Turtlerock Forum

I know has been talked about before but as I look over at my stands sitting in the corner I realise I'm not comfortable suspending expensive microphones to them and should think about getting a couple new ones at least.

I've got some heavy-duty K&M boom stands which are okay, but not excellent. To be honest I've never been a fan of the tripod style feet - no matter what you spend on them they always seem to loose their strength and give way. I've seen some insane stands in some sound stages before and probably they are a little over the top for what I need right now, nevertheless if anyone can suggest some nice solid stands that are available in Melbourne that'd be great.

U87 arrives back from its Gunterfication in a week so I'm looking forward to turfing those nasty stands.

Cheers,
Dave

Its a never ending problem - and always an expensive answer.
The best investment is a few proper sandbags (I usually use 2 sandbags for safety) or 2 x shotbags (lead filled) from film gaffers -
They do the job exceptionally well and take the worry out of recording with expensive mics.
But a few mic manufacturers are making REALLY heavy mics that the boom arms have trouble holding up (Beezneez for example)
K&M and Tama make really good clamps that never seem to wear out and can be tightened for most situations involving heavy mic's leaning out.
I found the Tama ones heavy duty, strongest clamps (much stronger than K&M) - and they last years of constant setting-up /pulling down. Add 2 sandbags and your done.
Otherwise you gonna have to pay big $.

Counter weights are fantastic.
They'll allow most microphone stands able to handle heavy microphones safely.

Atlas SB36WE.

Cast iron base with wheels and counterweighted boom. They make K&Ms look like the featherweight cheap ass shite they are.

TAG and VideoGuys have them in Melb.

Go have a look in Vanbar in the city. Its a photography supplier. The thing about photo studios is they use great stands for their lights. I picked up some amazing large / heavy stands quite cheap. I just had to mod the thread to fit mics .....but they kick ass.

I would still use sandbags on the Atlas stands as they can still easily fall over if knocked sideways- the weight only works as a counter lever in one direction.
$800 for a mic stand vs 2 x $20 sandbags????
At BJB we have been using the Tama's for 10 years with sandbags - these hold-up RCA 44's (really heavy) / Wagners etc nearly every day of the year. The clamps don't sag under heavy weight, they are still working like new, and we have never had a problem or any stand fall over when bumped.
A U87 is light weight mic.
As Matt mentioned - lighting stands are the best as the legs span a lot further for safe balance, reach higher and cannot be bumped over' and are really well priced - but they take up valuable floor space and it looks a bit like a video shoot.
Matt can you post up a picture of your mutant stands?

Even though we sell the Atlas stands, I still fully endorse the Tama: they never slip or wear. Best brand I've ever had. Their drumkit heritage comes through.

I love those Tama stands, but one thing about them that constantly annoys me is the thread adapter that always wants to stay with the mic clip rather than with the stand. I'm thinking about glueing them on, but I know as soon as I do I'll need the other type of thread.

Quicklok make a cheaper heavy duty stand. I use either the Quicklok or an Atlas SB-11W (lighter than the SB-36) for my Beesneez.

Glenn - I glue the inserts into the mic clips - so that every clip in the studio is the smaller thread, and never deal with those fiddly thread adapters.

Good idea Chris, but then I'd have to get thread adapters to go the other way for my other mic stands that have the larger thread.

I found I wasted so much time in sessions when I'm running low on stands - down to the the big thread stands - hunting for the right clips, threads etc, so I also glued the big to small adapters to those stands. Now all 35 stands have the small adapters - and all the mic clips have the small thread - and big set-ups are much quicker.
Also - the small Tama stands are awesome, really well balanced - great on kik/snr/toms/guit cabs/bass cabs/acoustics/room mics etc.

Good idea chris, the multiple thread thing really bugs me. As does assistants leaving the clips on the stands when they put mics away....

Ok I took some pics. Not great pics but you get the idea. I got 5 of these stands from Vanbar. I think I got them very cheap because the lights for them
were all damaged in shipping, so they had these stands and didn't know what to do with them. $80 each, cant complain.
They are super sturdy, hold my biggest ribbons with ease and can't tip over. We just cut the threads off old unusable stands and my bro welded them on and finished with some heat shrink for the finish.

