If a description of a "An antique wooden and white metal 6 key Piccolo" says
"A metal ring missing from one key hole (as seen in the pictures below). Left hand thumb position lever lost spring action. The general condition and appearance is commensurate with age," do you think it would still be playable? Also, is there a way someone could find out what key the piccolo is in? Here is a picture of it
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/iloveaustinf/?action=view¤t=piccolo.jpg
2007-10-09 16:03:46 · 3 answers · asked by Kristen 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
On that instrument, the keyhole rings are necessary for intonation. With a ring missing, the hole will be too big.
Replacing a spring is an easy repair for any shop. Replacing that hole ring will not be so easy and may cost you a little.
A piccolo that old may well be in D or Db and probably not at A440. What you'd do to find out is play from the bottom to the top and write down each note that it played based on a tuner. That would be the natural scale or key of the flute. The pitch at xxx:xoo is important here. If that note is F# then it's in D. If it's an F then the piccolo is in C Then consider the note at x00:000 -- on a C piccolo that pitch is B, then on the pitch at xxx:000 which would sound a G on the C and D but a Gb on the Db piccolo. If it's C or D, use the pitch at xxo:ooo while adjusting the tuner so that you can tell what A=
Just from the photo - this instrument looks restorable. If there are no cracks in the wood - you might find it very fun (but difficult) to play.
2007-10-10 10:29:57 · answer #1 · answered by CoachT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to say if it would be playable. The keyhole rings usually open a pad when pushed down. Also, if the spring is to weak it would not be able to hold a pad closed when you blow. The spring would be fairly easy to fix. The ring however could be a problem. A repairman would have to actually contruct one, as I doubt they could find replacement parts. As far as the key, the only way to tell would be to play it or ask the person who is selling it. If it's being sold for a decent price I would try to make an arrangement for purchase after having it looked at by a repair person to estimate the cost of repair.
2007-10-10 11:43:55 · answer #2 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You most likely couldn't play this in a school band.
It appears to have a different fingering system than most modern flutes and piccolos.
You probably could play it in an orchestra specializing in period instrument performances though! It most likely will need to be rehabbed though.
2007-10-10 13:47:18 · answer #3 · answered by Katrina M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