Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Building my own keyboard stand

Just thought I'd share my recent project for you all to gaze upon in wonderment. :o)

I purchased the Akai MPK 88 midi controller keyboard and decided to build a stand for it mainly cus I don't like those X stand things, they're just to wobbly for my liking.

Here's some links to images of the project so far.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4852603053/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4853223894/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4852603163/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4853223974/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4852603251/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mf_blues/4853224098/

I'm hoping to complete the project over the next few weeks, eventually the stand will be painted satin black and all the wires where possible will be run through trunking on the back of the stand.

I will post some more pics as the project goes on and hopefully you'll get to see the finished article.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers

Martin

Well I thought someone may have been the tiniest bit interested, maybe sharing their own experience of such a project or something.

Oh well, such is life.

Keep on tinkling those ivories(synthetic only or course).

Cheers

Mart.

I looked at it and my initial thoughts were a) that's a bit OTT b) where do you put your music c) there's a lot of electronics there d) that three pedal jobby looks interesting (is it a generic one or specific to your machine?)

It looks very impressive, but its not something I would have ever considered doing.
From the looks of it I presume its fulfilled your requirement for stability.

One of the 1st things I did when starting to use DPs was to draw up plans for a keyboard case. I understand the need for having/building one of these things. I built my own also and I am very happy with it. I did not design a permanent position for speakers because I did not feel I could properly know where they should go without spending more time using the system. I am only now, after a year or two, feeling I would know where I would want a set of near-field monitors semi-permanently positioned.

Two of the things I noticed, to mention, were the lack of enclosure surrounding the mid-range/bass?? speakers. I also was a bit concerned about the tweeters. They are very directional and they appear to be set very far back in those tunnel-like openings, and aimed to go right on past you. I think you are going to think you are hearing sound okay (maybe just by shear volume), but since you are designing it yourself, you might want to add the ability to properly aim the treble response to suit you.

I like your work so far,... a great case! I know you will enjoy playing all the more for it.

I'm able to stand my music on top of the M3 Module, I have already designed the support just need to get it made, it is a bit high but not too much.

The 3 pedal is a Gem unit, I do need to do a bit of re-wiring to get to use it fully but that's no problem as I have rewired once already for the M3.

Stability is excellent, that's why I set about building it, I can't stand playing the keyboard when it wobbles all over the place, drives me mad.

Thanks for looking and replying.

Cheers

Mart.

Music Major

The subs are being enclosed, I just haven't finished yet. I set the tweaters to point out the front and back of the unit, 8 in all and I'm really happy with the sound, the idea was to try and emulate the sound of a piano coming out all around the unit rather than being too directional, I really have no idea what I'm doing to be honest I just thought I'd give it a try and so far it seems to work.

When I get it all finished I will post some more pics, hopefully the final paint job will cover up some of my errors as I'm no master carpenter that's for sure.

Cheers

martin

Music Major

I forgot to say, as you built one too how about posting some pics, I would love to see it.

Cheers

Martin

One thing about building it yourself, you gt exactly what you want.

I had thought about replacing the cross beam suport with a hollow beam. It looks like you did this. My problem is getting the hollow beam to have the correct internal volume as as to act as a speaker enclosure. For the drivers I'd like to use I'd need a about 1.5 cubic feet of volume.

So how did you handle this, smaller speakers? What drivers did you use? Is there a bass reflex port, pillow fluff. How do the speakers sound?

Great stuff. Looks well made. Looks like woodworking is or could be a second hobby. UK from the plug; in the South? Just in case I need a good carpenter.

MF-Blues .... that stand is looking good.

Here's one I built for my FP7, not fancy but strong.

Wow, you've got guts buildin' your own speakers into it and such!!

Mine's a little on the simpler side:
http://pianocheater.com/piano/rig.html

So that big thing front and center there is some
kind of mixer or somethin?

Where do you stick the computer?
I'm guessin off to the is the computer rig?

Man, that baby is built like a tank!

ChrisA, The speakers sound pretty good but they're not finished yet, I really don't have much clue about all the speaker box capcity I just throw things together and see what happens, I do intend putting some foam of some kind in the subs, I understand it helps prevent them from sounding muddy, but they do sound pretty good to me. I'll have to do a recording and see what you guys think.

Dannac, I like that stand, looks pretty cool to me, I like the book shelf bit very clever and sturdy is what makes it for me. Nice one.

Steve, Not guts just don't know what I'm doing so just tried it anyway, well maybe some guts then. :o), I like your stand too, this is the sort of thing I was hoping to see when I made this post, it's just great to see how people innovate to make things suit their needs.

I hope we get some others come through with their creations, doesn't need to be a stand just anything to do with their music.

By the way Steve, my computer is on a desk to the side of the keyboard.

Cheers Guys, it's really great to see this stuff.

Keep it coming people. :o)

Cheers

Martin.

Which thing you looking at Steve, do you mean the controls on top of the keyboard or the white unit at the back?

Cheers

Mart.

I was talkin' bout that very top thing towards the back where I'd expect a sheet music stand to be.. I guess the "white unit at the back"?

There's some thread on here called, mmm, I forget :/, that lists off some folks' rigs.
Search on here is kinda lame.
Usually, you gotta wait for a day or 2 to get a response on most topics.
(I don't log in here every dang day. Well, I try not to:)

Lovely looking woodwork. If it were me I wouldn't paint it black! I guess you'll have left some details looking untidy given your plan to paint it, but from afar it looks great as it is...

Steve, the white module at the back is a korg M3M sound module, a very powerful bit of kit which has a 16 track sequencer, touch screen etc,etc....... too many features to list but it's very good to play with.

robdean, I was originally just going to stain it black, infact I may try that first because I did want to retain some visibilty of the wood grain, I can always mask any imperfections (of which there are a few) later.

Cheers

Mart.

Hello All

Here is my stand - custom sized, handcrafted for my Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano

Cheers











/z

It looks great! Any plans for a beverage holder?

My thoughts:
- you sure didn't skimp on the wood costs!
- there will NEVER be a speck of dust on the keys
- that thing will NEVER fall apart or creak:)
(mine creaked a little, but I fixed that.)
- you REALLY need a better chair!
- where does the pc go?
- how do you get the drums out of the corner?
- you should glue a 1x2 (the bumpy way) against
the back lower inside of the cover for a
monster sized sheet music stand

Oh, and good choice of piano