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I have several gigs this summer where I need to take a stand. I don't entirely trust Amazon reviews and since many of you likely have more experience than an amazon user I turn to you. So what is a good sturdy portable stand for the price for moderate use that fits a serous players needs.
Thanks for your help!

Had this one for several years after a string player turned me on to it. Love it.

http://www.sharmusic.com/Shop-Shar/2011 ... mnpZx.dpbs" target="_blank

Hercules stand. Will not be the smallest collapsed sized, but very sturdy. Does cost a little more than the cheaper competitors, but worth the money.

Tom Mason wrote:Hercules stand. Will not be the smallest collapsed sized, but very sturdy. Does cost a little more than the cheaper competitors, but worth the money.

+1

I've used this one:
http://www.herculesstands.com/music/BS100B.html" target="_blank

for a year. Sturdy, stable, used/transported daily. EZ Glide works as advertised. No complaints. Mine included a nice carry bag.

I second the K & M stand. I have the heavy duty model because my music tends to be overstuffed folders.

I like my K&M, but there are still plastic parts on it, and I'm not sure what to expect in terms of wear years down the road. The metal parts seem like they will last forever.

Before that, I had one of those generic metal stands. My parents bought it for me when I was about 8 years old, and it lasted for over 20 years.

I own several portable stands, but I always grab my Manhasset Voyager when I need a portable stand. The carrying case is a necessity. The stand may take up more room than others, such as the Peak, which I also own and which is my second choice.

I used to have a Peterson, but I forgot it at a remote gig, and never cared enough to try to get it back since I had better alternatives.

These old eyes often need supplemental stand lighting, and without a solid stand it isn't possible.

I like the Manhasset Voyager Stand. Assembled it's very similar to the standard Manhasset stand, but the table detaches and the legs fold up. The stand is around $57 and the tote bag is another $16.

Manhasset Voyager at Amazon

Tote bag at Amazon

Good to know, thanks Joe!

Thanks guys! This helps tremendously !

Rick F wrote:I like the Manhasset Voyager Stand. Assembled it's very similar to the standard Manhasset stand, but the table detaches and the legs fold up. The stand is around $57 and the tote bag is another $16.

Manhasset Voyager at Amazon

Tote bag at Amazon

+99. Plus there's room in the bag for your music folder. Wire stands suck!

TubaTinker wrote:

Rick F wrote:I like the Manhasset Voyager Stand. Assembled it's very similar to the standard Manhasset stand, but the table detaches and the legs fold up. The stand is around $57 and the tote bag is another $16.

Manhasset Voyager at Amazon

Tote bag at Amazon

+99. Plus there's room in the bag for your music folder. Wire stands suck!

Another +99--the best !

I've been using the same K&M stand for the past 15 years. The bag has worn out, but the stand is doing great!

I saw these at TMEA and was impressed, but I don't have one yet.
http://portastand.com/" target="_blank

Having tried about all of them, the best of the lot is still my Desca Stand, about 10 years old, used daily. Solid, stable, low legs [so I don't trip on it], everything you could ask for in a music stand. Everything stores in a single 4"x4"x 22" box, including pencil and such.
The bad news, is that they no longer make this model, citing cost as an issue. They have re-designed it, substituting plastic for metal. I don't find it to be durable enough for my needs, but YMMV. There is talk of bringing back the old design as an option; should that happen, I will be all over it, as mine is really showing wear and tear. It is just so convenient and works so well!

I have taken standard Manhattan stands many places and it works pretty well. You have to remove the bottom shaft nut, replace it with a similarly threaded thumb screw and washer and the stand is now long but very flat. It works and goes in to playing position much faster than the Voyager. If you have the Manhattan "regular" stand the conversion costs about $1.

My portable music stand of choice is a Hamilton KB50 “Traveller” carried in their KB14 carrying bag. The stand is very easily transported and it is strong enough to hold more than a couple of sheets of music. There is a big difference between a “portable” and a “folding” stand and I suspect if you are willing to transport a tuba, then the extra size of portable stand likely won’t be much of a concern. I did have two issues and needed to communicate with Hamilton for replacement parts. The plastic “T” that held my KB990 table broke. I was told that some of the earlier models had a defective part that was redesigned. Later I lost a rubber foot from my KB400. In both cases the parts were shipped to me for free. I own 3 of their stands and so far all of them have worked well. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeVJ_MDyFdg

I use a Peak; my tuba rest fits in it, and it hasn't blown over in the wind. I can use it in stands for pep band gigs as well.

Doug Elliott wrote:I saw these at TMEA and was impressed, but I don't have one yet.
http://portastand.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I have one of these, it looks like the Troubadour model. I've had it for over 5 years. I bought it at Dillon's.

I probably use it 25 times a year. I'd guess 15 times a year at indoors venues, and 10 times a year outdoors on grass, parking lots, outdoor stages, ...

The height adjustment provides a good range. It's stable on uneven ground, and handles the wind as well or better than the most stands used by the other musicians.

The strap they show works much better for the pretty model on their website than me. I find it flops around a lot and is very awkward to use with a gig bag on my back. I just grab the bottom of the stand and carry it under my arm like a folder. It's too big for my gig bag. The other issue I have is with the elastics they use to hold the legs to the back of desk while broken down. The elastics were just about secure enough when new, but now the legs are always sliding out of the two loops. Nylon straps and a cinch (or velcro) would work better, and I may make that modification when I get time or too frustrated.

It's held up pretty well. I lost the two nuts that hold the stand extensions inplace, but a trip to the hardware store and 50 cents fixed that problem. The cloth cover is intact, the compartments on the back side hold clothespins and a pencil, I don't think it's a practical way to carry music. Mine doesn't have the pencil holders on the back. The two elastic bands they provide for securing music can be useful, but I prefer clothespins.

It meets my needs well enough I'm not inclined to spend money on a replacement. If it ever wears out, I'll look at other portable stands. It may be a long time before that becomes a necessity.

gwwilk wrote: I used to have a Peterson, but I forgot it at a remote gig, and never cared enough to try to get it back since I had better alternatives.

Oh man - I get a lot of portable stands as gifts and I got one of these. I like the fact that disassembled it is like a large rectangular book. Easy to transport/stack in a trunk/store at home. But what a PITA to put together and after a gig the amount of time spent to get it back in large book state was a major fail.