Trying to pick a piccolo.Anyone
have a Yamaha YPC 32? Whatcha think?

I do. It's played well for me for 7 years with only a minimal amount of work, and I got it used off eBay in the 7th grade. Incidentally, I just retired it on Saturday in favor of my newest purchase...An Armstrong silver plated picc. I had been using the Yamaha for a marching piccolo, but it literally broke (the body, not the mech), so I had to replace it. For the money, it's an excellent piccolo. However, I would suggest playing as many different makes and models against each other (or having someone with more experience on picc do so) to be sure you find one that's a good match for you. I also suggest trying them out with a tuner in front of you to check how well in tune they play, and what kinds of acrobatics you'll have to perform to play well.

>>It's played well for me for 7 years with only a minimal amount of work, and I got it used off eBay in the 7th grade. <<

I'm currently renting one. It plays nicely, without too many quirks (which all piccolos have at least a few of, anyway, I suppose ). Like you said, it pays to try several. I'm leaning toward a picc with a composite head, or one with both heads, or I'd be happy with one of these. Yamaha doesn't list an all composite model on their website, so I am guessing they don't make one?

No, they don't make an all composite one. I don't like the Yamaha 32 at all because of the horrid scale on them. Others play fine on them, but they just do not work for me.

I've had one for a few years and I do like it. I find it rather shriller than the YPC 62 though, and would much prefer one of those. I can't comment on the mechanics other than to say mine has always worked fine. I would say they are a good first picc choice: not too expensive and reliable enough.

I had a Yamaha piccolo model 62 for 2 years and it did a very nice job. I upgraded to a Zentner with a Burkart head.

As far as I could tell, the scale on the 32 is very similar to the 62. When playing duets on my 62, it was easier intonation wise when my partner was playing a Yamaha 32.

The U.S. Navy Band issues the Yamaha 32 piccolo to flutists for any outdoor concert in which the weather dictates a plastic or silver instrument. Incidentally, they also issue Brannen Cooper flutes with a Brogger Mechanik for their indoor flutes- at over $15,000 each- so they obviously don't skimp on quality. I don't know what their indoor piccolo model is.

ALL piccolos have a few notes that are off, scale on a piccolo is never perfect. As Kara mentioned, some people aren't going to get along with a particular model.

All in all, the Yamaha YPC-32 is a reasonable choice for a first piccolo- providing you have it looked over carefully by a good technician before buying, and you can play it well. If you have never played piccolo before, have somebody (like a good flute teacher) who can try it out for you before you buy.

I have one, very old one acctually.
It belonged to a collegue piccolist who was a great friend (unfortunately dead). When he switched to a new piccolo (a very good one, don't remember the brand, but costed US$ 4.500,00), he sold this old model 32 to me for a bargain.
I seldom play the piccolo, and the instrument requires an overhaul to play a little better, but from what I've already seen, Kara is right about the its scale. It takes hard work to play in tune with the other flutists at the orchestra. Not impossible though, but unconfortable.
Zevang

i dont own one personally, but i play one. my school recently bought 2 and me, being the only person who is either interested in piccolo for more of a reason that plain "only good people play piccolo!", i got to try both AFTER they were purchased and found out that both were very, er, crappy simply put. i chose the better of the two and ive been the only one playing it since (that was about a year ago). i know that its not just me that plays, er, crappy on it because ive had my teacher at the time play on it. she said it sucked. she also said i should buy a wood piccolo but whatever. ANYWAY, i currently play it in orchestra and it sounds fine (being in tune and whatnot) but its tone gives off a very "oscar" sound, if you know what i mean. in other words, it sounds like im playing in a trash can. but i have a hunch that its just the particular instrument (as both directors play brass and know nothing of woodwinds, esp. flutes and the other picc was WAY worse and was impossible to play anything louder than a piano. ive also played on an older model and it sounded wonderful) and when they were buying, they attempted to contact me to see if i could test, but i was not in town.

on a good note, i can say that there was only one issue with the mechanism so far, and that was straight from the box. im particularly fond of the split e. i dont have it on my flute and i personally think its a nice option. i also like the way the keys are positioned (my fingers are very long and the offset G and the D# thats not too far back is a plus). other than the fact that this particular picc isnt quality, ive played on one that did sound good and i was pleased... you just have to try it out unless you want to belong to the "grumpy old puppet who lives in a trash can" club. :-)

A piccolo can be VERY difficult to pad and adjust properly. It sounds as if the new Yamaha 32's from the factory are not sent out in good enough condition.

Our local Middle School has a Yamaha 32 bought a few years ago; the band director has a degree in flute performance and chose that model, and that particular instrument, herself. The piccolo only goes out to the occasional talented 8th grader, and gets a clean, oil and adjust from a very good technician in between.

With this observation, I would have to re-state what I said already- have a good piccolo technician look it over, and have a good piccolo player play it, before you buy.

Kara often has a good re-built piccolo for sale. You might also try Nancy Shinn of Flutestar.com. Nancy plays piccolo and is very good at getting the padding and adjustment right. Either of these gals will sell you a good-playing piccolo at a great price.

If you are thinking of eBaying it, add $250 to the price for a complete service and repadding. Buy one that can be sent back within 5 to 7 days. My local flute tech is happy to recieve ANY instrument for evaluation, if I buy something off the internet. I just have the instrument sent directly to him. If it's in good shape, he'll have me play test it. If not, he just sends it back right away.

Thanks for recommending me Tibbie
I would say to contact Nacy on Piccolos if you need one. I very rarely carry them because they are a pain to adjust and I just like to avoid them all together. Now for Yamaha flutes.. that is a whole another story. They are sold before I can even get them in!