Want a better Rhodes stand...

[simplecarnival]

I've got this keyboard stand...

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Pro-Platform-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450384

...which has been OK for the past three years, but... I dunno, it's starting to make me worry.

Case in point: Every time I play a chord on the Rhodes (76 key, MK II), the stand creaks.  :shock:

I usually have other keyboards on top of the Rhodes -- sometimes a Clavinet II (heavy), but currently an ARP Omni (heavy) and a Korg X5D (very light).

This particular stand has been creaky since day one and I haven't had any problems. But after performing a serious Rhodes restoration earlier this year, getting new caps in the Omni, etc. I suddenly care a lot more about what is holding these old keyboards up off of the ground.

What are some recommended sturdy replacement stands for seated Rhodes playing, which can also handle a keyboard or two on top?

Thanks in advance!

[sean]

This is the keyboard stand that I use:


It is rock solid, and will support a baby elephant.  It is very light and folds up for transport.

Go to www.homedepot.com and search for WP-20-06

It is a Husky Aluminum Work Platform, and it is still only $39.00.

It isn't tall enough, so I extend the legs with oak 1x2 boards.  (Even with the leg extensions, it folds up easy.)

The top of the platform could tear up your tolex, so you MUST put a piece of carpet or linoleum under your piano.  The platform is just the right width and depth to support a 73-key Rhodes, and it does not block the hole for the sustain rod.  Plenty of room for knees and pedals.

[andi85]

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/KM-Table-style-keyboard-stand?sku=450498
This one is the German made original to your On Stage table stand. I don't know if it can support a baby elephant, but a spinet Hammond for example is not a problem. However, I know about the price tag.

I own a double-braced steel stand from QuikLok, and even with the Rhodes plus the hood and the pedals and legs in their compartment, it hardly moves at all. It's heavy and bulky, doesn't allow for much movement of your feet and has a somehow awkward lock mechanism. As far as stability goes, however, I haven' t found anything more rigid yet:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/QuikLok-QLX21-Double-Braced-Single-Tier-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450000

[james]

I've got this keyboard stand...

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Pro-Platform-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450384

...which has been OK for the past three years, but... I dunno, it's starting to make me worry.

I had bought that one myself a couple of years ago when looking for a platform stand for my digital piano, and I sent it back because it was so cheaply made.  I can't believe you've been using it for this long and the Rhodes hasn't crashed on the floor!!!

I still have a cheap Axman platform stand they made about 10 years ago that supports 125 lbs. and looks like a set of Stage legs.  Regardless of how it looks, the fact that the legs project well out to the corners is what gives it the stability the stand needs, even when it's a cheap one.  That's where they dropped the ball with that On Stage Platform Stand.  There's no support to the front or back, just side to side.

[simplecarnival]

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/KM-Table-style-keyboard-stand?sku=450498
This one is the German made original to your On Stage table stand. I don't know if it can support a baby elephant, but a spinet Hammond for example is not a problem. However, I know about the price tag.

I own a double-braced steel stand from QuikLok, and even with the Rhodes plus the hood and the pedals and legs in their compartment, it hardly moves at all. It's heavy and bulky, doesn't allow for much movement of your feet and has a somehow awkward lock mechanism. As far as stability goes, however, I haven' t found anything more rigid yet:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/QuikLok-QLX21-Double-Braced-Single-Tier-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450000

Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody.

Actually, I was looking at both of the stands mentioned in this above post, but was unsure about the K&M one because of the price, and unsure about the QuikLok one because of the shape. But since it's indeed possible to use the Rhodes with the QuikLok one, I'll probably go for it.

[andi85]

Yes, it is very well possible. But don't forget that there will be just very little space for the pedal and - if applicable - effects on the floor.
In that respect, the K&M or the Z-Stands and desk-style stands from Quiklok are a much better option.

[dnarkosis]

Has anyone ever tried a model such as this:

which can be adjusted to look like this:


Quik-Lok WS-550 (Weight Capacity: 250lb - 113.1kg)
http://tinyurl.com/2o7onq

[andi85]

That's actually what I meant. I've just seen other pianists use them with heavier keyboards and they seemed to hold up very well. But I don't have any own experiences - sorry.

