Woodwind /brasswind declared bankruptcy and was purchased by Guitar Center back in February.

The whole fiasco is an interesting tale...The other big news is that a Federal judge is allowing a lawsuit to go ahead against GC. I left the article at work yesterday. The issue of that trade mag is online but current issues are a month later. You can all read it next month if you're interested in such things.

Joe B

Gemeinhardt makes good quality student piccolos. The all-resin ones are pretty reasonably priced, and to my ear are not as shrill as the metal or silver head piccolos they make.

I consider that I have three choices when buying an instrument:
1)Buy from local store. This is a great idea if the instrument is backed by very good repair service. This doesn't work as well if they can't do quality repair work.
2)Buy from reputation flute reseller. I have a personal relationship with the gal who does my flute clean/oil/adjust every year, and she does sell flutes online. These also have an excellent repair guarantee and a week's paid trial.
3)Buy online from eBay or UsedFlutes.com, and take the gamble. I 'won' once, with a handmade flute that came with a 'factory second' headjoint, because after buying a new pro headjoint for it I still paid a very low price. I 'lost' once with a Yamaha 62 piccolo, the seller overhauled it and guaranteed it for a year, but when it came they hadn't done a very good job so it was silly to send it back for repairs. I had the repairs done locally and would have spent the same amount of money buying the used Yamaha 62 in the music shop.

My local repairman, who does not sell instruments, will take delivery of eBay/internet instruments that you buy on a 7-day trial basis, and evaluate them for repair costs.

My local music store owner is not able to match most internet pricing, but will come pretty close. This is usually a great deal, because he's there to fix it should there be any problems.

please ignore all the advice, especially from Joe B, and buy a SIMBA

lol! I don't think Simba has come out with a piccolo yet. I have been waiting for one of those colored ones too come out for some time now. I was going to trade my Burkart in for one.

u kidding I have a SIMBA bass and alto as well, pink and orange respectively, also a SIMBA ocarina and recorder...

Ooohhh... Patrick where did you find your pink one? I have been looking for either a pink or purple one.

lighten up MICRON...

So Patrick, you never did tell me where you got that pink flute. I also heard that Simba is coming out with a new headjoint. It is tin with a platinum riser. I can't wait to try one out.

Micron, its spelled humor, not humour, (joking)

Patrick...it's "spelt" not "spelled". Stick to playing the flute.

Micron..don't sweat it...Anyone who reads enough of our posts can figure out that we know what we're talking about..
(not that anyone every listens to me...Patrick never did.. <G> )

C'mon Patrick, I need you to respond with a "Right you are Joe" to that last comment.

Joe B

i think that is pretty cheap. i would talkl to ur band director though [maybe print out the pic of it and show ti to him] cuz i m not quite sure about the brand.

Man you guys are all starting to sounds like trumpet players!!

hotpinkbabe, quite frankly, band directors usually know little about instruments other than their primary one. I would not suggest trying to discuss a purchase with a band director unless they:
A. Play the instrument (and being able to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" doesn't count as playing it)
B. Have demonstrated in the past some knowledge of the instrument you're questioning them about
C. Have no association with a maker, in which they might stand to gain by suggesting one make over another.

As for printing out the picture, they piccolo looks like dozens of others, and in any case you are not going to be able to divine quality from a photograph. IF you consult your director, you'll want to take an instrument to them...not a picture or a list of specs.

that's right JOE

Took you long enough Patrick <G>

Joe B

<Added>

You're check's in the mail (now that's a joke!)