Big Conn storage stand - recommendation?

[sloan]

I have a big old Conn (see .signature). I use it for "special events" - my King 2341 is more practical for day-to-day use. But...I have some newly freed up space which offers the opportunity to set up the Conn on a stand of some sort in my practice room. This looks like a decent plan - better than storing it in the gig bag and spending time taking it out and putting it away.

Standing this tuba on the bell is not a good plan - the bell is detachable and the body is just "tippy" enough to loosen the connection. So, I'm looking for a stand to hold it "bell up".

I don't want to PLAY it while in the stand - I want easy on - easy off storage.

I don't recall seeing such devices on display at Ft Myer (where I *will* be at the end of the month). Maybe that's just because I wasn't looking?

So...any recommendations?

[Lew]

I used one of those to hold my King 1291, which was the heaviest tuba I have ever played. It would probably only count as a 5/4 based on total size even with a 24" bell, but it felt like it was made from the heaviest grade brass available. It held that tuba securely with no issues.

[sloan]

So...is the Hercules stand sturdy enough to hold a big Conn?

[Walter Webb]

Hey Lost, I spiffed up one of those tripod stands Bloke recommended by placing wide and thick sticky-back foam rubber air conditioning sealing tape over the felt (rivets were beginning to protrude). The "claws" usually have stripped 1/4" threads, which will need to be tapped 5/16" coarse and will grab tight again with new, bigger wing bolts.

[EdFirth]

Mr Ken, My high school had the stand that Bloke pictured with a 21J in it. Definitely strong enough and you don't have to bend down so low to take the horn out.Best of luck with it. Ed

[pjv]

I have 2 of these old gynecologist-type stands (like in Bloke's post) and spiffed it up the lazy way; a towel on each clamp and some duct tape.

I've read, but never tried, that the Yamaha air-lift is mighty sturdy.

I don't trust Hercules. I have the sousaphone stand and the design is sturdier then the K&M (for example). However, either designed it for Yamaha fiberglass sous' or they did a real cheap welding job (hmm, maybe I've just said the same thing twice). I own a 40K and used to own a 46K. I had to have my welded anew at all three clamps. Now that this has been done it's perfect for my needs.

This doesn't mean that their tuba stand sucks (though I can't for the life of me understand what the idea is behind this design), it just means they lost my trust.

Good luck.

PS, just take off the bell and store the tuba on it's side against the wall or something.

[thevillagetuba]

I have two of the Hercules stands and they work wonderfully for my tubas. Very sturdy. I couldn't recommend them enough because they have very thick metal legs (and construction overall).

[thevillagetuba]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Rob do you have to leave the tuba at an angle with the hercules?

I do, but it's not a great one. I usually have my horn in the stand in the opposite way that the packaging shows. And, to clarify, I use the DS552B stand and not the DS551B (which is their sousa stand). Below are two pictures of how the horn can rest in the stand.

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The way I usually have it is both more aesthetically pleasing, and it makes me feel more comfortable with the weight of the horn not being on the throat of the bell.

Let me know if you have any other questions, but I use these for both my CB-50 and for my F (G-60 prototype).