Here is my review of my Thomann Startone SPF-100 Piccolo Flute, after a short time of
playing on it, which was quite insightful:
I acquired it so as to have a second piccolo,
also suitable as a backup instrument.
The Thomann Startone SPF-100 Piccolo Flute is really of outstanding quality, unbelievable, even more if we consider its so low price, is a true gift to musicians, being very affordable/accessible, allowing them to acquire it so as to study the piccolo, especially beginners, but even more advanced.
Well then, my SPF-100 model is worthy.
It is wonderful, its feel in general.
It has a nice, pleasant sound quality, slightly, yet significantly different (of course, expectedly, reasonably) from my first, much more expensive, non metal/composite, conical body piccolo.
The keys feel/fit naturally under the fingers, and work noiselessly, are responsive.
Overall it is very well in tune.
I can easily reach the high notes of the register, up to high la’’’, i.e. I can blow a range of complete 2.5 octaves, but beyond that I cannot reach the very high notes of the register, up to high do’’’’, which, regardless/on any piccolo, are already very difficult. Might reach them with time.
It seems probable that I am to blame, as "Repetitio est mater studiorum/repetition is the mother of studies", the solution is repeat/study, and repeat/study, regularly, persistently, till you get it the way should be…
I cannot always easily play loud & clear enough the very low two-three
notes of the register, which, regardless/on any flute, are already somewhat difficult, in terms of proper blowing angle and of proper finger pressure for tightly closing the holes.
Yet, of course, it is a matter of intensive, frequent practise. The more you study, the easier it becomes.
Since the main tube is of metal, and of a small diameter, collection of moisture may be an issue/problem, particularly in cold temperatures, therefore using a piccolo swab, either a drop swab or a rod swab, to remove the moisture should be more frequent, primarily from the main tube via a rod swab, even with the instrument assembled, and also using a pad cleaner and cleaning paper to remove the moisture from the pads should be more frequent, viz. mainly the mib', lab', tr¹=re'' trill, tr²=mib'' trill, thumb, sib'¹ key pads [which is also (less) valid for the long concert flute].
Its sound is quite inspiring for an aspiring piccoloist, overall it is a most commendable instrument, very attractive at such an affordable price, making it a major advance & incentive for making headway piccoloists, and for music per se.
Having a metal cylindrical body with a conical head, it is a very interesting and challenging alternative to the most common, non metal/composite, or wood, conical body piccolo, if we consider that most piccolos have a conical body with a cylindrical head, and Theobald Boehm had a strong interest in a cylindrical body style.
On faults:
An eminent flute technician had to do a minor adjustment to the crown, as it was not perfectly centered at the headjoint cork and disk assembly. Also checked the airtightness, with a special device, and told me it was not perfect, this being a matter of proper key pads service later.
