Double Bass Best lightweight folding music stand?

[ClsscLib]

I haven’t played in orchestras for years, but that’s about to change.

I’m interested in a folding music stand that’s lightweight and portable, that reliably extends to a height useful for bassists, but that is also steady and will bear without trouble an orchestra folder with music (preferably with a second shelf for rosin, pencils, etc.). Within reason, I don’t much care about cost — only performance.

Any recommendations?

 

[Leo Smith]

I have a Peak stand that works pretty well, the SMS-20 model. Doesn't have a second shelf though.

Peak Portable Music Stand — Peak Stands-The Best Portable Stands

Peak line of collapsing music stands are a musicians trust, durable side-kick; easy set up components for studio, theaters, and outside performances. The light weight and included storage bags make the stand a breeze to travel with anywhere, anytime, and use any place.

www.peakmusicstands.com

 

[Ed S]

I use a Peak as well. Haven't seen one I like better.

 

[jthisdell]

I have a Peak as well, you can actually see it in my avatar. Obviously I don't play orchestral but the Peak will hold a very heavy three ring binder. I usually am using it in its lowest position so it will go way up from there.

 

[djmay]

I used the standard K&M until I transitioned to digital 2 years ago. Now I use a Samsung tablet, Mobilesheets software and a Pageflip page turner.

I can import any hardcopy music with the tablet camera.

 

[Ed S]

Yep - the OP ought to decide whether they wish to stick with paper of leap to digital. I understand the many advantages of digital, but personally prefer paper.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Belongs to my wife, a violinist, but I steal it when I have arco gigs. Works great. Has held up x3 years.

Manhasset Music Stand Accessory Shelf - Plastic

Upgrade your Manhasset music stand with our plastic accessory shelf! The perfect add-on attachment for all your music needs. Shop now!

www.sharmusic.com

Responding to other comments—I went digital last year. Don’t miss the paper. Yet!

 

[Ed S]

Belongs to my wife, a violinist, but I steal it when I have arco gigs. Works great. Has held up x3 years.

Manhasset Music Stand Accessory Shelf - Plastic

Upgrade your Manhasset music stand with our plastic accessory shelf! The perfect add-on attachment for all your music needs. Shop now!

www.sharmusic.com

My wife has one of those as well. But I don't think a Manhasset quite qualifies as a lightweight folding stand.

 

[dfp]

Imho, lightweight folding stands are a liability bc so likely to tip over, drop the music, etc, just more trouble than they are worth. The Manhasset with folding legs is the best compromise for me. I am 6’2” and find it tall enough for standing orchestra bass use.

 

[turf3]

Do you need to even bring your own stand to orchestra rehearsal?

That said, there are good reasons why the standard Manhasset black stand is still the standard. Just buy the demountable version with folding legs and call it a day. If yoj're schlepping around a double bass, the tiny difference in weight of a good stand isn't going to change anything. If it's all too much, get something with wheels.

 

[biobass]

I do mostly musical theater pit work, not orchestral. I don’t know what you define as light weight, but I use an On Stage collapsable music stand with a Latin Percussion (LP) shelf attached. The LP shelves come in various sizes. I have a medium size, which is large enough to hold 8.5 x 11” paper, rosin, cloth, bottle of water, etc. - and my bow when not using it (more convenient than my quiver for me). If I were to get a different percussion shelf, I would get a smaller one. The shelf also attaches to a mic stand that I use with an iPad holder, which is what I mostly use these days. The On Stage and Latin Percussion products can be purchased at most large music stores and online.

 

[darev]

If performance is your overriding metric I would go with a Manhasset 5201 Voyager. The bookplate on the Voyager doesn't fold into a square like the Peak ones (also great choice). Both might be a little awkward to load in and out with but personally, I prefer the flat metal bookplate to the plastic box for storage and when sliding the stand in and out of a vehicle. The Manhasset also has many shelf options. YMMV and good luck.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Spoiler: I'm not really a UB player but I like the Peak. Not sure which model I have, but it was very reasonable compared to wire stands. The things I learned early on were A) I could fit a battery powered stand light in the Peak bag and B) when the shelf is flipped over it provides little spaces for things like capos, picks, page clips, etc. Really practical for me!

BBB

 

[Neon Scribe]

Finding the sweet spot between the sturdy Manhasset and the spindly folding stands is not easy, and depends greatly on where you land on the load-bearing vs. portability scale. The ones with solid non-folding desks are nice to use, but a little more bulky. Hercules makes a range of them which are mostly on the sturdy side. My current favorite is the BS118BB, at around $55, which does have a folding desk but is also very stable. My main advice is to avoid the weird-anagram-brand-name products that overwhelm the Amazon search results. I've had a few of these over the years and they've all failed in various ways, mainly set screws getting their threads stripped.

 

[mooseonbass]

I like the peak stand as well. It is sturdy enough to trust to hold my tablet, but if someone decides to hand me a chart, I have a place to put it, where that is not the case with a tablet holder.

 

[Frank Kreber]

I've been using this music stand from Kraftgeek for about a year now. It's extremely lightweight and foldable. So far, I haven't noticed any signs of wear and tear. I find it sufficiently stable and can place my iPad on it without any worries. There are also cleverly designed accessories available, such as lighting

Made for Music

Designed for the stage and the street. Portable, elegant music gear that moves with you—and looks good doing it.

kraftgeek.com

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Belongs to my wife, a violinist, but I steal it when I have arco gigs.

Manhasset Music Stand Accessory Shelf - Plastic

Upgrade your Manhasset music stand with our plastic accessory shelf! The perfect add-on attachment for all your music needs. Shop now!

www.sharmusic.com

My wife has one of those as well. But I don't think a Manhasset quite qualifies as a lightweight folding stand.

No, sorry I wasn’t clear. I was just talking about the shelf (see link).

 

[Ed S]

No, sorry I wasn’t clear. I was just talking about the shelf (see link).

I understood that. But does the shelf fit on the Peak? I wouldn't think so.

I initially thought of that shelf, but then realized it was on the Manhasset that my wife has set up in her office, not a Peak.

Does the folding Manhasset have a carrying bag? How do you schlep it with your bass? When I go to orch I have my bass on its buggy, and am carrying my folded lightweight stool. The Peak stand is in its bag, over one shoulder. Yeah, I COULD hold a Manhasset stand in one of my hand, but I'm thinking it would make a cumbersome haul a tad more cumbersome.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I understood that. But does the shelf fit on the Peak? I wouldn't think so.

I initially thought of that shelf, but then realized it was on the Manhasset that my wife has set up in her office, not a Peak.

Does the folding Manhasset have a carrying bag? How do you schlep it with your bass? When I go to orch I have my bass on its buggy, and am carrying my folded lightweight stool. The Peak stand is in its bag, over one shoulder. Yeah, I COULD hold a Manhasset stand in one of my hand, but I'm thinking it would make a cumbersome haul a tad more cumbersome.

I’m sorry, I missed the requirement that it had to affix to a Peak stand. You’re right that it probably wouldn’t.

Just offering the option for an after-market shelf to consider in case the OP comes up with a different stand with a metal lip.

I had considered the Peak myself, but went digital instead and had to purchase other/different solutions.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Yep - the OP ought to decide whether they wish to stick with paper of leap to digital. I understand the many advantages of digital, but personally prefer paper.

Digital is not always an option though when someone wants to throw a chart in front of you at random. I'm with you, prefer paper and a stand for paper can still hold a tablet.