Anybody using an amp stand for gigging?

[meterman]

I'm thinking of trying to get my combo amps up off the floor and angled so I can hear myself better without killing the front row. Anybody use something they really like? Ideally it would be able to be used with both a 2x12 and 1x12 open back combo, and be folding or portable enough not to add a lot to the load in.

Thanks!

[chedgeco]

This is the one that I've been using for the past 2 years with my Mesa Mark III (75 lbs.).

http://www.ultimatesupport.com/genesis_amp.html

Points the amp right at your head instead of at you knees. Cut down on my stage/rehearsal volume quite a bit.

chedgeco... :cool:

[mkg]

It's funny, I'm heading the opposite direction. Have used an amp stand of one kind or another for years, but now am back to setting the amp on the floor. We mic guitar amps, so it's not that much of an issue. If we didn't mic I think I'd want it up off the floor and to the side.
I just have finally realized that I like the sound better with amp on the floor.
Maybe my ankles have sprouted ears without my knowledge.

:cool:

[cvansickle]

I saw a really cool device at the Dallas Guitar Show. It was a cart that you could mount your amp and gear bag on, and roll it right on to stage and start playing. It was called the StageRig.

www.stagerig.com (http://www.stagerig.com)

[hemlock]

I use a Peavey amp stand that I bought years ago. It would be hard for me to go back to just having the amp on the floor. I wish our other guitarist would get one! He's about 6'5" and stands right above the blast from the 4/10s.

[royd]

I use one all of the time
carvin amp stand (http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=MA12&CID=ACC)
for gigs and for rehearsal. It does help with volumes and letting me hear what is going on.

[gitarboy]

+ 1 for the ultimate support stand... takes up virtually no room and adjusts to 3 different angles... the best thing is that it won't "kill" the first row...

Steve :cool:

[meterman]

Thanks for the replies guys. That Ultimate stand looks nice and compact, but those support arms look awfully skinny! Is it sturdier than it looks in the pictures? Will it hold an 80 lb amp without worries? Thanks!

[royd]

as attractive as the design is for the ultimate stand, I have used one that self-destructed...

[gitarboy]

I'm pretty sure thay claim a 75 lb limit... my amp is about 50lbs, I agree... I wouldn't want to go too much heavier...

Steve

[Blueswede]

I just went shopping at GC for some items; another amp stand was one of them. I use two, both made by Ultimate Stand, I believe. Only about $30 each, and they're pretty well made. Weight shouldn't be an issue. BTW- I only use GC for odds and ends, not for guitars or amps. Steve

[John Phillips]

IMO the best amp stand you can buy is a good road case - and put the amp on the lid. It lifts it to the right height, but doesn't tilt it... which IMO is a good thing - tilting the amp towards your ears totally distorts your perception of its tone as it will be heard out-front. My personal experience is that waist-high and not tilted gives the most accurate indication of out-front tone with a smaller combo.

And, when you're not using it as a stand, the case doubles as a handy protector for your amp which makes it easier to load without worrying about it. :)


(You don't need a massively heavy, oversize full flightcase BTW - a lightweight one will work perfectly well. If you can stand on it, it's strong enough.)

[tedzepplin]

www.soundenhancer.com

check out this stand. improves low end too.

it really works. i have one

[meterman]

Thanks for the replies guys. I had several gigs this weekend so I had a chance to try some stuff. Picked up one of the Ultimate folding stands but think I'll be returning it. I thought that angling the amp up towards me was a good idea but it was cutting my freakin head off!! Plus it seems a little flimsy, it appears that most of the weight is focused on the little cap that holds the arms to the frame, one of mine came off and the arm fell off, not good. Probably OK for small amps but not my 55lb 2x12 TopHat Super Deluxe.....I ended up using a milk crate on the last gig, carried all my cords and stuff in it and then just turned it over and put the amp on top, perfect. Gets it off the ground high enough where I can hear it better but doesn't point it right at my head. Plus it's cheap, convenient and stable, which I like. I like the roadcase idea but I priced them out at about $350 and I can't really justify that expense right now for the occasional local gigs.....

