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I'm not sure where this should be posted, so here it shall be. I received a new portable music stand today, and it's unlike anything I have ever used.It is from a company called Desca, located in Wisconsin. I really like it for it's obvious durability, ease of use, and especially for it's size when transporting it: it folds up into a 3.5"x 3.5"x 26" package, easily fitting into my equipment bag along with my Baltimore Brass tuba stand. And, the funny thing is, the legs are exactly the same on both stands! Apparently, Desca is where David Fedderley buys his stand base. I have never seen such a nicely engineered portable music stand, and never one as rugged as this one. It is not cheap, but I expect to use this one every day for a very long time. If you want a stand that will last, I'd recommend giving it a look: http://www.descahome.com/index.html
It isn't cheap, but it seems to be high quality. And, no, I am not a salesman for them! I do appreciate quality, though.

$100?!?!?!



That one goes on the "when I get the money" list...

Hi Scott and thanks for the link to Desca. The stands look great. I've got some questions for you....

Is the height adjustment a hands-free clutch like Manhasset stands? Or is there a knob?

Will the table lay flat (horizontal)? Or is its angle restricted?

Did your stand come with written warranty? While the folding table looks good, I would question length of life expectency out of the folding edges.

I agree with MileMarkerZero, $100 is an eye opener. But I don't mind paying for a good product that will make gigging easier for me.

Right now I'm using a Manhasset Voyager. The folding tripod is nice, but there is no way to lock the tripod (it slips when you adjust the standing height). Then, there are still two pieces to carry. Of course, the table's stand attachment on the rear makes it a little difficult to pack in tight spaces. I really like what I see on the Desca website for these reasons. And will be speaking with Desca soon.

gm

geomiklas wrote:Hi Scott and thanks for the link to Desca. The stands look great. I've got some questions for you....
Is the height adjustment a hands-free clutch like Manhasset stands? Or is there a knob?
Will the table lay flat (horizontal)? Or is its angle restricted?
Did your stand come with written warranty? While the folding table looks good, I would question length of life expectency out of the folding edges.

I agree with MileMarkerZero, $100 is an eye opener. But I don't mind paying for a good product that will make gigging easier for me.
gm

Yes, I agree $100. was an eye opener! But, when I compared stands like the better K&M, the extra few bucks started to look like a pretty good deal when I considered the features of the Desca. The telescoping stalk is hands-free, similar to a 2-section version of the Manhassett, but much more rugged.
The desk (large and very steady) will lie flat, with full range of motion.
The plastic desk is unlike anything I have ever seen before, but is very rigid and stores so beautifully. The only thing I wondered about was whether raising the stand by the compartment below it would be a problem over time; the instructions on the stand specifically tell the user to raise and lower it by the brace, and this is not a problem. I asked Bob Waggoner (the owner) about that, but I have not had a reply as yet.
There is a written 1 year warranty and a 30 day return-if-not-satisfied policy.
Big bucks? Yep, but the durability and convenience issues seem to be a nice investment. I'll update this if anything grabs me as I use it more.

Scott,
Did you buy a strap with yours?
George

geomiklas wrote:Scott,
Did you buy a strap with yours?
George

No, I carry an equipment bag with my tuba stand, and misc stuff. It all fits in the bag nicely.

ever since I got a Manhasset Voyager...I've never felt the need to investigate music stands. for me...it's perfect.

sloan wrote:ever since I got a Manhasset Voyager...I've never felt the need to investigate music stands. for me...it's perfect.

Does the tripod slip on yours? I wish it locked in place. When I change the stand height up OR down, the first thing to move is the tripod slips. I don't like that fact. I think it should go to a stop and lock in place. Am I expecting too much from Manhasset?

geomiklas wrote:

sloan wrote:ever since I got a Manhasset Voyager...I've never felt the need to investigate music stands. for me...it's perfect.

Does the tripod slip on yours? I wish it locked in place. When I change the stand height up OR down, the first thing to move is the tripod slips. I don't like that fact. I think it should go to a stop and lock in place. Am I expecting too much from Manhasset?

I guess the short answer is: I set it correctly the first time.

I don't move *anything* once I've settled in - and when I'm adjusting I usually have two hands (and a foot) free.

Based on my experience with the BBC Tuba Rest tripod - I much prefer the Manhasset!

Plus, the bag required to tote the Voyager serves as a good place to stuff everything else I might need. My one complaint with the bag is that the external pocket does not close securely. A zipper, or a single long piece of Velcro(TM) would be an improvement over the three short pieces of Velcro on the current bag.

I just got the Manhasset Voyager myself about 2 months ago (also purchased the carrying bag). I love it! It's very sturdy. I like the fact that the feet are low to the ground -- like the regular Manhasset stands so you can put your foot on the leg when adjusting... or you're playing outside and it's windy.

I think I paid $53 for it, bag and shipping from WWBW.

