Piccolo Trumpet

BBTP · Regular Member Joined: 09 May 2016 Posts: 36

What is the best piccolo to get in your opinion? What pic did Maurice Andres use? I am looking to purchase one soon.

nltrumpet · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2020 7:16 pm Post subject:

Yamaha and Schilke both have good offerings. Thein and Scherzer also make fine piccolos but I have less experience with them.

MA started on a Selmer, spent a bit of time on the Schilke P5-4, and struck a deal with Stomvi and played their piccolos in the later years of his career.

If you want my opinion, I think there’s a reason why the P5-4 has been the gold standard for so long. Many of the top models are designed very similarly. Get what speaks well to your needs, though.

Eric Ball · Veteran Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 261

I've tried so many..the Shires piccolo trumpet is my favorite. Sounds great, plays great and comes with the 4 leadpipe options ...A and Bb pipe with cornet receiver and A and Bb pipe with trumpet receiver.

adagiotrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 903

First picc was a Selmer. Great sound but it didn't have the greatest scale. Bought a Getzen short bell model (940?) which had a decent sound and a pretty good scale, especially in A. Graduated to a Schilke P5-4. Great sound - great scale. It was the easiest of the three to pick up and play the few times a year I had a chance to play it, without spending weeks of practicing to get use to it. I now have a Schilke P7-4. Great intonation just like the P5-4 but the sound is even better, which is why I bought it. I can also pick it up after not playing it for weeks or even months with decent results, and if I can play it for a couple of days, it is like I've played it continuously.

The Shires and Adams are great sounding piccs with good intonation, though I haven't spent a lot of time with them except at NAMM and ITG. To me, the Scherzer has the best sound of all, but the intonation is not as good as the Schilkes' and they can be pretty expensive. Also, for me, getting use to the rotary valves would take some time.

Shark01 · Veteran Member Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 283

patdublc · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 12:15 pm Post subject:

My favorite at the moment is a Spencer long bell picc because it gives me the sound I'm looking for on a couple of pieces that I'm currently doing. My other two favorites are the Shires and my Schilke P5-4 that I've had since 1986.
If money is no object, definitely try Schilke, Shires, Blackburn, and Yamaha. As someone else mentioned, Thein is really nice to, but a bit more rare.
If budget is a concern, a nice used Getzen, Benge, or Kanstul is a great bargain. But, that's just my opinion.
_________________
Pat Shaner
Play Wedge Mouthpieces by Dr. Dave exclusively.
Experiment with LOTS of horn makes and models.

wilder · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 12:20 pm Post subject:

Hi. If you are looking for that chirpy, Clarino baroque sound for solo playing get the P5-4BG (silver plating). If you want more of a trumpet sound for lets say playing in a orchestra then either a P7-4 or a Yamaha 9830. keep in mind the Schilke was designed for a cornet mouthpiece so you will have to get a piccolo mouthpiece with a cornet shank to use it. good luck! jw

cheiden · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:07 pm Post subject:

No relation to what Maurice Andre played but the Yamaha 9820C (3 valves plus rotor) was the easiest pic I've ever played. Takes a trumpet shank mouthpiece and I could play it with very little acclimation. In my experience most piccs require a good deal more adjustment.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

trumpetmike · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 12:37 pm Post subject:

The best one for you is the one you sound best on.
If you are just starting, don't get anything too extreme.
Yamaha piccolos are always good, but there are numerous ones out there that can work.

Once you know what you are doing - play everything and choose what works for you.
For me it's Eclipse, but I also own piccolos by Couesnon, F Besson (Kanstul) and Scherzer

Steve Hollahan · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:38 am Post subject: Kanstul Bessons

Love my Kanstul Besson. Unfortunately, they are gone now, but available used.

Have long bell model, .460 b0re.
_________________
Steve Hollahan
Bach 37, 229 C
Yamaha 9620 D-Eb, 741 C, Flugel
Kanstul 900 piccolo trumpet
Sculptured Recrafting Custom Instrument Repair
and Restoration
www.sculpturedrecrafting.com

cheiden · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:31 am Post subject:

I'm no pro but, of the horns I've tried...

In order of preference
3 valve plus rotor - Yamaha 9820C
Rotary - Scherzer (very different to play than the piston horns but undeniable quality)
Best long bell - Yamaha 9830, Schilke, Kanstul 920, Stomvi
Best short bell - Newer Getzen, Yamaha 9810 (I generally don't like the short bell models but a few of these were quite nice)

I'm excluding Selmer which played very nicely because the horn I'm told was significantly modified. And FWIW my teach said he preferred the Selmer for small ensembles and the Scherzer for larger. Not actually what he said but that's gist of it.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart