A Guitarist's Workstation

[Gitterbug]

Space is often tight on the bandstand. Here's something I built for myself many years ago and still use whenever two instruments are needed. The device folds flat for transport and features an adjustable note/pad stand for playing sitting or standing; two guitar/bass hooks; lights; an amp (and drinks) tray, and a mic stand for banjo/even worse. Underneath, an open-back TOOB 12J. The cab position is not ideal but passable in crammed situations; the amp tray and note stand reduce feedback. If you know your music, you can always step to the side; if you don't, it's convenient to hide behind the structure.

I tried to call it Playstation but my grandsons told me a Japanese company makes something electronic by that name. Playmate? Hefner was still alive. So this remains a no-name one-off. Feel free to copy/improve.

[Fred Archtop]

Fantastic design and ergonomy! I've always admired creative tinkerers like you. My dad was like you but obviously it's not heritable.

Cheers.

[Gitterbug]

Thanks, Fred! I'd exchange my tinkering to your playing without a nanosecond's hesitation.

[Tal_175]

I like how you used a banjo as a counter weight

[Gitterbug]

It's almost over-counter - a Fender Artist Plectrum weighing about 20 lbs.

[medblues]

It's almost over-counter - a Fender Artist Plectrum weighing about 20 lbs.

Wow, workout of the day !

[Gabor]

Sorry for the silly question, what is this thing, like an ezotheric foot drum in the middle down?

[Doctor Jeff]

That’s great! From a fellow tinkerer...

BTW the Toob amp sounds interesting...from their website looks like some models are coming out soon. Are they available in the US?

Here’s my gigging rig...I use a Hercules stand which doubles as a holder for my iPad (don’t use paper charts). I take the top piece off when playing...I am kind of picky about how it looks to the audience.

[Gitterbug]

Sorry for the silly question, what is this thing, like an ezotheric foot drum in the middle down?

Gabor, thanks for asking! That's a TOOB 12J speaker cab, 100W and 9 lbs. I make them. Several 10" and 12" variants in that caliber. There's also a 6.5" Metro line for the urban working musician, just 4 lbs, up to 130W and public transit friendly. Several in use by NY jazz cats, both guitar and bass. Over cabs 300 made since 2018, in use in 18 countries, mainly by pros. Website: Home New - to be updated asap with new models.

PS I see you're from Hungary. László Balogh from Lightweight Guitar Amps in Alsöörs ([email protected]) has several models in stock and e.g. a rare telescopic 10" on offer.

[Gitterbug]

That’s great! From a fellow tinkerer...

BTW the Toob amp sounds interesting...from their website looks like some models are coming out soon. Are they available in the US?

Here’s my gigging rig...I use a Hercules stand which doubles as a holder for my iPad (don’t use paper charts). I take the top piece off when playing...I am kind of picky about how it looks to the audience.

Nice! I had the SCXD (with Ragin' Cajun) before getting serious with the TOOBs. No reseller in the States, but some 30 across the country sold direct - mostly to jazz guitarists and bassists, but there's an odd lap steel player, a few rockers, teachers, a singer-songwriter etc. Apart from the Metro series, which I advertised in the For Sale section last year, there's now the new S series: 10" and 12" models with a closed back and a felt-lined sound port like in the Metros. S stands for Studio. Tonally, these land between the original Jazz and Rock versions and come close to the Princetons in some people's opinion. The original 12J, 12R and 12B also in production.

[icr]

That is a very nice setup. I don't get opportunities to perform, so I'm almost 100% recording only so most of my playing takes place here. Though, I have replaced the iPad with a 'real' computer as the iPad was just too hard to use.

[Woody Sound]

That is a very nice setup. I don't get opportunities to perform, so I'm almost 100% recording only so most of my playing takes place here. Though, I have replaced the iPad with a 'real' computer as the iPad was just too hard to use.

You take all that stuff with you????

[gitman]

In a situation where the band is below the stage (musical/theater etc.) this would be a great rig to have (with the speaker turned around, facing ME) but ON STAGE, in full visibility of the audience and in a concert-situation I would feel uncomfortable and
strange, being almost completely hidden behind this structure ....
I often carry a (archtop) guitar and banjo plus amp (plus a footswitch for turning the pages on my iPad, plus maybe an FX pedal), iPad Pro + stand and with enough lead time before the first note the other band members and I can always find a workable solution, on most any stage. I have long ago let go of the notion that I HAVE TO hear myself in an optimal way ALL the time, on EVERY gig - that is a pipe dream. You normally never have that kind of control - unless you're the headliner of course !
But never the less, that is a neat idea !

[Gitterbug]

In a situation where the band is below the stage (musical/theater etc.) this would be a great rig to have (with the speaker turned around, facing ME) but ON STAGE, in full visibility of the audience and in a concert-situation I would feel uncomfortable and
strange, being almost completely hidden behind this structure ....

When I made this, I was with an epoch swing/dance band with green clothes showing the band's name, hanging from the notestands. From the audience's perspective, my fortress behind the cloth made no difference. Nowadays gigs are few and far between, and I only use the workstation on the rare occasion when the banjo is let out of its coffin. That used to be mostly pensioners' meetings (all cancelled) and old-age homes (not visitable), where the audience is not too discerning regarding optics - or acoustics.

BTW, thinking of the orchestra pit, many TOOB variants come with extra legs for playing upright, a modern take on the "Fountain of Tone."

[pcjazz]

BTW, thinking of the orchestra pit, many TOOB variants come with extra legs for playing upright, a modern take on the "Fountain of Tone."

If memory serves (it having been a long time since the last rehearsal) this was a great solution for big bands that practice in a circle formation --- push the upright TOOB out towards the middle of the circle, away from the drums and bass amp so the horns could finally hear the guitar. And good for lots of questions, like "when does that thing take off?"

[Hammertone]

I like how you used a banjo as a counter weight

Along the same lines, just be careful never to leave that rig anywhere overnight, set up with the banjo, because you know what you may find the next day....

[Gitterbug]

And good for lots of questions, like "when does that thing take off?"

Paul, thanks! I hope your 10T serves you well. Somebody in Hungary, seeing one upright, suggested it might be a garden grill.