NEVER, NEVER, NEVER MARCH A WOOD PICCOLO!!!!!!!!!!


Okay. Now that that`s out, I found an essay-length summary of the different types of piccolos that I wrote for someone else a while ago. Here it is:


All-metal piccs are great for marching band because their sound cuts through the rest of the band, so you can actually be heard on the field. Unfortunetally, this makes it awful for concert bands and orchestras because it`s just too darn loud and shrill.

All-wood piccs are fantastic for indoor concerts in band and orchestra because they can blend into the sound, and not sound bad and shrill. The disadvantages to wood: it cracks. Marching a wood piccolo, or even outdoor concerts in not-so-great weather can damage the wood and seriously hurt your wood picc. In addition, the sound wouldn`t carry enough in a marching band setting.

All-plastic or silver-and-plastic piccs combine the best of each world. An all-plastic picc looks like a wood one (and some sound almost as good), without the problems that wood creates. Plastic with a metal headjoint carries well on the marching field, but isn`t too loud for a concert setting.

I believe it is possible to purchase a plastic piccolo, and then order wood, silver, or plastic headjoints, so you can have as softer sound (wood) for indoors, and a shriller sound (silver) for outdoors, or the balance of plastic.



I hope this helps a little bit. Good luck on your piccolo hunt!

Gumdrop

Oh yeah. About the yamaha vs. gemeinhart thing: both are pretty good. I own an gemeinhart picc, which is pretty good. I`ve been told that yamahas are harder to tune, but with the piccolo, it`s near impossible to tune anyhow, so it doesn`t matter. If at all possible, try both kinds at the music store, or order from woodwinds&brasswinds, where they`ll send you up to three at a time to try, and you send back the ones you don`t want, and get an idea of which sound you like more, and which brand is easier for you to play.

Happy searching,
Gumdrop

If you are marching with it, the piccolo needs to be Plastic. If you are using it as a concert piccolo you want one with Gernidilla wood. They are the best ever.

The thing is, I understand why you wouldnt want to use a wood piccolo 4 marching season and the same goes with wood clarinets BUT they also say if you oil your instrument it SHOULDNT be a problem...Any reasoning on this small fact? Thanks thus far for your help.

I stumbled onto this website as I was searching for the cost of used piccolos. I have one that my mother bought for me a few years ago and I never used it. It is in perfect condition and needs to be played. If any of you are interested and would like to see some pictures e-mail me and I will send them to you as soon as I can. It is a Yamaha YPC-32 intermediate plastic piccolo. I have seen it listed new on the internet from $600-$900 but I am only looking to get about $350. Please contact me if you are interested, it is a shame just to have this beautiful instrument sitting on a shelf.

They might say that marching a wooden picc SHOULDN`T be a problem, but the fact is: it most likely WILL be a problem, so I wouldn`t risk it, because wood piccs are expensive. If you are only going to get one picc (which is probably the best thing to do, if you`ve never had a picc before), I`d reccomend a plastic picc with a metal headjoint (since you talked about marching it). If you get really into picc, then it is possible to purchase wooden headjoints for a plastic picc, which is MUCH cheaper than getting a wooden picc. If you`ve never bought/played/owned a picc before, stay away from wood.


More luck to you,
Gumdrop

Oh yeah, If you try to march a wooden picc, nobody will hear you. The wood creates a softer sound that doesn`t cut through the band as much: this is good for concert band, but marching a wood piccolo is like not playing anything at all. From the judges` stand, they won`t hear the wooden picc. Metal, on the other hand, cuts through the band sound, and is great for marching band, but isn`t so great for concert band.


Sorry for the billion messages,
Gumdrop

Thanks, you guys have been VERY helpful

If your planning on using it in just concert band I would recomend a plastic or metal pic, but if you are using it for marching band and concert band its really rough on the tone because of the weather change thats why I got two, one for concert band and one for marching band.Geminhardt is definetly the way to go!

If you were to look, there are piccolos that come with 2 heads like the Armstrong 310 which is also a very good piccolo. I would not go with a wooden piccolo just yet until you are sure you like to play it. Wooden piccolos are expensive, I have been looking at them. If you are not sure if you will stick with the piccolo or not, then look at buying one used. You can find good deals on them sometimes from other students who have upgraded. Good luck.

I really don`t want to be spouting out too much of you shouldn`t buy this and whatnot... I think you`ll be fine you if just go to your music teacher/mentor and both of you should go to a few different places and try out some piccolos. Just get the one you`re most comfortble with, pay no heed to brands. Each instrument is different, and even the worst of companies come out with a good one every once and while. : )

Though, I am rather partial to Gemeinhardts, just because they`re great for students. They usually produce good tone and the student models are made for wear and tear, so you don`t really have to worry about them that much. Also, if you`ve never played piccolo before, I reccomend getting down to perfection techniques on a flute. It`s quite difficult to get good sound on any piccolo and it requires alot of embochure training.

Sorry for blabbing on. -lol-

gumdrop u are an amazing person u r so full of answers and whatnot. ur a godsend thank you so much. plz email me i would like to get to know u better my email is wh4z@bellsouth.net and my AIM is wh4z i would love to talk to you

Hi,
I own a gemeinhardt plastic/metal piccolo and I`ve recenetly bought a yamaha grenadilla wood piccolo. I personally, like the yamaha brand better. The uper register is a lot easier to get out. You probably want to go with plastic if you`re doing both marching and concert. Wood is awesome, but it`s not good for your first picc. The most important thing is to find a piccolo that you like. It doesn`t matter which brand another person perfers.

"Oh yeah, If you try to march a wooden picc, nobody will hear you."

My personal opinion, from playing quite a few, is that this is oft-repeated BELIEF rather than fact. The volume is very similar (other things being equal) between timber and metal. Just because metal is hard, it does not mean that it makes a hard sound. The reason for metal or plastic for outdoor use is because of the POSSIBLE risk of timber splitting in the sun or a dry atmosphere. BTW A top quality metal piccolo can be very sweet sounding indeed.

The best piccolo out of wood,plastic, or the other one.. would be wood. but... you have to be willing to take good care of it.
if you`re only a student and looking for something temporary..get a plastic.