storage stands

[bloke]

I’m a hypocrite - regarding this post, because I have/use them here (mostly, Mrs. bloke’s idea - combined with me having picked up several of them for virtually no cost, over the years), …but do people really believe that using storage stands (at home) is better for their instruments than simply setting them carefully on their bells and leaning them carefully against the wall?

Unless they’ve been ruined by endless creasing and repair or by epic sanding and buffing bells are not going to crease - being subjected to nothing more than the static weight of the instruments.
Stands can be knocked over - with instruments on them - just as easily as instruments leaning against the wall can be knocked over, perhaps a bit more easily.

It’s difficult to deny that a tuba on a storage stand takes up considerably more space than a tuba alone. It’s also difficult to deny that a tuba and a stand falling – or a tuba falling off of a stand – is/are going to fall from a higher position from the floor.

Over the years, a couple of band directors tossed several of those wall mount Wenger stands my way (“Do you want these? I need to get rid of them?”)
In particular, those are really quite good for bell-front instruments (a type that many tuba player shun, but which I do not shun), because those just don’t store very well on their own.

Psychologically, I will admit that leaving my instruments out of their cases increases the chances of me picking them up and practicing.

I suppose if there is a “theme“ or “point“ to this post, as someone who is now considered to be old - and as a lifelong retailer - there are an awful lot of “accessory“ types of products that people buy (perhaps for no better reason than the fact that they are offered for sale) that don’t really seem to be particularly useful, and which actually lower our standards of living by presenting themselves as additional clutter and sucking away precious square feet from our interior living spaces.

[York-aholic]

Maybe.

[bloke]

Maybe.

I so much appreciate you expressing your views on this topic.

[matt g]

In middle school we had both the Wenger wall mount racks and stands since the school had King 2340s with the “BF” option. Yes, the wall racks and stands were nice because the tubas could avoid being set on the floor. However, the design of those big Wenger stands made them:

-huge

-ungainly

-massive

-dangerous to valve stems, particularly third valve*

*I watched several kids that didn’t have the strength or courtesy to handle tubas properly just kinda drop them into those stands and whack the third valve stem on the cross brace in the process.

Basically, people who are careful with tubas will usually be fine with or without stands. But to Joe’s point, having them out “on display” might make the owner a bit more motivated to noodle around on them a bit.

[Sousaswag]

This may be just me, but any of those Eastman contrabass tubas seem to be really easy to bend the bells- like, I could easily flex the bell rim with just my fingers. So, after rolling the tuba off the lap to the floor, every one I’ve seen has been bent all around. My German/Swiss tubas will not flex. Anywhere.

I wonder if the people who purchase these stands intend to use them to “display” their instruments? Which, if that’s the case, put it on the bell so it doesn’t get knocked over….

[BuddyRogersMusic]

We use the (bell) stands for shows and in our showroom. As careful as we were when building the stands, and sculpting the radius, a bell occasionally gets a line when pushed too far. That's a cost of doing business. But I also try to be the one that removes and replaces the instrument so that any damage is my fault and not the customer's.

I've also used the K&M stands that hold the horns by their bottom bows. Some people think the "claw" effect will dent the horns and that's why they won't consider them. Well, they're brass, the butter of metals. They do dent so finding the proper stand that fits the horn properly can be challenging.

At home, I keep my horns on a rack, often in their gig bags to prevent tarnish, so they're out of the way of any of my stupid oops that might happen. I do need to acquire another rack because the floor is just about the worst place to store a horn in its bag. It does require a few extra minutes to extract the horn before playing, and to put it back, but it's in a secure location and won't fall over. And I'm not sure I would like to place multiple horns on their bells in my basement. Although I have no problem doing it at shows. I'm wishy-washy.

[bloke]

One thing I would enjoy having (WERE it that I played sousaphone in one of those 1920s-style hotel bands – if anyone organized such a band) would be one of those “butterfly” sousaphone stands whereby the instrument is supported left to right, the bell is turned way around to the right - to face the front, the player sits to the left of the instrument and turns the gooseneck way off to the left and only runs their arm through the donut of the sousaphone – playing it sitting down and not having to hold hold it. I suppose the only other thing I would wish for in that instance would be a King or JP-copy sousaphone, because I enjoy their intonation characteristics.

K&M still makes a stand like that, I believe. We had them at our high school 50 years ago and at least a decade before that. No one ever knocked one of them over… Imagine that.

[York-aholic]

We use the (bell) stands for shows and in our showroom. As careful as we were when building the stands, and sculpting the radius, a bell occasionally gets a line when pushed too far. That's a cost of doing business. But I also try to be the one that removes and replaces the instrument so that any damage is my fault and not the customer's.

I've also used the K&M stands that hold the horns by their bottom bows. Some people think the "claw" effect will dent the horns and that's why they won't consider them. Well, they're brass, the butter of metals. They do dent so finding the proper stand that fits the horn properly can be challenging.

