Suggestions for modular stands?

System 55 • System 35 • Model 15
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Rezin
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Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Rezin » Mon May 02, 2016 10:32 am

Hey everyone,

So, as my restoration project (in which I restore a Moog Synthesizer Ic to working order) comes to a "close" (before the real fun begins hehe), I'm starting to look towards a more permanent setup for everything. Any suggestions on a stand for a modular? If possible, I'd like to have something that can be adjusted for height differentials between humans.

Muffwigglers had some suggestions, but Eurorack ain't 5U.

https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewt ... 5d4ba3c6fc

Any thoughts??

Best,

~Rezin
++

[Jesus loves ya.]

Synth photos: https://www.flickr.com/people/136277463@N07/

Stevie Ray
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Stevie Ray » Mon May 02, 2016 3:13 pm

It's a tricky question. Depends how you work and what you're personal preferences are.

Personally I work mostly standing rather than sitting so I'd need it to be fairly high to operate comfortably. I'd aim for the centre of the panel to be just below eye level if the panel is vertical in the time-honoured 'wall of synth' style.

How big is your modular? How much does it weigh? Is it going to be installed permanently in your living room or studio, or do you (God forbid) intend gigging it?

I've seen specialist catering trolleys used for this purpose (as used in commercial kitchens). Very sturdy with big wheels/castors with lock brakes, so you can move it around if you want to and have it stay put when you don't. Very expensive however.

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JohnLRice
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by JohnLRice » Tue May 03, 2016 12:40 am

I've recently been considering a reorg of my studio and was looking at work benches as a possible stand for my modular.

Check out this one, it comes with wheels which might be handy but you can get it without. nice looking solid wood top 48" W x 24.7" D x 37.4" H so it's about a 1/2" narrower than your 1C which should be fine and it's deep enough to put a keyboard in front of the modular. It also has two drawers so you could keep your patch cables there? :wink:
http://www.amazon.com/Seville-Classics- ... ref=sr_1_7

There are lots of other that might work too so looks around. You could get one that is a foot or two wider so you could put monitor speakers on either side maybe?
John L Rice
MiniMoog, MinitMoog, MG-1, Sub Phatty, 5U modulars, Eurorack modulars

Rezin
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Rezin » Wed May 04, 2016 3:36 pm

Hello,

Modular is Synthesizer 1C (in terms of size, picture a System 35 without the top sequencer cabinet). I haven't weighed it yet, but it's made out of wood and solid walnut, so I would guess 75-100 kilos. About 5 feet wide, 2 feet deep.

Don't plan on gigging it (it's owned by an educational institution), so I wouldn't plan for that. Thanks for advice. :)

Best,

~Rezin
++

[Jesus loves ya.]

Synth photos: https://www.flickr.com/people/136277463@N07/

Stevie Ray
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Stevie Ray » Wed May 04, 2016 6:02 pm

Hi Rezin

Ok, I get it - Moog 1C modular. That's a hefty piece of kit.

If it's in an educational setting then I assume you need to make it available to a wide range of statures and physical abilities.

My wife works in arts education at university level and could probably advise further.

What are the requirements exactly?

Rezin
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:54 pm

Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Rezin » Thu May 05, 2016 9:27 pm

Welp, part of the issue here is

...I don't entirely know... :/

The synth could (if I had my druthers) end up in a synth lab (yet to be created) with lots of synth friends (and fiends- I suspect I would practically live down there), but it could also end up on stage with some kind of symphony/orchestra, which might cart it around a lot.

Any suggestions would be quite welcome...

Best,

~Rezin
++

[Jesus loves ya.]

Synth photos: https://www.flickr.com/people/136277463@N07/

Stevie Ray
Posts: 254
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:25 pm

Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Stevie Ray » Sun May 08, 2016 8:28 pm

Hi Rezin

It's worth looking at heavy-duty catering trolleys. They are very sturdy and easily movable on their wheels, which lock in place when you don't want them to move. They are heavy and expensive (mainly stainless steel construction) but will certainly take the weight and abuse. I know a few modular users who swear by them.

Something like this...

http://www.hopkins.biz/shop/fabrication ... 0wodx4YFug

If that's over-spec'd then you could consider a couple of Black & Decker Workmate benches side by side.

Midiguy4u
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by Midiguy4u » Sun May 08, 2016 9:08 pm

I have a sys 55 plus 2 Synthesizers.com expander bays on top and I find a professional "bakers" rack to be adequate and easy to roll. I can adjust the shelves to be any height, each shelf is rated at 800 pounds capacity, and I put 2 lower shelves beneath to house controllers. The whole unit is on castors, assembles in 5 minutes, no tools. $150 in White, black or chrome: amazon.com. Make sure you get the professional-grade one.
Moog System 55 with controller.Synthesizers Studio System 110 with controller, Voyager XL, (9) Moogerfoogers,(3) Mothers, (2)500-series Ladder filters, (2) 500-series analog delays. [img]fullmodular.jpg[/img]

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morgan01
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by morgan01 » Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:42 am

By and by I work for the most part standing instead of sitting so I'd require it to be genuinely high to work easily. I'd go for the focal point of the board to be simply underneath eye level if the board is vertical in the time-respected 'mass of synth' style.

EricK
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by EricK » Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:28 pm

I'm looking at a Gibraltar work bench.
Image
72' wide x 29-42" high x 25" deep (1.75" thick bamboo top)
Holds up to 3,000 lbs
$549


https://www.gladiatorgarageworks.com/Pr ... 102270008/
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JohnLRice
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Re: Suggestions for modular stands?

Post by JohnLRice » Fri Apr 28, 2017 5:27 pm

EricK wrote:I'm looking at a Gibraltar work bench.
Image
72' wide x 29-42" high x 25" deep (1.75" thick bamboo top)
Holds up to 3,000 lbs
$549
https://www.gladiatorgarageworks.com/Pr ... 102270008/
Good choice! I wish I had gone that way now. I went with the New Age Products bamboo bench, partly because it was $200 less expensive but mainly because the top was 4" shallower (minus the tool tray) since I have a very crowded studio room. But the quality of the wood top is no where near as nice as the Gladiator bamboo tops. There is one at a local hardware store I've looked at and besides being .25" thicker it has a much thicker clear finish on it and all the corners and edges are nicely rounded over. The wood top I have just has a very light satin finish and while it looks nice at a glance the edges haven't been rounded at all and there is at one place on the front edge where the laminate has started to peel away! :( I may have to invest in some sort of front edge protector at some point. Also the support rails on the one I got were too thin and the top was bowing a bit so I put in a center support. I wish now I would have gotten the Gladiator bench, the extra $200 would have been worth it!

Image
John L Rice
MiniMoog, MinitMoog, MG-1, Sub Phatty, 5U modulars, Eurorack modulars

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