Product Reviews: Just Flutes JPC-36 Piccolo

I was in desperate need of a cheap piccolo to use as a backup while my other two are spending time out for repairs and I came across this one. It shows up in a lot of places and under a lot of names. I thought I'd give it a try as the price could not be beaten.

What I was not expecting is that this piccolo is easier to play than either of my Gemeinhardts. When I say easier, I mean everything from blowing across the headjoint to the response of the mechanism makes this instrument less of a struggle and more of a pleasure to play. From D4–Bb6, it sounds full and lacks the shrill qualities a lot of cheaper/less advanced piccolos have.

I've had to make a couple of modifications. One was to put a patch on the lip plate. There was something about the texture of the composite that made my lip itch. Two was that I had to add about a 3mm thickness of layered moleskin to the D-flat key so my short little pinky has better control over that key.

Though initially wary, I'm pleased with this piccolo and don't hesitate to recommend to anyone who needs a decent instrument at a good price.

At long last I've found a piccolo flute with a headjoint that suits my lips (thick lips),mouth
and breathing technique. This piccolo responds ultrafast even to my light breath which means can I can play fast music phrases even faster, without constantly worrying of hitting the notes correctly.
The sound is brilliant and vibrant; and the projection is loud and crystal clear but I can also play softly and quietly.
The articulation is spot on.

If you're 'downgrading' from a Yamaha or Pearl, or other expensive brand the keywork will probably require some getting used to.


For a piccolo that's made in China it is a exceptionally high quality product ! And you can't beat the price.

On the positive side, I think the cut of the head joint does indeed make it an easy instrument to make a reasonable sound on.

However, my main issue problem with this piccolo is that the trill key mechanisms are a bit clunky and difficult to press down, making it difficult to play trills at all.

Plus, the resin around the lip-plate is already showing some signs of wear (having played this piccolo infrequently for less than 6 months), so I worry about the longevity.

Perhaps I was expecting too much from this piccolo, though the price has been dropped from £595.00 (when I bought it) to the current price. My recommendation would be to stick with one of the well-known brands (Yamaha, Jupiter etc.), over this piccolo.