At home, I keep my horns on a rack, often in their gig bags to prevent tarnish, so they're out of the way of any of my stupid oops that might happen. I do need to acquire another rack because the floor is just about the worst place to store a horn in its bag. It does require a few extra minutes to extract the horn before playing, and to put it back, but it's in a secure location and won't fall over. And I'm not sure I would like to place multiple horns on their bells in my basement. Although I have no problem doing it at shows. I'm wishy-washy.

Could we see a picture of one of these racks please?

[Tuba1153]

My use of stands comes down to a compromise with the Mrs. Tuba1153. I can have as many horns as I want/need But have to keep them neat and orderly upstairs in the “boys space.”



But, the following is considered unacceptable downstairs, with few exceptions:



Exception:

[BuddyRogersMusic]

We use the (bell) stands for shows and in our showroom. As careful as we were when building the stands, and sculpting the radius, a bell occasionally gets a line when pushed too far. That's a cost of doing business. But I also try to be the one that removes and replaces the instrument so that any damage is my fault and not the customer's.

I've also used the K&M stands that hold the horns by their bottom bows. Some people think the "claw" effect will dent the horns and that's why they won't consider them. Well, they're brass, the butter of metals. They do dent so finding the proper stand that fits the horn properly can be challenging.

At home, I keep my horns on a rack, often in their gig bags to prevent tarnish, so they're out of the way of any of my stupid oops that might happen. I do need to acquire another rack because the floor is just about the worst place to store a horn in its bag. It does require a few extra minutes to extract the horn before playing, and to put it back, but it's in a secure location and won't fall over. And I'm not sure I would like to place multiple horns on their bells in my basement. Although I have no problem doing it at shows. I'm wishy-washy.

Could we see a picture of one of these racks please?

It's a metal shelving unit from Home Depot. Rack is definitely a misnomer in this case. I guess that's what I get for trying to multi-task.

[Mark]

Not in my hands = in the hard case.

[York-aholic]

It's a metal shelving unit from Home Depot. Rack is definitely a misnomer in this case. I guess that's what I get for trying to multi-task.

Gotcha, I was picturing something like this and thought, 'Wow, he must have a lot of room.':

[BuddyRogersMusic]

Oh, my goodness, not that much room. The Wenger sousaphone racks are ok if the instruments are out of the way of foot traffic. Otherwise, they're going to get clobbered. I like using vertical space as much as possible and the shelving units do a pretty good job. Down side is they're so stinking expensive now.

[bloke]

A band gave me two of those things - similar to those pictured just above - that either held three or four tubas each. I took them, stored them in the barn, and tried to rehome them… No one wanted them

[rodgeman]

I use the Hercules stand. It is much more stable than other tuba stands I have tried. It keeps my tuba out of the way and it has a tripod design but easy for me to take out and practice.

Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Hercules-DS552B- ... B000EEJ75G

[bloke]

I had someone give me a Hercules stand, and it seems even uglier (yellow trim/holds the tuba at a funny angle), even more space consuming, and just as pointless as all the rest of the “display” stands.

(I’m not picking on you… I just don’t like any of these, and questioning MYSELF for owning some of these - though I didn’t buy any of the “display” stands that are here.)

As dumpy as the Wenger floor stands are, I just don’t see any way for them to fail, as far as dropping an instrument - and as long as all of the knobs are tight.

I guess the reason I haven’t set it out (the Hercules) by the street (really don’t want to put any thing on it) is because maybe someone would buy it from me…anyone…??
It’s in brand-new condition… I guess I would need a fairly decent offer (of course, I would sell it for less than big box/Amazon new prices), because it would be trouble to pack up and ship.

So far, the Miraphone 98 has stayed in its hard case or right next to my chair - on its bell (on the rug).

[York-aholic]

How about this stand? I guess more of a playing stand…

EF3377FE-F7ED-46F3-97C7-A9819D0E0203.jpeg

[York-aholic]

How about this stand?

now For sale

EF3377FE-F7ED-46F3-97C7-A9819D0E0203.jpeg (23.09 KiB) Viewed 1997 times

[Inkin]

I really like my K+M stand. Sure it takes up space in the middle of the room, but I don't live in a tiny apartment where space is at a premium. It sits in the music room next to a piano that also takes up a lot of space.

It is a floor stand so to me the potential damage from falling in the stand is similar compared to being up against the wall on the bell. I can sit down in the chair right next to the stand and pick the horn up really easily and be ready to play without having to flip the horn over. I have kids who might be inattentive enough to step on the bell on the floor, which will never happen on the stand. It also never happened before I had the stand and I put it up against the wall on a bell, but I could easily imagine it happening enough that I bought the stand.

For me, the floor stand has been more than worth the cost. Space isn't something everyone needs to optimize for in their life. It wasn't that expensive. It is totally a non-essential luxury accessory, but it isn't hurting anyone and I get some amount of joy out of it.

[bloke]

Again, are any as safe and affordable as “bell rim and wall”?