Guitar stand for gigs?

[Bonecat]

I use a Hercules single stand now and while it's great in the studio, it's a bit unwieldy at gigs. Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

 

[DonaldR]

Good gigbag?

 

[Bob_Ross]

Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

It is my contention, born from decades of experience with several dozen different makes/models, that any guitar stand that is compact will not be secure, and likewise any guitar stand that is secure will not be compact. Those qualities are mutually exclusive.

And I welcome anybody to prove me wrong, so that I can go out and buy whatever stand does manage to combine those traits!
But it'll be a unicorn.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Case offstage. Put on bass - play gig - case offstage.

 

[pfschim]

I've actually had great luck with the Hercules folding stands. Very compact when folded up, and they have been very stable on gigs for me over the past decade or so of use.

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Now with that being said, I only ever use one stand on a gig. Its very rare for me to have more than one bass on a gig.

Good luck OP!

 

[JakobT]

I use a Hercules single stand now and while it's great in the studio, it's a bit unwieldy at gigs. Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

It will always a trade-off between security, size and weight.

 

[Petethebassman]

I'm using a K&M A-frame stand, it is stable and folds down flat, so it fits on top of the other stuff in my gig accessory case. Made in Germany, so it's good quality.

 

[el murdoque]

I use a Hercules single stand now and while it's great in the studio, it's a bit unwieldy at gigs. Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

I assume you're having that Hercules stand where the bass hangs from the headstock? 415B or something?
If so, that's the only stand I'm willing to use live.

It's unwieldy, but I simply take the one that's in the rehearsal room and toss it to the pile of drum hardware whenever I want to bring it.
This is the one stand I found that will resist that one clumsy stage hand who backs up into it, carrying something heavy. It takes a massive shove, but the fact that the bass is fixed all the way at the top, but the center of gravity is all the way down, it really takes a lot before the bass falls.

I've used the small Hercules stand before, but that won't work with all body shapes, and while it is a solid stand, it only takes one gentle push to let the instrument topple.

 

[hasbeen]

Good gigbag?

I'm with you. I'm the president of SFPCB (The society for prevention of cruelty to basses) In over 40 years of gigging, I've never used a stand on stage.

 

[JamesGrant]

I've been using these on gigs for years - folds up and lives in my amp bag when packed away.

Works well with jazz bass (which is not a symmetrical bottom), and 'symmetrical basses - like my other bass)

The only time it goes wrong is when the strap gets caught on the stand when you pick the bass up and the stand comes with it, and then the stand falls over. But not a big deal.

 

[L-u-A-R]

I've tried 3.

Ibanez PT32:
Smallest of the 3, it works, nothing special.
Usually use it at home in safe spots. Not recommended for active use.

Cooperstand Pro-G:
Folds to be very compact, much sturdier than the PT32 for the size.
I use it most of the time when playing out.

K&M Heli 2 E-Guitar:
Heavier and less compact than the Pro-G, also more stable. Folds larger but flatter.
I use this with my multi-scale, my heaviest bass, and the case has extra space.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I keep a Stagg Ukele stand in my car for gigging. It will work for solid body and acoustic guitars and basses. It folds up and fits very nicely in the trunk. You can get it for about $12 at GC. Perfect for Steinberger bass.

 

[GregT]

I'm using a K&M A-frame stand, it is stable and folds down flat, so it fits on top of the other stuff in my gig accessory case. Made in Germany, so it's good quality.

That's what I have also. The K&M is easy to transport and it's solid.

 

[2saddleslab]

K&M acoustic stand. Deep enough to hold 2, folds flat, & have never had any close calls.

 

[brianrost]

I keep a Stagg Ukele stand in my car for gigging. It will work for solid body and acoustic guitars and basses. It folds up and fits very nicely in the trunk. You can get it for about $12 at GC. Perfect for Steinberger bass.

There's lots of similar stands out there, like the K&M. I use this $19 one from Amazon Basics...I saw another guy using one and it seemed well made. It folds up even smaller than that Stagg because of the hinge on the legs, I carry it in a milk crate along with a power strip and a class D head in a padded bag. Works fine with my NS Radius, but even at the narrowest (and least stable) position it's still too wide for my Steinberger L2.

I have used one of these Fender stands for a long time, so small it fits into the pocket of a gig bag. It comes with it's own bag! The foam that supports the back of the body on mine started to disintegrate. so I covered it with tape and kept using it. Again, not really secure. $20.

I bought a pair of stands with this common design back in the 1980s for about $10 each. More secure than the other two, but it's two pieces and not as compact when folded up. The ones that add the elastic strap to keep the bass from falling face first out of the stand are even better and worth paying a few extra bucks for. An advantage of this design for non-symmetrical shapes like Thunderbirds and Jazz Basses is that the support for the body rotates.

I got this Hercules stand as a closeout deal for just a few bucks. It's compact, but the least secure of all of the stands I've owned. I've never used it on a gig. I got what I paid for, I can see why they stopped making this one. Makes a good portable doorstop, though

Good idea to have instructions on the bottom!!!! I forgot to extend the rear legs when I took the pictures

 

[LowActionHero]

I used this velcro strap. Only way to guarantee my drummer didn't mow it over.

At home I use regular stands

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I use a Hercules single stand now and while it's great in the studio, it's a bit unwieldy at gigs. Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

I've been using these for years. Not sure if this is the one you have, but I like everything about it. Compact, sturdy, and holds the bass securely

 

[monkeyland]

Most of the time I just slip my bass into my Mono bag on breaks but if using a stand I like the Ultimate GS100. It's nice and stable, the hanging arrangement makes it easy to use with a Jazz Bass, and the hanger portion is a lower profile than the GS100 or Hercules so it folds down nicely.

A couple of places that I play regularly have hangers screwed into the walls which is nice. One of them were put there by me at a venue where I've played at least once a week for the last decade.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I bought an Ultimate GS100+ Guitar Stand upon recommendation here and like it. It folds down to a reasonable size and is sturdy.

 

[Luckydog]

I use a Hercules single stand now and while it's great in the studio, it's a bit unwieldy at gigs. Any recommendations for a reasonably compact and secure stand for stage work?

I never use A-frame stands. The only positive thing they do for me is take up less space vertically than a hanging stand. That also comes with a huge negative. They are much easier to tip over than a hanging stand.

I use Hamilton hanging stands that fold up into a narrow, easy to handle form. I have also bought a K&M hanging stand, but was supremely disappointed. K&M makes (or sells) very high quality products, at a premium price. I have many K&M products that are top of the line. However, their hanging guitar stand is rubber and plastic, will not withstand as much weight as my Hamiltons, and are (in my experience) easier to knock over than a Hamilton.