What Keyboard Stand Do You Use? (Dbl Tier)

[MuzikTeechur]

I use a large 88-key stage piano, and a smaller synth up top for effects.

Currently, because it transports easily and sets up in seconds, I use a heavy-duty X-stand with 2nd tier.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Deluxe-Heavy-Duty-X-2Tier-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450342

 

The good news is that the piano does not move even when I'm really slamming it, The bad news is that, although the upper tier is adjustable for angle, it puts the 2nd keyboard too high, and really too close so that the keys are stacked rather than arranged (I'm rather have an arrangement closer to a double manual organ).

I also have a Quik-Lok Z stand that's great for position, but a nightmare to transport and assemble every gig, so it stays home.

 

I also have an Apex stand but the 88-key board extends too far out to each side and things can get a bit tipsy when playing at either end.

 

So, I'm searching for a better solution with the following features:

 

Playing Position - it would be nice if the upper keyboard were able to be positioned a bit "back" and lower than what I'm currently using. Also some nights I sit, and other nights I like to sit and/or stand, so height adjustment is necessary (most stands have this so it shouldn't be a problem).

 

Portability/Assembly - I don't want to spend 15 minutes every gig assembling and 15 minutes disassembling the stand. Currently I pull one lever and the thing unfolds and locks in place. Extend the 2nd tier and done. I don't expect to find anything better than that, but I don't want an erector set, either.

 

Footprint - I've used the huge "A-frame" stands but that isn't going to work in some of the clubs we play with smaller stages. Besides, they fall into the erector set category.

 

I've seen a few online that look tempting, but before I mention any names I'd like to know what the collective wisdom here says. Of course, price plays into it, but for the moment I'll keep an open mind.

 

Your opinion is solicited and gratefully accepted. What are you using and do you like it?

 

Thanks!

Lonnie in Maine

[Joe Muscara]

I have the On-Stage Z Stand and I'm happy with it. I can remove four screws/knobs to disassemble it without affecting the height (I play seated 95% of the time). It's not as quick as an X stand, but there are other compromises, as I'm sure other posters will tell you regarding X stands.

[timwat]

Ultimate V-stand w/ 2nd tier. Packs into very small gig bag, very sturdy, sets up and tears down very quickly. So good looking it's a babe magnet - better than Axe body spray.

 

Tastes great, less filling.

[MoodyBluesKeys]

It stays in my studio most of the time, but I use the same On-Stage Z stand as Joe. I also have one fixed location (church) where I leave everything, including an ancient ON-Stage stand that has a plywood deck for the lower keyboard, it did have three levels, highest level was for a pair of tiny keyboards. I'm using one side of the little key stand on the side to hold a small mixing board. However, it is definitely in the Erector set category, and I wouldn't even consider it for moving about.

 

Most gigs are done with a single K2661 sitting on a Table type stand. If I were to also carry the PC3X, by the time I load all that much stuff in, adding the Z Stand wouldn't be that much extra hassle. I do usually play seated. One thing for sure, the stand doesn't move on me, and it certainly feels secure.

 

I just don't like X-stands, for one thing, I use a custom 3-pedal assembly, and the X-stand is in the way. For another, just the possibility of it scissoring on me and dropping the keyboards is more than I want to deal with. I looked at the Apex type stand, but (like you) I just couldn't see it fitting my operations.

 

I haven't seen the QuickLoc Z Stand, but the OnStage assembles and disassembles quite quickly.

 

Jim

 

[Outkaster]

Quik-Lok all the way. I use two ql641's. I have a Z-727 at home.

[EdMusic]

I use the Quik Lok Z72 to hold my RD700sx and NE73. Solid as a rock and it really folds down in 10sec like THIS including the 2nd trier.

 

[wmp]

I have a QuikLok Z-72 that I hated moving until I got a Leslie 3300. Perfect dolly for that stand. In and out of the vehicle still sucks, but I love it while my gear is sitting on it and I've got no gripes with setup. Almost as fast as my old one tier X stand. I love the leg room. I could never go back to an X stand.

 

It took a bit of fudging to get the postion perfect for me. The angle adjustment of the second tier wasn't fine enough for me. Solved that with little rubber wedge mutes piano tuners use. The second tier doesn't adjust low enough for me, so I made blocks to raise the bottom board rather than hacking up the stand to lower the top tier.

 

Fifteen minutes? It sounds like you have a not so QuikLok. Fifteen minutes after the last note, my rig is in my vehicle. The ease and speed of setup, the stability, and perfect position make it worth hauling the big awkward hunk of steel. The footprint is about as small as it can be. It's even easy to change the height from sitting to standing fully loaded if you have somebody to pinch and let go of the locks for you.

