Sorry I couldnt be of more assistance.

[remnantpark]

Our school has a bunch of Gemeinhardt 4P Piccolo. Yeah, it's pretty decent, maybe not always the best best piccolo since I believe it's made mostly out of plastic.
All our beginner piccoloists play the Gemeinhardt 4P. And they are really good for playing outside and marching and in concert band as well. I'm only telling you what I know since I'm not much of a piccolo player myself...Sorry if I wasn't much of a help.

[flutepicc06]

Has anyone had any experience with the Gemeinhardt 4P? Just curious. Thanks.

I do. Just like most of Gemeinhardt's line, they do the job, but aren't magnificent. It's a solid piccolo for the money with a decent scale (unless they've changed things), and a pretty good sound. Personally I don't like plastic heads, but some people don't hear any difference from plastic to metal to wood. They're certainly a lot better than a lot of piccolos you could buy today (i.e. the junkers coming from China).

[Masters7]

If people think buying a flute is complicated, try getting a picc!!! I've never found a picc I think is "all that, and more." I have a Yamaha YPC-62 with three heads. Yes, three headjoints. I have the orginal Yamaha, a Zalo -that was cut when Peleritte had his hands on every headjoint before sale, and I just picked-up a Burkart-Phelan wave. Each has good and not-so-good qualities. I can't say there is anything bad about any of them. I did get to try a Nagahara -new scale with C-foot. Interesting qualities, in both tonal and intonation areas. Once the scale is finalized, this maker might be one to look at for a truly professional grade picc.