[tonedaddy]

Originally posted by meterman
I like the roadcase idea but I priced them out at about $350 and I can't really justify that expense right now for the occasional local gigs..... Doesn't have to be that expensive. Check out Affordable cases, they have a wide range and levels of quality cases:
http://www.affordable-cases.com/catalog/viewItem.html?styleId=1&productId=336

[Norjef]

A very different (and IMHO effective) "amp stand" is a Weber Beamblocker with the amp on the floor. Around $15 each--try one, two..
Jeff

[meterman]

Originally posted by tonedaddy
Doesn't have to be that expensive. Check out Affordable cases, they have a wide range and levels of quality cases:
http://www.affordable-cases.com/catalog/viewItem.html?styleId=1&productId=336

Wow, thanks for the link! I may do that in the near future as the Super Deluxe is the amp I gig with most often....

[chedgeco]

I'm was thinking of trying out "nycase" from ebay. They appear to have some el-cheapo cases (about 80 bucks) that are carpet lined.
I'm going to put a hardwood 2x12 from Sultone in there covered with a Tuki or something similar.
I'll be moving it myself so the only thing I expect it to do is keep the cab from getting scratched on load in and load out as well as serve as an stand.
I'll update this thread with a review when I get it. Also if anyone has used them, info would be appreciated.

Ebay Link: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZnycase

chedgeco... :cool:

[shallbe]

I don't like them. I own one, but have never used it on a gig. I don't like the sound of any of my amps on it.

[Jack Walker]

Originally posted by chedgeco
This is the one that I've been using for the past 2 years with my Mesa Mark III (75 lbs.).

http://www.ultimatesupport.com/genesis_amp.html

Points the amp right at your head instead of at you knees. Cut down on my stage/rehearsal volume quite a bit.

chedgeco... :cool:

+1 on this one. I've been using this with a Super Z which is the size of a Bassman and it works great.

[planetal]

I really like using a keyboard players seat (the larger fold up rectangular ones, not the little circular ones)...

1- holds a 2x12 bottom with head as well as a 1x12 combo quite well and safely.

2- they can handle a decent amount of weight (much more than an amp and speaker combo generally as its intended to hold people)

3- are relatively in-expensive (they are actually quite cheap, must be because they arent for guitar players)

4- are at the right height for my needs (same as a chair, but I can get behind the amp easily)

5- are handy to sit on while you untangle cable at the end of the night.. they also fold up easily and fit just about anywhere in a car.


Al

[UconnJack]

Last few gigs me and our other guitar player have been putting our combos on stands, in front of the stage and facing them backwards (towards us). We are always miked and both sound guys loved this approach. Effectively the amp becomes a monitor.

Just have to watch drunk fans , my F-50 almost got knocked over, but we caught it in time!

[mkg]

Well, I have to backtrack from my previous post. Originally I had said that I used to use a stand, but lately prefer my amp on the floor.
At our last gig I had my amp on the floor for the first set (mic'd, as we always do) but couldn't hear it well. Since I'm not crazy about having it in my monitor, for the last two sets I put it on a stand and everything was much better.
So now I'm back in the pro-stand (or road case or milk crate or whatever works) crowd.

p.s. UconnJack, I like doing that, too, especially at outdoor gigs.

[hunter]

Mesa makes a "Kickstand" that allows the amp to tilt back. Fits in my big gig bag and works with most every size combo (OK not a Champ). I gig small amps and this allows me to set em up as a personal monitor system. The kickstand is portabile and an easy carry.

Yes it can be a little tough on the ears the first time that speaker is pointed anyhwhere near your head. I think that is the first time a lot of players realize just how bright their amp really is. I like to set up so my amp is aimed in the general direction of my head but is slightly off axis low (like aimed at my shoulders). Lets me hear myself nice and clear and is probably a decent representation of the sound most of the on or near-on axis part of the room gets (as well as the mic).

