Hugh Robjohns wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:32 pm
K&M offer a 0.8kg counter-weight (21105) for their stands for under £15 each, which is safe as it slides over the boom arm tube and can't fall off...
Well, unless it slips out of your hand as you're adjusting it and accelerates off the end of the boom arm and launches itself at the top most expensive guitar in your studio.
Hugh's suggestions are pretty comprehensive, and I wasn’t aware of any of them, so thanks.
One question, other than an extended boom stand, how would you rig a heavy mic in front of a keyboard , so the player can sing into it?
I need to use this mic, the T Bone RM700.
Arpangel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:54 pm
One question, other than an extended boom stand, how would you rig a heavy mic in front of a keyboard , so the player can sing into it?
I need to use this mic, the T Bone RM700.
If you don't have a long arm then you'll need a heavier counterweight. Assuming you can't mount an angle-poise stand on the piano itself...
Arpangel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:54 pm
One question, other than an extended boom stand, how would you rig a heavy mic in front of a keyboard , so the player can sing into it?
Ideally, from behind...
stop giggling at the back!
But you're going to tell me you're up against a wall...
I've warned you...
So your only real choices are a properly counter-balanced boom arm from the side, or an angle-poise (if it's beefy enough – most won't be) and there's somewhere to mount it...
Out Boy... get out!
Of suspend the mic from above if it's a semi-permanent rig, either on wires or a ceiling-mounted rigid pole. (K&M make them)
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Arpangel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:54 pm
One question, other than an extended boom stand, how would you rig a heavy mic in front of a keyboard , so the player can sing into it?
Ideally, from behind...
stop giggling at the back!
But you're going to tell me you're up against a wall...
I've warned you...
So your only real choices are a properly counter-balanced boom arm from the side, or an angle-poise (if it's beefy enough – most won't be) and there's somewhere to mount it...
Out Boy... get out!
Of suspend the mic from above if it's a semi-permanent rig, either on wires or a ceiling-mounted rigid pole. (K&M make them)
Right that's enough... get out all of you!
It's not up against a wall, but there isn’t enough room for the side option, the ceiling idea is good, I’ve got exposed beams, so they are easy to screw into.
It's K&M all the way for me. I've had too many issues with cheap stands in the past. Cheap stands - quite hideous - horrible to use and fall to bits.
That said, the Pulse ones were reasonable for the money - especially the short ones. But they'll eventually fail exactly as you've found, with thread stripped either on the bolt or in the square nut it engages in - or both.
Easily replaced with the right part. A mate did some of these recently on the base of some short Pulse stands that have seen some life. Think it was M5. Google "M5 square nut" and "M5 threaded knob" and you should get in the right ball park. In a pinch, I guess you could always grind down a regular M5 nut to fit. Once you've found the right parts, buy a few, as you'll be using them.
Or, to get exactly the right part, did you try contacting Pulse to ask?
Arpangel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:28 pm
It's not up against a wall, but there isn’t enough room for the side option, the ceiling idea is good, I’ve got exposed beams, so they are easy to screw into.
Try these — Wall/ Ceiling mounts - Microphone Stands - Products - König & Meyer
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Arpangel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:28 pm
It's not up against a wall, but there isn’t enough room for the side option, the ceiling idea is good, I’ve got exposed beams, so they are easy to screw into.
Try these — Wall/ Ceiling mounts - Microphone Stands - Products - König & Meyer
AlecSp wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:52 pm
It's K&M all the way for me. I've had too many issues with cheap stands in the past. Cheap stands - quite hideous - horrible to use and fall to bits.
That said, the Pulse ones were reasonable for the money - especially the short ones. But they'll eventually fail exactly as you've found, with thread stripped either on the bolt or in the square nut it engages in - or both.
Easily replaced with the right part. A mate did some of these recently on the base of some short Pulse stands that have seen some life. Think it was M5. Google "M5 square nut" and "M5 threaded knob" and you should get in the right ball park. In a pinch, I guess you could always grind down a regular M5 nut to fit. Once you've found the right parts, buy a few, as you'll be using them.
Or, to get exactly the right part, did you try contacting Pulse to ask?
Yes I’ve used both the K&M 210/9 and K&M 25600 mic stands. Both of these are really high quality stands. The Pulse stands are ok for the price and once I’ve fixed the base screws, these will be good to have as backup stands when I eventually upgrade to the K&M stands. However this wont be cheap as I’ll need to get 10+ of these at £50-£68 each!
The screws for the tripod base have arrived today and they have fixed the issue. My Pulse stands have had a fare amount of use for almost 10 years and the only issue I've had is a simple £1 fix. This makes me feel more inclined to get a couple more for the immediate future as I don't really have the budget after just buying an RCF NX910/702as MK3 system. Whilst the K&M stands are an obvious step up in quality, they will be an investment in the future.
Mic stands are not high level engineering, I have a mix of K&M, Beyer and no-name stands which all work ok*. As long as you have a few spares you'll be fine.
* I'm definitely an advocate of buying good gear for piece of mind and for long term reliability but I have old, cheap mic stands which are still working fine.
Possibly a little lubrication on the screws that are always being tightened/untightened might help them to last longer. No need to smother them in oil, but just a little drop might help.
Sam Spoons wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:46 pm
Mic stands are not high level engineering, I have a mix of K&M, Beyer and no-name stands which all work ok*. As long as you have a few spares you'll be fine.
* I'm definitely an advocate of buying good gear for piece of mind and for long term reliability but I have old, cheap mic stands which are still working fine.
James Perrett wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:48 pm
Possibly a little lubrication on the screws that are always being tightened/untightened might help them to last longer. No need to smother them in oil, but just a little drop might help.
dickiefunk wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:28 pm
The screws for the tripod base have arrived today and they have fixed the issue. My Pulse stands have had a fare amount of use for almost 10 years and the only issue I've had is a simple £1 fix.
Indeed, it's a piece of cake with the right parts. And, of course, if you're replacing both threaded knob and square bolt, the size doesn't matter, as long as they match - forgot that.
James Perrett wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 9:48 pm
Possibly a little lubrication on the screws that are always being tightened/untightened might help them to last longer. No need to smother them in oil, but just a little drop might help.
Personally, I'd use a dab of grease, but yes - basic engineering.
Posts:10110Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:00 amLocation: Manchester, UK
“…I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career” - (folk musician, Manchester).
