can someone suggest any set-top/desktop keyboard racks?

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

My studio space is fairly limited and there's not much room for an extra keyboard stand. I looked around on the web but didn't find much there either. All I want is something that holds one or two keyboards above my desk space. I've seen something like that in different studio images, but why are they so hard to find? Any suggestions?

To give you an idea of what exactly I'm looking for, this comes pretty close, but it's too narrow and doesn't look sturdy enough.

elektro80 · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:29 am Post subject:

The link doesn´t work.

Some vendors did have keyboard shelves for wall mounting, some of these were obviously designed for shops. I guess these are still around.
Off the top of my head I cannot come up with something that is suitable for use above a workspace.. that sounds tricky. You can of course buy some sort of modular system that you can fit together in a way that almost makes sense. scratch

elektro80 · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:31 am Post subject:

Right... now the link works.. and no.. or rather yes.. that one does not seem sturdy. I wouldn´t put my 88key Kurzweil on top of it. Shocked

audiodef · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:50 am Post subject:

I built a desktop synth stand once, using a triangular table from Ikea. I sawed the legs in half. Using the sawed-off portions of the legs, I affixed posts to the three corners of the top side of the table, with the front post being shorter. To the top of the posts I affixed some felt. I used it to support my Alesis Ion. The rear of the Ion rested on the two rear posts while the front of the Ion was prevented from sliding off by the front post. I put this rig behind the mixers on my desk. I wish I had a photo of this setup. It was very economical.

Aciphecs · Joined: Nov 05, 2010 Posts: 79 Location: Michigan, USA

Maybe something like this might work, if there is room to fit the stand behind your desk.

elektro80 · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:59 pm Post subject:

http://quiklok.it

http://quiklok.com

There should be parts and whatnots here that can be used. I reckon some of the second tier options for some of the keyboard stands can be modified or used as they are .. just add some vodka and imagination.

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

I suppose I'll have to build it myself and patent it? D'oh! now someone else's gonna do it doh

Aciphecs · Joined: Nov 05, 2010 Posts: 79 Location: Michigan, USA

Maybe something like a lecturn might work? I use one as a makeshift keyboard stand and it works really well.

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

Yeah, but it dosen't leave much room to put something like another keyboard under it. Plus the price is a bit out of my league, at least at the moment. I'll just keep looking...

elektro80 · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:56 pm Post subject:

You didn´t see this one?
http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=135&sName=QLX-1

This one can hold a pretty heavy and nasty keyboard:
http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=137&sName=QLX-3

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

There are several similar second tier products there.
Most of them are very adjustable.

You simply need to figure out how to fasten these things to your desk.. which is not really very difficult if you can make some holes and get some tubes and shit. Very Happy

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

Yes, I have something like that, two sets of them mounted on a keyboard stand, holding three keyboards already and that's tall enough. I was hoping to find something that doesn't require modification? I was just thinking it would be practical to have something like a simple desktop rack/stand. A dual desktop keyboard rack that's adjustable in with and heigth. That would be the holy grail for me right now.

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

was just thinking: I could just use one stand and set a nice sturdy board on the 1st level and use that for a desk? But I don't want to give up my beautiful desk.. Sad

I guess some large bricks and a wide enough board will have to do for now..

audiodef · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:47 am Post subject:

Things you do yourself take on a quality specific to you, so you may end up liking it more than a generic, shiny new gizmo from the store. Wink

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

It's not exactly what I was hoping for, but beats the alternative (forking up $$ for a specialized, uberpriced thing Smile

modulator_esp · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 5:34 am Post subject:

the griffin elevator is pretty cool for supporting small stuff, I have a couple I use for holding small things, like my repeater, blofeld, cs-01, vss-30 etc

what stuff did you want to use it for?

patrickvf1976 · Joined: Aug 08, 2011 Posts: 135 Location: Gig Harbor

what I'm basically looking for is something that sits on a desk and lifts one (or two) keyboards above the deskspace and preferably leaves some space below to hide some stuff underneath. I have seen someone somewhere use a kind of keyboard tray(?) that sat on a desk but I guess it could have been something that was custom made.

PS: The Griffin Elevator looks kewl alright, but will it hold something large and heavy (like an an ESQ-1)?

modulator_esp · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:21 am Post subject:

no, it's not strong enough to hold a synth as heavy as the esq-1

if you used 2, one at each end you might be OK, but I'd use them for your lighter stuff

also they are not that high, so you need to think about the height of the thing they will be sitting behind