Rack stand recommendations, please?

[Winston Psmith]

Lately, I've been taken with the idea of bringing my old FX rack out with me. It's an SKB 8-space rack, one of the older models that looks nearly identical to the current Gator 8U rack cases. I've included a link to the Gator, because SKB has changed the design of their racks.

 

Gator 8-space rack

 

I'm looking for something kind of like an Amp Stand, not too tall, and really sturdy. While the rack isn't too heavy to move, it's very unbalanced, with most of the weight towards the front. Right now, it lives on an old computer/printer stand, which has casters, but it's not the kind of thing I want to haul around; too big, too heavy, too much like real furniture.

 

I'm trying to stay around $60 to $75 +/-. I've considered down-sizing to a 4U rack, but as those are $150-180, it's not the most economical approach, and I'd still want something to put the 4U on, so . . .

 

As always, any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I'm off to a day of housework, but I'll check in later. Many thanks, all . . .

[Scott Fraser]

I had my live rack in an 8 space rolling rack, wheels & an extendable handle like a carry-on bag. BUT it weighed over a hundred pounds with the gear in it & I couldn't get it up the stairs from my studio to my car without help. Since I play sitting (both feet are constantly on pedals) I built a clever set of legs to lean it back, like an old Fender combo. But it was just too heavy, so I broke it up into 2 four space racks. Now I build a little tower of case lids & place the racks on top of those. I only need to get them up a couple feet off the ground to be operable while sitting. So the racks weigh less each, but take twice as many trips to load in. Makes gigging not so fun. Some day this will all be replaced with a computer.

When I had a smaller rack I used a folding amp stand like this:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/on-stage-stands-pro-tiltback-amp-stand?pdpSearchTerm=amp%20stand

It worked, but felt a bit rickety.

[Larryz]

https://www.amazon.com/Stage-RS7000-Monitor-Guitar-Stand/dp/B0002GY7MO/ref=pd_sbs_267_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002GY7MO&pd_rd_r=9RPRYNXYBTS3S9STTQ81&pd_rd_w=nSvYV&pd_rd_wg=7EhKP&psc=1&refRID=9RPRYNXYBTS3S9STTQ81 <---I like the looks of this one as it has arms that fold up and it has a shallow angle with the amp facing front. Most amp stands tilt back too far IMHO. Mine are made by AXman and with the T-bar on the long side, I can turn the arms around and allow the amp or my PA roadworthy rack box to sit flat. The AXman stands are hard to find anymore. This one should do the job of holding a rack mount as long as it's not too tall (like no taller than most guitar amps).

[Winston Psmith]

Thanks, I took the time to check out both of those stands.

 

@Scott: The way the legs are set up on that model doesn't give me much confidence. I'd hate to bump into it or wind up yanking a cable too far by mistake.

 

@Larryz: That's a bit more like what I'm looking for. My rack is 15.5 inches deep, so I'd almost want to use that stand reversed, with the weight resting on the longer arms?

 

At any rate, both of you have helped me narrow my search; thanks again for that. In the meantime, if I find a good, used 4U for around the same price as a good Amp stand, I'll take it.

[Larryz]

Thanks, I took the time to check out both of those stands.

 

@Scott: The way the legs are set up on that model doesn't give me much confidence. I'd hate to bump into it or wind up yanking a cable too far by mistake.

 

@Larryz: That's a bit more like what I'm looking for. My rack is 15.5 inches deep, so I'd almost want to use that stand reversed, with the weight resting on the longer arms?

 

At any rate, both of you have helped me narrow my search; thanks again for that. In the meantime, if I find a good, used 4U for around the same price as a good Amp stand, I'll take it.

 

I changed my post, so check out the one above as I like it a little bit better...

 

ps. move down to the second customer review and you'll see a picture of a Mesa 212 on the stand (click on it)...the angle looks very nice and if your rack is a little front heavy, a little back tilt might not be a bad thing! Amazon has a great return policy, so it would be worth a try...

[Winston Psmith]

Thanks, Larryz.

 

I'm interested in those very low-slung Amp stands, the ones that look like monitor stands, as they seem deeper, and a little less precarious in terms of handling something front-heavy.

 

On-stage stand.

[desertbluesman]

I have one of these

 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AMP150

 

Works great collapses up to a very small package and has a mike stand incorporated.

[J. Dan]

For years I've used an X Stand (keyboard stand) - cheap and easy and puts the rack at arms reach.

 

If you don't want it that high, I've also used a mixer stand that allows you to adjust the angle so that it can be lower but angled up at you without sliding because the arms ar L shaped.

[Winston Psmith]

@DBM: Not sure that will work with my rack, as the back is open, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

@J. Dan: I have a couple of sturdy double-X braced KB stands, but yes, height is the issue with them; I'd have the rack nearly chest-high, on a very narrow base, almost like a pedestal. Have looked at some mixer stands, but so far, one of those low-slung Amp stands is looking like my best option.

[desertbluesman]

@DBM: Not sure that will work with my rack, as the back is open, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

oops, I thought you wanted a combo guitar amp stand, I did not read the starting post carefully. My bad amigo......