This one is great! Designed by a Swede Bass Trombonist with the pro in mind. I've had mine a year. Worth every cent. Light, sturdy, handy tray, wide base, great in the wind. The post locks into place with one hand and adjusts the same way. I think Shar is the only place you can get it though.

http://www.sharmusic.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=1570

sloan wrote: Based on my experience with the BBC Tuba Rest tripod - I much prefer the Manhasset!

I'd be interested in your, presumably, bad experience with the BBC stand. I have had nothing but positive experience with this and that was one of the selling features of the Desca stand.

Sloan wrote:My one complaint with the bag is that the external pocket does not close securely. A zipper, or a single long piece of Velcro(TM) would be an improvement over the three short pieces of Velcro on the current bag.

Well, I think they may have fixed the pocket problem... sort of. There is no pocket on the bag I got with the stand 2 months ago! But there's room inside the bag along with the desk and legs to put music or folder.



From the picture above (from WWBW), it looks like there is supposed to be a pocket, but mine doesn't have one.

bloke wrote:The K&M model 10065BK (not particularly cheap: sugg. retail of c. $66) is sturdy, looks good enough on-stage if it has to (particularly with a black folder), has a thick-enough shelf, and folds up tiny. "BK" denotes "black".



The Desca thing looks like a pretty good product, but I still don't think I'd want to schlep something the size of a trumpet...nor have to fool with unpacking it.

My quartet uses these and we can pack all four of them into the space that a "trumpet" would fit. The only thing is the trick to opening the desk. I say that it is the entry test for our quartet... now is it small posts up and large posts down or small posts down and large posts up?

This is my favorite music stand, the RAT Jazz

http://www.ratstands.com/jazz.html

I have been using mine for the last year and found it great.

http://www.wwbw.com/Peak-Music-Stands-P ... 3431.music

This is the one I bought, for the portability. It works fine and is not expensive at about $30. It comes with a case, and the desk part folds into quarters. It is somewhat of a pain to set up but I have had no trouble with it slipping; the mechanics are a lot like a camera tripod, and to date have been very secure.

The only thing I like better about the regular Manhasset is that if you are playing in windy conditions, you can put your feet on the stand to hold it down in the wind.

MA

MaryAnn wrote: The only thing I like better about the regular Manhasset is that if you are playing in windy conditions, you can put your feet on the stand to hold it down in the wind.
MA

That is another plus for the Desca: the feet are almost flat to the ground and the center of gravity is low anyway.
Carroll posted something about figuring out which way the desk goes? I timed it and the whole assembly took only about 20 seconds.
Bloke wrote something about carrying a stand the size of a trumpet: here's a "stack" of 16 stands next to a trumpet.
http://www.descahome.com/image_stands/i ... ompact.jpg

Carroll wrote:


My quartet uses these and we can pack all four of them into the space that a "trumpet" would fit. The only thing is the trick to opening the desk. I say that it is the entry test for our quartet... now is it small posts up and large posts down or small posts down and large posts up?

All portable stands I've ever seen all my life are of this type. (mostly the $20 variety)
Every twelve year old learning an instrument in Western Europe will probably open one in a few seconds without any problem
It's large posts up, short posts down
If I wanted to shell out big bucks for a portable stand I'd go for this one:
http://www.canadianbrassstore.com/ms-300al.html
small, and extremely lightweight. A big plus if you live in a region where there are more transport options than a big, gas guzzling car.

bloke wrote:The K&M model 10065BK (not particularly cheap: sugg. retail of c. $66) is sturdy, looks good enough on-stage if it has to (particularly with a black folder), has a thick-enough shelf, and folds up tiny. "BK" denotes "black".

This is NOT K&M's slimmest model...It's somewhere in the middle. (That lightest-duty one is called the 101.)

Several years ago, I sent my kid to Eastman with a 10065, and subsequently several friends had me drop-ship 10065 stands to them.

IF I am to carry a music stand along with a TUBA (from some parking garage, etc.) I WON'T be toting one that has a non-collapsable desk.



The Desca thing looks like a pretty good product, but I still don't think I'd want to schlep something the size of a trumpet...nor have to fool with unpacking it.

Bloke,

I've had a K&M 10065 since 2000 and use it for my other musical interest. Because it is tiny, the K&M gets packed into a gearbox along with other gear, such as my satellite speaker stands and mic stands which are K&M and the same style as the music stand.

I don't use the K&M for any other gigging because it will not hold "The Real Book" or other similar 2" thick fake books. That is why I bought a Manhasset Voyager, and I've already voiced my dismay with the MV. On that note, the folks at Desca assure me that their stand will hold a 7# book without slipping.

gm

If your MV stand slips due to a heavy book or folder, you can add a hose clamp just above where the two shafts join to keep the stand from slipping. They now make a hose clamp that doesn't require a tool to adjust called a "Turn-Key clamp".



H.W. Elkhardt Corp. - Turn key hose clamps:
http://www.hweckhardt.com/clamps/Ideal_ ... Clamp.html