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As a player in community and other small bands, we often play in locations that require us to bring our own music stand. Well, the music folders and notebooks are rather heavy and those flimsy wire things just don't seem to do the job. So I pose the question: what do you recommend for a good portable music stand?

I just picked up a folding one that's made out of aluminum instead of steel (black instead of chrome), and which feels much sturdier in use. Comes from Europe. It was about $35, and comes with a carrying bag. Because it is so light, one could transport it in the bell of the tuba, even together with a tuba stand. Don't know whether it will survive long-term, only had it for a few months, and used it a few times.

If you want to know exactly what the manufacturer / model is, you either need to wait until this evening, or you contact Bridgepoint Music in Menlo Park (where I bought it).

Without question.... I think the Manhasset 'Voyager' is the best out there. Not the smallest since the desk is one piece. However... the bag is large enough to carry all my other stuff, too.

I like the Peak a lot. It is sturdy and the case is small because the desk rolls up. And it is not expensive.
MA

I've had my Nilton for 5 years and absolutely love it! Stable, light, folds up small, easy to set up and adjust, durable(mine still looks new), has a nice rack for my valve oil, slide cream, etc. It also includes a bag which will hold a smallish folio in addition to the stand. The only negative I can think of is price, $100+. However, I went through a bunch of cheapos before I got this. If you keep it 10 years it will even out. You can get them on line(Shar Music and a few other places).

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Nilton_stand.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

Two bands I play with use K&M stands one is full of kids who have destroyed Hamilton stands in the hall but all the k&M are all still serviceable

ralphbsz wrote:I just picked up a folding one that's made out of aluminum instead of steel (black instead of chrome), and which feels much sturdier in use. Comes from Europe. It was about $35, and comes with a carrying bag. Because it is so light, one could transport it in the bell of the tuba, even together with a tuba stand. Don't know whether it will survive long-term, only had it for a few months, and used it a few times.

If you want to know exactly what the manufacturer / model is, you either need to wait until this evening, or you contact Bridgepoint Music in Menlo Park (where I bought it).

It's probably the RAT scherzo. http://www.ratstands.com/rat_scherzo_stand.html
I've had one for a few years now and quite happy with it.

For me, a portable stand must be portable first and foremost, i.e. as lightweight and small as possible. Being able to throw it in the back of a car is not my definition of portable, I expect to bike or take public transport with it without having to use a bike cart or occupy a second seat on the train. I also expect to be able to carry it around for sometime without my hand getting numb.

The Rat is extremely lightweight and comes in a flute-sized carrying bag. Highly recommended for anyone who could conceivably have a gig where they can't drive a car from their front door directly to the stage entrance.

TubaTinker wrote:Without question.... I think the Manhasset 'Voyager' is the best out there. Not the smallest since the desk is one piece. However... the bag is large enough to carry all my other stuff, too.

+1
I've used the Voyager for about 3 yrs now without complaint. I got the case too which has a shoulder strap. As Dan said, you can put other stuff in there. Plus the feet are low to the ground so you can put your foot on it if it's windy.

For about 6 years I have used the Desca stand, every day and it is still going strong. And strong it is, built like a tank at only 6 lbs. But the portability aspect is the best: it stows in a box 3.5"x3.5"x 24". When set up, there is that same size box underneath the rack, for keeping pencils, chopsaver, etc.
The bad news is that it is no longer made! The price point when I bought it was @$95. and the maker, Bob Waggoner, could not compete with the cheapos. He has re-designed it to be cheaper yet keep many of the functions, he tells me. It is expected to go into production soon. You can contact him at: http://www.descahome.com" target="_blank
ps--the base of the original stand is the exact base of the Baltimore Brass tuba stand.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I think I like the idea of something that folds up really small. My book of songs for one band is really big ( a 3" binder full) Thus the need for a stronger stand than the light wire things. I will look at the K & M and others.

I use a Peak stand, which has the added advantage that my tuba rest fits in the bag.

I have a Peak stand and like it. It is sturdy and folds up very nicely. It isn't too heavy either.
ScottM

Our orchestra uses the voyager. You just have to lock the desk ring to stop the rotation. Locking the ring also stops the annoying habit of the desk coming off in your face when raising the stand. The only problem I have ever had with the voyager is that desk lock breaking. It's just plastic. I don't like it for a portable because it doesn't fold up as compact as I would like.

