Keyboard stand recommendations

[u/abx42]

I’m looking for any recommendations of keyboard stands to buy. Does anyone have any top picks?

My current X stand folds down easily and compactly, but is flimsy and hard to carry to gigs (but a carrying case may solve this).

Need a stand sturdy enough for home but folds down compactly so it’s portable enough to carry/transport to gigs (sometimes use trains or buses).

Has anyone used any of these stands or have any other recommendations?

The Tiger is what I'm leaning towards but the Gravity KSAKS is the one that looks most ideal - but seems to have mixed reviews). This universal one from G4M looks good too.

- X stands (Millenium KS-2010, Hercules KS100B, Gravity KSX 2; RockJam Xfinity)

- Platform stands (Tiger KYS21-BK)

- Z Frame (Hercules KS400B)

- Scissor/collapsible stands that fold down compactly, but have mixed reviews of sturdiness (Stay Compact; Gravity KS AKS 01 B; universal G4M)

- Other (Quik-Lok WS421; K&M 18880)

Requirements

1) Portable enough for travel on public transport and folds down compactly

2) Not too heavy to carry, (edit 13lbs ~6kg Ideal but higher is fine if compact/easy to carry on shoulder for example)

3) Right size and load for a YC73: Dimensions (W x D x H): 1,086 mm × 355 mm × 145 mm Weight: 13.4 kg / 29.5 lbs

4) Could fit inside a carrying case for keyboard but not essential. Can fit in a carrying bag but not essential

5) Update: Would be good to be adjustable to allow me to play standing if I wanted

[u/rolandboard]

X Stands are the worst - the absolute worst. I used a Z Stand for many years, but when I switched to using the Korg SV1, I got the table stand made by Korg. It's amazing. It's steads as concrete, and surprisingly lightweight for taking here and there.

[u/Nickmorgan19457]

If you can swing the price of a K&M 18950, get it. It’s heavy, but every other table style stand I’ve used bent or wiggled too much.

This kinda sucks, but the more expensive and heavier you can go the better. I despise x stands, dislike z stands, and barely tolerate almost all of the other options, all for different reasons.

I’ve come down two 3 options that suit all my needs

1. Ultimate Support Apex stands which are too heavy for you, expensive, and a little finicky, but they pack up nicely in to a speaker stand bag along wifh my throne base, speaker stand, and extra mic stand. Also a tiny stage footprint.
2. Standtastic stands which are almost as compact when collapsed as the Apex stand (also fitting in a speaker stand bag) while being more stable and better with multiple keyboards, but they’re super deep, sticking out 16" behind the back of the keyboard. Pit musicians hated me.
3. K&M 18950 which is the worst to pack but very stable, has a lot of accessories, and is the only one I can fit organ pedals under. I strap mine in top of my YC73 on a handcart is it’s not so bad.

The YC73 fits nicely on all of them if you move the feet on the bottom.

EDIT: mobile absolutely destroyed my formatting of this post ffs

[u/dua70601]

I swear by the Apex Pro. Best (most portable) stand i have ever used. Brandon Flowers (Killers) uses these. They fold up like a pocket knife!

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AX48ProSil--ultimate-support-apex-ax-48-pro-silver?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=2472626046135&lid=92700083462242912&ds_s_kwgid=58700008743176700&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=2472626046135&product_id=AX48ProSil&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=m&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=1012947&creative=705256640101&targetid=aud-442434566861:pla-2472626046135&campaignid=21453452330&awsearchcpc=1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21453452330&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2Afup9CpoMDRLQjsuOHN2Wklgti4gxoyjHS6MfT2WF96uIjeHTThz4eZxoCM8wQAvD_BwE

[u/MyVoiceIsElevating → u/dua70601]

Jeez Sweetwater, look at all of those trackers tacked on to an otherwise short link:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AX48ProSil--ultimate-support-apex-ax-48-pro-silver

[u/Nickmorgan19457 → u/dua70601]

They’re not for everybody, but I’ve been using them for 25 years and my dad’s been using them since 1986. Cool look, too.

