J. Dan Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I've had my vintage Apex stand for years and still use it. The handle has been broken for years. They used to just send out free replacements but it doesn't seem the vintage stand is still supported. Anybody know? I mean I'll pay if need be, but not if it's just going to be the same handle that breaks first time you use it. I've seen folks bolt drawer handles on. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Hi Dan, If I remember correctly, the original/vintage Apex originally had a folding/collapsible handle. (Mine failed and Ultimate sent me a free replacement). I then bought another Apex (not AX48) which had a one-piece handle, which looks remarkably like this one for the AX48. I suspect if you order one of those, it will fit your vintage stand. Cheers, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 The original one had one end fixed and the other end slid. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 That's the one. One end fixed non-moving with a screw, the other end slides in the column slot. I don't know that you'll get one like that any more, but I reckon the non-sliding replacement will fit. Cheers, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 We have a lot of stand threads and I feel like I've tried them all but I keep going back to this one from decades old. The handle and the foam on the tiers are really the only problem. Also I suppose if you have a temporary stage with sections that move, it wobbles. And once set up, it's difficult to move. But absolutely the fastest setup/teardown and easiest transport of any stand, and aside from the handle, bullet proof for 30 years. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Agreed (and the new non-sliding handle feels secure). I also like the ease of transport - I can roll into a gig with stand in one hand, controller in the other, Nord on my back, leads/pedals/IEM/PM351 in a bag over my shoulder. I also like the centre-column design that allows me to velcro my phone right in front of me (to run Set List Maker, and now BandHelper). Two (minor-ish) issues, you can't tilt the upper tier, and pedal placement. I've posted pictures in other threads that show my "cut-out" pedalboard that sit over the legs. But every time I arrive at a gig and set up 10 minutes later - and tear down in 5 minutes - I remember how happy I am with my rig. Cheers, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 For a while I tried a number of different stands because my top tier was an Alesis Fusion and it was shaped in a way that if it was a level tier, it actually tilted back. So I HAD to have a top tier that tilted. That led me through a series of stands that I hated. I was happy to be able to go back to this one. I've tried just about everything. Each has pros and cons, of course, but this one just seems to work for me. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Irrelevant now, but... could you have simply velcro-ed a length of wood under the back edge of the Fusion to return it to horizontal? (Might need a different case, of course). Cheers, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 Irrelevant now, but... could you have simply velcro-ed a length of wood under the back edge of the Fusion to return it to horizontal? (Might need a different case, of course). Cheers, Mike. Early on, I had experimented with stuff like that, but as much as I was gigging, that just wasn't an acceptable option. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 FYI: The handles for the newer AX-48 fit the original Apex. As do the newer style Super Clamps that hold the tri-bars. I have both my original 33 year old Apex, as well as a 2 year old AX-48. The handle on my Apex broke a few years ago, and they sent me the new style. I have also used the new style Superclamps on the old Apex to turn it into a 3-tier at one point. The rubber on the original tri-bars finally wore out. For a while I superglued some rubber strips....like non slip shelf liner. I ended up buying some replacement tri-bars from Amazon. I have enough Apex/Ax-48 parts to keep them going for another 30 years. David Gig Rig:Roland Fantom-08| Yamaha MODX+ 6 | MacBook Pro 14" M1| Mainstage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obxa Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I've used an original Apex since the 90s for "standing" gigs. I'm embarrassed that I've taken it on some pretty high profile gigs. My handle broke years ago, so did the plastic top cover. Due to losing the case, the whole stand got banged up & ugly looking. I at least have repainted it several times. I also found that a standard speaker pole case works great to carry and protect the Apex instead of that crappy vinyl bag, and just forgot about using the handle. Also makes less racket in the car during transport. I often just put a whirlwind direct box or black wood shim underneath my top keyboard right over the center tribar mount to tilt it up a bit. With my old Electro 61 key was able to use one of those apex cable clamps over the mount to do the same thing. You probably already know about the "secret" piece of plastic on the bottom apex of the stand that can be added or removed to control the amount of tilt. I used to call Ultimate once a year to get top covers, cable clamps, and the rubber stuff for the bars, etc. that got bashed up on the road- but no more. OT: Thanks to David above for the heads up on the OnStage Z stand very happy using that for sitting gigs. Chris Corso www.chriscorso.org Lots of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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