Recomendations for heavy duty music stand

[elise2000]

Hi

Can anyone suggest a very heavy duty music stand please?

Requirements are:
Needs to have a folding base, but not a folding desk
Needs to be able to hold 3kg music folders
Needs to be long lasting

Ideally, I'd like a base like the below as that solves the weight problem


This is a K&M base but they don't do a normal size music desk to go with it, only the conductors size.

We've been using the following type for years, but have to replace them at least once a year as either the base stops staying at the correct height, or the tilt function of the desk stops staying at the right angle.


Open to any ideas! Thanks in advance

[chemistry]

Have a look at Hercules Stands.


http://herculesstands.com/international/products/m...

No idea what their music stands are like (but they offer plenty), but I use their guitar stands and they are very robust and well made.

[elise2000]

chemistry said:

Have a look at Hercules Stands.


http://herculesstands.com/international/products/m...

No idea what their music stands are like (but they offer plenty), but I use their guitar stands and they are very robust and well made.

Thanks. Good selection, but nothing quite right.

[chemistry]

Fair enough.

What about a laptop stand, of the type DJs use?

I don’t have a recommendation for a particular one, but there’s lots of options...

https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Adjustable-3...

[elise2000]

chemistry said:

Fair enough.

What about a laptop stand, of the type DJs use?

I don’t have a recommendation for a particular one, but there’s lots of options...

https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Adjustable-3...

Ah, interesting idea looking at different types of stands. The laptop ones won’t work as there’s no lip- the stands are angled not flat when in use.

[elise2000]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Nothing there that has the metal pins that go through the vertical pole to prevent it going down under heavy weight unfortunately. That’s the main requirement really. The stands will be used several times every week for gigs, so several hours at a time. Cheers

[elise2000]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Initially no you don’t need the pins, but the previous ones we’ve used (like the ones on thomann etc) are fine for 6 months or so then start failing. It’s not the end of the world, but I’d rather spend a lot more if needed on the stands initially for them to last a lot longer.

[Mr Pointy]

There's a few here:
https://www.gear4music.com/orchestral/accessories/...

If you must have the stand with pins then maybe you could take a K&M 12331 base:
https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/...

and modify a K&M 18805 sheet music holder by drilling two more holes in it:
https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/...

The K&M base seems to be the only one with axle stand type pins & for what it costs (£115) you could buy six 'normal' stands. This one's £20:
https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/...

[chemistry]

elise2000 said:

Ah, interesting idea looking at different types of stands. The laptop ones won’t work as there’s no lip- the stands are angled not flat when in use.

True, but you could simply drill two holes in it and bolt a 1cm x 1cm strip of wood along the ‘bottom’ to create a shelf.

[chemistry]

The one I have can be angled from flat to vertical. It’s a sturdy bit of kit. If you could glue/screw/bolt a ‘lip’ where I’ve used the drumstick as an example, it could work.

[thebraketester]

https://www.thomann.de/gb/km_11870_orchestra_stand...

https://www.thomann.de/gb/km_11889_orchestra_music...


Or.... put everything on Forscore for iPad. Way better than carrying around a ton of music.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 4th April 14:55

[elise2000]

thebraketester said:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/km_11870_orchestra_stand...

https://www.thomann.de/gb/km_11889_orchestra_music...


Or.... put everything on Forscore for iPad. Way better than carrying around a ton of music.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 4th April 14:55

The iPad thing would be ideal, although a couple of problems. Mainly, the cost, as I’d need around 25. Secondly, having to have them plugged in at venues so the cables would be a h&s issue and needing pat testing etc (we’re acoustic so currently don’t have any of those hassles).

[thebraketester]

What is it for? Quite a large ensemble, and 3kg is a LOT of music. :-)

Most people have iPads these days, and the batteries last quite a long time so you wouldn't need to have them on charge during a gig rehearsal.

[elise2000]

thebraketester said:

What is it for? Quite a large ensemble, and 3kg is a LOT of music. :-)

Most people have iPads these days, and the batteries last quite a long time so you wouldn't need to have them on charge during a gig rehearsal.

It’s actually just for a string quartet. However my company puts out up to 5 or 6 quartets at once on busy days hence needing a lot of them.

The 3kg music folders contain around 200 pieces of music.

If iPads were a lot cheaper I’d have gone that way years ago.

[thebraketester]

I’m sure that they will all have iPads.....

Makes absolute sense to go digital. Export all the music to PDF and bobs your uncle. You can add music easily, make set lists and send them to the appropriate people with all The music embedded... etc etc etc. It will take a little setting up but offers much more flexibility.

Having a book of 200 numbers and juggling hard copies with multiple groups doesn’t make sense to me. iPads also look way more professional, so from a visual point to view they are a winner, especially for corporate and wedding events.

[elise2000]

thebraketester said:

I’m sure that they will all have iPads.....

Makes absolute sense to go digital. Export all the music to PDF and bobs your uncle. You can add music easily, make set lists and send them to the appropriate people with all The music embedded... etc etc etc. It will take a little setting up but offers much more flexibility.

Having a book of 200 numbers and juggling hard copies with multiple groups doesn’t make sense to me. iPads also look way more professional, so from a visual point to view they are a winner, especially for corporate and wedding events.

Not all the players have iPads. Only about half. And there are around 50 players in total who share the gigs so it would rely on all of them having one.

All the music is saved as pdfs anyway so that part of it isnt an issue.

There’s no juggling of folders amongst groups as I have 10 sets of the folders anyway.

The current system is fine (although if money were no object the iPad idea would be perfect for many reasons).

[thebraketester]

K&M stands as posted above then. :-)

[elise2000]

thebraketester said:

K&M stands as posted above then. :-)

Haha yep it looks like that’s the best option. Or continue with the current type and having a yearly refresh! Or of course if apple decide to half the price of iPads I may have a rethink!

[thebraketester]

There are no gigs anyway

[elise2000]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Basically, no! They’ve all worked for me for years and I’m not going to demand they all purchase one. Wouldn’t be a good way to continue a good working relationship!