Playing stand for a 6/4 horn suggestions

[MartinMan]

I posted this question earlier on the Martin Tubas Facebook page, but for those not part of that, I thought it might be useful to put the question up to a larger audience for more feedback/discussion.

Now that gigs are returning to my area, I'm looking for a stand to use on any sitting gigs I might have. However, I'm looking for a stand that can hold the horn in place at a comfortable playing position as opposed to just being a peg with a padded platform to rest the bottom bow on.

I've been researching a few options and, have received some suggestions as well, but am looking to see if anyone's had some personal experience with any of these so I might have a bit more confidence before making a move on any of them, or if there's something else out there I should consider.

1. Wenger Tuba Tamer: I actually currently own one of these (an older model from the 60s, I think) but have only used it as a storage stand in my studio thus far since I find them to be particularly heavy and cumbersome, and not really something that I'd like to schlep to a bar.

2. Randall May Air Frame Stands: I've seen these advertised as a more lightweight alternative to something like a tuba tamer since it has an aluminum construction, however the tuba version of this stand seems to be aimed at 3/4 sized instruments, judging from all of the marketing material I've seen, and I don't know if the stand can extend to accommodate a BAT or not.

3. Tuba Essentials "Hug" Stand: Looks to be a similar concept and construction to the Randall May stands, but the same question about adjustability remains. Students are the clear target market of these, so can the hooks be adjusted to fit a Mammoth?

4. Folding "W" type sousaphone stand: This would involve just trying to retrofit a sousaphone playing stand into a tuba stand by folding it a little differently, but many stands of this type are older and may be hard to find as well.

5. Wahlberg and Auge: These are no longer made and likely hard to find, but I've seen one in action used by a fellow Mammoth player and it seems to be the ideal setup if possible.

If anyone has personal experience with any of these and could shed some more light on their performance, or if there are additional options I haven't considered yet, feel free to chime in below

[GC]

I recently bought a cheap ($30) drum throne with a good, strong tripod base and a 12-inch seat. It holds my horn securely, and the padded seat allows me to reposition the bottom of my horn with more flexibility than a typical curved-cup holder would. The only thing I don't like about it is the 2-inch distance between the mounting holes for the height adjustment. They're not quite close enough for some purposes, but it's not such a big deal.

[sweaty]

I use a Baltimore Brass stand for my Martin 6/4. The Wessex stand looks very good, but I have not tried it.

[bloke]

Were it not that most people are so mechanically-inexperienced and so convenience-oriented, someone could offer ONLY the curved metal part - with the metal socket underneath and a tension screw, along with the rubber pad on the top, and build it to fit a common diameter of typically economy-priced tripod percussion stand, whereby the consumer could rid the percussion stand of its upper part and insert the curved tuba-receiving appliance instead…and that offering – including the purchase of the percussion stand from elsewhere – could underprice everyone else.

[MartinMan]

Were it not that most people are so mechanically-inexperienced and so convenience-oriented, someone could offer ONLY the curved metal part - with the metal socket underneath and a tension screw, along with the rubber pad on the top, and build it to fit a common diameter of typically economy-priced tripod percussion stand, whereby the consumer could rid the percussion stand of its upper part and insert the curved tuba-receiving appliance instead…and that offering – including the purchase of the percussion stand from elsewhere – could underprice everyone else.

I haven't ruled out modifications to existing equipment, so your suggestion here is much appreciated!

[bloke]

It’s just a general observation about the topic (and not about any individuals’ needs), along with a “what if“.

[Three Valves]

Rebar, welder and plastic-dip. -$400 and the remaining can be re-used.

[York-aholic]

I use a Baltimore Brass stand for my Martin 6/4.

Me too.

[hrender]

I use a Baltimore Brass stand for my Martin 6/4.

Me too.

Ditto.

[Doc]

Many polka bands in the midwest have tuba stands that are the upright tuba version of the W-style sousaphone stand. I haven't seen any that were new in many, many years. You can still find some Randall May stands available, but they are no longer produced. The cups/area that hold the tuba might be too small for a big tuba. The one I have for my helicon would likely not fit a Martin Mammoth. Tuba Tamers are ok for holding the tuba so you don't have to, but, at least for me, are not ideal for playing.

Getting away from the "completely holds the tuba" stands...

I use a Wessex stand, and it works well. But for MUCH less, you can get a drum throne with double braced legs that could easily hold a 30lb tuba (thrones are designed to easily hold people weighing 100-300+lbs), and the wide, shallow seat (doesn't need to be one of those deep, wide, cushiony, fat-boy seats) is plenty to handle the girth of the tuba. Cheap, sturdy, and it folds up nicely for carry or storage.

[prairieboy1]

Many polka bands in the midwest have tuba stands that are the upright tuba version of the W-style sousaphone stand. I haven't seen any that were new in many, many years. You can still find some Randall May stands available, but they are no longer produced. The cups/area that hold the tuba might be too small for a big tuba. The one I have for my helicon would likely not fit a Martin Mammoth. Tuba Tamers are ok for holding the tuba so you don't have to, but, at least for me, are not ideal for playing.

Getting away from the "completely holds the tuba" stands...

I use a Wessex stand, and it works well. But for MUCH less, you can get a drum throne with double braced legs that could easily hold a 30lb tuba (thrones are designed to easily hold people weighing 100-300+lbs), and the wide, shallow seat (doesn't need to be one of those deep, wide, cushiony, fat-boy seats) is plenty to handle the girth of the tuba. Cheap, sturdy, and it folds up nicely for carry or storage.

Amen! I have used drum thrones for the past fifteen years and everything Doc says is true!

[kingrob76]

My teacher in college, Mike Bunn, had built one out of a drum stand and some other parts. It was heavy, as was his Alex which had a great big brass ring about 1 inch think and 3 inches wide around the throat of the bell. I bought a K&M stand and quickly killed the threads, less than a couple months, so I bought another which lasted just as long. I eventually got the very short drum stand legs and transplanted the stem and "cradle" from a K&M into that and that worked, but it was heavy. I still have it, but I don't use it.

When Baltimore Brass started selling these - Dave Fedderly was still operating out of his basement, circa early 90's - I grabbed one. It was lighter, sturdier, and a much better option than anything I had seen prior. I still have it, still use it. I replaced the top once because the foam was shot after about 25 years of use. This is the gold standard in my opinion, and they warranty them for life I believe. Considering it's close to 30 years old, I would say these are reliable.

I'm 6' tall but have a long torso and a big ol' derriere, so I sit much taller than most people. The stand allows me to sit up straight with good posture and relax my body, which maximizes my breathing capacity. Putting a bottom bow on my chair puts the mouthpiece a good 6 inches or more below my mouth, and my lap just isn't comfortable for longer sessions.

[sweaty]

https://us.wessex-tubas.com/products/pr ... and-sdt-30

I bought this and am very pleased. It is strong, it has more room for my feet, and the quality is good.

[The Brute Squad]

(Ignore this reply. I definitely didn't read OP as carefully as I thought I did. )