We all know how subtle adjustments to our instruments make significant differences. Fine tuning is a cumulative process. Getting key action, height, pads, etc. all to our liking takes time, experience and patience. How quickly all of that can be erased if an instrument falls to the ground.
I consider the use of a instrument stands part of my instruction. Saxes can be awkward instruments to build stands for. Unlike trumpets and trombones, where a simple post and platform design creates a very secure stand design, stands for saxes must cradle and balance horns of various weights and designs.
KSQ has had some good experience with Hercules stands.
We all use their stands. So, this means we have a variety including the combo Alto/Tenor, a straight soprano peg, Bari with ad ons and without, and BJ's latest addition, the TravLite for Alto/Tenor.
Like include:
- Portability - all stands fold up and are compact.
- Stability -- all stands have a wide footprint with rubber feet.
- Adjustability -- all stands have adjustable bell rests (minus the TravLite - although it does adjust to alto/tenor). The Bari stand has height adjustment and bell rest adjustment.
- Combo'ability -- Getting the stands with the added peg holes, various other stands can be added. For example, I use an Alto/Tenor combo peg on my Bari stand. I could easily use the straight soprano stand as another option. On my Alto/Tenor, I can also use the straight soprano peg.
- Weight -- they are not the lightest of stands. But, you get what you pay for. Stability at the expense of weight - you decide.
- Mechanism -- Janet has had 2 Bari stand failures. First, one base leg retention ball/spring failed. Her replacement stand's bell rest lock failed. For ease of fix, putting the good parts to each together solved the issues. My exact stand on the other had has not had the same issues. But, I do not travel with my Bari stand.
hip with Hercules. So, I recommend looking at others as well. I also really like the K&M stand. I use this one at home. I leave it in other rooms of the house for when I may be wondering around if Judy and I are practicing at the same time.The K&M is a stable stand. But, I feel it lacks the portability and ease of use of the Hercules. The center peg does not fold down. To collapse the stand, the peg must be removed from the base. Also, switching from Alto/Tenor requires removing the bell saddle and reinstalling.
But, I do recommend them for use in a studio or home where portability is not a requirement.
One point I also want to make relates to those who play curved Sopranos. The Hercules stands have a unique feature where the bell saddle flips up. They do so to allow infinite placement within the adjustment slot, to fit any Alto/Tenor configuration. However, leaving the saddle in the up position and moving it all the way to the top, allows for use with a curved soprano. My Yanagisawa curved soprano is held securely using the stand in this manner. The only issue I have is that the saddle in this position is not "locked". The weight of the horn holds it in place. So, my disclaimer is that Hercules doesn't build a stand for the soprano. But, it does work. And, the advantage is that using a combo Alto/Curved Soprano allows for use of 1 stand.
K&M does make a specific stand for a curved soprano.
Of course, this is an instrument specific stand which means it is only used for the curved soprano and not the alto as well.
Regardless of what brand meets the need, the key is to use a quality stand, always!
Keep em safe!
