So I finally decided to order an MP8. Any thoughts on a solid stand for it? I'm guessing the Z shaped stands will give more leg and feet room. I'm not getting monitors yet but will be in the future. Are decent monitors stands pretty cheap, or should I go with a keyboard stand that has the add-on capability of monitors stands (like the Quiklok Z-716)?

Check out the link http://www.cybox.com/~lou/kbstand.htm. Plans & Bill of mat'ls are free. You can make one out of 3/4" PVC thats even portable enough to fold-up for less than $10.

I added a diagonal brace to each side of his design and a horizontal top brace for my 90lb Alesis DG8 relic.(Even painted the PVC black to make it sexy!) I didn't need potability so the extra bracing didn't hinder me.

Good luck

Its steady as rock even when I play Chopin's OP.53 Polonaise.

Follow UP

Remove that last "period" after "htm" above and the link should work OK.

I don't think it works right with the extra period at the end of the sentence.

pvc as in plastic pvc pipe?
wouldn't that be mighty wobbly?

Or is there metal pvc or somethin...

Hey AE-Charlie,

check this thread out. All about stands for the MP8/CA-X.


http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/6/2746.html


Regards,
Claude

yes, 3/4" PVC PIPE.

AS I said, with a couple of diagonal braces on the sides (using "Y-fittings"), I conjured up a very stable platform form for my 90LB keyboard.
Check out his design http://www.cybox.com/~lou/kbstand.htm for starters, then improvise as needed.

It works very nicely.......and you can tell your friends that your music is Piped-in!

So let me get this straight, bachmaniac. With that quiklok table-style stand, there's room for monitors? Or are you putting your monitors on top of your keyboard? Is there adequate space on top of the MP8 to put monitors on?

And is there any opinion on the Z stands, like this one: http://www.bananas.com/productdetail.asp...-Keyboard-Stand

They seem to be made by lots of different manufacturers and claim to be able to hold 300+ pounds.

The Quiklok four-legged table-style stand has no provision for your monitors. If their footprint is small enough they can rest on top of the MP8, but that isn't too great esthetically speaking. Separate monitor stands would be ideal if the speakers are as big as, say, my M-Audio BX8as. These temporarily rest atop my MP8 for the time being, but I plan to reconfigure a multiple shelf unit that I have and whose lower shelf will be just above the keyboard and thus serve as support for the studio monitors. A bit of creativity will be necessary here...

I'm sorry I have no experience with the Z stand, I'm not sure it would look too good in a living room though it's fine for gigs...

Regards,
Claude

This is somewhat of an odd question... but what's the distance from the bottom of the MP8 to the top of the white keys? I believe the standard is about 28.5". The stand I'm looking at (a Z stand) is already 26.5 inches at its lowest, so if the MP8 is more than a couple inches I should be looking for something shorter.

All the stands that I have found so far (for Yammy P70 and Casio Privia) were too high. I'm currently using an office chair with a big pillow on it to sit high enough to have a comfortable arm position. This is really dumb. I can't understand why the people who make these stands (x and z style) haven't thought this through properly.

AE,

including the necessary rubber spacers or rubber feet between stand and bottom panel of MP8, the tops of your white keys will be at least 4 inches higher. It's true that commercial stands tend to be a little high, even in their lowest position.

The tops of the white keys on my acoustic Kawai grand are 28¾" above the floor, and I find that high. But I use a Yamaha adjustable concert chair, so I don't care much. It does feel high if you are using the stock bench that came with the piano, though...

The fixed benches supplied with pianos are a compromise as far as height is concerned. That's why adjustable benches/chairs sell so well. Remember old-style piano stools with a rotary seat?

Cheers,
Claude

AE_Charlie,

I owned that On-Stage Z-stand you posted a link to and liked it (I only returned it because it didn't fit in my really narrow room). I got it at Guitar Center. It could go really low. The webpage you sent says 24", but I seem to remember that being the first click-stop. I think it could go even lower. You really have to see one in person, as the web-page specs are often wrong.

