Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: jazzyvee on December 23, 2011, 01:29:39 PM
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I have a standard type of guitar stand like this one.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119260.jpg)
Now my alembics apart from Stanley Bass and Series I guitar won't sit comfortably in those and so I'm always concerned that they may tip over. I'm looking for another stand to use for these instruments at home, rehearsals and on-stage. Here are my options. Stand in a regular guitar type case
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119261.jpg)
Stand in a aluminium flight case
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119262.jpg)
There is also the hercules model but I'm not sure how sturdy it is with a heavy bass(s).
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119263.jpg)
I like the ones in a case because they seem to have a sturdy base and if it ever got knocked over it looks like the headstock would not hit the floor. I don't need to carry 6 guitars on stage but I haven't found a smaller sized one yet and I'm more concerned about protecting my instrument on stage. I normally have tried to keep the guitar/bass in its case but sometimes I've found that with short intervals, its inconvenient and the tuning can get knocked out when either putting in or out of the case so I'm looking for safety and quick access. Any experience on these or others to share. Jazzyvee
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I've got a couple of the Hercules single-instrument stands. I feel they're the least likely to tip over.
John
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I like this kind(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119271.jpg)
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The stand Wolf shows is the one I've gone with after trying several, including ones like the Hercules model. it works with Europa, ?lan, Tribute, and Dragon Wing body shapes.
Jon
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The inexpensive one that Sonicus cited works great.
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I like the Hamilton stands. I've used these for several years with no problems to report.
http://shop.dansr.com/products/productdetail/Neck-Suspending+Guitar+Stand/part_number=KBGS/3140.0.1.1.73568.33866.0.0.0?pp=12& (http://shop.dansr.com/products/productdetail/Neck-Suspending+Guitar+Stand/part_number=KBGS/3140.0.1.1.73568.33866.0.0.0?pp=12&)
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My favorite seems to be discontinued. It's like this one except it has shorter arms.
http://www.ultimatesupport.com/product/GS-55 (http://www.ultimatesupport.com/product/GS-55)
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I'm with Rob, it's the Hamilton KB38 for me. Here's another source:
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Hanging-Guitar-Stand-Chrome/dp/B0002TJO92 (http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Hanging-Guitar-Stand-Chrome/dp/B0002TJO92)
Jimmy J
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I have had good results with this On-Stage (http://www.onstagestands.com/catalog/item/home/model/gs7465b/grp/GRP000043) stand. The only intruments I don't think it would work for are the more extreme body shapes.
Keith
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I used to have one like sonicous shows but th plastic covers on the neck and base support areas went brittle over a few years and peeled off exposing the metal which made it unsuitable for resting the guitar on. The end caps also came off also and In actual fact the same has happened to the stand I have like the one in the first picture.
Jazzyvee
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HI jazzyvee ,
I had an old stand with the same problem as you describe. It can be repaired with replacement rubber or plastic hose tubing . A well stocked hardware store might have it. Also a medical and laboratory supply might have it. Since a short length is required the repair does not cost much to do yourself. I repaired mine a while back.
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Do be careful with cheap stands with rubber that makes contact with the surface of your instruments. I bought a batch from a seller on eBay and used one of them on my black Les Paul Custom, and it somehow left patches where the checmicals used in the rubber 'fogged' the finished a bit. Ahhhh!!!! $15 stand forces me to refinish the back of a $5,500 guitar? Crap, I wish I had never seen those cheap pieces of ____! It did not do this to my Fender stick, however, just the Les Paul (A stand with taste?). So I figure it was just the chemicals used in making the rubber for the stand was not compatible with the chemicals used in the finish of the guitar. Expensive lesson to learn.
My favorite stands are no longer made, nor does anyone make stands like them. I am with John on the replacement of the bulk of mine, in I bought and am happy with the Hercules single instrument stands, and especially the ones that do not have the folding neck gizmo, but a bent pipe elbow, instead. The folding ones seem less stable. The different stands can be seen in this post. My old Les Paul bass is in one like I had my Les Paul guitar in, but I put a T-Shirt between it and all the rubber/foam parts that could harm it. I have since thrown all the bad ones away, so they will harm no more guitar finishes. There is a shot where you can see the folding and non-folding 'head' models side-by-side. You cannot tell how flimsy the folding one is just by looking at it. Only by close inspection after shelling out yer money, does that aspect present itself. The neck holding device works much better than I thought it would, and I really like that aspect of these. However, I do still like the old stands best - the ones on the Tobias and Gibson EB-2DC.
http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/99963.html?1306116259 (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/99963.html?1306116259 target=_top)
eBay auction with same brand that fogged my Les Paul's finish, though the rubber top piece is slightly different on these new ones. Same rubber formula used? I hope not. Best not to take a chance and just buy the better stands.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Guitar-Bass-Acoustic-Electric-Stand-Folding-A-Frame-Style-/170742144560?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27c1065e30 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Guitar-Bass-Acoustic-Electric-Stand-Folding-A-Frame-Style-/170742144560?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27c1065e30)
Would a moderator please delete my previous post. My browser would not let me edit it or get rid of it. Thank you.
