I have just recently been plagued with the need to upgrade my piccolo because after 5 and 1/2 years of superior service, my Gemeinhardt 4SP "died". It was resuscitated by a very gifted repair man, but being without it all summer was torture. That and the fact that it`s sort of holding me back from reaching my true potential has convinced me that it`s time to upgrade.

I live in an area of the U.S. where when you go to a music store and ask about a piccolo, you get an evil look and only get to see student models. I traveled to a larger music store to try a lot of different kinds. After trying 5 different instruments I decided that I like the all silver Sankyo model 201; I sounded the best on it and I absolutely loved the tone colors coming out. The price was also absolutely fantastic, but I didn`t want to rush into a major decision head first; I prefer going feet first into the land of the unknown.

I don`t want a wooden one for numerous reasons: the low register on the ones I tried were almost completely nonexistent and the quality of sound coming out sounded fuzzy; knowing my luck the wood would crack and I for one cannot afford to dish out $10,000 for a new piccolo every time it happens; and there is really no one to teach me how to take care of it that lives in my area.

I didn`t know that Sankyo even made piccolos until I tried this one. I knew that their reputation for making flutes is excellent. If anyone has any experience with this brand of a piccolo--especially repairmen--please post your opinion. If you have any other suggestions for an all silver piccolo please also feel free to make those.

I`m a sophomore music major in college and I`m looking to teaching in the public/private school system as well as private lessons. I need something that will be durable (indoor use only), reliable, of superb quality for the serious monetary investment that I would be making, and that is relatively "low maintenence"; I cannot financially afford frequent trips to the repairman and/or frequent extensive repairs. I`m looking for an upgrade that has the potential to last me for the rest of my life.

If anyone has had experience with dealing with these piccolos, please let me know. I really don`t know anyone in my area who is knowledgeable in the specific field of the flute or piccolo. Thanks!!!

Sorry, I wish that I could help, but I have never found a silver piccolo that I like or would play on. I only play on wood or plastic. I play the picc professionaly, and I would probably get kicked out of the Orchestra if I came in with a silver piccolo. Lol!

Silver Pics are usually cylindrical and Wood/Plastic are usually conical, though that`s not always the case. Cylindrical plays very much like a flute where conical has some definate resistance built into it (as the tube narrows towards the foot). The conical has the benefit of improved tone, pitch, and response in comparison to its cylindrical brethren, but if you are not a Piccolo fan and only plan on playing a Pic for very rare occaisions a cylindrical may serve you well. Higher notes are easier on cylindrical than on conical, but conical sounds far more sweeter to some ears.