Venus Piccolo?

[FruityFlutie]

Just for fun, I was looking at some piccolos on ebay. In my browsing, I found some piccolos in fun colors- all of the colored ones were by the brandname Venus. I've never heard of the brandname before.

So I was wondering a couple things:
1. If, simply for playing around at home, a colored piccolo is worth the investment (round-about $60, including s&h costs)
2. Venus- quality brand or no?
3. How is the tone quality?

Basically, is it worth it to buy?

[fluttiegurl]

Personally, I wouldn't buy it. For playing at home, maybe, but don't expect great quality in workmanship. I'm not sure about the tone. I know that their flutes often have a decent sound initially, but don't last very long.

[macadamia]

Hi, I'm also looking to buy a new picc, but mainly to upgrade. I have been playing a plastic one for a few years now and am trying to find a good quality wooden picc. I have found a few on e-bay but I'm not sure about the quality of them. One is Cibali, which I have never heard of and Venus, which doesn't have a very good reputation with the cheaper instruments. Any suggestions anyone??

[sherbert789]

I just ordered a Yamaha-62 piccolo (all wood, silver plated keys, split-E), I'll let you know how it is when it comes *probably tomorrow*.

[fluteguy18]

Well, to be honest, I wouldn't go down the road of cheap piccolos lightly. However, if you do want a cheap one, the brand to go with is Symphony.
They are pretty reliable (i have one as a back up, and it hasn't needed adjustment for over two years). The plating comes off easily, but what do you expect. the design is a copy of a Yamaha YPC-32. I used the Symphony as my primary picc for over a year (it was more mellow than my silver Gemmy) before I upgraded. thier customer support is great. They gave me a new one when the plating started to chip, and sent the old one back as ANOTHER spare. so b/c of them, I have three back up piccs, and use my yamaha as my primary.

so if it is just for FUN, I would definately buy one.

good luck.

[macadamia]

I ended up getting a Yamaha YPC62, which I'm very very happy with.

[MeLizzard]

If you're really only looking at the lowest-dollar options, Selmer makes a lower-level instrument series called Prelude. The scale's not too bad and at least you can get parts (and service) for these. I'm sure it's under $300. Cibali and Venus? Uh-uuu. If "upgrade" just means "a different picc than the one I have now", an inexpensive, used student model would do, and probably play much better than your current instrument. If "upgrade" truly means UPGRADE, save some money and buy a nicer, used if necessary, Yamaha or something. Buying piccolos is an arena in which we really do get what we pay for. When shopping on EBay, if you don't recognize a brand, search Google. If a real, major manufacturer's homepage doesn't show up for the brand (search"yamaha" or "Gemeinhardt" for examples) within the first page of search results, NOT JUST A STORE WHICH SELLS THE BRAND, run away!!!!!!!

[tothepointe]

I bought one these cheap piccs a couple of years ago . I found it recently and all the key work was green. I couldn't throw it away fast enough

[andy957]

Just for fun, I was looking at some piccolos on ebay. In my browsing, I found some piccolos in fun colors- all of the colored ones were by the brandname Venus. I've never heard of the brandname before.

So I was wondering a couple things:
1. If, simply for playing around at home, a colored piccolo is worth the investment (round-about $60, including s&h costs)
2. Venus- quality brand or no?
3. How is the tone quality?

Basically, is it worth it to buy?

One last comment re: Venus. I bought one from a seller off eBay. It looks lovely, comes in a nice case with rod, cork grease, etc. but OUCH! The instrument has some notes that are about a semi-tone flat, the response is awful and the general sound, I think, is rather shrill. I had a friend who is a professional flutist/piccolo player try it out as well, just to get another opinion and she felt the same.

I have not tried the Symphony that someone mentioned below, because it seems to be a similar instrument (Chinese made, etc.).

But if you just want something pretty to look at, it's a good deal.

[Woodwind Guy]

Personally, the Venus I got in july is actually pretty good, and it doesn't need any work. I'm not suggeting going out to get one because not all of them are good, but I sure there are a few. But, if you do, just hope for the best.

[flutepicc06]

Personally, the Venus I got in july is actually pretty good, and it doesn't need any work. I'm not suggeting going out to get one because not all of them are good, but I sure there are a few. But, if you do, just hope for the best.

Venus is very hit and miss. So are most of the other low quality Chinese makes (most of them are actually coming out of the same factories, but with different names on the barrels). There are some that can play decently (but still not up to the level of a Yamaha, Armstrong, or some other established brand), and then there are some that are junkers straight out of the box and never play at all. Just one reason to avoid buying these instruments.

[flutebaby0001]

I own a Symphony piccolo...and it costs me a lot...i have to take it to the shop nearly every year...the corks do not stay in place...and the piccolo is obviously gold plated...it always runs sharp and is altogether a horrible instrument...i WOULD NOT recommend Symphony piccolos to anyone!!

[fluteguy18]

I still stand by my recommendation from four years ago. In the $100 price range, you could do far worse. Although, it has been interesting to pull both of my Symphony piccs out after I've had them a few years. They've aged in a very unique way. The one that played well won't play at all, and the one that couldn't play now plays quite well (considering its price).

But these are not instruments that I would invest more than $50 in repairs in. I would get one adjustment on them, and when it needs repair the next time, chuck it in the trash. They're practically disposable. I think I might turn both of mine into wall sconces.

[AurokeFlute]

Personally, I wouldn't buy it. For playing at home, maybe, but don't expect great quality in workmanship. I'm not sure about the tone. I know that their flutes often have a decent sound initially, but don't last very long.

I got a venus flute almost 3 years ago and there has been some minor things like a leak in the pad, ext. it has gotten me this far. im planning on upgrading before i go to college, hopefully to a muramatsu gx.

and about the piccolo, i wouldn't recommend venus to anyone, it isnt a very good brand. if you are going to go for something you can use in the future, get a gemeinhardt. they have a bad name right now but their piccolo's are still one of the better ones. i play on a gemeinhardt 4p model. it has a wonderful sound and is a lot more mellow than a regular piccolo (my teacher's yamaha silver piccolo for example.) check local music stores, you can find a piccolo pretty decent priced. I also hear Selmer makes good piccolo's too. never really played one, except when i barely knew how to correctly play, but i hear good things about them as well.