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I have 2 different portable sousaphone stands. These are not playing stands like the Wenger chair. They're for keeping it upright and, hopefully, out of the way, while not playing it.

K&M 149/3
https://www.k-m.de/en/products/stands-a ... tand-black

This is a decently compact stand but it's not a great design. Only one of the arms that extend up to support the horn makes contact. This makes it not as stable as it should be.

https://imgur.com/gallery/YHHtXDD

I'm planning on wrapping a piece of foam around that arm to bulk it up and make contact with the horn. This should help with some of its bounciness.


The other stand I have can be found under 2 different names.
Mine is a "Stadium Hardware" stand but it's also known as a Yamaha AIRLift stand. As far as I can tell they are identical. Also, I believe they're no longer being made.

This is a very well constructed, sturdy stand. I have a couple of gripes with it, though.

Even when the 2 main pieces are separated, it's still quite bulky/heavy.

In its stock configuration it does not accommodate horns with shoulder plates very well. As you can see in the album below, I replaced one of the stock upper arms with a custom one I made. Now it holds the horn on either side of the shoulder plate nicely.

Unfortunately, this stand does not work with my Wessex BBb helicon. The 4th valve circuit on that horn wraps all the way around the circle. The 2 cradles make contact with the 4th valve circuit in a structurally detrimental (ouchy) way.



FWIW, I'm not sure why one IMGUR link is showing up as an album and one is only a link.

Thanks for the info on these. Your modification looks pretty solid and looks to fit the sousaphone just right.

I think the Eb helicon would sit nicely in the Yamaha stadium stand, but unfortunately, they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. I'm not sure what I can create, but that might be the way to go. I'll have to put my mind as to what parts I could use (plus some redneck innovation). A trip to Lowe's might be in order. If nothing else, I could probably build some sort of stand easily out of PVC pipe and foam that would be hella stout, not too heavy, but hella bulky. Or just wait for a used one to come around. Hmm...

Doc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 11:52 am Thanks for the info on these. Your modification looks pretty solid and looks to fit the sousaphone just right.

I think the Eb helicon would sit nicely in the Yamaha stadium stand, but unfortunately, they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. I'm not sure what I can create, but that might be the way to go. I'll have to put my mind as to what parts I could use (plus some redneck innovation). A trip to Lowe's might be in order. If nothing else, I could probably build some sort of stand easily out of PVC pipe and foam that would be hella stout, not too heavy, but hella bulky. Or just wait for a used one to come around. Hmm...

I've got the Yamaha Airlift sousaphone, and it has fit fine for all the sousaphone types that I've owned: Conn 32 & 14k, King 2350 & 1261, and Olds 97, but I've never tried resting a helicon on it.
Sturdy and stable, but since it's heavy and ungainly to carry (although a velcro strap around the legs to keep them from flopping would address my only real complaint), mine sees most of its limited use as a living room stand during December & June, when I leave the sousaphone out for Christmas and Independence Day.
It looks like this might work well with only a little modification: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Randall-Ma ... SwA89eH-wg
Replace the T-mount with the lower arm unit swiveled to the back - the horn's weight would be closer to the stand's center of balance than on the stock sousie stand - and add a couple pads on the two front legs.

tokuno wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:24 pm

Doc wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 11:52 am Thanks for the info on these. Your modification looks pretty solid and looks to fit the sousaphone just right.

I think the Eb helicon would sit nicely in the Yamaha stadium stand, but unfortunately, they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. I'm not sure what I can create, but that might be the way to go. I'll have to put my mind as to what parts I could use (plus some redneck innovation). A trip to Lowe's might be in order. If nothing else, I could probably build some sort of stand easily out of PVC pipe and foam that would be hella stout, not too heavy, but hella bulky. Or just wait for a used one to come around. Hmm...

I've got the Yamaha Airlift sousaphone, and it has fit fine for all the sousaphone types that I've owned: Conn 32 & 14k, King 2350 & 1261, and Olds 97, but I've never tried resting a helicon on it.
Sturdy and stable, but since it's heavy and ungainly to carry (although a velcro strap around the legs to keep them from flopping would address my only real complaint), mine sees most of its limited use as a living room stand during December & June, when I leave the sousaphone out for Christmas and Independence Day.
It looks like this might work well with only a little modification: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Randall-Ma ... SwA89eH-wg
Replace the T-mount with the lower arm unit swiveled to the back - the horn's weight would be closer to the stands center of balance than on the stock sousie stand - and add a couple pads on the two front legs.

I saw those. If they come apart easily, parts could be rearranged (or some added), that would be a cheap fix.

At that price, I think I'll take a chance on it and see. I can always find another use for it or sell it if it doesn't work. Thanks!

That eBay stand would be a great place to start cobbling from.
Yes, the pieces all come apart pretty easily. It's mostly held together with some allen set screws.
I'd wrap the the 2 front legs with pipe insulation and tape since it doesn't have the fancy pads that mine has.
Then take some things off, flip some things around, and Bob's your auntie!

Good luck, Doc. Let us know how it works.

I will definitely post my frankenstand!

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