The Finest Mic Stands?
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Posted on May 07, 2003 06:10 pm
Alanfc
Member Since: Mar 13, 2003
If you could afford the finest mic stands for your pro operation or your home setup, where would you go to look ?
I've seen lots of links with alot of companies on them, but I was wondering if there were a few super elite awesome companies that produce mic stands. Or do they exist.
thanks
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May 07, 2003 06:20 pm Personally, I think a mic stand isn't really worth pouring tons of money into, and therefore you should really go with the less expensive model. To me, they're all the same. I use the el-cheepo musician's friend models, and they work quite well.
May 07, 2003 06:30 pm I have to disagree with Hero on this one. I have a couple of the "cheapy" stands from Guitar Center and absolutely HATE them! The mechanisms for tightening them are plastic and they strip and break extremely easily. However, it's pretty hard to justify spending $200 on a mic stand for a home studio. Atlas and Ultimate Support both make some quality stands. But be aware that both of them also make some lower end stands as well. Don't over-pay for a low end stand just because it has the name on it. Basically, I would try to avoid anything with plastic parts and ideally, a heavey disc or hex base. Tripod based stands work fine, but, if you go that route, it's a good idea to keep a couple of sandbags around to throw over the legs to keep them from tipping over. There's no feeling like watching a mic stand fall over that has your most expensive and delicate condensor mic on it!
May 07, 2003 06:39 pm I agree with blue, I have used cheap mic stands and they end up falling over, the booms drop, they conduct sound easy from hitting the stand with the neck of your guitar (or whatever youhit it with)...and that isn't to mention the probs that blue brought up about thread stripping.
That said, if you HAVE to cut costs for budget reasons, I guess stands are the place to do it, but if you have the money, the heavier, more expensive stands are better.
AlanfcMember
Since: Mar 13, 2003
May 07, 2003 06:47 pm I asked this because of my uncle; he "always buys the best" of everything and he was thinking of something to get me! Whatever. Hey uncle how about a bigger Marshall ?!
-thanks everyone
May 07, 2003 07:38 pm Funny... I've hade the same stands for 3 years and with the exception of one, they all work just fine.
May 07, 2003 07:59 pm You must have some fairly decent ones then. The ones I have are so cheap that I don't even consider them worth the $15 they cost!
May 07, 2003 10:19 pm Speaking of stands, I noticed in the Wholesale lots section on Ebay you can get some killer deals on quantities of 6. I don't know about how the quality on these are though.
I have had all the same problems that you guys have described already. I usually eliminate whatever wears out and replace it bolts, nuts, and rubber grommets. Another cool adapter that I have used to weigh down my tripods are 5 and 10 pound weights from a dumbell set slid over the main shaft.
And the number one rule for all musicians is:
Duct tape holds the world together!!!!!!!!!!
stupeMember
Since: Apr 03, 2002
May 09, 2003 11:18 am thumbs up on a more sturdy (expensive) mic stand from me. personally those cheap 19.99 tripod booms have caused me a few dents on the screens of my mics. On-stage stands, a company that is known for their "cheap" stands has a pretty reliable one with a weighted hex base. i believe i saw it on ebay for only $99. a much cheaper alternative to the pricey atlas ones.
May 09, 2003 05:16 pm I'm glad I read this. I need a bunch of mic stands, both tall boom types, and short ones, like for guitar cabs and kick drums. I think I'll buy from my favorite giutar shop, that way I can inspect the quality before I buy.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 11, 2003 09:23 pm Well, for my money I go with either Ultimate or ProLine. I have had them for years and never had anything come loose. But as blue had said, the mechanisms can come loose over time, expecially when hanging a heavy condensor on them for extended periods. I have made my own custom clamping mechs and they hold tight even with some half bombed singer leaning on em for balance.
May 12, 2003 04:19 am for years and years, our band had to make do with whatever we had. one of our least succesful setups was a mic duct-taped to a splintered broomstick and shoved into a cardboard box full of firewood. this was a ten dollar radioshack mic and god how it would feed back. sometimes we had to run it through the same 150 watt bass amp that the bass was playing through.
May 12, 2003 11:20 pm heh, duct tape... not a bad idea
ive used a stack of school books to boost a mic up to the center level of a 15" PA speaker. A few more books on either side of it kept it from rolling around.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
May 13, 2003 10:38 am I usually get the 30 dollar mic stands from music go round. Nice heavy metal disk at the bottem. my only problem is either leaving them at a show (since i ring my own mics and pa to be safe) or letting a friend borrow em and not get it back. I've been using the same small desktop mic stand forever now... i should go buy new stands... or that yamaha compressor... grr money burning a hole in my wallet
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
May 13, 2003 12:00 pm ive got a cheapo £15 one from my local music shop which has done me proud for about 4 years now...seen no need to change it. at the minute, mic stands are right at the bottom of my list of priorities!
May 27, 2003 04:00 am I bought some On-Stage mics stands last week. They're eh... not built too well. I paid too much. Sadly I'm still satisfied..