Dan

Hmm... I wonder if I could get a double tier stand and put a board on the upper tier. I could put my speakers and computer on top of it. The only problem is that the upper tier arms might not be wide enough if I put the monitors way on the sides.

Hi

That Quicklok stand # is WS550....it is one of the best stands you can get for any 88 note keyboard....very portable and sturdy. It supports my Yamaha S90 , P120....I"ve used it on the big P250...perfect!!!

You really need the # however....QL makes a million stands.

Good luck

Dave Ferris

I'll second the WS550 quiklok stand - I love mine. It's very portable (folds down to a T shape). It's also more stable than other stands I've tried.

It also goes fairly low, which means that even a tall keyboard like the P250 can still be at piano height, which is important.

But it doesn't accomodate monitors.

My CA-X was on a WS550. When I sold it and got my MP8, I replaced the 550 with... another 550! It's PERFECT. I simply removed the rubber feet from under the MP8 and used the adjustable, sliding built-in rubber spacers built into the 550 instead. Just space the legs so they don't protrude from under the piano, slide 4 spacers as outward and 4 as inward as possible, and there you are. The lowest leg setting puts the MP8 at ideal height above the floor, too.

Built like a tank, real quality stuff...

Claude

I'm surprised more people don't recommend the Quiklok M-91 Monolith... it's one of the most stable and portable stands on the market.

Question for you keyboard knowledgeables out there:

If you were buying the Roland FP-7, would you rather dish out $120 for the pretty KSC-44 FP "custom" stand, or $100 for the Quicklok WS550?

I feel like the KSC is classy (and presumably quite stable, about 32" fixed) but the WS550 is "Built like a tank..." and adjustable from 24.25"-32.5".

Adjustable seems to win out over pretty, with $20 for a pizza to boot...

Hi Pro

Regarding that Quick Lok Monolith stand......I think I remember checking it out for the Yamaha P120-P250....it doesn't go low enough for the ideal sitting-piano playing position.

Those Yamaha Digitals (p120, p250, p140, probably the new cp300) with the built in speakers have this lip at the bottom of the keyboard (perhaps the electronics for the internal speakers) that raises the playing height by maybe 1 1/2 to 2 inches.
Enough to throw the average pianist off kilter.

I checked every stand (this was a few yrs. back & things change) and the QL 550 was the only GIGGING stand that worked for the Yamaha's.

The 550 is very portable also.....it folds up in 5-7 seconds.

If anyone as found a better option for those particular models .....please let me know.

Thanks

DF

Got my MP8 on an ultimate V-Stand... the thing is rock solid and built like a tank.

Howard

Ha-hahh! Speaking of $20...
I just answered my own question - I found the Quiklok 550 for $21 used (as opposed to $100 new) so I've ordered it.

More money for the other stuff (bench, keyboard sample upgrades, possible speakers, etc.)...

I have a QuickLok Z stand for my MP9 and it is very stable. I bought the Kraft Music Bundle which I am very happy with.

I use the Behringer Truths. The only thing I am not 100% happy with is that the Truths are large and heavy and when they sit on the monitor stands, there is a little movement when you are banging hard on the keys such as when I play the 12 bar blues.

I did not get the Yamahas and instead got the Truths. The stand is the Quiklok Z716 Keyboard Stand w/ Z731 Speaker Shelves.

If I had to do it again I think the monitors are larger than I need and I would get the same stand and monitor holders, but get a smaller pair of monitors. I don't need the power the Truths have, and I like the fact they are up on the stands and away from my 16mo old Toddler, as he gets into everything. Maybe I should have gotten the Yamahas that go with it.

or you can go to IKEA and get what I got:



It's called Galant frame.

I added my own plywood top, cut to exact size of the MP8. Legs are adjustable beyond need for a piano, and the whole thing is super sturdy.