 

[Blue JC]

I've used the big Apex with the longer tribars and mic boom for years with an 88 weighted board on the bottom and a Hammond clone on top. It's never gone down (even when bumped hard), set-ups and breaks-down in 30 seconds and is essentially guaranteed for life. At least, I've never paid anything (including shipping) for replacement parts from Ultimate Support. And that's for a 13-year-old stand. The best part is, I haven't had to schlepp a mic stand for that entire time.

[Sven Golly]

I'm using a stereo... oh no, wait.

 

I'm using the QuikLok WS550 with second tier addition. Rock solid, reasonably quick to setup (not as fast as my Apex stands, but is better for seated playing which I'm doing far more of these days).

 

[Mr. Nightime]

I use a 3 board setup, and when I used QuikLok, I couldn't get the top board positioned where I could reach it. So I changed stands

 

Now I'm using this from Standtastic

Clonk Here

 

This is the 2 tier, but I added a 3rd tier

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/263053319_da9e890693.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/263053321_a493c4d800.jpg

 

Breaks down very small and easy to transport

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/263053318_fcbadf248f.jpg

 

Works great with just 2 boards as well

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2356873947_b2c8467a32.jpg

 

Upsides:

easy to setup and tear down

very adjustable positions for the boards

Very solid

Plenty of room for pedals

 

downsides:

difficult to adjust initially.

Larger front-to-back footprint

difficult to reposition after the boards have been placed.

 

I've found that the upsides far outweigh the downsides.

 

 

 

[BP3]

I use a 2 tier V-Stand for my A-70 and Electro and an old ultimate stand for my Voyager. I used to use the On Stage 2 tier Z stand, it was very solid but it was too awkward to setup and pack.

[EdMusic]

The ease and speed of setup, the stability, and perfect position make it worth hauling the big awkward hunk of steel.

 

+1

[MuzikTeechur]

I had spied the Standtastic rack on musiciansfriend, but that Z-72 looks mighty fine.

My quiklok is a z-726 which is not a folding design. Great for the studio, not so much for portability.

 

 

[NewImprov]

I use a 2-tier Quickloc Z stand, but I don't use the 2nd tier. My 2 keys are an M-Audio Keystation 88 on the bottom and a M-Audio Axiom 61 on top. What I do is put a piece 4X4, about 4 feet long, across the back of the stand, and place the Axiom resting on in the rear and on the Keystation in front. This puts the 2 keyboards as close together as possible. All the stands I found tended to put the 2nd keyboard too high for me, I really wanted the placement as close to that of a dual manual hammond as possible. Of course, this requires that the bottom keyboard have no controls in the area that the top keyboard rests, part of the reason I keep using the (blasted) Keystation is because of this, I hate the key feel and build quality.

 

You can sort of see the end of the 4X4 in this photo:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2621710737_d04db2e301.jpg

[wmp]

New&Improv, I had too look at that shot a few times to be sure it wasn't an old one of me. You're not quite as ugly, but damn close. This is what you have to look forward to.

 

 

http://b3and88.com/img/mugshot0.jpg

 

My condolences.

 

[Outkaster]

Wow

[ProfD]

Quik-Lok all the way.

 

Same here. Been using a QL-642 for about 15 years now. Still works like a charm.

[Joe P]

Lonnie,

I use the same stand as you (the OnStage) except with three tiers. I had all kinds of problems with it when I added my Electro to the second tier. All the Electro controls were completely covered by the top board. I was forced to make a custom 3rd tier from PVC. You could probably do this for your second tier. Easy, cheap, fun and completely customized. You can PM me of you want and I can email over some photos. Another Forumite showed me the technique.

Regards,

Joe

[mate stubb]

I always end up building my own stands, but my philosophy is to keep it down to 2 boards and hang the top one on the back of the bottom one, ala Improv's solution.

 

This worked great for my S-90 / Electro rig.

[MuzikTeechur]

wmp: what are you complaining about? You resemble a younger Sam Eliot - and my wife's a big fan. Do you do autographs?

 

Joe P: You got PM.

 

-Lonnie

[MuzikTeechur]

Mr. Nighttime: once you have that Standtastic set and adjusted, is it possible to (easily) set it higher (while setting up) if you decide to stand up that night?

 

If not, it's not a big deal - I currently set my keys a bit high and just crank up my drum throne so I have the option of standing when I play so I guess that I can set up my eventual purpose with this in mind. Still, it would be nice to have the option (at gig set up) - low or high.