[BJT3]

I use this one:


It's rated for up to 375 pounds. It seems very sturdy. You can get them at Sweetwater.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZStd/

[simplecarnival]

I use this one:


It's rated for up to 375 pounds. It seems very sturdy. You can get them at Sweetwater.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZStd/

Hmmm... you have a Clavinet on top of the Rhodes? If the stand is sturdy enough for that, then it could definitely handle the ARP Omni and Korg... The price isn't bad, either.

[BJT3]

Ya, it holds the Rhodes and Clavinet no problem. I'm pretty anal, and I wouldn't put it on top if it felt sketchy. The only down side to this stand I know of, is when you break it down, it's in three pieces, the 2 sides and the center section, so, it may be a little harder to cart around than some stands. I'd definitely recommend it.
-Ben-

[simplecarnival]

Ya, it holds the Rhodes and Clavinet no problem. I'm pretty anal, and I wouldn't put it on top if it felt sketchy. The only down side to this stand I know of, is when you break it down, it's in three pieces, the 2 sides and the center section, so, it may be a little harder to cart around than some stands. I'd definitely recommend it.
-Ben-

Great! I've ordered it.

Thanks for the advice!  

[james]

Nice, I'm looking at one of these too!

[james]

P.S. My one concern would be the adjustable components -- does it lose horizontal stability, i.e. have any left/right shifting?  I had also looked at this QuikLok Z-stand, which seems simpler and is rated at 250 lbs/113kg:



http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=96&sName=Z-716

[michaeltristan]

What about obtaining a Mark V stand?  that thing sure looks sturdy.  Can a current Mark V owner comment on the stability of their stand?  Also, what about the Mark 7 stand?  looks identical, or at least similar to the Mark V.  Are they available yet?

-michael

[Ben Bove]

The mark V stand by itself is an impossible find.  I think EP service in europe bought the last appearance of one on eBay for over $300.  Many original Mark V owners without an original stand are desperate to pair them up so prices are very high.

It's a very stable stand but there are better aftermarket alternatives in regards to availability and price.  Don't think Mark 7 stand is available for purchase yet.

[michaeltristan]

this sounds like a job for a custom tube welding shop.  Something like the frame of a racecar, tig welded aluminum, like the mark v stand, but bigger lighter and stronger...  too bad each one would cost more than most spend on their Rhodes..

take a look at this page...

http://www.tubefab.net/products.php

this is what I'm talking about.  What we need it to come up with a design that will satisfy the Rhodes community.  One that works with stage and suitcase pianos is necessary.  maybe a multi tier model that is designed to have a rhodes on the bottom.

[BJT3]

The "Z" stand is very stable left to right. I have my 88 sitting on it right now and there is very little movement left to right.

[simplecarnival]

BJT3 --

Got the z stand in... It's *much* better than my previous one! Got the Rhodes, ARP, and Korg stacked on it and it seems very stable. Thanks again for the suggestion!  

[BJT3]

No problem, glad it worked out.

[vortmaxx]

FWIW, I was a bit lazy the other day and didn't feel like putting the legs on my 54, so I pulled out my On Stage Z stand. (Same as the ones pictured above). https://on-stage.com/products/view/28856/116994

Seems really solid and stable, as it should. The stand is rated at 375 lbs and my 54 weighs EXACTLY 100. 

I like that the footprint is a bit smaller than with the legs. Only downside is that it's my primary gig stand so I might just have to pick up another one.

[e-soul91]

Greetings. I am new on this forum, and I hope that this is not off topic. I have original factory stand for Mark I Stage, and although it stands pretty still on it, I am missing the screw which holds two struts supporting two legs. My question is, is it OK for it to stand without those two bars for several days until I find the screw, without any problem? I mean, Rhodes is standing pretty stable on it now, but when you push it a little bit, it moves a little. My only fear is not to damage the leg screws.

Thanks in advance.

[sean]

(tl;dr) Skip to the end:  http://www.ep-service.nl/r--legbrace-knob
-----------------------------------

You can get the knob at any hardware store, unless you are in Canada or Europe or Asia.

