Product Observation Blogpost 5 (Single-X keyboard stand)
What is the 'thing' you are observing?
World Tour Single X Keyboard Stand
What is the purpose of it?
To support the weight of keyboard instruments
How is it a part of one's everyday life?
A musician needs his keyboard off the ground during performance due to his non-trivial height as well as during storage-- to avoid the hazards of water damage as well as to have it held in place in an orderly fashion.
How is it designed well?
It employs the straightforward single X-brace design which facilitates use of less material for high strength. The heavy-duty 1-inch square and round steel construction ensures reasonable weight distribution up to 130 pounds, which is more than thrice the load it can be expected to shoulder. It is therefore cheap and light.
Furthermore, one can adjust the height of the keyboard stand to suite different play positions (height range is 25.25" to 38.75") as well as fold it flat to facilitate easy storage. This is made possible by an intuitive secure-Lock center clutch height adjustment system. At the end of each 19-inch steel member is non-marking rubber end caps which help provide grip for the structure and also a bit of give.
How is it designed not so well?
The single X design, in spite of being cheap and relatively strong, is faulted for being wobbly at weights beyond 35 pounds. Also, the use of the center clutch height adjustment system makes it necessary for one to bend and reach for the levers—a process that can definitely be done in a much more elegant way.
What improvements would you make?
Instead of fitting the vertical members of the structure parallel to the horizontal bases I would have them fitted at a 45-degree angle to the bases in order to better handle lateral forces, thereby making it more stable.
Fitting the clutch assembly to the handle would be my biggest suggestion because one needs more than two hands to depress the clutch and pry open the X-assembly in order to set up or dismantle the keyboard stand.
Anything else?
To achieve maximal stability and strength for the X-structured keyboard stand, one could need to introduce double bracing. This however is expensive and therefore beats the logic of having a cheap and light keyboard stands—especially for those with light keyboards.
Dennis Odhiambo
