Your Top 3 Piccolo Trumpet Brands/Models

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

Will be looking to upgrade in a few months. I assume a Schilke P5-4 is still the gold standard but wanted to know what else to consider. The only negative I can think of with Schilke is having to use a cornet shank. Have no practical budget limits (thanks Engineering school LOL), but I imagine most options are less than $4k.

zaferis · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:18 am Post subject:

Yes, Schilke is an awesome picc.. for me, I found the tone a little itchy. I much prefered the tone of the Selmer's but they were notorious being a beast to play.

My top three?... hmm off the top of my head...

Blackburn, long bell, 4-valve - an incredible instrument

Bach (yes Bach) AP190 - I'm very impressed with these, a new winner on the market.

Yamaha Custom 9835 - maybe even a touch better that the Schilke

Stomvi, Kanstul, Eclipse would also be on my list......
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Christian K. Peters · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:38 am Post subject: Top three picc

Hello all,
The P5-4 has long been copied. I think it would be interesting to compare the P7-4 side by side. I prefer the feel of my P7 over my P5-4. I don't think that having a cornet shank is a negative. I would think that most people play a slightly different mp on their small horns anyway. They would need to get another mp that possibly would not be compatible with any other horn, so it wouldn't matter if it was a cornet shank. I started with a recommended 11AX over a 7E. Bought an 11BX and now play Warburtons. With the interchangeable shanks and cups, I have a wide variety of options.
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patdublc · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:18 am Post subject:

Tough one. I'll assume that you're looking at piston piccs so I won't include any rotaries.
Schilke, Blackburn, Yamaha, and Shires are all very popular. As you indicated, the Schilke P5-4 is a good benchmark. I've had mind since 1986 and it never disappoints. I also have excellent piccs from Blackburn and Shires. Another really awesome picc that I use a lot is the Spencer long bell model. It really projects well and is great for those things where you want a bigger sound.
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Andy Del · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 2:06 pm Post subject:

Top 3 piccolos, having owned many...

1 & 2 equally. Scherzer / Thein.
equal 3. DEG / old Bach Stradavarius 196

The Thein is a much more open and brilliant instrument, with the Scherzer warmer, darker and a touch more resistant. Maybe a touch softer as well, mine can't let loose like my Thein can. Two very different axes for cutting down different trees.

The DEG piccolo I picked up recently plays wonderfully, but it's a small, bright sound... where I can use it? Not all that sure. And there was an old Bach piccolo at my previous school which is actually a really, really good instrument. In tune, even blow, acceptable sound. Nothing wrong with it at all.

cheers

Andy
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mbauer · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:39 pm Post subject:

I've been playing a Bach Artisan lately and it's really killer with the trumpet leadpipes. They're becoming pretty popular.
For a vintage horn, give the Selmers a shot. I'm a fan at least.

cjl · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:49 pm Post subject:

I own a Selmer that I like just fine. It is a bit tight feeling and some don’t like that.

I also own a 3-valve DEG. I like it better than my Selmer. If that 4-valve DEG in the marketplace is still available I’d grab it. It even has Blackburn pipes!

I have played a Scherzer and thought it was wonderful. I would love to own one but they are so expensive these days.

Perhaps amazingly, I have never played a Schilke picc.

— Joe

jazzvuu · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:12 pm Post subject:

I would said for my limited experience it would be:
1. Thein Piccolo: Tried one at TMEA and it was amazing. Beautiful sound that just speaks which made it feel more natural to play.
2. Yamaha YTR-988: I owned this one so maybe a bit biased. Great sound and plays very nimble. Got mine by a great deal on ebay which they rarely show up for sale at all (probably because they are just not widely purchased and own by folks because the initially $6300. MSRP). I would say it is very close 2nd to the Thein for me. Just plays a bit more compact and will shut you down if you overblow.
3. The Schilke P5-4 and it is different brand copies (YTR-9835, Bach Artisan, Stomvi, etc).

Though I never played it, some people say the P7 is a more open horn to the P5-4.

The one Scherzer (and I was actually trying to get one before getting the YTR-988) I played was very stuff and tight. I was glad I did not get one after trying one. Maybe it was that particular horn but I read the older ones were the better horns and the newer makes of Scherzer do play stuffy.

YMMV.

giakara · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:15 am Post subject:

I had try in the past Thein,Scherzer,Schilke,Yamaha and other that I don't remember right now but I still prefer the sound and the feel of the old 3 valve Selmer , is lite and easy to play it , specially with the stock 4 special mpc and the sound is the best for me , I am not a daily piccolo player and if had to play more this horn I would choose something else but for my needs this small trumpet is the best.

Regards
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jimspeedjae · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 165

My favourites are the three I currently have. I've discarded Selmer and Finke rotary.

I'm left with
1) Courtois interchangeable short bell. My first picc and I'll never sell it. Love the way it plays and it's sound too. I could never understand why anyone wanted a Selmer when this was available.

2) Benchmark long bell. I bought on a whim one of Ron Glynn's Benchmark prototypes from ebay...plays really well and though I find the sound a little bright (as I do on a few long-bell piccs) it has a great clarity to its sound. All handmade (check out on FB if you haven't seen the Benchmark page) and the valves are some of the best I've ever played.

3) DEG Signature tunable (short) bell- my most recent picc. Bought it only to see why anyone who has had one bangs on about how good it is. Well, they bang on about it because of a big sound, tuning and ease of playing (up to top C).

I mentioned the valves on the Benchmark as any shop completely building their own tooling to make all their own parts deserves a lot of credit and respect. But the Courtois and the Bauerfiend valves on the DEG are also awesome. I've had the Courtois for thirty years now and I can't remember once a valve sticking or causing me any problems.

cheiden · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:50 am Post subject:

Rotary - Scherzer
Short model - Yamaha (I like the 3+rotor)
Long bell - Schilke/Kanstul/Stomvi
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Shark01 · Veteran Member Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 283

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:51 am Post subject:

1. Blackburn/Eclipse (tie, short auditions)
2. Kanstul Signature/Schilke (tie though I bought a Kanstul)
3. Kanstul Custom/Yamaha (also short auditions)

I have not tried a Getzen or any of the newer lower-priced options. I did not really care for the Bach and Selmer piccs I tried.
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ScottA · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:26 am Post subject:

1. Yamaha 9825 (3+1 configuration) by far my favorite although I sometimes miss the 4th valve.
2. Scherzer rotary.

Can't say I have a 3rd favorite. I'm not a fan of the P5-4 as I always find the sound not to my liking compared to others. I have not played the P7-4 but it is on my tryout list.
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Andy Del · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:51 am Post subject:

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

cgaiii · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:27 pm Post subject:

From the Schilke site page for the P5-4.

"Starting in 2018, includes a single mouthpipe for the key of Bb and A with a cornet receiver plus a second mouthpipe for the key of A only with a trumpet receiver."

So you can use a trumpet mouthpiece if you play in A.
You can also buy Blackburn leadpipes for the P5-4 with trumpet receivers.

Some years ago, I bought trumpet shank leadpipes for my Kanstul (RIP) from Kanstul. Don't use them much, but I did when experimenting with mouthpieces. I think both the P5-4 and the Kanstul I have were designed for cornet shank mouthpieces. But the pipes are available, so that should not be something that limits your acquisition.
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Shark01 · Veteran Member Joined: 10 Jun 2017 Posts: 283

jazzvuu · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:46 pm Post subject:

DJtpt31 · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:20 pm Post subject: