noydb wrote:
These days, about the only portable mic stands worth a **** are made by
K&M. They don't all have K&M on them, though. Like Mike said, the AKGs &
Beyers are also made by K&M. If you find some old (really old) Atlas
stuff, it might (might) be OK. You definately can't see the difference in
a catalog picture, & often it's not apparent on first inspection. It will
be painfully apparent when it fails on a gig. Don't take chances.

Try the Latch Lake stands. I think they are better made than the K&M
stands (although they aren't as well made as the K&M stands were twenty
years ago).

Is there any kind of a base that resembles a
triangular light stand,
that would provide steadiness with less weight than the traditional cast
iron round?

Put something heavy on the leg opposite the mic. Sandbags are good. So is
any amp on casters. The wheels give you enough space to wedge the mic
stand leg under there.

For anything larger than a stage stand, I think it's worth going to a
large lighting stand, possibly with sandbags or water jugs to weight
the base down. If the big Manfrotto stand isn't big enough for you,
try the Avenger crank-ups. Not as convenient as a Starbird but it
weighs a lot less and one person can carry it.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."