Hi all, all the advice is great to read! ^_^

I am looking at upgrading from a cheap ebonite piccolo (unmarked) and would ideally like to try a wooden one, i did consider the Yamaha YPC62 Professional Piccolo, but after reading im guessing that is a bad idea, im just wondering if anyone had any experience with or knows anything about the Thomann piccolos specifically PFL-600H

Many thanks

i also have just seen the Pearl PFP-105 E Piccolo and it says about Grenidette the plastic version of grenidilla, doe anyone know it is actually the same quality of sound?
thanks again
(sorry i ddnt kno how 2 adjust my last post)

My guess is, having looked at the Thomann web site & the prices, that they just buy in cheap instruments from China & stamp their own name on. Piccolos have to be made to very exacting standards using quality materials or they will not be in tune & will not stay in regulation. (.25mm on a basson might not make much difference but on a picc could be disastrous!) I would suggest only looking at the main brands - you will save yourself a load of unhappiness in the long term.

I've just bought a pearl grenaditte piccolo (it's my christmas present!) and I really like it.

I have a silver Gemeinhardt which I don't like very much because it's metal. I used to play a Yamaha 62, which I got along comfortably with, but it wasn't my instrument. it was the Army's and I had to give it back when I left the band.

So I went along to Just flutes to try some second hand 62's that they had in stock, as these fit my budget. I also tried a custom made headjoint with an ebonite lip on my silver picc. That didn't agree with me. It felt very strange underlip.

But the pearl I liked instantly. The embouchure agrees with me. It has a smooth, sweet tone. I find it easy to get up the higher register, with a clear lower register too. And it doesn't look plastic in the way the Yamaha 32 does.

I have no problems keeping my YPC-62 in tune, however, it's what I'm used to, and I have a good ear. Now I wonder if I got a Burkart or Hammig if it would be like, "whoa this is CRAZY EASY!" LOL

I would suggest Emerson, Gemeinhardt, Artley, Armstrong, and Yamaha.

I wanted to apoligize for the comment I made some time back about ignorance being bliss. I can't remeber to whom I was directing that towards to or why. I just noticed that after this thread was brought up again. I must have been having some sort of day!

Thanks and sorry again. I have no idea why I wrote that after I looked back on it. I will blame it on my multiply personalities. lol! JK of course.

Hey,
i just thought i would say i went for the pearl PFP-105E, there was a 5% off so couldn't resist ^_^. It is lovely, i didn't know the top notes (and the low notes) came out so easily, certainly far superior to my £50 or so one! The dynamics are so much easier to play with the tonal quality and tuning being great
Thanks for all the information on the website, was reassuring when i went to buy it!
Kindest Regards
Mathew

Thanks for the update and congrats on your new Pearl! They are great pics! I love the sound and dynamic control out of them. A certain plus too that it is not wood but sounds like a wood one but will never crack. Good choice.

I dont like pearl and yamaha. Pearl is below professional level, Yamaha's keywork is not that trustful. Same with the flutes or piccolos. If you like pearl and u sound on very good, that's made for you.

I have heard many professional use Pearl piccs as backups. I used one for professional use. You could use an Armstrong too professionally. So I wouldn't really classify it as such or look down upon it if it isn't a so called "professional" piccolo. Yamaha also makes professional piccolos.

Are you also saying that Pearl and Yamaha FLUTES are below professional level too? If so, that is not true at all and a false statement.

I got into a good music school as a performance major while playing on an old Pearl-765 that leaks. Another flutist in the studio played beautifully on a Yamaha-32 piccolo that was in such bad condition, no one else could play it. While the make and condition of your instrument can help you sound better, the only thing that will really make you sound better is practice, and lots of it. If a professional is good enough to get paid for what they do, they should be able to make any old pipe sound amazing, so long as the audience doesn't know the difference.