Hey all, I just got a Nord Stage 88 and was considering my possible stand options…
Have the Nord be the main board on a Z stand or Apex stand, and control it for organ/clav sounds via MIDI with a crappy Yamaha MM6 on top of that, or
have the LP atop the the Nord, and use the MM6 on an X stand.
While these options aren’t terribly different from each other, I was wondering if anyone had a stand that they would consider a “lifesaver”. A Z stand looks more sturdy to me than an Apex stand (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Apex/), which seems like it couldn’t hold even the modest 40 lbs. or the Nord stage and something above it.
Who’s got a sturdy, lightweight stand they’d love to share with the group?
The Apex is actually a very sturdy stand…a friend of mine keeps his LP on the top tier and a DX-7 on the bottom. The only thing is, it tends to wobble on carpet. It would be worth your while to check it out. There are also top teirs available for X-stands, but I don’t think I would trust my LP on one of those…perhaps if I had a MicroKorg or Yamaha PSR-70. I would NOT pair the LP and Yamaha on the same stand…seems sacreligious.
… both stands are quite good… I use the Apex (not the cheaper one, I think it’s the Deltex or something like that) … and it holds my LP on the top tier, and an Oberheim M6 on the bottom… note, I lowered both tiers so that the center of gravity is lower… the LP is playable from both sitting and standing… and, yes, I’ve used this in a live setting as well as in the studio.
The Z-stands, which I don’t own, are rock-steady. Just played a job with both of us keyboard players using supplied Z-stands… great! Not sure if they accept a 2nd tier option… years ago I used a basic X-stand with a 2nd tier… didn’t like it, and I certainly wouldn’t put anything valuable on it! … hope this helps! – jgirv
I have a Z stand with an extra tier and it is solid. I did have to drill an extra two holes for the extra tier and it weighs a ton and is not very convenient to pack up or put back together. The Standtastic stands look interesting and I may add one to my collection. Also have used the x stands and sometimes use a double x with the LP on the top and two other keyboards on the Z tiers.
I know that single-X stands are pretty weak and cheesy, but I wouldn’t overlook the double-braced variety as they can be pretty decent.
I use a double-braced Quiklok X-stand with adjustable top tier;
I’ve swapped around and had damn near all my boards on it at one time or another. Unless you really shake your keyboards like a mad gorilla while playing, I’d say it’s stable enough for any purpose. I have even had a Jupiter-6 on the bottom tier and Voyager on the top tier, probably over 100lbs of synth, with no troubles.
There’s an easy fix for that…take a length of gaffer’s tape (NEVER duct tape! Only use gaffers tape, as it can be removed without leaving glue on your LP) and fold one edge over, as to make a lip.
Place the tape along side the mod wheel so that the lip is touching said wheel. This will add friction and keep the wheel where you want it.
I’m using an Ultimate Support V-Stand which holds my Clavinet on its first tier over my Wurlitzer, and my LP on its second tier above the Clavinet. My Voyager OS sits on the second tier of my QuikLok Z-stand above my CP-300.
