Hey all! I've been playing flute for just over 6 years now and I'm thinking of getting a piccolo too. However, I'm completely clueless when it comes to what materials are good for piccolos (I've heard wood is the best? ) so I'd like some opinions on this:

http://www.manufacturer-exporters.com/pacific/instrument.jsp?item=1357

It's made from solid brass apparently. Would the tone be any good? Has anyone had any experience with this company? (Jollysun - www.jollysun.co.uk). I'm tempted because it's cheap, but a little voice in the back of my head tells me it's probably cheap for a reason :P

So any advice on this piccolo or piccolo purchases in general? I'd like to double on piccolo in an orchestra in college so I don't want to buy a completely useless instrument!

Thanks in advance

If you want to double on piccolo in college, you need to get a good piccolo, not a cheap piccolo made in china.

Wood is the best if you are not playing outside.

Opperman, Zeitner, even a high end Gemeinhardt wood piccolo would be good. There are many others.

Pearl makes a good piccolo for a good price.

Honestly piccolos can be so temperamental that you'd have to try one out to know if it's going to suit you. Go to a good store that stock different makes, and materials of them, that way you can find a make you like and talk to someone about whats best for the type of playing you will be using it for.
Have a look at some emerson or jupiter picc's, very affordable, great sounds, amazing quality and very long lasting. I personally use a jupiter 303S (abs resin body and plated silver head and keys), it has a very pure tone and I have never had a single problem with it, but I really only use it when in orchestra so I have never needed to spend a huge amount on an all wooden piccolo to date.

Thanks! Hmmm my flute is a Pearl and I love it, so I'll definitely check out their piccolos. I'll go into a music shop during the week then and try out different companies and makes though

With wooden piccolos, is it better to go for a metal (silver or gold) headjoint or not? I've heard it makes the tuning more difficult - is there any truth to this? I know piccs are notorious for bad tuning anyway :P

I don't have a good piccolo myself.

I have a gemeinhardt 4p. It has a resin headjoint. I also have an Armstrong piccolo with a silver head.

They are two completely different animals. I have learned to play both in tune. It takes a lot of practice and a fairly good ear.

I have noticed that their is a small sound difference between the plastic head and the silver head. The silver head is more shrill.

The metal piccolo is louder and shriller than the plastic.

If I could afford a wood piccolo, I would get one in a minute.

If you know the flute instructor at college, I would ask what they would recommend before I bought anything.

The Pearl Grenedilla has gotten good reviews. The piccoloist for the local symphony keeps one as a back up.

That's very interesting, thank you! *looks up prices of wooden piccolos* I'm going to be saving for a while But it'll be worth it.

Yeah I was also going to ask my flute instructor for his opinions/recommendations. I'm not sure if he's a piccolo player though! I'll check anyway

Thanks again!

"The Pearl piccolo is a bit less than $1000, and it's made from Grenaditte, which is a composition of plastic and wood, so it'll still look and sound like wood but won't crack"

So does the Grenaditte sound like the Grenadilla wood? The price is much more attractive I must say! And thank you for the tip about the Roy Seamans, I'll keep my eyes peeled

That's fantastic thanks! I think I'll try it out in the music shop soon