I'm looking into buying a used piccolo but since I've only ever played flute so I'm not ready to invest in something expensive yet. Some of the ones I have seen in my price range are very old (like 1977) but the ad will say "excellent condition, used once" or a few times or something.

How long can a piccolo go?

Is there anyone with experience buying used instruments 20 years old or older and what was your experience with it?

Would you recommend buying something that old?

As a buyer what sort of things should I look for when I go to inspect a very old piccolo?

I would recommend that you go shopping with someone who is experienced in music, but more specifically, flutes and piccolos. They will be a great help and can help you when you are making decisions about which piccolo to buy (and they will probably help you hear what the instrument sounds like). If you don't have a private lesson teacher, you can always ask your band teacher about recommendations. When looking at the piccolo, you should look at the pads and also the condition of the body. Also, make sure that the person who is selling you the instrument is telling the truth about the material the piccolo is (I sadly made that mistake and had to return one that I tested out). I would say it's either a hit or miss with old piccolos because there's so many variables and recommend that you get a newer or new piccolo because they're more reliable and most likely won't need repairs for a while. In the end, it all comes down to you and your budget. Also, always double check with the store's policies and what they can guarantee about possible problems that you might not see right away or things that need to be fixed (pad replacement, cracks, etc).

Good luck,
Grace

I disagree that a newer horn will be more reliable. It rather depends on how the old horn was taken care of.

If you bought my silver Gemmie picc (made in '82) you would be getting a quality instrument in excellent condition that's been maintained ever since I bought it. And despite that it sat unused for maybe 10 years before that, the original owner had also cared for it and it needed little done except for possibly a minor leak or two fixed.

My wood Armstrong, the pads were mostly shot to where I had trouble testing it adequately. But I took the chance and bought it (again, maybe 10 years old and probably uncared for). One repadding later and it's been a solid player ever since.

So there's two 20+ -year-old piccs that are completely reliable.

You just need to go check them out. Look them over, play them, then use your best judgement if it's worth the price (and include possible repair costs in that price) or not. If it seems pretty good and the price is in your range, then sure, get an older horn. Just be aware it won't have the newest features (no split-E, etc).

>'Kat

The age of the instrument is really not the big consideration; the condition of the instrument is most important. I have seen nearly new piccolos that are all but trashed, and I bought a 55 (yep, fifty-five!) year old piccolo that looks snd functions like new.

It is important to test the piccolo - try it out & make sure that it functions well. If it has a great deal of dirt and tarnish, sticky pads, or that funky smell that instruments get when they're not properly cleaned after playing, be aware that you'll be investing a BIG chunk of money in new pads, etc. fairly soon. If you can, have the piccolo looked at by someone who really knows instruments -your teacher, band director, a flute repair person.

Still, sometimes you can't do those things, especially if you are looking to buy online. Then my advice is to stick to good, well known brands - Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, etc. ASK for photos of pads to see if they are in good shape. LOOK for a clean instrument that appears to have been cared for. Avoid the cheapy piccolos coming from China in rainbow colors (or silver or plastic 'wood') - they are not durable and not repairable when problems arise.