I am a flute player and I would like to buy a piccolo. I am still in high school, so I am trying to find a nice piccolo at a good deal. I have visited many websites (even ebay! )Right now fluteworld has a DOLMER-FWP pic on special here is the link: http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=50009
It has a ABS resin body and I dont know anything about it or what else would be the right kind of body (and headjoint) for me.
Plus, I would really like to have my pic ready to play at a camp-in 5 weeks! So I really need your help! Thanks for any input and if you have anyother info please post!!!

Have you tested any piccolos out yourself? If you can find a pic you play well on at a local music store, write down the body type, mouthpiece shape, model numbers, anything like that... then go online and try to find the same thing only cheaper (but in good condition). That's what I did when I hunted for a piccolo and maybe it could help you; never buy something online you've never tested before.

I'm sorry I couldn't help out with the actual piccolo you were looking at in question: my window won't open up, no matter what I do with the link. Even though you only have a few weeks, don't rush yourself. Good luck and I hope I was even the slightest bit helpful....

I would suggest, contrary to the previous poster, that if you go to the local music store and try out some instrument that you make your purchase from that local music store. They are certainly not in business just for your convienence of testing instruments. You will tie up a sales person's time which costs the store money, you will use an instrument that someone at the store will have to clean when you're finished. The idea of trying out instruments and then ordering online is not only unethical, but will be the death of the local music store.

If you are willing to go used, you can get a better known piccolo for the money, but I have a friend who plays a Dolmer, and she's very satisfied with it. I've never playtested it myself, so I can't comment on tone, response, intonation or any other quality it may have personally, but it certainly does the job for her. If you're looking to stay in a similar price range as the Dolmer, most established name-brand piccs available will be metal or plastic. Wood is normally quite a bit more expensive. What it's made of is less important than whether or not you're comfortable with whatever you buy, so Celebrian is absolutely right on the count that you need to playtest your options before money changes hands.

I disagree slightly with Onedawg. While it may not be good for brick and mortar stores for you to playtest instruments and then buy elsewhere, it's certainly not "unethical." It would be great if we could all support our local stores, but in some cases they charge significantly more than cyber retailers, and there's nothing morally wrong with trying to save yourself a little money.

The thing is that our music store locally (there is only one anywhere near here) is very expensive. For example one of my friends paid twice as much for her USED flute that wasn't as good as the one I bought for half. Plus it is small and I dont think they have piccolos for me to try. What about ABS resin bodies do you have any comments on those????

While it may not be good for brick and mortar stores for you to playtest instruments and then buy elsewhere, it's certainly not "unethical." It would be great if we could all support our local stores, but in some cases they charge significantly more than cyber retailers, and there's nothing morally wrong with trying to save yourself a little money.

It is often becoming more expensive to buy from cyber world in the long run. If you are only concerned with price in the short run, then a big box outlet is just fine. But, given the level of quality out of the factory box, you will be spending more later.
Cyber outfits generally have little or no service and if your local brick and mortar shop has a good tech, the extra cost is worth it.

Mom and Pop shops often charge more because they offer more, especailly in terms of service. IF you went there to try out piccs and then bought it from a cyber outfit, then you might be a little embarassed to go back to your local dealer to get that instrument fixed correctly. (I've seen it happen)

And you will need to get it fixed at some point.

Looking at price alone is a bit of self deception. Check the integrity and credentials of the local shop. If you are not satisfied that there are enough pluses to justify the difference in price and convenience, then by all means take your chances with the internet. You've got little to lose at that point. But LOOK at the local shop's reputation as well. It may be worth much more in the long run what you'll save in the short run...and sometimes by a longshot...

Joe B

Flutist, not only would I call it unethical, but I would equate it with stealing services. I'm sure you wouldn't disagree that it costs a B&M store money to hire staff, stock product, pay overhead, etc. They try to recover these expenses in the profit margin when they sell an instrument or provide a repair service. By using those services and not following through with the purchase, you have essentially used some of the "product" that the store offers and you have not paid for it. It's unethical if you go into a store with the intention of using their services with no intention of purchasing from them, because you are not entering the store in good faith.

And as Forest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that."

At least in the UK, Internet prices for well known brand and unbranded instruments have forced many shops to lower their prices. Those repair shops who turn up their noise at repairing instruments which they didn't supply are loosing out to their competitors. I know of one quality shop which now charges £10 every time you try an instrument - which hasn't been well received. However, unless you have friends/teachers with a range of different brands you have to go to a shop to try them and find one that suits you.

