I am looking to purchase a Gemeinhardt piccolo and I can't choose between the KG Limited and Roy Seaman Limited models. As far as I can see they have identical features so I was looking for some recommendations as to which piccolo has the superior quality. I will be playing it in the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony and in my high school wind ensemble. I'd also appreciate any comments on the tone and feel of the models as well if you had anything to add. Thanks

I can't say I was too thrilled which either model really. Have you tried any other brands to compare them with?

Well I've always been a pretty loyal Gemeinhardt customer [although this time around I'm not purchasing another flute from them ] and I really liked the wood Gemeinhardt piccolo that I have played before. I've always liked the Gemeinhardt piccolos so I think I want to stick with them for now.

But I'm open to suggestions...

I've heard some good things about the Emerson Boston Legacy piccolo, but try lots of different piccolos that are in your price range and decide for yourself. Good luck

What models from some of the other leading companies are comparable to the KGltd and the Roy Seaman Ltd if I were to look into some of the others?

If you want a comparable intermediate brand as Gemeinhardt, then I would say maybe an Armstrong. I am unsure if any other intermediate brands carry a wood piccolo? But here are some good inexpensive wood models:

Emerson Boston Legacy
Burkart/Phelan Boston Global
Yamaha YPC-62

I have to agree with the others for the money you'd be laying down, there are MUCH better piccs available. Gemeinhardt makes fine student level instruments, but once you hit the intermediate level, the money that it takes to buy one of their instruments can be spent on an instrument that will allow you much more musical freedom and more room to grow. Any of the other brands listed anywhere in this thread are very good piccolos. I personally play a Zentner, and the people that have played it (some of them professionals in the recording business) have commented on its excellence. Even if you decide to go with one of the Gemmies, you must play them to see which you like better. We can tell you what we think of them, but in the end, it's up to you to make sure you are getting something you can live with for a while for your money, and the only way to go about that is to play all the options.

FluteWorld's list of Piccolos:
http://www.fluteworld.com/Merchant/Piccolos.htm

Below are some quotes from the Flutelist archive in regards to Roy Seaman and Zentner.

The original Roy Seaman piccolos (pre-Gemeindhart) were hand-made with a solid silver mechanism using the finest grenadilla wood Mr. Seaman could obtain. The Zenter piccolos (made during the 1980s and early 1990s) were a "mass-production model" of the original Roy Seaman piccolo -- the main difference being a silver-plated nickel mechanism and lesser-quality wood. Many aspiring and accomplished LA studio doublers still play on them (often with retrofitted modern head joints). The newer Gemeindhart "Roy Seaman Signature" piccolos are totally different from both the original Seamans and Zentners.

When I was considering the purchase of a piccolo back in late '96, Miles Zentner (who I believe was sole distributor for Seaman piccolos at the time, and thus had a vested interest in marketing them!) suggested that *unless* I needed such custom features on the piccolo there was no reason at all to choose a Seaman over a Zentner, and the latter was approximately half the price of the former.

The current Seaman piccs are made by Gemeinhardt on machinery bought from Roy Seaman who used to hand make piccs of the 3000 USD variety. The new ones are more like 1200 USD. Mr. Zentner used to make wooden piccs of the 1000-1500 USD variety, but has since stopped making them. The last I heard, he was looking for someone to buy his shop and produce the "new" Zentner piccolo.

When I last talked to Miles on this subject, he indicated that he was actively trying to find another maker of instruments of high quality piccolos to produce the bodies for him; he was not entirely thrilled with the work of the now-Gemeinhardt-owned Seaman factory at that time. I'd suspect that the most precise statement is "Zentner piccolos are not being made at the present time" rather than "Zentner piccolos are no longer being made." I know Miles had high hopes of finding another manufacturer, but I haven't heard that he has done so. The recent introduction of the Burkart-Phelan (as distinct from the more-expensive Burkart) piccolo might impact Miles' decisions in this area, as the target markets do overlap significantly!

As it happens, I visited with Miles Zentner on Saturday (examining some flutes he had for sale), and in the course of our conversation he volunteered that Gemeinhardt has, indeed, bought the factory that produces Zentner piccolos (effective, I think, September 1). Roy Seaman remains, so far as I know, as foreman of the factory and finisher of those piccolos sold under the Roy Seaman name. As I understand it, the piccolos (except for those that become Seamans) are not *completed* at the factory; they are finished (padded, adjusted, etc.) by carefully-selected and -trained craftsmen after the fact. Zentner piccolos will continue to be supplied by that factory to the same high standard as always, and the same people will be finishing them to the same high standard as always. The Gemeinhardt KG Limited piccolo body has always been supplied by this factory, as I understand it; I am not sure who finishes the instruments for them, though, or whether Gemeinhardt does it themselves. The big problem with Zentner piccolo supply seems to be that the demand far outstrips it. One of the reasons you're having problems finding Zentner piccolos is that people are buying them, and they can't be produced any more rapidly than at present without sacrificing the high quality for which they are well known.

I've mentioned this on the list before, but am happy to do so again. In a recent shopping expedition, a student and I compared Zentner, Seaman, Yamaha and Gemeinhardt wood piccolos, in the $1000-2000 range. The Gemeinhardt was the clear winner, in response, intonation, and tone, much to my surprise. That student bought one, and since then another of my students has bought one too.

Interesting, indeed. The piccolos my students ended up with were not the KG limited, but the more modestly priced 4SW. This model is made with silver keys, and there is a less expensive 4W with silver plated keys.

Actually I've always been pleasantly surprised with Gemeinhardt piccolos. I like them better than their flutes. The same goes for Emerson.

Judging from the desrciption of the KG piccolo, it is the same as the lower models but with upgraded materials (silver keys, gold springs, etc.). The Roy Seaman appears to be an entirely different piccolo from the rest of the Gemeinhardt line. I've played the Seaman and it wasn't bad. I liked both it and the Boston Legacy better than the Burkart Phelans (please no death threats, Kara).

My favorite piccolo I've ever played is a Hammig. If you buy from a foreign vendor you can avoid the markup and sales tax and get one for under $2500.

I think that the Boston Legacy is in the same catagory as the Burkart, and I was very impressed by them, do no death threats here, Tim. Lol! However, I do like the handmade Burkarts better. That is what I own. For the price, I think the Legacy is the best bang for the buck when comparing it to the Globals or the Gemmmy's though.

I have heard wonderful reviews on the Hammigs. I only got to try out one, but I couldn't evaluate it as it was out of adjustment.

I've heard handmade Burkart and Keefe piccolos are pretty much the best piccolos in current production. I've never played either, however.

I'd love to have a Hammig, but since I play piccolo so rarely I can't justify coughing up 2 grand plus. I'm about to start trying out composite piccolos shortly.

I do still love my Powell flute though. But I swapped the Sig head for a Nagahara Ardore. Do you still have your Philharmonic head?

No, I sold it and also bought a Nagahara Adore headjoint. I must say, you have great taste!

<Added>

Oops.. thats Ardore, but I do ADORE it!