What is the best piccolo brand from ebay..I know ebay isnt a great place to buy an instrument but i dont want to be marching around with my 800 piccolo agin that was a big mistake. are venus piccolos any good?

Venus piccolos are not something I would suggest buying. What kind of piccolo did you march before? As long as it's a metal or plastic picc from a reputable company, you should be fine, and there's no need to spend money on a new picc if you already have one that's suitable. To answer your question, though, don't buy colored piccs or piccolos from companies whose names you don't recognize or can't find a professional looking website for. Of course, this won't sort out all the junkers, but it should be a start. Buy a reputable make (Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, Emerson, etc.), but plan on it needing some work. It may or may not, but it's best to figure the cost of repairs into the purchase price straight off so you don't buy one that doesn't play, and can't afford to have it worked on.

I agree with the poster above, however I took the route of getting a silverplated Venus piccolo knowing fully of the possible waste of $ it would be. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to get one, but mine has held up quite well especially w/ intonation. The only thing wrong is that the plating is worn off. So, some are okay,but are VERY hit and miss. Good luck w/ finding one!

always buy a SIMBA

But then you have the problem of finding someone to install your Straubingers, Patrick!

Lera has done it before.

oh, and it has to be purple..

I thought it was supposed to be purple with gold plated keys and lip plate!lol

the piccolo i was marching was a 4PMH Gemeinhardt.

That piccolo is perfectly fine for marching band. There's no reason to buy another picc. Anything you buy for cheaper is probably going to need some work, or is going to be a junker that probably won't last you through a full season. I would recommend just using your Gemmie for marching, and if you get a new picc, upgrade to something nicer for concert work.

well i guess i can marh with my piccolo ill just save my money and get a wood one there was this one girl that had a light brown piccolo at honor orchestra...woudl anyone know what wood that might be

Did it look like this?
http://www.kesslermusic.com/html/flutes/bostonlegacypic.htm

If so, that is ironwood.

Also, an all plastic piccolo would work good for HS. If you plan on playing throughout college with it, then I would invest in an all wood, otherwise, I would waste your money.

Sorry, that should read.. I WOULDN'T waste your money.