gemeinhardt 4psh

[alex411]

ok so i was able to get what i think is a good deal.. my local music store had a used and refurbished gemeinhardt 4psh for $407 and i was able to trade it it for my armstrong 800b (fair trade, no extra money)... i really like it but i was wondering if anyone has used it and what there opinions are? it has a insanely sweet upper register but it gets really hard to get the high b natural, b flat and c out but im just figuring its a new piccolo to me and the one i was playing on was all metal so i have to get use to it... and also for the mid d and some of the lower notes i have to kind of have drop my jaw and blow more and i have never had to change my embouchure that much for a note to play before... but when i do it REALLY speaks.. so im happy with it but but i was wondering if anyone else ever had problems with this piccolo or raves about?

[Phineas]

Your piccolo sounds like it needs to be checked out. Piccolos are not as forgiving as flutes. Any little leak or maladjustment will definitely ruin your day.

Been there, been through that....several times.

Phineas

[alex411]

post note kinda- after working with it for a day the high notes now come out fine, but i still get a sizzling in the lower register, and it sounds like a toy.. i remember at a piccolo masterclass the teacher talked about how to remove it but i forgot.. anyone know?

[pied_piper]

Check to be sure the crown is not loose. If it is loose it can cause a buzzing sound via sympathetic vibration.

[alex411]

when i shake the headjoint there is a little rattling, what is that? i have a 1 year no questions warranty so i can go take it back and fix it.

[pied_piper]

Normally, the only thing in the headjoint is the cork stopper which consists of a screw with a fixed end plate which faces the embouchure, a cork on the screw, and another retainer end plate which is screwed on to help hold the cork in place and compress it a tiny bit.

Unscrew the crown and see if there is something loose inside the area between the crown and stopper. Someone could have placed something in there. I've seen stranger things...

The retainer end plate could be a bit loose and then it might make a little sound as it moves a bit. If that's the problem, the cork stopper must be removed to properly tighten it into place. It's a very simple 5-minute fix, but it's easier for a repair tech to do it since they typically have the proper tools to remove and reinsert the stopper.