From dwalker@ou.edu Sun Dec 01 00:49:29 2002
Subject:RE: another QuikLok opinion (was: advice on keyboard stand - Invisible)

> > After some searching, I settled on a Quik-Lok WORKSTATION
> > line stand because unlike the stands mentioned thus far it
> > has a width that permits the use of a pedalboard.
>
> How portable is this thing? Do you gig (travel) with it?
> Charlie

Hey list,

Just a quick note with regard to the Quiklok WS-550 and Quiklok customer
service, so the archive users of the future will have all sides of the
story.

My funk/rock rig is a Rhodes Stage 73 with a cheap Bellari tube pre
(better than nothing) and Alesis QS8. Depending on the night I may add
my cheapie 61 key unweighted keyboard to trigger the QS8's (constantly
tweaked) organ patches, or my Moog. I run all this into a Mackie
1402-VLZ, send Main L/R to the house and feed the control room outs to
two 15" Eons.

After years of futzing around with various X-stands and the Apex line, I
found that I needed something with more stability in order to be
comfortable playing and not have to worry about stuff falling over. I
purchased a WS-550 with a WS-561 vertical spine, and one QL-636 add-on
tier. The Rhodes and the QS8 are stacked on the first tier, with the
Moog or 61 key on the second tier. I'm planning to purchase another
QL-636 soon for the true out of control mad scientist keyboard player
gigs.

Links, since www.quiklok.com can be difficult to navigate if you don't
know specific part numbers:

WS-550:
http://www.quiklok.com/search_list.taf?_function=detail&Layout_0_uid1=33
154

WS-550 with WS-561 kit:
http://www.quiklok.com/300x300/sku_WS_550_561.jpg

QL-636 tier for WS-561 (one of many items that can clamp on to the
WS-561)
http://www.quiklok.com/search_list.taf?_function=detail&Layout_0_uid1=38

WS-550 with single add-on tier (not sure which model this is)
http://www.quiklok.com/300x300/sku_WS_550_2woKybds.jpg

WS-500 (WS-550 and WS-561 with most available options included)
http://www.quiklok.com/search_list.taf?_function=detail&Layout_0_uid1=33
152

WS-500 loaded up:
http://www.quiklok.com/300x300/sku_WS_500_wEquip.jpg

The WS-550 is great for me. Over the last 6 years I've used it as a
large mixer stand and keyboard stand in locations ranging from bars to
outdoor concerts to a marching band competition at the RCA dome (BOA
Grand Nationals, for those who care). I can play sitting or standing
with equal comfort, and there's plenty of room for my nest of effects
pedals underneath (like many here, I'm a pianist who hasn't yet learned
to kick bass, and probably won't until there's a Hammond console at
home). The heaviest I've put on it is the Stage 73 and QS8, which I'd
estimate to be about 140lbs combined (really no idea how much the Rhodes
weighs, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), and it's solid at
sitting or standing heights. I wouldn't hesitate to stick a 300lb chop
on the base WS-550, though the website says it's rated for 250lbs. This
thing is -solid- and very stable.

Cons:
Adjustability - If I'm standing, I have the height on the -550 adjusted
close to the top which means the vertical part of the -561 that goes to
the ground can't reach the ground even in the lowest position. See the
second link to see what I'm talking about (it's shown at a height usable
for seated playing - imagine the WS-550's four legs getting taller by
about a foot). I've gone without it on many gigs, and I've had no
problems with stability while playing in a very heavy-handed fashion
(and glisses are a BIG part of my organ vocabulary). OTOH I haven't yet
put anything more than 30 pounds or so on that top tier without the
vertical support. The sustain pedal rod on the rhodes won't get to the
floor if I'm standing either, but that's another problem entirely, and I
suspect somebody out there sells a rod which will reach further. If I'm
I'm playing with a band where standing is appropriate, I usually
wouldn't be doing a lot of sustaining on the Rhodes anyway. :-)

Portability - The WS-550 itself is great, folds to that T-shape and
takes up considerably less space in a trailer than a lot of stands.
However, I like to leave the WS-561 and QL-636 assembled for speed of
setup, and it can be awkward. I imagine the setup pictured in the
fourth link would be a lot better, but I wanted to be able to expand
with yet more tiers, so I got the WS-561.

Durability - Yes, the hand knobs that attach everything are a failure
point. However, this didn't happen to me until this year, at which time
it happened on three knobs at once; it didn't happen during the gig, but
rather during a tear-down which I wasn't present at (drummers...). Two
of them lost threads and a third was bent (!). I told quiklok of my
problem via the "Talk to Us" section
(http://www.quiklok.com/contact.taf) and they sent me six replacement
knobs free of charge. Mine were six years old, as I mentioned, and the
design seems to be improved somewhat. The black paint on the legs has
also peeled off at the two hubs where the legs fold in on the WS-550.
This isn't really visible when it's set up, so I don't care.

I love this stand. Four legs well out of my way, nice and stable, very
height-adjustable, and takes my heavy playing on a heavy rig. My next
moves are to get the shelf that's attached to the right leg for my
mixer, and maybe one of the heavy equipment shelves that attach to the
vertical support of the -561 for the Speakeasy Stereo Classic that's in
my (hopefully near) future. See the WS-500 picture for both of these.

Sorry for the lengthy (but hopefully informative) post. I'm normally a
bit of a lurker, but keyboard stands were the worst part of gigging for
me for a long time, and I haven't worried about them once since getting
this stand. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

-Daniel