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Double Bass Playing Stand for DB

#21
"This would be so cool if I just could grab the bass and play it without any drama."

I've not experienced any drama when taking my bass out of the corner where it lives or picking it up and settling into playing position, seated or standing.

"No chair stuff or "proper" technique going on here. To me, that is the soul of music."

Yeah, we'd all like to be able to play an instrument without learning how to play it.
 
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#22
Papageno said:
I have never seen anyone playing with a bass on a stand. For myself I think it would not work, whether standing or seating.

So I ask out of genuine curiosity: what benefit do you expect to get from using a stand for your playing? For example, do you need to swap instantaneously between the bass and some other instrument?
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Well, it DOES work. I have played the bass in the K&M stand several times on gigs.

While the bass CAN be bowed in the stand - without physical interference - it's not ideal from a technique point of view. It works fine for pizz.

As you say, it can make life easier when the bassist is doubling or is otherwise busy with performing in other ways. I can just step right up to the bass and start playing.

It makes singing while playing easier.

And, since a bass needs a stand, you might as well get one as nice as the K&M. You don't HAVE to play the bass in the stand!
 
#26
SAlcott said:
I've not experienced any drama when taking my bass out of the corner where it lives or picking it up and settling into playing position, seated or standing...
Yeah, we'd all like to be able to play an instrument without learning how to play it.
Click to expand...

I find this comment a little snide.

Yes, if you only play venues where you have room to set your bass down, or put it on a stand and then take it off the stand to play, you may have no need for such a thing.

If you only play situations where there is time between pieces to do what needs to be done, you may have no need for such a thing.

Speaking only for myself, I have played on "stages" where there is barely room for me and the bass and no space to put it down. I have played when I need to move from one place to another, turn the sheet music, and count off the tune, with less than five seconds to do so.

When I have my lessons and practice, I strive earnestly to do things right. Performing sometimes involves compromise.
 
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#29
rehoward said:
I contacted Mark Gollihur of Gollihur Music and he said he has a few customers who use the K&M stand just as I described.
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In the usual (standing) playing posture, the bass is tilted not only backwards but also sidewards.

By playing the bass on a stand that cannot be tilted sidewards (because it is designed for storing the bass, not for playing it) you might adopt an unadapted posture, which could be harmful your intonation, or worse, cause some injuries. If you intend to play more a few casual lines with the bass on the stand, I would be worried about this issue.
 
#30
Papageno said:
In the usual (standing) playing posture, the bass is tilted not only backwards but also sidewards.

By playing the bass on a stand that cannot be tilted sidewards (because it is designed for storing the bass, not for playing it) you might adopt an unadapted posture, which could be harmful your intonation, or worse, cause some injuries. If you intend to play more a few casual lines with the bass on the stand, I would be worried about this issue.
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The bass can be tilted sidewards in the K&M stand by turning the upper pole to which the cradling arms are attached. That's what I do when I need to play it on the stand.
 
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#33
Maple said:
I have the K&M stand - I don’t normally play while the bass is in the stand but it is sure convenient to walk by while busy with other chores and be able to whip out a quick idea or two in passing.
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I agree completely. I leave my bass out, on a stand, and when inspiration strikes I grab it and improvise. This to me is a very valuable opportunity to get some ideas out right in the moment. I have been doing this for a while now. It really is very rewarding.
 
#34
AGCurry said:
I find this comment a little snide.

Yes, if you only play venues where you have room to set your bass down, or put it on a stand and then take it off the stand to play, you may have no need for such a thing.

If you only play situations where there is time between pieces to do what needs to be done, you may have no need for such a thing.

Speaking only for myself, I have played on "stages" where there is barely room for me and the bass and no space to put it down. I have played when I need to move from one place to another, turn the sheet music, and count off the tune, with less than five seconds to do so.

When I have my lessons and practice, I strive earnestly to do things right. Performing sometimes involves compromise.
Click to expand...


Mr. Curry, once again you have good insight on this topic. Thank you for your support.
 
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#37
I thought the end cup design on the K&M stand was a bit odd. A matter of manufacturing economy rather than being all that well considered. But it should work. I would do it differently however, if I were a designer. Which I am. :-)
 
#38
Papageno said:
In the usual (standing) playing posture, the bass is tilted not only backwards but also sidewards.

By playing the bass on a stand that cannot be tilted sidewards (because it is designed for storing the bass, not for playing it) you might adopt an unadapted posture, which could be harmful your intonation, or worse, cause some injuries. If you intend to play more a few casual lines with the bass on the stand, I would be worried about this issue.
Click to expand...

Astute observations. This mobility is somewhat diffucult to achieve in a stand but it can be done. I have done it. My hack on the Ingles stand I own comes close. Needs some refinement. You know, when playing on a stand you can crawl all over that bass and not worry too much about stability. It can be a real asset to musical inspiration.
 
#39
rehoward said:
You know, when playing on a stand you can crawl all over that bass and not worry too much about stability. It can be a real asset to musical inspiration
Click to expand...
I have a playing posture (when standing) in which the bass is balanced (yet completely mobile) without the need of my hands. I can "crawl" around it as I need to (to access the thumb position, to open access to the E string for the german bow).
What limits my musical inspiration is not the stability of the instrument...
 
#40
One of the first things I try to do with beginning students is to get them to balance the instrument in a comfortable playing position-no hands. From there we can go on to making sound on the bass. I know a lot of people have different ideas about everything from markers of various types to other what I consider short cuts to learning to play this instrument. Why complicate the process with extra hardware that not only means dealing with more equipment but also adding an extra thing that you need to work around. I've been in situations where I had to play in a stand, usually for switching quickly between instruments for doubling, but I would not want to play that way otherwise. If you have the bass on a stand for storage, just take it off the stand and play. I can also see the bass falling off the stand if you have it tilted or twisted in some way. Why make it more needlessly complicated?
 
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