Best piccolo trumpet

nymets91586 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject: Best piccolo trumpet

I am a college trumpet student, and my professor recently asked me if I would be able to purchase a piccolo trumpet this summer. I asked him which kind he suggested and he immediately replied that the Schilke P54 is the best. What do you all think?

George Nimmo
Trumpet student - University of Delaware

bandman322 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

I own a Schilke and love it. If $$$ become a major concern for you I suggest you also look at the Kanstul. In my opinion those two horns are far above the other brands, but how a horn plays is very personal to a person's taste, especially in a piccolo. Try as many horns as you can, and when you find one you like jump on it! You might not get a second chance to buy a horn you actually played.
_________________
C - Harrelson 750 Modified Bach Strad
Picc - Schilke P5-4
Flugel - Kanstul ZKF1525
Bb - Bach Strad 180ML-37

"To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie

trumpetmike · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

The right piccolo for you is the one that works for you.

Welcome to TH.

Rather than repeating myself again, might I suggest you do a search for piccolo trumpet, using the search facility? If you want to limit down the vast number of posts, please feel free to search for author "trumpetmike" - I know I have posted on most threads relating to piccolo trumpets and I am certain I have posted about preferences and "which piccolo?" before.

Basically - although the Schilke is the industry standard it is not always the right choice for everybody. Personally I don't like it at all.
Blackburn, Yamaha, Scherzer, F Besson, Kanstul, Stomvi, Getzen, Benge are all worth testing when looking. Having played just about all of them, I don't rank the Schilke P5-4 in my top 5, but that is just personal preference, you may be completely different.

dave_59 · Regular Member Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 91 Location: UK

zeus?

jophst · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:42 pm Post subject:

I personally love my Yamaha 9830 as it works quite well for me. I use Blackburn leadpipes with it as well which help it play that much better along with the PVA I had Mr. Tanabe at The Brass Bow perform.

A Kastul Signature (Bb/A/G) would have been my next choice.

How much are you looking to spend on a piccolo trumpet?

A used Selmer Paris Picc is usually a great buy and great value for your money. That's the model I started on and had lots of success with it.
_________________
Bb - Yamaha Xeno 8335RGS
Picc - Yamaha 9830 w/PVA
Flugel - Yamaha Shew 6310Z
Laskey's 68MD,68C,PIC,68F,68DB

Yoder · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject:

Look no further!

The ZeuS ZTR 900 P ABLX Piccolo Trumpet!

Here is what I know about the ZeuS Piccolo: It was tested and loaned to some pros for a month and it blew away the other piccolo's used in the test. It was also chosen as having a better sound every time against Schilke. This is where the statement "the best piccolo on the market" came about. They are not our words, but the words of the pros who tested the proto-type for us.

ZeuS Piccolo
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http://www.co-bw.com/

wvtrumpet · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:46 pm Post subject:

The selmer is a great beginner piccolo. I use a Kanstul and like it a lot, but I must admit that I would love to get my hands on a P5-4 but find the cost a little to much at this point in my life. Anyway, try to get to a store where you can try several than make your pick. http://www.horntrader.com might be a good place to look for a used one.
_________________
Freelance Performer/Teacher WV, PA, MD, and OH http://www.neil-king.com
Yamaha NY Bb, Adams F1 Flugelhorn, Schilke P5-4, Stomvi Eb/D Elite, Bach C 229 bell 25A, York Monarch cornet.

swingintrpt · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:48 pm Post subject:

Kanstul Signature or the Schilke P5-4. Nothing else SOUNDS as good, though I must admit I like the way the long belled Yammie plays.
_________________
RJM
Examining the difference between
music and Music.

bandman322 · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject:

jophst · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject:

What pros tested the Zeus picc? Are you saying that they have switched to Zeus piccolos or are they still playing on the Schilke's they played them up against?

What pro's came up with the "best picc" comment?
_________________
Bb - Yamaha Xeno 8335RGS
Picc - Yamaha 9830 w/PVA
Flugel - Yamaha Shew 6310Z
Laskey's 68MD,68C,PIC,68F,68DB

cmcdougall · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Posts: 725

Here we go again, ZeuS huggers(dealers) hijacking another thread.
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Bb: Monette B993. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d148/cmcdougall/?action=view&current=DSC00755.jpg

Pieces: Monette PRANA 1-5M S3.

Mikeytrpt · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

Screw Zeus......

I love my Stomvi Master; 3 different bells.....

Yoder · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject:

mmccourt · Regular Member Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 46

Give me a break!

Mikeytrpt · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject:

Who were the "pros" that tested it? I prefer getting information first-hand, not second or third.........

M.

Yoder · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:07 pm Post subject:

Yoder · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject:

pedaltonekid · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1711

The Schilke P5-4, Blackburn and Kanstuls all play well and have excellent reputations. If you are looking for a budget horn I would recommend that you try the B&S Challenger piccolo trumpet in Bb/A. I think that it compares very favorably to the Schilke for about $1,000 less.
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Best Regards, Play Well!!

_PhilPicc · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:05 pm Post subject:

Hi George and welcome to TH. Here is a good site to start with. I would also suggest getting David Hickmans "The Piccolo Trumpet Big Book". It has great information on picc's ++++++++ alot more.

http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/Piccolo%20Trumpet%20Guide.html

Regards,
Phil
_________________
Philip Satterthwaite

We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again."
- Sir Thomas Beecham to a musician during a rehearsal

Gurukid · Veteran Member Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 124

Yamaha Piccolo YTR-9830 Custom with Blackburn Leadpipes (made especially for that Piccolo trumpet) and the Schilke P5-4 are the two best out there, based on reviews.

IMHO - Screw beginner Piccolos. You will not need a piccolo enough to need a beginner one before an "advanced" one. Perhaps a more "cost-effective" Piccolo would be best for the casual piccolo player.