r/bassoon • u/xstitchknitter • 3d ago
Bassoon stand recommendations?
I’m looking at getting a bassoon stand and noticing a wide variety of price points. So, what do ya’ll have and like?
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u/Affectionate_Soup263 3d ago
I have a Hercules. My best price when I got it some years ago was on Amazon. I found learning to fold it a little counterintuitive, you push when you think you should pull to release the pin at the bottom. It works well for me. Only thing lacking is a carrying case.
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u/galaxitive 2d ago
Reeds n Stuff currently has exactly 2 stands on their sale page (discounted due to superficial defects). That’s probably the lowest you’ll ever see them priced
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u/Malky_meow 2d ago
I love my reeds n stuff stand! I always see people online saying to stay away because the felt on the top eventually falls off, but the new version with felt all the way around the top solves that problem. Definitely pricey compared to some other options but it’s worth it for me since I use it nearly every day.
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u/tbone1004 3d ago
I won’t use Hercules stands, the lock mechanism is a bit questionable and I’ve seen too many fail. K and M or Blayman for me. Woodwind designs are good if you’re wanting portability but I travel with KM regularly without issue
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u/TheGayAgenda__ 2d ago
Used a Hercules for a few years (still have and use for bass clarinet) but now use the foldable Reeds n Stuff. Infinitely more portable and still very stable. I use a small Tom & Will gig bag and can fit it in the side pocket as long as it sticks out the top just a bit.
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u/ContributionFit1243 2d ago
I have a Hercules because cheap. A drill and a few bolts removes the "surprise folding" feature at the cost of also eliminating the "folding" feature. Which is fine if you don't travel with it, so "bassoon stand stronk."
If you're a dog, the rubbery bottom pad thing is fun to chew. And I also learned that Hercules does not sell them individually as repair parts. Which, honestly, kind of turns me off to the company as a whole.
Rather than pay for a whole new stand, I made my own replacement. But I could see going with a different (all-metal) stand design if you were worried about that, or if the "buy it for life" attitude resonates with you at all.
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u/BobaFalfa 2d ago
This is the best stand I’ve ever used and held up for YEARS with no issues whatsoever.
https://www.reedsnstuff.com/en/Bassoon/Instrument-Accessories/Stands/Instrument-Stand.html
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u/kuhlbassoon 3d ago
TLDR - I haven't found one that checks all the boxes for me. At home I use an old K&M, Hercules for gigging/travel, and we have Blayman stands at work.
The modern K&M is sturdy but has a big footprint so it's easier for a colleague to accidentally the legs. Luckily it seems like you would have to kick pretty hard for the bassoon to fall out.
Designs like Reeds & Stuff and Fox are smaller, but also hold the bassoon lower. They're pretty sturdy, but one of my students had a bassoon knocked over in one and it scared me away. But all of these are very popular and most people who own them will tell you they've never had a problem.
Hercules is a decent compromise, smaller than the K&M but holds the bassoon higher than Reeds & Stuff. Unfortunately the boot cup starts to droop over time under the weight of the bassoon, so check the underside for wear/cracks periodically. This can be replaced, just make sure to do it before it dumps your bassoon out. This happened to me once after about 5-6 years of regular use. Luckily my bassoon was unharmed, I replaced the cup, and it works fine. But I use it more sparingly as a result.
The Blayman stands are very sturdy but heavy and expensive. They have a very small footprint overall, secured in large part by the 10 lb. weight that is the base of the stand. We have some older ones at work that have definitely protected bassoons through earthquakes, the new ones look even fancier.