You know, I learned to play on a very old Armstrong flute and moved on to a pretty old gemeinhardt from there. I absolutely *loved* that gemeinhardt. It had been my mom's when she was in school- so it was definitely an old one. It had the richest sound I've ever heard. Sadly, I had to leave it behind halfway through high school when I moved in with my Dad. I started looking into getting a gemeinhardt thinking that they must just be phenomenal instruments based on the one I had. The new ones really just aren't as good, though, sadly. They don't sound nearly as nice as that one I played. Quite sad.

I have never played a new Gemeinhardt flute but I would be interested to see the difference. None of my Gemeinhadts have been terribly old, my first one was made in the mid 80's and my other, the one I currently play, was built in '92. I wonder if the same decreasing quality has happened with their piccolos?

The old Seaman piccolos - I have had the opportunity to play on one - was a very wonderful instrument. It was an ironwood picc that had such a sweet tone and a nice mechanism. But these new Seaman piccs are nothing but a Gemeinhardt piccolo with a bubble head. For the same money that you can purchase a new Roy Seaman piccolo, you can buy a nice Burkart & Phelan piccolo which will play like a dream and sound even better.

If you can locate an extremely old Seaman picc, try it. But you might find a crack in it since it'd an old instrument.

Avoid Yamahas since you could probably find something in the same price range with a more precise scale.

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Also, I heard from someone that Gemeinhardt also owns the rights to distributing Trevor James in the US... and their piccolos play awfully a lot like the Roy Seaman piccs....

I've been searching for a while for an old Seaman or Zentner, but to no avial. Since I could get the same quality and similar price on a new Burkart, I'm looking into those pretty seriously, but I would still like to try out a Zentner or Emerson if I could get my hands on one(there aren't many music stores nearby that sell high-end piccs.) Does anybody know of any online dealers that offer a trial period? I just ordered a Burkart&Phelan brochure; they will send you a trial picc. or two on request, which is helpful when you live in the boondocks! So, if any one knows of a reliable online store that offers a traial period I'm all ears! Thanks!
Maddy

Flute World, J.L. Smith, Carolyn Nussbaum, and others will all send you flutes on a trial basis. You can find their inventories and policies on their Web sites. They'll be able to send you both new instruments and any used instruments they have in stock. They'll even send headjoints that you can try on the various flutes. Their policies differ slightly, but they require a credit card number before they will send instruments to you.

There's a recent usedflutes.com ad for a Zentner piccolo here:
http://www.usedflutes.com/2009.php?page=2

If it isn't on that page, look for the date February 16, 2009, and you'll find it.

Thanks for the tip on the zentner. I just found a Burkart Global for about $200 more than the Zentner. Which is the better value? I have heard only great things about both!
Maddy

I would definitely go with the Burkart! I like them much better. The Burkart would be newer and they do have a wonderful scale which is very important on a piccolo. I have a Global. Unfortunately but maybe for Chrismtas now. I should probably sell it but..

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Oops.. I went to edit it and took too much out. I meant to say that I don't play it anymore but maybe only for Christmas. I am no longer in any groups anymore. Not enough time or patience I suppose.

Which instrument is the better value depends entirely on what condition each instrument is in, and assuming they are both in optimal condition, which one plays better for you.

There may be a personal preference, one way or the other, for you.

Each piccolo, also, is an individual. Some piccs have a nearly impossible high B, others are more responsive.

My Zentner actually has a Burkart headjoint on it. The Zentner head is fabulously rich in the low register, but the Burkart is easier up higher. And...I've played another Burkart headjoint of the same cut, and it was even easier still. However, for another very talented flute player, the Zenter head is easier.

So, in short, a lot depends on what the instrument is like for YOU to play.