I own/use both the Manhasset Voyager & the Hamilton

The Manhasset's lighter (~ 4 lbs vs. ~ 6.5) and because its tripod and riser are knob-free (friction, same as the non-portable version), it's easier to adjust one-handed (foot on the base).
It has a tilt deck, while the Hamilton's is fixed, and although Manhasset's deck edge can bend if it hits the ground, the cut edge allows it to accept plastic stand extenders/wings. The Hamilton's deck has a rolled (sturdy) edge (no-go on using extender wings) and it's ferrous (unlike the Manhasset), so it supports my use of rare earth magnets to secure music outdoors.

I'm only 5'-7, so either works for standing, but the Hamilton deck can adjust ~ 4" higher than the Manhasset's (~ 4 feet from deck bottom edge to ground).

I haven't experienced any durability issues with the Manhasset deck lock, but I'm reasonably careful. Might not stand the test of time against my children, though . . .

I tend to grab the Manhasset on my way out the door, mostly because of the plastic deck extenders that I keep on it, but either is fine, and despite their greater size and weight, I strongly prefer either to the "pencil punch through" of my wire-stand skeleton decks.

BTW, I use Manhasset Voyager bags for both, and the Voyager is just long enough that it doesn't fit well in the original Voyager bag, while the bag fits perfectly for the Hamilton (go figure). Manhasset's current Voyager bag is a bit bigger than the original and fits their stand better.

I have had my Manahsset Voyager for probably at least 15 years, I honestly can't remember when I bought it. I have had it for as long as I can remember and I use it alot and the plastic parts have not worn out for me. nice gig bag for it also. not the most compact but if you get the bag for it you can put your music in the bag also, so there is one less thing to carry.
k

corbasse wrote:

ralphbsz wrote:I just picked up a folding one that's made out of aluminum instead of steel (black instead of chrome), and which feels much sturdier in use. Comes from Europe. It was about $35, and comes with a carrying bag. Because it is so light, one could transport it in the bell of the tuba, even together with a tuba stand. Don't know whether it will survive long-term, only had it for a few months, and used it a few times.

If you want to know exactly what the manufacturer / model is, you either need to wait until this evening, or you contact Bridgepoint Music in Menlo Park (where I bought it).

It's probably the RAT scherzo. http://www.ratstands.com/rat_scherzo_stand.html
I've had one for a few years now and quite happy with it.

For me, a portable stand must be portable first and foremost, i.e. as lightweight and small as possible. Being able to throw it in the back of a car is not my definition of portable, I expect to bike or take public transport with it without having to use a bike cart or occupy a second seat on the train. I also expect to be able to carry it around for sometime without my hand getting numb.

The Rat is extremely lightweight and comes in a flute-sized carrying bag. Highly recommended for anyone who could conceivably have a gig where they can't drive a car from their front door directly to the stage entrance.

Rat stands are great. We use their jazz stand and I really like them. My quintet book is very large and heavy and this stand is the only one that doesn't self adjust. If we use it for concert band on the road I can put my music folder in the stand case. Check them out here... http://www.ratstands.com/rat_jazz_stand.html" target="_blank

Peak stand
it's great, I've used it indoors, outdoors, small books, big books all types of stuff. Works great, folds up small, is stackable with others and is inexpensive.
http://www.peakmusicstands.com/" target="_blank
B

Is anyone doing the iPad/tablet thing instead of a music stand? I'm curious what those who use them think of them....

bububassboner wrote:Rat stands are great. We use their jazz stand and I really like them. My quintet book is very large and heavy and this stand is the only one that doesn't self adjust. If we use it for concert band on the road I can put my music folder in the stand case. Check them out here... http://www.ratstands.com/rat_jazz_stand.html" target="_blank"

The pictures of that stand aren't very good. It looks like the music shelf isn't very large. How does it compare to other stands like the Manhasset's?

EWTHeckman wrote: The pictures of that stand aren't very good. It looks like the music shelf isn't very large. How does it compare to other stands like the Manhasset's?

(I'm not sure we're looking at the same page - pictures look fine to me?)

Rat stand page wrote:

• Tray size 51 x 32 cm (20" x 12.5") excluding pencil shelf area