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I suspect you use the 6 series @the elephant

I bought the slightly beefier (still: remarkably compact) model years ago (back when dollars had value).
I left it at a gig (community band ringer), went back eight minutes later to retrieve it, and and it was G-O-N-E.
Ever since then, I've stuck with the 101...Yeah, the desk is narrow but (again), if a player puts one tune at a time on the desk, there's far less chance of a f-up.

I keep a Peak stand in my car.

A lot of high-end orchestras use RAT stands. And, RAT makes a portable stand: https://www.ratstands.com/product/jazz-stand-pro/.

Mark wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 11:48 am A lot of high-end orchestras use RAT stands. And, RAT makes a portable stand: https://www.ratstands.com/product/jazz-stand-pro/.

I have no criticism to offer of the stand, but a chuckle at they're advertising tactic:

Beside something that hints at an American flag, is stated
"Now available from our American warehouse".

Mark wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 11:48 am A lot of high-end orchestras use RAT stands. And, RAT makes a portable stand: https://www.ratstands.com/product/jazz-stand-pro/.

I have no criticism to offer of the stand, but a chuckle at they're advertising tactic:

Beside something that hints at an American flag, is stated
"Now available from our American warehouse".

I live about 15 minutes from Troxel/Flexible Flyer.
They no longer manufacture any bicycle seats or children's snow sleds.
For those who are as old as I am, they used to be probably the world's largest manufacturer of bicycle seats, but these days they are sort of specializing in extruded and bent metal products.
I know they can make those stands, but at what cost?

I'm fine using my nice semi-foldable/portable (in a carry bag) Manhasset Voyager for gigs where we need our own stands. The flimsy wire stands stay at home for practice/backup.

catgrowlB wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 5:14 pm I'm fine using my nice semi-foldable/portable (in a carry bag) Manhasset Voyager for gigs where we need our own stands. The flimsy wire stands stay at home for practice/backup.

It's funny how we all look at things differently.
I think that explains different socio-political philosophies and all the other types of ways that we apply reasoning.
I keep my non-collapsible stand (which is basically like a Manhasset Voyager, except the base doesn't fold up...ie. a regular Manhasset stand) at home, because I load it up with stuff that I look at and play through, and I take my flimsy wire stand to gigs when there's no equipment manager or stands furnished, because it's lightweight (for toting) and flimsy, and when I'm performing or rehearsing with an ensemble (one that doesn't furnish stands) I just play one tune at a time (with their folder of music - whether three tunes or 200 tunes in it) remaining under my seat). If I'm outdoors, I can dig the flimsy wire legs into the ground and the flimsy wire open music frame doesn't catch the wind, if such a gig happens to be outdoors and windy.

Bloke will like this:

Dick Akright used to have a branch store in my area. The store was never able to do enough business; so it closed after a few years. At their closing sale I was able to pick up five Manhasset Voyager stands for $80, that's $16 each. The person who sold me the stands threw in five carry bags for free. I already owned one Voyager and a bag that I had bought for a slightly higher price online.

These six stands were used by my brass quintet + drummer for several years. They are still in great shape.

For those not old enough to know Dick Akright:

A little history: https://www.unionmusiccompany.com/chronicle.html

And one of his trumpets in the Smithsonian: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collecti ... ah_1006159

Interesting story, re. Akright

My regular Manhasset 48 stand (basically a Voyager, except the base is solid, yes?) is one that I pulled out of a dumpster along with roughly 40 others. I painted the others after a few minor repairs and sold them to a full-time symphony orchestra, but kept the nicest one for myself.

Again, this one sits in the room where I practice. It is super nerded out with the two side extensions on it, the feet to protect the wood floor, the clamp-on thing underneath for the big old Dr. Beat, the rechargeable three colors three brightnesses LED light, and the plastic shelf for pencils and valve oil.

Yeah, I really don't see much difference between sticking a Manhasset model 48 school music stand in the car and a Manhasset Voyager, but both of them are bulky, and the tuba itself is already bulky, so they're just not attractive to me.
ie. Voyager version is to additional portability as detachable bell is to additional portability.

I bought my 15 inch by 2 in (folded dimensions) KM101 when I first saw one that my lifelong French horn buddy had. This had to have been close to half century ago. It's the freaking bee's knees.

bloketrends:
They take a while to take hold, things like lamp oil, mineral oil, and hard cases. Eventually, quite a few people discover that those oils are as good as any (if not better) and that hard cases really do prevent mystery dents.
Some people might even eventually - after sticking their toe in the water - realize that conservative diameter mouthpiece throats are actually better...
...and maybe even (but this is really a wild stretch) that the best B flat tubas in various sizes are noticeably better than the best C tubas in various sizes.

