trainman93

Hello, I am a sophomore at North Canyon High School in the Stars of the North concert ensemble and marching band. I play trumpet Bb in both and for a while I have wanted to own (and if my band techaer will allow it play it in one or both ensembles) a Piccolo Bb/A Trumpet. I am not the kind of person that does a lot of research on the brands of trumpets which is why I am posting to ask what brands of piccolo trumpets at least match the quality of a Holton 602T trumpet or a King student model trumpet, while keeping a very low price. I am a sophomore with no job so any money i have comes from the occasional couple bucks from my mom but my birthday is coming up soon and I will have some money then and I already know I want to buy a Piccolo trumpet with that money.

I have found a few inexpensive Schillers and here are the links, they don't neccesarily need to be 400 dollars but like I said I have a few bucks to my name.

SCHILLER PICCOLO TRUMPET 4 Valve-School Demo
SCHILLER PICCOLO TRUMPET 4 Valve-School Demo - Used Trumpets - Used Band & Orchestral - Used Instruments - Jim Laabs Music: The Midwest's Largest Music Store - Musical Instruments and Musical Equipment - Music Instrument Store

Schiller Model IV Elite Piccolo Trumpet
http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/band-or...prod_4173.html

Schiller American Heritage 80 Piccolo Trumpet
Schiller American Heritage 80 Piccolo Trumpet - Trumpets - Band & Orchestral - Jim Laabs Music: The Midwest's Largest Music Store - Musical Instruments and Musical Equipment - Music Instrument Store

I found these by going to google, clicking on shopping, and typing in piccolo trumpet. On there as well I found the brands Stagg, Windsor, Berkeley. If you don't find any of these acceptable please recommend others

I would also like to know the fingerings for this instrument as well as wether or not you think the 3 valve with an octave key is a decent idea. I am accustomed to 3 valves so I would like to keep playing with 3 valves.

I apologize for the long post but I don't want to spend a lot but I don't want to sacrifice quality.

Schwab

I wouldn't buy any of the horns listed above. Piccolo trumpets are difficult enough to play as it is, add a vastly inferior instrument to the mix and it will be frustrating and not a fun experience.

I think the best (relatively) inexpensive piccolo out there is the Getzen Eterna. Getzen : Trumpets : 940 Eterna Piccolo Look around eBay.

There are guys on here that say the Jinbao rotary piccolo isn't bad, but I haven't played one. Actually, I just looked at the photos of the Schiller horns, and they may be made by Jinbao. I have played the Jinbao 3 valve with the rotary valve on the 3rd slide and it was decent, but played flat. I COULD NOT play it up to pitch.

I would still wait until you have saved up enough for a used Getzen.

The fingerings are the same as a trumpet, but there is no such thing as an octave key. The rotary valve you see on the 3rd slide is to play a low F.

Also, unless you have a piece in band that specifically calls for piccolo trumpet, you won't want to play it in the ensemble (and your band director shouldn't let you). Piccolo trumpets are primarily solo instruments for baroque repertoire.

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Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

gbdeamer

Unfortunately the piccolo you're looking for doesn't exist, so you'll have to do one or the other: cheap OR quality.

Schwab was right on. The piccolo is difficult to play well on a quality horn, so it will be nearly impossible for a beginner to do well on a cheap one.

The "cheapest" horns (in my opinion) you should be looking at are used Selmer and Getzens (about $700 +/-). They're less expensive than a Schilke (the standard bearer) but they can still make music. Add some Blackburn leadpipes and you won't ever "need" to upgrade.

That said I've read good reports about the Dillon's Piccolos, but I don't personally know anyone who has played one.

Good luck.

trainman93

Thank you guys so much for your input, I am glad I bothered to ask because I would be devastated if I had spent every cent of my holiday money and had gotten an inferior trumpet so once again thanks a bunch. If you do find a decent inexpensive piccolo could you let me know.

Thanks Schwab for clearing up the fingering issue and

gbdeamer I had no actual hope that my teacher would let me play he is pretty strict but thank you for informing me that it is primarily a solo instrument.

Schwab what do you think of someone using it in a jazz band perhaps. And what exactly is a baroque repertoire?

Bagnewauckland

Baroque repertoire is repertoire consisting of music from the baroque era.
Stagg instruments are half-decent (I learned on one, and it did me no harm)

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BrassOnLine

Getzen Eterna is a GOOD piccolo.
A bit more expensive, but not enough to broke the bank, would be B&S Challenger (EXCELLENT) or Kanstul CCT 920.
Don't go for a Selmer, it is harder to play than prior names.
Also, I would take a look to Jim Donaldson's trumpet gearhead website.
Smart tips for the newby as well for the well trained pro.
GOOD LUCK !!!

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Nachos Libres

The Getzen Eterna 940 is a great intro piccolo. I bought one just for my sister's wedding off eBay for $610 and it played great. I know some semi professional players even use the Getzen as their piccolo trumpet.

gbdeamer

Best of luck in your search. Here's a great link for for general piccolo trumpet information:

Guide to Piccolo trumpets

Also, here's a link to a site with TONS of Baroque (guys like Bach, Vivaldi, Purcell, etc) music sheets:

WIMA: Werner Icking Music Archive - Composers and Editors

trumpetnick

Schwab is right on the $, as usual. You can get better value for a price given than Getzen. I can look on Ebay also for a vintage Selmer - the Maurice Andre model is quite good and if lucky you may get it for a decent price.

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Brekelefuw

I have played a Stagg picc, and it was horrible. Stuffy (more than other piccs) and really out of tune with itself.

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