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I too have been happy with the Hercules GS414B (http://www.herculesstands.com/guitars/GS414B.html target=_blank) single stand.
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The problem with the tubing interaction can be serious and it's not necessarily reflective of the price of the stand. A good Gibson like Nigel's Les Paul is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer which is softened by contact with vinyl. It'll kill your early 50's-early 60's Fenders too (don't even think about it).
If the tubing is pure rubber, then that should be OK for your nitro finish, but it will dry up and crumble away over time AND sometimes there's a bad interaction between the latex and the wood of some guitars where maple will turn brown under the finish. This seems to happen even with poly varnish guitars. Grrr...
One of the common places where you see both these problems are on the headstock where a padded hook may have been in contact with a guitar for an extended period in a store. Les Pauls and Gretches have melted spots in the finish there. And maple Fenders can get dark brown marks.
The fix here (as Nigel notes) is to wrap the pads with a couple layers of cloth, even though that doesn't look that great. And don't keep your instrument in the stand all the time. You really can't win though - I had an ancient Telecaster that had a dulled rectangle on the back that was the same bad interaction with a new case.
The newer finishes are more inert and don't have this sort of problem - Alembics should be good, and I don't remember seeing Musicman or PRS guitars with marks like these either.
For what it's worth, I like the Hamilton stand too for oddly shaped instruments. The bad thing about this stand is that it doesn't fold up much, so it's a big, clumsy size to take with you.
David Fung
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Obviously Father Christmas heard I wanted a guitar stand and bought me a Hercules GS412BN stand.
However I put my Europa 5 bass on it today and gave it a gently tap on the front to simulate someone accidentally knocking against it on stage and it rocked backwards then fell over forwards. I then tried tapping it on the back and fell forward with very little effort. Fortunately both times I was there to catch it before if fell over completely, but it does not seem very stable with that short stubby leg at the rear of the stand. I think it's going back to the store for a refund. For the moment at least I will stick with the case and continue looking.
I haven't seen the hamilton style stand in any music shop in my area but will try further afield and see what I can check out.
Thanks for your advice and suggestions.
Jazzyvee
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I've never tried those Hercules stands. The Hamiltons lean back, so it would take a lot of effort to make the stand fall forward. The way it's balanced also minimizes any chance of the bass falling over backwards. I remember playing a few outdoor gigs where high winds came up, and my basses were completely stable on the Hamilton stands. Maybe jimmyj can weigh in on his experiences with the Hamilton. I'm sure that he has used them for longer than I have, and I have only had an Alembic for less than two months, but my Hamiltons work like a charm so far. Good luck!
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Well, a bass in any stand is a risk. I'd rather lay it flat on a table or leave it in the gig bag standing in the corner. But in many cases a stand is the only logical option.
If your amp is tall enough you could mount some wall-type hangers on it...
That Hercules stand looks similar to the Hamilton except that the Hamilton is metal and may have a slightly wider footprint (making it slightly more stable?). The key is to set the height of these stands so the instrument is just a few inches off the ground, for the lowest possible center of gravity.
I've also seen the guitar tech tape down the Hamilton's feet in case of a bump or breeze. When you see sandbags on the cymbal stands you know the gig requires special rigging!
If you have several instruments then one of those multi-stands like the Spider cases you pointed to above would probably be your best bet.
Jimmy J
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I've been using the Hercules GS414B stands for a couple of years and I've never been worried about them falling over even though, as you can see from the pic near the end of this thread (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=17405) I have had them set quite high. As Jimmy suggests, I'm going to start setting them up as low as possible. One feature I like which looks better than the hamilton is that the yolk for the neck has a clever clamping arrangement meaning you have to lift the bass to get the yolk to release. To my mind this extra security feature will stop the bass being knocked off the stand from behind. One thing I always do when changing basses is to make sure the strap is tucked away behind the bass when it's in the stand.
Graeme
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I use the Hercules 3-guitar model. It is very stable. But on any stage where i can't put the stand in a guarded spot I tape it, just to be safe.
R.
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I think there is a missed variable here. Jazzyvee bought a Hercules model similar to the ones most of us are discussing, but with some interesting variations. Here is a link to the model he bought:
http://www.playawayguitars.com/play_away_guitars_shop.php?itemID=1281 (http://www.playawayguitars.com/play_away_guitars_shop.php?itemID=1281)
The differences between a GS414B and a GS412BN seem significant in what seems to make for a stable stand in my opinion. I keep my GS4 '14' B stands set so the bass it holds (I have a bunch and each bass gets their own) is about 1.5 off the floor. A tap from any angle is not going to sway the stand at all. It would take a very good bump to knock it over. The GS4 '12' B series looks unstable to begin with. Yes, I would definitely want a refund on the one you bought and then grab a GS414B or a Hamilton stand, and I bet you will be much happier with their results/setups. It seems a puzzle why the even produced the GS412B series?