Go to your local hardware store, and ask for a "two-inch diameter knob with a quarter-twenty bolt."  The bolt only has to be one inch long, sticking out of the knob.  A little shorter would work too.

There is a little picture of what the bolt looks like at http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=5584.msg27595#msg27595


There is no problem using the piano without the leg braces.  Oh wait, I am about to tell you the problem, so maybe, well, here goes:  Don't try to set up the piano by yourself if you don't have the leg braces.  (I can't set it up myself, no matter what.)  In theory, you lay the piano on the back side (to scrape up and damage the logo), then screw the legs in, and affix the crossbars to the back legs.  Then with immense strength, you tip the piano forward and up onto the legs.  This is a struggle even with two people. If you try it without the leg braces, you will eventually damage either the poorly-welded inserts at the top of the legs, or the poorly-welded threaded insert in the leg mounts, or maybe pull out the screws that hold the leg mounts onto the bottom of the piano.  [Okay, no big deal, just get a friend to help clean-and-jerk the piano from the ground to set it down squarely on the legs.]

Without the leg braces, the piano is "pretty stable."  With the leg braces, the piano is "pretty much stable."  Not a huge difference.

Sean

[sean]

Oops.  You are in Belgrade?  Everything in the hardware store will be metric.  Hmmm, no metric screw will work.

Well, the American spec for the screw threads is 1/4" diameter screw with 20 threads per inch.  In the USA, it is commonly written as 1/4-20 or quarter-twenty.  Oh, when we write 1/4", we mean 1/4-inch.  [In metric terms, that is a screw with a 6.35mm nominal diameter, and thread pitch of 1.27mm.  So an M6 bolt would almost fit, but the thread pitch will be 1.00 (too fine).  An M8-1.25 bolt would have almost the correct pitch, but would be much too large to fit in the hole.]

Don't get a knob that is very small, like 30mm in diameter.  It will be hard to turn tight enough to hold the braces securely.  Get a knob as close to 50mm in diameter as possible.


Hmmm... Can you order from Amazon USA or Amazon UK?

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Winco-Plastic-Threaded-Diameter/dp/B00A9N4ZTU/ref=sr_1_120?ie=UTF8&qid=1485893468&sr=8-120&keywords=1%2F4-20+knob

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Winco-Aluminum-Clamping-Threaded/dp/B00A9N3PVY/ref=sr_1_144?ie=UTF8&qid=1485893527&sr=8-144&keywords=1%2F4-20+knob
(saw off a little length from the stud.)

https://www.amazon.com/Hillman-Group-2-Inch-4-20-Inch-Clamping/dp/B00MEX0E20/ref=sr_1_68?ie=UTF8&qid=1485893324&sr=8-68&keywords=1%2F4-20%2Bknob&th=1

Sean

[sean]

I can't find an acceptable knob on Amazon UK.

I tried Amazon DE, and I couldn't find anything using the English word "knob."  I don't speak German, so I can't be much help there. (I also tried knopf, knauf, and griff.)

Try the folks at http://www.ep-service.nl/
http://www.ep-service.nl/r--legbrace-knob


Sean

[e-soul91]

Thank you very much. Believe it or not, I have screwed in the legs, and lifted the piano myself without putting much weight on its hind legs. The only thing is now every muscle in my arms and shoulders is slightly painful. lol Now, it stands, and the guy from whom I bought the piano has messaged me, and told me he has found original knob. Good news.

Thank you very much for help.

[bourniplus]

Has anyone made leg braces? My MkI doesn't have them and I've been thinking it might not be too hard to make some out of aluminium bars.

[vortmaxx]

Rhodes Stage leg braces pdf:
http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=8780.0

I made some braces for my 54 because the piano had just a little too much sway for me. I used 3/16" steel flat stock which has worked well for me.

Pictures here (very bottom of p. 14):
http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=1038.390

[bourniplus]

Awesome, thanks vortmaxx. Now I just need to find the motivation. I still think it might be easier with bars instead of tubes, though not as sturdy...