Don't try this with your 100 watt Plexi.

hunter

[mbratch]

Originally posted by UconnJack
Last few gigs me and our other guitar player have been putting our combos on stands, in front of the stage and facing them backwards (towards us). We are always miked and both sound guys loved this approach. Effectively the amp becomes a monitor.

+1

I get the best monitored sound that way. If the amp is behind me, it sounds muffled even if it's pointed up at my head. I have, on occasion, had the amp at my side or perhaps at the 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock position relative to the direction I'm facing. In all cases, I have the amp either on a real amp stand OR using my "poor man's amp stand" which is a short piece of hardwood flooring (about 3" or 4" wide) I use to tilt the amp back and prop it up (which only works on carpeted floors if you don't want your amp to crash). I keep the piece of hardwood in my gig bag. ;)

In general, I'm in a situation where the amp is mic'ed so it's position toward me is not an issue. But the benefit of having the amp face me more directly is that the sound person is not dealing as much with balancing what's coming directly from the amp versus from the PA.

In a smaller cafe setting, it's not mic'ed, but tilting the amp has not adversely affected the sound in a small room.

[OOG]

the foam bottom, carpet covered board that Aularex makes works quite well
and is light and cheap

about the soundenhancer thingy
it sorta puts a combo in a detuned mode
wonder if that's how it works?

[FrogRick12]

Has anyone ever heard of or tried the Ampwedge? I sell it in Canada - it's a great device for just this purpose.
www.ampwedge.com

[1kidc]

The problem with most of these solutions is the loss of fundamental low end response and perceived volume when you elevate them. The low end vibrations of the cabinet aren't transfered efficently to the floor.This is the case regardless of whether you use a roadcase, a milk crate, a chair, an amp stand etc..

I'm in the process of developing a simple stand that lets any combo amp stay on the floor and tip safely back. If you are interested in trying a prototype that allows you to hear yourself better, control your onstage volume more effectively and (most importantly) improve your tone please send me an email.

[tonedaddy]

Originally posted by meterman
Wow, thanks for the link! I may do that in the near future as the Super Deluxe is the amp I gig with most often.... If you decide to go with a road case, check my Big List of Road/Flight cases here:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79697

Affordable Cases is one company that seems to have a good combination of features and low prices if you want to go to the ATA protection level (recessed locks and handles, ball corners, etc), but there are dozens more listed on that thread if you really want to shop around.

If you want to go even lower priced, Discount Distributors offers any amp case (in fact ANY case) in their lowest line with flat corners and exposed handles/fasteners for $99:
http://www.discount-distributors.com

That's not much more than a padded cover like Tuki/Lecover. So there's lots of options out there for every price range and level of protection you need.

[paul14470]

They sell a large all rubber doorstop for $3 that tilts the amp back just enough and keeps them on the floor!

[rockindillo]

Another vote for the Ultimate stands units - but a qualifed one. I have two which I use with my Fender Blues and Hot Rod De Luxes (I have one of each - one for harp and one for guitar).

I've gigged them solidly for three or four years without any trouble at all. I really like the fact they're so light amp compact to transport and that in use, they're reminiscent of the old Fender tilt-back legs.

However...

I also have several of their guitar stands and the plastic base on which the legs hinge has cracked and broken on one of them. Seeing as how it's basically the same moulding as they use ont he amp stands, it does worry me slightly. They seem fine for my Fender 1x12s, but I don't think I'd ever quite trust my monstrously heavy 85lb Matchless Cheiftain 2x12 on one!

[Ginglymus]

The problem with most of these solutions is the loss of fundamental low end response and perceived volume when you elevate them. The low end vibrations of the cabinet aren't transfered efficently to the floor.This is the case regardless of whether you use a roadcase, a milk crate, a chair, an amp stand etc..


I had that problem with a Princeton Reverb. The solution was a little device called a "Standback". It keeps the amp on the floor where it sounds quite a bit more full. And it fits nicely into the back of the combo too.
http://www.ampstandback.com/

[µ¿ z3®ø™]

http://www.ampstandback.com/

i have three of these. love 'em.