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I'm really glad someone started this thread, as I too have been thinking about this. I have a new custom coming my way. I'm not skimping on the bass (you can say that again!) or the strap, and the stand will be no different (not that it has to cost a fortune.) In the past, I've screwed a wall hanger right into the side of the rack case my head was in, and it worked beautifully. Of course, it doesn't make for easy loading into tight spaces.
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OK, here are some shots of my Starfire in my favorite stand. It also works quite well with my Series I. It is a Fretrest by Proline, model FS100E. Asymmetrical body types might have more difficulty. The basses tilt back at a pretty good angle, so it sits solidly and the center of balance is very low. I've never had a bass fall off it. Series basses with points are problematic, as the point will hit the floor.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119736.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119737.jpg)
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I bought an Ultimate Support GS1000 for my new Series II, which has the auto locking top like the Hercules stand, but it collapses to a very small size, the contact points for the body on the bottom are some type of fine suede type materal, and the top where the neck/headstock rests is a very nice rubber materal. About $39 at most music stores...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119748.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119749.jpg)
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I have a hercules and one of the same as pic 1 in the OP. My Mk balance K sits very solidly on both, I have a heart Omega and even with the shorter stand the clearance is fine.. thing is in the home studio I swap between basses and acoustic and electric guitars so much that one inevitably ends up on the floor.... but never the Alembic :0)))
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Any stand suggestions for a wide neck five string bass? The neck is just too wide for my Hercules stand, which I thought was great. It seems to me the Ultimate Support GS1000's locking top is too narrow as well.
My amp isn't tall enough to have a side mounted hanger.
Are there other alternatives that you guys know of?
Duncan
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I'm wondering if that GS1000 would fit 5 string...
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Guys,
I fully can recommend these two types of Hercules stands.
I mainly used the tripod live and the single ones at home.
Very solid standing and long enough also to hold long basses
like the Spyders or the Dragon Wing.
Have a look.
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)
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(https://d1aeri3ty3izns.cloudfront.net/media/48/485511/1200/preview_1.jpg)I would not recommend the single guitar stand type like this one as it will swing forward far too easily and fall over if knocked.
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Jazzy,
with this one yes but not with the one I showed as with that the weight
of the bass lies diagonally in the stands legs and secures it!
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)
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I'm wondering if that GS1000 would fit 5 string...
The Hercules fits my 6 string, although it is a close fit - not tight. The nut width on the bass is 2", or 5,1 cm.
I'll second Oliver's recommendation for the single stand, with the legs covered: it leans back more than the one jazzyvee posted, so it will not fall over quite so easily.
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I just got that stand Hercules GS414B Plus, Jazzy the one you are talking is GS412B, I've tried them both and GS414B is way better because it has more angle than GS412B, there was also that GS1000 (not Hercules), but I didn't want to try it because Hercules looks great and bass doesn't move at all.
But Jazzy you can get the one Jimmy was talking about, the Hamilton one, there is only one on amazon.co.uk, they can't ship it to Croatia, I tried to buy it today, so be my guest and get it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/KB38-Hamilton-Gtr-Hanger-Stand/dp/B0002TJO92
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The Genesis GS-200 Guitar stand by Ultimate is a nice folding stand. The weight of the instrument rests on the bottom cradle, so it has a lower center of gravity than the stands where the instrument hangs from the fork.
Bill, tgo
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Jazzy,
with this one yes but not with the one I showed as with that the weight
of the bass lies diagonally in the stands legs and secures it!
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)i
I agree with Oliver here. I have a single Hercules as he describes, and it holds my Entwistle Series II replica perfectly.
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Jazzy,
with this one yes but not with the one I showed as with that the weight
of the bass lies diagonally in the stands legs and secures it!
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)
Yep I could see that was not the case with the one you posted. :-)
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Goran, I have two of those ones you mention and so far have not had any problems, well apart from catching my fingers between the legs when folding it shut.
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Goran, I have two of those ones you mention and so far have not had any problems, well apart from catching my fingers between the legs when folding it shut.
Wish I can buy that one, watch your fingers, sound like it's sturdy :)
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I like this kind(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/119271.jpg)
I've had a couple of those. I threw them in the trash as I don't trust them.
Hercules stands do seem to be the most robust, however putting any of my Alembics on a stand makes me nervous as heck and they generally reside in the case at all times, at gigs they get carried off the stage and put back into the case.
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What about the Cooper stands?
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Well they look cool, but I don't trust anything that has no neck support, in stand I mean.