So I know there are so many topics out of the Internet about this but I need some opinions. I am a college student in my University's marching band. I usually borrow my piccolo from the school, but because we have so many (freshmen) who need an instrument (we have 31 players and about 20 piccolos) I would like to get my own piccolo so someone else can borrow from the school. I have already talked to my high school band director and my private lessons teacher and neither of them have a piccolo I could use for this upcoming season.

I own two flutes. My student flute was a Gemeinhardt, that I LOVED, and my current professional grade flute is a Haynes Classic, which I also adore.
I have only ever played on Gemeinhardt piccolos with silver plated head joint and a wood or plastic body.

As I mentioned before I am a college student, and I plan on paying for this piccolo myself, so I am looking for cheaper prices ($300 would be stretching it).

-So first I would like to know what you guys think. What brand would you suggest (everyone I talk to say they don't like Gemeinhardts, and yet I have only had positives experiences with this brand) and what material.
-Second, I am wondering if you would know where I might be able to buy cheap, working, piccolo.
-Third, do any of these instruments below (in the links) look like they would be good piccolos and not rip-offs or of poor quality.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Silver-Cupronickel-C-Piccolo-with-Case-Cloth-Lubricant-/310736331734?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48595423d6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Advanced-piccolo-c-key-silver-plated-nice-sound-/171168490591?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27da6fe45f

http://www.amazon.com/Piccolo-Silver-Plated-Grease-Cleaning/dp/B00P08R23A/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1431534241&sr=1-1


Thank You!

Gemmie makes perfectly good piccs. My silver Gem is as responsive as any player can wish, and blends with the band as nicely as my wood picc. It plays better than supposedly better models--just a particularly well-made little horn. Each individual horn is different, even within the same model. My old Artley picc is just about the nastiest thing ever crafted; they didn't even finish off the tone holes.

But I bet my Artley works better than the three you listed. First one sounds China-made, second is definitely Chinese, third is a no-name (seriously, comes with gloves??!). Chances are high that none are adjustable or fixable.

Why don't you look for a reputable brand that's used? I just Googled "used piccolo" and here's a Selmer--
http://used.samashmusic.com/item.php?id=47745
--likely not the best horn out there, but it is a solid brand. Better than those others you're looking at. At the very least, it's repairable.

And if all you're looking for is a marching band picc, even the Artley they've got on the same site would do you better (sorry, I'm severely prejudiced against Artleys thanks to my little horror, but I must admit they are another solid brand). See if the store will send out the picc for you to try.

>'Kat