A good portable Music Stand?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Why not simply use a "real" stand like a Manhasset? I don't see why "portable" is a requirement when one can easily carry a "real" stand in one hand to a gig.

[tbn.al]

Don, Pardon my ignorance but how do you get the music into the ipad? Scan? If so, what happens when you are presented with an oversize chart?

[EWTHeckman]

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

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

The tray size is the large vertical surface. I'm asking about the shelf which juts out from the tray, without which music would just slide to the floor.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Don, Pardon my ignorance but how do you get the music into the ipad? Scan? If so, what happens when you are presented with an oversize chart?

Buy an oversize scanner ...

[EWTHeckman]

Why not simply use a "real" stand like a Manhasset? I don't see why "portable" is a requirement when one can easily carry a "real" stand in one hand to a gig.

Depending on the gig, I'm carrying at least my tuba and briefcase. I'm also usually carrying a stool and occasionally a mute. A non-collapsible stand just isn't realistic for me.

[Donn]

The tray size is the large vertical surface. I'm asking about the shelf which juts out from the tray, without which music would just slide to the floor.

Ah. It looks inadequate to me, now that you mention it.

[georgebutler]

K&M makes a lot of different models of music stands these days, some "flimsy" and others more "heavy-duty." I bought a more industrial 10041 "Robby" (I think, it looks the same anyway) about 15 years ago, and it has been great. It is tall, but only has a two-section shaft, with the traditional folding desk. The nice carrying case has a shoulder strap.

You might want to consider their 10065 Topline, the 107 Starline, or the 10810 Starline. These all have the folding desk.

Also available are models with solid desk. I like the looks of 10068 (with its special inverted-v connector), but the plastic desks on the 4'-tall 12120 and the 5'-tall 12125 look interesting too.

This might be worth a drive to a well-stocked music store to get your hands on many different stands, and see what feels right for you. Or better yet, a convention exhibit floor...

[opus37]

The community and other bands I play in mostly go to nursing homes and assisted living complexes. These never have stands so we must bring our own. We have to go up and down a lot of stairs carrying the horn, gig bag and stand. I like small and easy to carry so I can make one trip.

Thanks for all the suggestions

[Mark]

The community and other bands I play in mostly go to nursing homes and assisted living complexes. These never have stands so we must bring our own. We have to go up and down a lot of stairs carrying the horn, gig bag and stand. I like small and easy to carry so I can make one trip.

Thanks for all the suggestions

???

[Mark]

Where are you guys playing these gigs/rehearsals where stands are not already in place?

Brass quintet gigs. A few years ago I bought several Manhassett Voyager stands with bags from a music store that was going out of business for $19.95 each (including the bag).

[Teubonium]

Where are you guys playing these gigs/rehearsals where stands are not already in place?

Outdoor concerts in parks in the summer.

I've used a Manhassett Voyager for about 12 years. Like the stand, hate the bag.
I carry my music and a Mighty Brite stand light in the bag. The bag is about a half inch too small to hold the base of the stand. It doesn't take long for the end to bust out. After many duct tape repairs, I order a new bag. I'm on the third bag now, all with holes in the end! Also, the first bag had a nice pocket on the side for holding music clips for those windy days/nights. Bags 2 and 3 have no side pocket!

True, most places I play have stands but occasionally they don't. I played a gig today at the Paramount Theater in downtown Denver, No Stands!

[sloan]

Voyager - no contest.

[Eflatdoubler]

I love the Desca stand and have had it about 8-9 years. It folds up nice and compact and is very sturdy along with holding a great deal of music (It can support an 8 pound book). I have it with a shoulder strap which keeps my hands free for my other horns, although I can still wear my horn on my back along with the stand.
It folds up to a rectangular prism: 3.5" x 3.5" x 23.5"

It weighs a bit but is not noticeable with the shoulder strap. I have seen all of the other stands and this to me is by far #1. It is pricey at $100.00 but well worth the space savings. It has a shelf to put things and the stand can be raised up to 63.5". I have carried it around to hundreds of gigs (usually quintet jobs that are outdoors or in elementary schools (kids don't start band until 6th grade in TX so even 5 stands can be scarce in elementary)) and every time I use it I am glad I bought it.

[scottw]

I love the Desca stand and have had it about 8-9 years. It folds up nice and compact and is very sturdy along with holding a great deal of music (It can support an 8 pound book). I have it with a shoulder strap which keeps my hands free for my other horns, although I can still wear my horn on my back along with the stand.
It folds up to a rectangular prism: 3.5" x 3.5" x 23.5"

It weighs a bit but is not noticeable with the shoulder strap. I have seen all of the other stands and this to me is by far #1. It is pricey at $100.00 but well worth the space savings. It has a shelf to put things and the stand can be raised up to 63.5". I have carried it around to hundreds of gigs (usually quintet jobs that are outdoors or in elementary schools (kids don't start band until 6th grade in TX so even 5 stands can be scarce in elementary)) and every time I use it I am glad I bought it.

Treat it very well, because there are no more available! He has discontinued production and sold off all inventory as a run-up to the new [cheaper cost] design. I will be very interested in seeing it when it gets into production, as mine is finally showing it's age and constant use and will need replacing in the next year. I have tried all the others and the Desca is, as you say, heads and shoulders above 'em all.

[Eflatdoubler]

Wow, good to know about the end of producing them! The only issue I ever saw with is was the plastic strip around the locking mechanism (Where you turned it a quarter turn) when folded up was a little think and could risk breaking.
I am glad to see he is making a newer version. I hope being cheaper doesn't severly cut the quality. When is it supposed to come out? Is he making it or just designing it for a larger company?

[EWTHeckman]

I recently bought a Jazz stand to compare it to my Voyager. Here's a few observations.

The shelf of the Jazz actually is shallower than the Voyager's. It's slightly less than 1 1/2 inches deep compared to the Voyager's 2 1/4 inches. So far that hasn't been a problem.

There are only two angles the shaft of the stand can be set at. With the feet towards you, the bottom of the desk is just shy of even with the ends of the feet at sitting height. At full height with a heavy binder of music, it's far too tipsy for my taste. If the angle was slightly more vertical it would probably be fine. With the feet away from you the angle is much more vertical, which makes it more stable at full height.

The construction quality is very solid. The base feels very, very durable. The height is easy to adjust. The desk's flexibility means it won't wind up bent like Manhasset stands tend to get, but that flexibility also makes it harder to adjust the angle.

The subdesk area is primarily occupied by the mount for the desk, making it not very usable. There's space to put some pencils, but that's about it. It would be a lot more usable if it was taller and square.

Both weigh about the same.

The Voyager's tripod foot setup is definitely more stable on carpet.

Right now the Jazz stand has only three advantages over the Voyager:

1. It's simpler to set up and put away.

2. It's more compact to carry.

3. The desk is more durable.

On the other hand, the Voyager has these advantages:

1. It's more stable.

2. It's much cheaper. (About 1/3rd the cost.)

3. The shelf is deeper.

I'll continue using the Jazz stand for a while to give it a proper workout. But at this point, I don't think the Jazz's advantages outweigh its shortcomings.