With student and many intermediate flutes/piccolos its unlikely that an instrument purchased over the Internet would be vastly different to that you tried in a shop. However, although all instruments should be tested before they leave the factory in my experience even with very reputable brands this is frequently not the case. I recently took delivery of a new Alto flute with one adjustment screw loose in the case - I nearly lost it - and two others hopelessly out of regulation. The nasty problem was that the coupled G keys didn't close together!

It would cost me alot more to travel to a shop which has several alto flutes - and then pay more for one - than having one of the local technicians sort out any problems. On the other hand, I might have liked a different alto flute sufficiently that I'd have happily paid more ...

IMHO there's every reason to shop around and use Internet prices to get the best offer from local shops.

"onedawg," have you ever been a poor college student? Have you met the people who run my local music stores? I don't mean to sound bitchy here, but, yikes, man... By all means, if you find something you like at the music store, buy it! But, if you can't afford it and you WANT to go online to buy the same style instrument, by all means you should be able to do that.

Music store managers and staff are there to help you find an instrument, not make you buy what you test. If you call that stealing, I'm going to ask you what color the sky is in your world... Have you worked at a music store? I have. People do this all the time and I actually support it because we're contributing to a student's musical life. If they need to "test drive" an instrument they might want to buy online cheaper than what we can sell it for, that is okay.

Wanna talk about it some more?

<Added>

I see both sides of this, by the way, and do believe you should support your local music store, and I also am sorry for over-reacting after my ideas and even morals were attacked, but I stand by what I say. Thanks, Joe, for your post that focused the "arguement" and for bringing the original topic back into discussion.

To get this forum back to my question, I have narrowed my piccolo choices to the Gemeinhardt 4PSH the Dolmer-FWP or the DOLMER-DHR can you suggest which one would be the best??? Right now I have a Gemeinhardt flute...so ya. What do you think??

Music store managers and staff are there to help you find an instrument, not make you buy what you test.

Music store managers and staff are not there be philanthropic either. Their WHOLE intent is help you buy something they sell.
If you want the better price and don't want to "use" the local store, then talk on the phone to sales reps at the big box store and send instruments back and forth. Existing solely to "help you find an instrument" doesn't pay the bills. It may not be unethical or immoral, but it certainly is "Cheeky".

Have you worked at a music store?

Well I do, and I own it and operate it as one of those brick and mortar stores..

People do this all the time and I actually support it because we're contributing to a student's musical life.

The contribution needs to go both ways my friend. Businesses are not educational organizations. Go see your teacher if your "student's musical life" needs support. Stores may not get every sale, but that is the INTENT. Keep up the idea you are supporting and soon your support system will disappear. Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish. That's just taking advantage of someone.

If they need to "test drive" an instrument they might want to buy online cheaper than what we can sell it for, that is okay.

That's why you see what the return policies are before you buy. That is, if you are good consumer shopper.

Local stores don't exist to buy new stock items and let consumers turn it into used stock. (actually there are big box stores like though!) Now there are sincere shoppers who go buy somewhere else for a better deal and that is fine. But, let's not debase the whole purpose of the local store to a philanthropic support system for struggling musicians. You are not entitled to any instrument at other people's expense...

Joe B

I have narrowed my piccolo choices to the Gemeinhardt 4PSH the Dolmer-FWP or the DOLMER-DHR can you suggest which one would be the best?

Which do you like better? They are all comparable at this price range. I personally have been satisfied with the gemeinhardt piccs. The question is do you like the all plastic head or metal head? Some people like the metal head because the lip plate is more comfortable and less fatiguing than the resin head.

It is far easier to get parts for Gemmeinhardt than a Dolmer too..
Joe B

It's crazy how some forums can get so off topic.

I would definatly recomend the Gemeinhardt 4PSH. I bought a 4PMH 3 years ago, and have been extremly happy with it. It's very durable but also has a great sound (for a very resonable price!). I hope you get a piccolo that you enjoy! They are a lot of fun!

Stephanie

One more thing. If you are looking to buy online (which is what i did), I recommend www.wwbw.com (woodwind brasswind) I got a really good deal on mine there!

Stephanie

I would not suggest WWBW for instrument purchases. I've had several bad experiences with them from a quality/customer service standpoint, and would use them only for small accessories if they're not available locally. In any case, I believe they declared bankruptcy not too long ago, so they may not be selling instruments anymore.