mic stand suggestions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter spaceyeti
  • Start date Start date
S

spaceyeti

New member
I decided today that I'm fed up with my homemade microphone stand (it cosists of a small tower of books, topped with a stuffed panda that holds my sm57). So I'm in the market for a mic stand for recording my guitar amp (fender blues junior) with an sm57.

Does anyone have any recomendations? or does practically anything work? I don't need anything major, just a solid stand. I just figured I would ask before going out and picking out something random. I was looking at this little guy.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/ProLine-MS112-Desk-Boom-Mic-Stand?sku=454312

thanks alot for any input :).
 
You can get them $5 and $10 a pop on craigslist. $20 new at Radio Shack (but you have to ask as they're in the back, not on display). It depends on what you need. I got like 4x desktop mic stands for $30 off of craigslist. Which came with 4x goosenecks. If you need a boom arm (which is nice to have), You're looking at another $20, so $40 for stand + boom. And other pricier options depending on what you need. There's even ways to rig up a photo tripod to support your mic.
 
John Willett said:
K&M and nothing else.
Click to expand...

No doubt about it John!!!!
They have those cheap "on stage" or similar microphone stands 6 or 8 booms for $99. but the tripod has a very high center of gravity and a SDC with the microphone cord attached can topple it over!.!
It's best to go with a great microphone stand like the K&M or similar for you will get what you pay for!!! ;)








:cool:
 
John Willett said:
K&M and nothing else.
Click to expand...

Na. Tama as well. (..It's been quite a while since I bought K&M tripod/booms and I popo'd them at the time for their sploppy 'won't stay put folded up legs. < Fixing this; the stands here are not K&M they are KMC. My mistake and apologies for that.
......
For short work the OnStage short three-leg cast base booms are ok. (I wouldn't recommend the full size booms unless you just want something cheap/throw away.
But they can do the same stupid pet trick with a heavy mic like an RE20 that this one from Hercules does-- http://accessories.musiciansfriend....Profile-Tilt-Base-Microphone-Stand?sku=453061

-can't even hold a frikin 57' horizintally into cab w/o the shaft turning down
Way to go Herc :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Yeah...K&M are tops (never seen any Tama mic stands???)

Every On Stage stand I have (they looked good enough when I bought them) I've had to do some kind of modification to make the work right...or I've had to fix stripped/loose adapters that were not welded on, rather they were just "pinched" on the ends and after a few times they just spin around with the mic clip...
...On Stage stands are total pieces of shit!
About the only thing good are their locking, "teeth" clutches rather than the soft "brake pad" clutches you get with other brands.

I think Atlas also makes some decent stands.
 
mixsit said:
Na. Tama as well. (..It's been quite a while since I bought K&M tripod/booms and I popo'd them at the time for their sploppy 'won't stay put folded up legs.
If they fixed that ..then never mind.

For short work the OnStage short three-leg cast base booms are ok. (I wouldn't recommend the full size booms unless you just want something cheap/throw away.
But they can do the same stupid pet trick with a heavy mic like an RE20 that this one from Hercules does-- http://accessories.musiciansfriend....Profile-Tilt-Base-Microphone-Stand?sku=453061

-can't even hold a frikin 57' horizintally into cab w/o the shaft turning down
Way to go Herc :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The legs can be fixed by just tightening the hex screw that holds them Mixsit! ;)







:cool:
 
miroslav said:
Yeah...K&M are tops (never seen any Tama mic stands???)

Every On Stage stand I have (they looked good enough when I bought them) I've had to do some kind of modification to make the work right...or I've had to fix stripped/loose adapters that were not welded on, rather they were just "pinched" on the ends and after a few times they just spin around with the mic clip...
...On Stage stands are total pieces of shit!
About the only thing good are their locking, "teeth" clutches rather than the soft "brake pad" clutches you get with other brands.

I think Atlas also makes some decent stands.
Click to expand...

LOL! that's what I was trying to say in a nice way Miro. :D but you are so right.








:cool:
 
mixsit said:
Na. Tama as well.
Click to expand...

Hear, hear.

IMG_5017.JPG


That's a Tama mic stand holding those cymbals... and the tom. Notice one of my cheap Nady mic stands behind them, relegated to overhead duty, and sagging under the weight of a single SDC. AFAIK, it's the same Chinese manufacturer that builds the On Stage Stands mic stands.

Not all the On Stage Stands mic stands are bad, though. I have one (I *think* they built it, anyway) that I use for my piano mic that's solid. As in two inch pipes. I've used it to mic the upstairs choir loft in a church... from downstairs.... That said, this is not typical for their hardware.... :D
 
moresound said:
The legs can be fixed by just tightening the hex screw that holds them Mixsit! ;)



:cool:
Click to expand...

