Venus piccolos! There was a recent thread about Venus brand flutes and piccolos and no one really will work with them because they break down a lot...I find it amazing that yours has held up this long! A few people have come to me with their flutes, complaining that they have a problem, and I find out that they are Venus`. I have also never heard of piccolos comming in different colors! Oh, well... I do not know very much about the Venus piccolos...maybe they are more durable than the flutes...

The manufacturer of Venus is working on them. I think that he is planning on either getting rid of the colored piccolos or improving them.
He is also working on the flutes and has recently changed factories. I was told that the bodies on the newer flutes are now being made in Japan.

One of the biggest problems when trying to keep the cost of a flute down is there is no detailed work to the embouchure hole.

I will be reviewing the newer flutes soon and I will let you know more later.

"So as an engineer, I fail to understand why fantastic heads are not cheaply produced for student flutes."

Great in site. I totally agree! I tried out three Boston style headjoints from Powell and all three were completely different. Handwork varies so much.

Prices are ridiculous for handmade flutes now a days.
Even the non handmade flutes are getting really expensive.
For example look at the price of a new student 211 Yamaha. On another note,if Yamaha had more competition then maybe that might lower their prices a bit.

I am also excited about some of the newer technology.
Maybe someday flutes and headjoints may become more affordable so that it won`t be such a rich mans hobby anymore.