 

My bandleader has started programming longer sets (usually an hour and 10 minutes) so we do three sets on a 4 hour gig, rather than the usual 4. All well and good, but my 44-year-old back begins to ache a bit around the 45 minute mark and I need to stand up.

 

Do I bitch too much?

 

-Lonnie

[Chris Link]

I've been using the Quik-Lok Monolith with the upper tier add on.

 

Pluses: Rock solid stable. Folds flat. Quick set up/tear down. U-shaped bar on the floor keeps pedals from walking off to far.

 

Minuses: Expensive. Heavy. Large footprint when folded flat (takes up the cargo area of a Toyota 4-Runner). Awkward shape folded up- doesn't fit on two-wheeler or smallish Rock-and-Roller cart. It does require one free hand to carry.

 

I would buy it again, however. Mine has gotten really scratched up since everything generally lies on the floor of the cargo space and everything else sits on top of it.

[David Loving]

I'm going back to my Standtastic Tuesday night. You can get the keys closer together, it's east to carry, and it's muy stable. I am setting my top board at about an inch below the highest setting.

[eric]

I'm not allowed to talk about my super secret stand anymore. It can't be seen.

 

[NewImprov]

New&Improv, I had too look at that shot a few times to be sure it wasn't an old one of me. You're not quite as ugly, but damn close. This is what you have to look forward to.

 

 

http://b3and88.com/img/mugshot0.jpg

 

My condolences.

 

:-) All I can say is that it's good thing we keyboard dudes don't get hired for our looks, or I'd never have a gig.

[Karl Sutton]

Mr. Nighttime: once you have that Standtastic set and adjusted, is it possible to (easily) set it higher (while setting up) if you decide to stand up that night?

 

you would not be able to do this (quickly) with the standtastic

[Mr. Nightime]

Mr. Nighttime: once you have that Standtastic set and adjusted, is it possible to (easily) set it higher (while setting up) if you decide to stand up that night?

 

you would not be able to do this (quickly) with the standtastic

 

That is one of the drawbacks of this stand. Once you get it set, that's pretty much where it stays. Making any changes takes act of God and Congress, and that's if you have the allen wrench you need to make the adjustment. Each of the arms are set individually. Even though there's a ruler on the uprights, it's still difficult to get both sides set at the same height. It took me a couple hours in a secluded spot to get them set properly, and I haven't moved them since. The pictures were from when I first set it up.

 

One possibility though is to get a third tier, and set the lower for a sitting height, and the middle for a standing height, then use the bottom and middle for sitting, and the middle and top for standing. The extra tier is only about $29.

 

[Mr. Nightime]

My bandleader has started programming longer sets (usually an hour and 10 minutes) so we do three sets on a 4 hour gig, rather than the usual 4. All well and good, but my 44-year-old back begins to ache a bit around the 45 minute mark and I need to stand up.

 

Do I bitch too much?

 

-Lonnie

 

Last night I played a benefit where I was using a combined setup. A friend's piano, on another friend's highly unstable and poorly designed 2-tier x stand, and my Hammond. If I'd known in time that the stand was so bad, I'd have taken the time to bring in my backup 2-tier On-Stage stand. (Actually a single tier X stand with QuikLok third tier extensions. Works in a pinch) The piano was a bit low for standing, and the Hammond was too high for sitting. I played 2 songs standing at the kit, then went to my truck and brought in my bench so I could sit. Just those couple songs, and my 51 year old back was screaming at me. It's just now starting to ease off, over 24 hours later.

 

So, nah, you're not bitchin' too much

[Moonglow]

For my club rig (K2600, Triton-Pro) I use a Quik-Lok QL-642:

 

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=142&sName=QL-642

 

However, I don't like my top keyboard angled nor too high above the lower keyboard, so I use the QLX-2 attachment instead:

 

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=136&sName=QLX-2

 

For my smaller/lighter rig (Nord Stage 88, Korg Trinity) I use the same Invisible stand I've been using since the late-1980s. Of course, I have a spare base assembly, support arms, brackets, rubber bumpers, etc....

[wineandkeyz]

I use a Quik-Lok QL-746 stand:

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=141&sName=QL-746

 

with a QLX-2 as a second tier:

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=136&sName=QLX-2

 

and a QLX-3 as a top tier

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=137&sName=QLX-3

 

The QLX-2 is height-adjustable, and the QLX-3 is height- and tilt-adjustable, so I can pretty much get everything where I need it. And the QL-746 is rock solid.