Matt - They look real solid
Can I order 2 please ?

I basically leave my 44 on one all the time, and in that pic the Zephyr ribbons are up (generally live on them too). The other two i use for overheads or large condenser work. head down to Vanbar people..!!!

+1 on the Tama stands, -1 on the K&M stands.

My experiences pretty much mirror Chris's, I also use shot bags on every stand.

One thing that's interesting is that I've got some made in japan Tama stands, and some made in china Tama stands. The chinese ones are cheaper, and a better quality than the japanese ones. and that's not the fact that the chinese ones I own are newer, the fittings and machining is just better.

Chris

So who stocks the Tama stands in Melb?
I can't remember seeing them.

mrtuesday wrote:So who stocks the Tama stands in Melb?
I can't remember seeing them.

I wanna know also. Anyone?

I guess no one does?
Or no one knows?

I got mine in Sydney at a guitar shop (now defunct). So I'd try a few drum/guitar outlets, as Tama are originally known for their percussion metalware

mrtuesday wrote:So who stocks the Tama stands in Melb?

Allans' web site claims they sell them - though the only actual example I could see is actually a cymbal stand.

Might be worth asking them, though.

Otherwise, I'm sure Turramurra music would ship them down to you.

I've been looking into this myself for a while

Upon recommendation from Mat, I checked out Vanbar and it seems these cheap light stands were a rare fluke. The guy was pretty unhelpful otherwise. Kevin at 555 can get the Latch Lake stands in, or the K&M equivalents. pretty sure both of these come up to over $500 a piece and you might be waiting a while for them

I'm wondering if anyone's tried these?
http://www.ultimatesupport.com/product/MC-125

I don't really like to look of those clutches, but a 2.5kg counterweight is nice, as is the $190 pricetag
Pretty sure Billy Hyde sell the brand, so they could order them in.
Otherwise Turramurra will happily get them and post them down

and, Drummer's Paradise in Victoria street carry tama, and stock mic stands
Whether they stock Tama mic stands I'm not sure, but I spoke to the guy today and he's more than happy to order some in

Hi I have the tama stands and they are much better than any of the newer K&M stands I've had
but the ultimate support stand you mentioned is awesome, the clutch is fine, i own some pretty heavy mics and this thing doesn't budge. for the price its absolutely silly.

I bought mine off billy hyde online about a year ago, they were selling them with free shipping for 175, but they took them off a few months before the whole allans billy hyde merger thing.

I have been annoyed at my k&m's but either the tama or the mc125 are great.

good to hear Sean
I'd still like to see one in the flesh before I commit to it..
I have one of the Quiklok A-50 ones, and that thing's sturdy as hell
you could put a pair of 4038s at full height and full extension no problem - and bigger reach than the Ultimate ones as well. In NZ they're $299, in US they're $119. we get ripped even on stands?? didn't know that..

Those K&M stands aren't all bad though, for drumkit dynamics they're fine, but I feel really dodgy hanging a 4038 on one though

I picked up this Atlas boom stand for 50 bucks in a NY thrift store today.

God bless America

But how much will it cost to post it home?

Ben M wrote:I picked up this Atlas boom stand for 50 bucks in a NY thrift store today.

God bless America

Atlas boom.jpg

Kurt wrote:But how much will it cost to post it home?

Ben M wrote:I picked up this Atlas boom stand for 50 bucks in a NY thrift store today.

Atlas boom.jpg

Gonna take it for a ride on a big jet plane.



I packed light

I just purchased this one for $130.00 street price and it comes with steel teeth on both locking mechanism's, very sturdy, holds my Beez Neez Arabella with ease!! A great price and shes on wheels Maybe not your Latch Lake but is a great stand for the price!! Was nearly tempted to go for the tripod studio stand but it is MASSIVE!! They have some other good alternatives which would fit the bill.

http://www.onstagestands.com/catalog/it ... /Grp000113

Mazystar wrote:I just purchased this one for $130.00 street price

Gee, where was that? Pony in Melbourne has them for about $170 with free shipping.