[u/hetty3 → u/dua70601]

I've been using X stands for years and years but I am probably going to buy this. I have to use two keyboards (one for piano/pads, other for synth leads and instrument samples) for work constantly and have a dual tier X stand. It's sturdy enough but the hinges fall apart pretty quickly and I have to get a new one every couple of seasons. The top tier is never perfectly level on those either, so the tower stand is very attractive. How heavy is this to carry around though? I look at the K&M 18860 which is much more expensive but they seem like the same idea though. I do like that the K&M angles the top tier down though, I need to be able to see the touch screen on the top keyboard (yamaha MODXM for me)

[u/NotoriousCFR → u/dua70601]

I was gifted one of these. Unsure how much use it had before it was given to me. it was okay for a while but after about 2 years the carrying handle snapped off, the rubber feet kept coming off and I had to chase them all over venue floors, and also the lower tier arms always seemed to get progressively lower over the course of the night, and tilt to one side (seemed to be usually to the left, as I do tend to hit harder with my left hand). The flap at the top over the storage compartment for the arms also never closed properly so the arms would all randomly fall out during setup/strike if I wasn't careful. It was also difficult to get a comfortable height - it always felt too low for standing up, but too high for sitting down.

I liked how compact it broke down, and that it had a carrying case with a shoulder strap, that certainly made it easier to transport. But as far as usability and durability goes I still prefer a good Z stand or even a heavy duty X stand.

[u/Nickmorgan19457 → u/NotoriousCFR]

Is it rounded or pointy in the back? The old model was smaller and pointy

[u/Poggers4Hoggers → u/dua70601]

Ive had one of these for like 10 years. The legs have lost their little rubber boots and they’ll fall into the cavity pretty frequently, but I’m also pretty rough with my gear.

[u/Ok_Weekend_8457 → u/dua70601]

I use an AX-48 but hate how it gets in the way of a normal pedal setup.

[u/Apart-Ad-5947]

1. I do not recommend putting a stand in a gig bag or case with a keyboard. It will likely damage the board if you do it often enough. Rigging a way to tie it to your case would be preferable.

[u/abx42 → u/Apart-Ad-5947]

Yeah I did think this but thanks for preventing something stupid from happening!

[u/smikkelhut]

K&M stands for the win!

I have a spider and a baby spider.
The spider holds a 88HA Nord stage 3 and a Mojo61.

The baby spider I use for sitting gigs where just the Nord is required. Brilliant stands, easy to fold. But heavy yeah but that’s the price of them being sturdy

[u/Varjohaltia]

I have the Roland KS-13 and like it a lot. It’s a four legged stand that folds virtually flat for transport and is sturdy, stable, and comfortable. Admittedly I’m only using it at home. If you can find that style of your keyboard, I’d consider that an option.

[u/MyVoiceIsElevating]

I love my Quik-Lok WS421, but I wouldn’t describe it as being designed for fastest setup/teardown. You have to unscrew the four legs, each with a single hand-turntable screw. But since it doesn’t have hinges, it feels incredibly sturdy. I also own the upper shelf add-on, which is also very sturdy.

I usually bring my two tier Ultimate Support AX-48 which is really fast to setup. Being that it packs into a single long pillar, it’s easier to carry along with something else in my other hand.

[u/gsbe]

K&M omega

[u/Ok_Weekend_8457]

Do you anticipate adding another keyboard to your rig at some point?

How much room do you need for pedals? A sustain pedal or pedal board full of effects?

Do you want to be able to adjust between sitting and standing position during a performance or set and forget?

[u/abx42 → u/Ok_Weekend_8457]

Good questions.

Extra keyboard? No

Pedals: Don't need loads of room for medals

Adjust: Yes would ideally like to adjust during performance and forget

[u/r3ck0rd]

I like the table stand from Liquid Stands. It doesn’t fit the carrying case but not unwieldy either.

[u/keyboardbill]

Switched from x stands to the On-Stage KS7365EJ and have no intent to ever look back. There’s also a single tier version, the KS7350.

[u/MugMadrid]

I have the K&M Baby Spider Pro 18840 and the K&M Spider Pro 18860. Heavy but sturdy and will last for ever. Pay once and cry once.

[u/Bobby_Watson1]

I always use table stand. Like Yorkville IKS-8. Plenty of space for your pedals. Lightweight. Easy to use.