Bass stands

[robinc]

I'm looking to get a stand for my MK5, balance K body type. I don't trust those stands that only hold the bass up at the neck... seems like that would put a lot of tension on the peghead and the lack of bottom support just scares me! At the same time, most of the tripod-style stands I've seen don't seem all that sturdy. The last thing I want is my baby tipping over! Anyone had any good stand experiences?
 
-Robin
 
I should add that my bass lives in its case when its not in my hands. The stand would be for those brief moments during rehearsal where the case is too much trouble and i need both hands.
 
(Message edited by robinc on September 05, 2008)

[dnburgess]

I know you don't like the ones that hold the bass by the peghead, but...
 
At Bass People we use Hercules stands exclusively - both wall mounted and floor standing. The locking mechanism has saved a lot of damage!

[glocke]

At home i use a stand that supports the bottom of my instrument, and has a neck rest...guess that is the tripod type stand.
 
Playing out, or at someone elses house, I leave it in the case when not being played...Ive seen too many accidents happen at rehearsels and giigs.

[811952]

Add another vote for the Hercules stands.  I use the floor stand that holds the single instrument by the neck, and it's the most stable, safest stand I've ever used.
 
My Series 1.5 is a working instrument, and spends as much time out of the case as possible, even if I have to take my eyes off it for awhile.  I much rather enjoy knowing that it's probably being lusted-after by folks at a gig than to have it hidden-away in a case and far from being an inspiration that draws me back to the bandstand BEFORE it's time to play again!  If I were to hide it away in the case all the time, where's the fun in that?
 
John

[crobbins]

I use Hercules, and Ultimate stands...

[lbpesq]

Hercules and Ultimate too.  The Hercules is the best, IMHO.  My '76 Series I is in a Hercules neck hanging stand in my living room as I type this.  Ive never had a problem with the Hercules stand.
 
Bill, tgo

[robinc]

how wide is the neck-locking unit of the hercules?

[dnburgess]

Wide enough for an Alembic 6 at a squeeze.

[keith_h]

I use On-Stage Flip-It A-Frame stands. They've been very stable and a full closure neck rest.  
 
Keith

[Bradley Young]

The Hercules wasn't wide enough for my six.

[811952]

My Dean Rhapsody 12-string will only grudgingly fit in the Hercules...

[David Houck]

Like Keith, I use the On-Stage Flip-It A-Frame.
 

 
The hinged guard that keeps the neck in the cradle is a big improvement over the basic A-Frame stand as it significantly cuts down on potential disasters.
 
My bass is always on the stand rather than in the case, since I'm always around the house and I often pick up the bass to practice even if it's only for a few minutes.
 
I always remove the instrument cable from the jack before I take the bass from my shoulder.  And I always remove the strap before setting the bass in the stand.
 
My house is not air conditioned, and my neck is always responding to the changes in humidity.  Given that, I don't want to hang my bass from the headstock.
 
The On-Stage stand is not well built; but you get what you pay for.  The hinge is not incredibly well built; it's hanging by a single pop rivet.  I have three, and none have failed.  But the build quality doesn't inspire confidence.
 
But given the other available choices that I am aware of, I wouldn't use anything else.

[keith_h]

I agree about the hinge rivet but I figure if it ever goes it is easy to replace with a screw and a nylon locking nut.
 
Keith

[David Houck]

I've even thought of preemptively going with the screw and nut.