Bass Stand

[probonopublico]

What is the best bass stand?  I've tried a few over the years.  I like them to fold up, have a neck support (I had an instrument crash off one which just had the body support) and is light. The closest I got was called Ultimate although it was nicked from a gig.  

[pst62]

You won't go wrong with an Hercules Auto Grab.

[BigRedX]

Ultimate are still making stands. If you liked it why not get another one?

 

I've owned both Ultimate and Hercules stands, and while the Hercules is probably slightly better, the Ultimate was much more compact when folded down which may be an important feature.

[NancyJohnson]

I've been using Ultimate and Hercules stands for a while.  My current squeeze is this one (GS402BB).  Assuming you have a regular shaped instrument, it works a treat:

[BigRedX]

5 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

I've been using Ultimate and Hercules stands for a while.  My current squeeze is this one (GS402BB).  Assuming you have a regular shaped instrument, it works a treat:

 

I've got one of those. I wouldn't trust for any other than home use with a symmetrical shaped guitar.

[neepheid]

K&M Memphis Pro stand. Top neck grab, legs fold in and it's telescopic so compacts down pretty small.

 

From this to this:

 

 

Set up, collapse down in seconds.

Edited yesterday at 13:10 by neepheid

[Rosie C]

3 hours ago, pst62 said:

You won't go wrong with an Hercules Auto Grab.

 

I'll second this. I also have the 3-way one:

 

[tauzero]

Stagg SGA100BK. Cheap, stable, accommodates headless and asymmetrical basses, with a neck security thingie.

 

[walshy]

3 hours ago, pst62 said:

You won't go wrong with an Hercules Auto Grab.

This one is pretty brilliant. I use it for everything from P bass to T Bird and its class

[SimonK]

Hercules three way for me - here it is with both guitars and basses (one arm folded down as only two basses that day.

 

 

[Bleat]

I have an Ultimate GS-1000 pro. Great stand

Ultimate GS 1000 Pro

[tauzero]

17 minutes ago, Bleat said:

I have an Ultimate GS-1000 pro. Great stand

Ultimate GS 1000 Pro

 

I had one as it was the only stand that could cope with a Warwick Buzzard 5 height-wise. The grabber mechanism fell apart after not a lot of use. If you don't need the extra height of the Ultimate, a Hercules is (IME) a much better stand. But the Stagg is better than both.

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

5 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

I've been using Ultimate and Hercules stands for a while.  My current squeeze is this one (GS402BB).  Assuming you have a regular shaped instrument, it works a treat:

These things are a godsend for practice and gigs. Folds really small, and very stable. 

[Bleat]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

 

I had one as it was the only stand that could cope with a Warwick Buzzard 5 height-wise. The grabber mechanism fell apart after not a lot of use. If you don't need the extra height of the Ultimate, a Hercules is (IME) a much better stand. But the Stagg is better than both.

 

 

Not had a problem with mine at all, holds a 9.5lbs bass just fine, and has done for a few years now. ! Maybe you just got unlucky with a bad one? I had a chrome version of that Stagg stand a few years ago and to be fair it was a very nice little stand and really well made. I prefer a grab stand personally.

 

😎

[simonlittle]

7 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

I've been using Ultimate and Hercules stands for a while.  My current squeeze is this one (GS402BB).  Assuming you have a regular shaped instrument, it works a treat:

I also have a couple of these, plus one of the grab stands. The grab stands are great if you need to change instruments a lot during a gig. I find the little fold-up ones a bit of a pain on gigs to be honest as jazz-type shaped basses need a bit of finagling to get them to sit right, plus most of my basses have a jack socket and/or a control knob right where one of the little feet are. I always leave one in the car for emergencies/can’t be arsed to bring the big stand days, but the grab stand is the one I like and trust the most on gigs. 

[Owen]

8 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

It is a K+M. It will work. But that picture makes it super attractive. 

[Owen]

The best guitar stand is a nice big speaker cab where you can rest your P bass, with 2 equidistant strap buttons on the base, against it. But that is pretty niche. 

[Suburban Man]

21 hours ago, neepheid said:

K&M Memphis Pro stand. Top neck grab, legs fold in and it's telescopic so compacts down pretty small.

 

From this to this:

 

 

Set up, collapse down in seconds.

I’ve used K&M stands for years, well worth the money and you can almost always get spare parts for them. 

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, Suburban Man said:

I’ve used K&M stands for years, well worth the money and you can almost always get spare parts for them. 

 

That reminds me, I did have one break on me - one of the telescopic sections blew past its stop (because I was being a twit and I helped gravity plus the heaviest part with the legs to extend it at great speed) and bits of it came flying out and disappeared on a dark stage - oops!  I reported this to them via the shop I bought it from (possibly glossing over how it came to break, lol) and it was a no quibble straight replacement - send the broken one back and they sent me a new one right away.  Seems like they stand by their products, and idiots like me!

 

Yeah, so don't do that then

 

[probonopublico]

Many thanks to everyone who has replied to this.  A few months back I couldn't find an Ultimate stand but now I can.  But you have given me food for thought with the alternatives. What a great place this is.

Edited 1 hour ago by probonopublico

[neepheid]

If you do go for the K&M - I recommend buying it from London Guitar Studio - https://www.londonguitarstudio.com/p/k-m-memphis-pro-deluxe-guitar-stand - £40 and I think delivery is only £2.50.  You can get it from Thomann/Bax for £35, but unless you're buying other stuff to trigger their free postage, their postage will make it same/more expensive.  Buying in the UK you'll get it quicker too.

 

The reason I want to shout out London Guitar Studio is that they were super helpful when I broke one of my K&M stands (mostly through my own bravado/stupidity), turned around the return/replacement with no fuss or hassle.

Edited 4 hours ago by neepheid

[Mrbigstuff]

On 08/08/2025 at 13:39, NancyJohnson said:

I've been using Ultimate and Hercules stands for a while.  My current squeeze is this one (GS402BB).  Assuming you have a regular shaped instrument, it works a treat:

The foam disintegrated on mine and I replaced it with the auto grab. Just something for prospective buyers to bare in mind

Edited 4 hours ago by Mrbigstuff