Major apologies guys. The stands I was poopooing are KMC not K&M.
..as I went to look for the set screw-

Might as well go back and edit the other post too.
 
mixsit said:
Major apologies guys. The stands I was poopooing are KMC not K&M.
..as I went to look for the set screw-

Might as well go back and edit the other post too.
Click to expand...

An honest mistake Mixsit.
An other good microphone stand is AKG.







:cool:
 
Too Much Skimming, Not Enough Reading

If you actually read what spaceyeti wrote, you come up with this set of specifications:

A mic stand to hold a relatively light mic in front of a relatively small guitar amplifier and that is as durable as a stuffed panda.

That's all...not a condenser mic, not 40 feet in the air, not being set up and broken down every 30 seconds.

spaceyeti, you gave a pretty good description of what you need, and the ProLine stand you linked to should meet your requirements quite well.
 
bdenton said:
If you actually read what spaceyeti wrote, you come up with this set of specifications:

A mic stand to hold a relatively light mic in front of a relatively small guitar amplifier and that is as durable as a stuffed panda.

That's all...not a condenser mic, not 40 feet in the air, not being set up and broken down every 30 seconds.

spaceyeti, you gave a pretty good description of what you need, and the ProLine stand you linked to should meet your requirements quite well.
Click to expand...

Yes - but if you want durable the K&M is the best.

I have seen cheap stands wrecked in a second when someone accidentally steps on a tripod leg and bends it.

On the other hand, K&M last forever. I still have stands which I bought second-hand in the 1970's still going strong (ex BBC I think and well used when I bought them). :D
 
John Willett said:
Yes - but if you want durable the K&M is the best.

I have seen cheap stands wrecked in a second when someone accidentally steps on a tripod leg and bends it.

On the other hand, K&M last forever. I still have stands which I bought second-hand in the 1970's still going strong (ex BBC I think and well used when I bought them). :D
Click to expand...

If you look at the item the OP linked to, there is no tripod. I has a cast iron base.

So your point is moot...
 
These are all suggestion from people who have been in the business 30+ years and want to let others know what is the best buy out there for microphone stands.

That small pro line is good but is kind of a one trick pony (kick drum, small amps, midget lead singers) but the fault can be found at the base of that stand where it can easily strip out and becomes a door stop (got 2 of them in my warehouse just for that purpose now that they've seen some small duty).

So the OP can get that stand if he so pleases and let the chips fall where they may or get a truly great microphone stand that he can will to his grandchildren.

His call really. Now that all of the cards are on the table and can choose between great,good and crappy microphone stands.









:cool:
 
bdenton said:
If you actually read what spaceyeti wrote, you come up with this set of specifications:

A mic stand to hold a relatively light mic in front of a relatively small guitar amplifier and that is as durable as a stuffed panda.

That's all...not a condenser mic, not 40 feet in the air, not being set up and broken down every 30 seconds.

spaceyeti, you gave a pretty good description of what you need, and the ProLine stand you linked to should meet your requirements quite well.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more mah san. Interestingly I've never had a problem with any mic stand. I used an Atlas for years in a band, I think the boom was from Radio Shack. Worked great for years.
 
I'm still using my original radio shack mic stand. I did have to tighten the lugs on the legs. But otherwise still going strong. I had a radio shack boom arm, lasted 3 to 6 months before I stripped / ruptured the screw to tighten the boom pole in place. Never really kept it stationary in the first place and the clutch always sagged.

I've got a proline boom arm now. Same one I previously had that broke at the clutch. I guess it couldn't handle the 10lbs of weight of stuff I used to hang on it. It did the job well enough that I bought the same exact one a 2nd time around. $20-ish for that. I'm not sure if the desktop mic stands I got even have a brand. But they're like 6" base, 4" stem, 12" gooseneck, and the base is like 5lbs. 4 of those for $30 seemed like a good deal.

cl_desktop_mic_stand.gif


I use them more to mount my webcam to than any mics, but should suit a cab or kick with no issues.
 
The thing I notice about the Tama stands is that there is NO counterweight that I can see. That looks like a basic plastic cap at the end of the boom...and even if it is metal...there's not enough mass there for it to be a heavy enough counterweight for bigger mics.

One trick for "light" stands...get some barbell weights...5 lbs works fine...10 lbs will be more than enough. You slip them right on the center pole of the stand (you have to first remove the top housing).

You can tip the stands almost 45 degrees before they will go over....that's with just the 5lbs weight.
 
All I can say is my Radio Shack Boom worked great for years. Wish I still had it, it was sold out from under me without me knowing, until the deed was done.

BTW, Musicians Friend has their own brand of boom stands on sale 2 for 25 bones. Ordered a couple, Let ya know what I think.

Obviously these are going to be light duty, I don't expect them to hold a LDC at full extension but they may work for your needs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top