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My Manhasset stand has a serious case of overload whenever I place my Arban's atop whatever else I'm working on at the time, after which the music slowly drifts below my optimal field of view, admittedly already restricted by presbyopic-myopic compensating Varilux lenses perched on my schnoz. Yes, I know I could remove my ConcertLight II and solve the problem, but I've quickly grown dependent upon it to light my way so that's not an option.

Does anybody actually sell the Shaft-Lock? Or does somebody have a good, cheap alternate locking system I could improvise to keep the shaft from telescoping under heavier loads?

Jerry "Yes, I really do need all of that stuff on my stand!" Wilkins

Very simple solution: go to an auto parts store and get a small hose clamp sized to fit your shaft, preferably one with a wing-nut instead of a slotted head. Problem solved! If you never raise or lower it, just leave it alone, or loosen it and move it down. Cost: about a buck.

LV wrote:I use one of these 1" binder clips. Works perfect on the crappiest stand. Even those Hamiltons that stay up for about 30 seconds. I carry them clipped to my gig bag and have saved myself a bunch of headaches. They're cheap, too. One is always plenty to keep up the heaviest book.

Excellent remedy! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, guys, for your excellent suggestions!

Jerry "That's one less excuse for not using Arban's" Wilkins

A couple of my playbooks are very thick 3-ring binders full of charts with plastic sheet protectors that had the desk making a gradual southward journey during a gig.. I just drilled a 3/16'" hole right through the upper stand tube and insert a stainless steel pin to hold it in place. Still lets me collapse the stand for travel.

Chuck(G) wrote:A couple of my playbooks are very thick 3-ring binders full of charts with plastic sheet protectors that had the desk making a gradual southward journey during a gig.. I just drilled a 3/16'" hole right through the upper stand tube and insert a stainless steel pin to hold it in place. Still lets me collapse the stand for travel.

That, and the binder clips that LV suggests are great ideas. Do tuba players have to be mechanically inclined? I know I don't seem to be so handy as that.