Accordion Stand - resting..

[Soulsaver]

...resting ie between songs, while you're on a break.. not the Konig & Meyer(?) which you can play it on (in?).

I'm sure I've seen a simple thing that unfolds to a sloping back little chair like thing.. can't find any other than a flimsy looking vintage one for too much money ...and in $US.

What do you guy&gals do, put it on the floor.. ?

 

[Soulsaver]

What about this type of thing? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stagg-GAS...32c613a&pid=100011&rk=2&rkt=3&sd=172202615260

 

[JerryPH]

I *never* used to place any of my accordions on the floor. Often they were dirty, beer stained or whatever and lifting the accordion off the floor was a bit hazardous to your back (especially if that accordion was a Morino Free Bass... lol). What I used to do is have a small custom made cushion that I flipped back off the chair when sitting in it and if it was the kind of gig where I stood all evening, I placed a chair nearby and left the cushion in it. That is where the accordion sat in between sets or when I was not playing for more than 2 songs or doing something else (like jumping off the stage and finding the prettiest lady in the place to dance with... lol).

What is interesting about the cushion is that it is meant to support the accordion in the keyboard up, bass down orientation, but with the shoulder straps facing you, so the cushion had good padding to protect the front face of the accordion and the base was kind of thinner at the back, thicker at the front so it would slightly lift and push the accordion forward into the chair, making it very stable and safe. I dont have one anymore, it was stolen a long time ago, but if I ever played publically again, I would do the same thing. Today it would likely cost maybe $10-$20 to make your own... if you had a mom that knew how to shape foam padding and sew a little... like I do... lol

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Ive seen those before, they could work, but youd need to pad the crap out of it and they are a little lower than a chair.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GFWGTRAMP

Something like this could also work... with added padding:

http://www.italo-american.qpg.com/page4.html

Ive seen hand made ones from wood covered in carpet and with wheels... kinda cool too. The one that I am speaking of is well displayed by Richard Noel, an avid Roland V-accordion user, on his YouTube video:

 

[Soulsaver]

I quite like the one Richard replaced, I want something that folds up when not in use. Where's that bought from?

 

[BakersfieldAccordion]

I cannot recommend one of these stands too highly. It saves wear and tear on the back as well as on the instrument. It can be constructed for as little as $30 in materials depending on how sophisticated you want to make it.

The idea is to be able to pick up the accordion from a vertical position with minimal lifting. With these stands the accordion is always positioned ready to be easily lifted onto your shoulders. They work equally well for digital or acoustic accordions.

In my situation I wanted to have a stand that would allow me to keep the power cable attached to the bottom of the instrument (a v-accordion) and without having to turn it on its side. I also wanted to be able to roll the stand around my music room, and an added bonus was some storage space below the instrument where I can leave headphones or cables. You can see my wooden design, as well as several interesting modifications, on my website at http://www.noelaccordion.com/roland.html? . If you can use a saw and a drill you should be able to make a wooden version in an afternoon. Many of those who made modifications are deservedly proud of their designs. Just be sure that you have enough width that the stand is completely stable. It would take quite an effort to topple the accordion off of any stand that I have built.

Theres an even simpler alternative that was described by my friend Kep in the v-accordion forum. You can spend $20 on an amplifier stand, pad the metal bars with foam pipe insulation available at any hardware store, and you have a stand that will work nicely.
Heres an example of an inexpensive amplifier stand that would work: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Musicians-Gear/Deluxe-Amp-Stand.gc

If you want to have your accordion facing forward, you dont need to do anything more. If you want to face the accordion down (as it would be when you take it off your shoulders), then youll need to add some sort of strap or brace to prevent the instrument from slipping through. Either way works well. This metal stand doesnt roll and its maybe not as plush as the wooden version, but if you dont need wheels its an easy solution. You can see some photos and dimensions of this solution at the yahoo groups, roland v-accordions site.

Ive made at least 5 of the wooden stands, each with some minor variations, but personally I like my original design best. Very basic plans for the wooden versions can be downloaded at

If you come up with a nice alternative feel free to email me and I will be glad to post it on my website for others to see.

Richard Noel

 

[JerryPH]

"I've made at least 5 of the wooden stands, each with some minor variations, but personally I like my original design best. Very basic plans for the wooden versions can be downloaded at "...

Something's missing Richard... lol

 

[Soulsaver]

Thanks Richard & Jerry... This from Richards site - http://www.noelaccordion.com/accordionstands.pdf

Food for thought... its good that the amp stand works and the foam pipe insulation is good idea, as Ive got some somewhere, too.

Its strange no one seems to have a proprietary bit of accordion kit?
Ill need a dust cover, too...

 

[JerryPH]

Those are easy to hand make with a little industrial plastic sheeting and some cloth piping and an hour of your time cutting and sewing.

I've had these covers sewn up for me for all my accordions and arranger and mixer and what not... they last forever and work great.