This is actually something else that I do:
If I'm going to perform with someone's quintet with a huge book of tunes, I insist that they choose the music for the engagement ahead of time (which occasionally requires some fairly insistent coercion), and - when offered the folder - I pull those tunes only and hand the rest of the folder (and it's big black cover) back to them, and I'll slip the 20 or so tunes that I pulled from their folder into a manila envelope for myself.
- I don't want to risk losing their entire library.
- Just like a big fat music stand, I'm not interested in toting a big fat folder. A manilla envelope with 20 or so tunes in it will fit underneath my tuba in the tuba case with no risk of scratching or denting the tuba...and I don't have to worry about keeping track of their other 130 tunes, which - were it that the folder were lost, stolen (such as a car theft), or destroyed in my possession - would be disastrous for that quintet. (I could just imagine some $6,000 or $7,000 lawsuit. )

Decades ago, Dick Akright installed a trigger on my Besson 967.
He groused about how much more difficult it was - and time that it took - than he'd anticipated.
Cut me a more-than-fair deal.

Stands:
At home we have 7 Manhassets spread around the house, combo of retail purchase & super cheap from a disbanding orchestra (rattle-can re-spray, and they look like new).

My wife & daughters prefer to lug one of the Manhassets instead of a portable.

Our portables are Manhasset Voyager, Hamilton, Peak (folding deck), cheapo wire stands (handy loaners for kids who either don't own or forget), and a Vekkia.
If the Manhasset deck folded for smaller carry it would be my go-to, but I usually take the Vekkia. Looks & works great, I just wish it supported a stand extender like the Manhasset Stand Out.

I have about 5 reconstructed Manhassets, cattle sprayed, from going through a scrap metal bin at a local community college. To make it portable, I take the base lug nut off, and fold the stand down. Don’t mess with perfection.

Schlitzz wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:11 pm I have about 5 reconstructed Manhassets, cattle sprayed, from going through a scrap metal bin at a local community college. To make it portable, I take the base lug nut off, and fold the stand down. Don’t mess with perfection.

probably smaller footprint than Voyager, and a lot cheaper

It seems to me - to make a solid-deck (not flimsy wire) portable stand resistant to being blown over by a wind gust, one would start off with a bird bath concrete base (aka two-piece, so portable) and forge the top part (which would be solid cast bronze and via a lost-wax sand mold) which fits onto the concrete base.

The bronze, obviously, is non-ferrous so a thin/lightweight layer (a mere 1/4" thick) of steel should be bolted to the bronze desk, whereby a set six of 1" x 2" earth magnets could then be utilized to hold down the sheet music up-to-and-through gale-force winds.

bloke wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:11 pm

Schlitzz wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:11 pm I have about 5 reconstructed Manhassets, cattle sprayed, from going through a scrap metal bin at a local community college. To make it portable, I take the base lug nut off, and fold the stand down. Don’t mess with perfection.

probably smaller footprint than Voyager, and a lot cheaper

Yeah, the metal bin probably had 30 stands, with various non working parts.

I think I spent an hour with vise grips, an adjustable crescent wrench, and a can of WD-40.

Schlitzz wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:17 pm

bloke wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:11 pm

Schlitzz wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:11 pm I have about 5 reconstructed Manhassets, cattle sprayed, from going through a scrap metal bin at a local community college. To make it portable, I take the base lug nut off, and fold the stand down. Don’t mess with perfection.

probably smaller footprint than Voyager, and a lot cheaper

Yeah, the metal bin probably had 30 stands, with various non working parts.

I think I spent an hour with vise grips, an adjustable crescent wrench, and a can of WD-40.

What, and you managed all that without a viola?

Well, it's not the latest of greatest in folding stands but what I would love to see (and merging some threads in one):

As I am using a Gvido (better then iPad) I sometimes need some extra juice.
Also as I am getting older my eyesight is not as good as it used to be so I need a stand light. The KM led lights use 5v (3 penlights) or a usb power bank
And as we all love a cold beer I would love to be able to use this https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ ... 99272.html
So I would like to see a counter weight to a KM stand on all three legs that contains a power bank.

Mary Ann wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 9:05 am

What, and you managed all that without a viola?

Today’s viola joke, becomes tomorrow’s reality.

When I do go camping, I take a viola, not a violin.
The viola, burns longer.

gocsick wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 10:38 am I have one of these and can’t say enough great things about it.
https://www.amazon.com/Vekkia-Sheet-Mu ... J33RX?th=1

Stable base.. comes apart and goes together easily.. gets tall enough to use while standing with sousaphone… perforated deck handles wind well.

Most importantly the base works well with a cup holder (https://swirlygig.com/shop/ols/products ... for-1-inch). This one easily holds a pint of beer in a proper glass pint (or a water bottle if that is your thing).

Negatives - The stupid little arms that are supposed to hold down music are worthless and fell off and got lost almost immediately.

I ordered one of these after reading your praise. Recieved it yesterday. I like the design. Seems to be very sturdy and easily portable. My son will be using it for all county band this weekend. Thankyou.

Grumpikins wrote: Thu Jun 05, 2025 12:28 pm

gocsick wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 10:38 am I have one of these and can’t say enough great things about it.
https://www.amazon.com/Vekkia-Sheet-Mu ... J33RX?th=1

I ordered one of these after reading your praise. Recieved it yesterday. I like the design. Seems to be very sturdy and easily portable.

Same here. I may end up using a rag during transport to reduce rattle while driving, but that's the only "complaint" I have. This is the best low-compromise portable stand I've seen.