Piccolo Trauma!

FltnPicc_David · Post by **FltnPicc_David** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:31 pm

OMG! So here we were, at marching band practice and all of a sudden, it rains hard, OUT OF NO WHERE. I expected the band director to tell us to put our instruments away but NO. We went on and I FREAKED about my YPC-32 Piccolo getting wet. So today there was a fotoball and now notice, one of the keys doesn't pop back up after beng pressed on while playing a chromatic scale. Nice, huh?

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:03 am

Yep, that happens sometimes when there's excess moisture in the pads. Take some cigarette paper, place it under the key, close the key lightly, release the key, and then remove the paper (and repeat until the problem is fixed). Never drag the paper out while the key is closed, as cigarette paper is abrasive and will tear the pads over time. I doubt the rain will have affected the mechanism itself too much, so the most likely reason is pad issues. If that doesn't solve it, it may need to see a tech.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:11 am

Sounds like rust (yes, it can happen that quickly!). Take this to a tech for some cleaning and oiling and see whether it improves right away. We've had a lot of rust already this year, despite little rain--average humidity, however, has been around 85%!

FltnPicc_David · Post by **FltnPicc_David** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:56 am

Yes, I've noticed some brown coloring wear the key is placed. I just bought this piccolo in December and the silver on the keys is getting a bit ish on some keys. i will send it to a tech. i wanna find a tech who works only on flutes as they are specialized in the field but I might just have to get a general technician. I might reconsidered marching piccolo now.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:54 pm

Well flute is not likely to be any better. At least the piccolo's diminutive size means less rain gets to it. As for the brown material, it may be rust, but it may be tarnish. For some reason, sometimes tarnish on silver plate appears more brown than black (as it does on solid silver). I couldn't tell you which it is without seeing the instrument, but taking it to a tech won't hurt (except maybe the wallet). Good luck getting it fixed up (and I would try to stick to a flute tech if at all possible....Some general techs do quite nice work, but others are horrendous with flutes, so who knows what you might get).

flute princess xX · Post by **flute princess xX** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:41 pm

in the future, if your band director doesn't tell you to quickly put away your instruments (woodwinds) if you have a pocket or something to put it in do it anyway, then later explain to them why you did that. having it in your pocket won't make it perfect safe but, less harm will come of it. as for what it sounds, i think you need to take it to the repair shop. Don't reconsider piccolo, if you really want to play it. While you have it in the shop get it cleaned too. and, it might not hurt to get new pads too. even if you were playing flute and not piccolo you'd still have to go through this if it happens, too! I had this hjappen to my old flute. i got a new one, though. i needed it. lol,

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:45 pm

I would think having it in your pocket would be rather worse than having it out. It's still exposed to moisture in the form of damp cloth, and now there is pocket lint getting into the mech/onto the pads, unnecessary pressure being put on the mech, and depending on the loaction of the pocket, you may sit on and crush the picc.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:25 pm

Yeah... the pocket thing.... I only use that method when absolutely necc. I normally wear very loose denim jeans though, and I keep the pockets almost lint free. But... on the other hand, when I march, I use my worst picc that plays decently. I have some that are worse, that wont hardly play, but they just need a little work.