HerculesDS571BB Travlite Violin/Viola Stand with Bag

For some reason, violinists fail to plan ahead for gigs wherein they know damned good and well they will spend a significant portion of their time NOT playing. At weddings, it’s the homily. At rehearsals and concerts, it’s the breaks and intermissions. At clubs and festivals, it’s doing shots after soundcheck. Rather than use an awesome, sturdy, convenient, lightweight invention like the Hercules stand, they instead awkwardly cradle their violins like baby otters for 10-30 minutes, or abandon them on chairs to await some mishap while they go to the can. Every time I put my violin onto the Hercules stand and get out my typewriter to complete the next great American novel or stuff my pipe to smoke it or crack out my basketweaving side hustle, the other violinists die a little inside knowing that they, too, could be putting their violins down for a moment of zen, but alas, they cannot because they haven’t bought themselves a Hercules. Yet.This is akin to the USPS finally releasing stamps that are self-adhesive and not tongue-activated. Congrats, Postal Service, for inventing the sticker. As former Vice President and pet rock impersonator Dan Quayle once announced, “It is time for the human race to enter the solar system.”

It is better balanced than the other popular brand so it works well

The Hercules is lighter weight than my other violin stands. Good design - it’s easy to get my fiddle in and out of the holder.

I HAVE READ SOME OF THE REVIEWS AND DO NOT SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE THE STAND WITH THE T-BAR BOW HOLDER AND LOVE IT, IT DOES WHAT THEY SAY. THEY ADVERTISE A STAND THAT IS LITE AND EASY TO CARRY AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS,IF YOU THINK IT IS TO LITE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A STAND THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE WORD LITE IN ITS NAME. IF YOU FEAR THAT A BUMP MAY KNOCK IT OVER I WOULD SAY BUY A STAND WITH 4 LEGS AND PUT YOUR VIOLIN IN A LESS TRAVELED PART OF THE ROOM. I HAVE 2 MID SIZED DOGS IN MY HOUSE SO I MAKE SURE MY VIOLIN IS PLACED IN A SAFE SPOT IN THE ROOM. THE STAND SEEMS TO BE REASONABLY WELL MADE,I LOVE THE AUTO LOCK SYSTEM AND THE LITTLE TRAY FOR ROSIN IS NICE AND IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE TRAY THEN DO NOT PUT IT ON. I THINK IT'S A COOL STAND THAT IS NO MORE OR LESS THAN WHAT IS ADVERTISED.IT WILL HOLD A VIOLIN WITH A SHOULDER REST ATTACHED,MAY NOT DO THE SAME WITH A VIOLA.

UPDATE: A kind Amazonian answered my question regarding the little hook--it is to better secure the bow. Apparently you can hook the tip. I'll give it a try....ORIGINAL REVIEW:Just got this to replace my somewhat bulky Ingles (bought many years ago) which is heavy and large but works very well. The Hercules folds compactly, is lightweight, fits in the included pouch. Is super lightweight; I worry it will tip over. Has the "T" bow holder that seems to work well. I haven't tried the little detachable rosin holder platform yet. Not sure what the little hook is on the lower right leg.I have a Skyinbow electric violin with an unusual (minimal) scroll . The scroll is supposed to catch the upsidedown "U" piece and the weight pulls down, causing the little clips to close and hold the violin (it hangs in there). Since the Skyinbow doesn't have a full scroll, I have to be really careful to "activate" the mechinism so it actually holds the violin, or it won't clip and the instrument would likely fall right out. This is different from the Ingles--on the Ingles, you adjust it so it is the correct height so that the instrument rests in the two feet at the base, and the clip at the neck keeps the instrument from falling out. So it isn't hanging, it is resting. In the Hercules, it is hanging by the neck (and possibly swinging freely). It just feels less secure.I'm keeping both stands, since the Hercules is so lightweight and is easier to take to gigs. But it also has a much larger footprint than the Ingles. However, the Hercules is more of a one-handed thing--you can set/retrieve the instrument with your left hand and hang the bow with your right and be on your way. On the Ingles you need to unhook the "catch" with your right hand while you set the instrument with your left, then place the bow in the hook. No biggie for either, just different on each.So I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. Lightweight? Hercules. Sturdier? Ingles. Smaller footprint? Ingles. Easy to move instrument securely while in the stand? Ingles. Coolness factor? Hercules.Why did I knock off a star? No instructions (to explain the little hook but unnecessary for any other reason), doesn't work quite right with my electric violin, not as sturdy a design as the Ingles.If you aren't worried about someone walking by and tripping on the feet extending out, this will probably work fine for you. If you are in an orchestra pit, go for the Ingles, which you can usually keep pretty close to you or just near the music stand and keep your instrument safe when you aren't playing.

On first try, I thought my Kanilea Concert Ukulele neck (1 1/2" at the nut)was too large to fit into the holder mechanism. Then I realized that if I pushed it back firmly into the padded U-shaped neck brace, it closed ok. A little tight, but ok. After using it for a couple of weeks the padding has given a bit, and the neck fits in nicely now. I doubt a tenor uke would fit though.I love the fact that the insrument is secure, but nothing blocks the view of the front of the instrument. other than the small holders near the nut.My other Uke is narrower at the nut(1 3/8")and it fits even better.The stand is well made and attractive.UPDATE: (Sept 2010) I recently purchased a Lanakai Acacia Tenor Uke and it fits perfectly into the neck brace, so I retract my previous Tenor statement.

Stand looks great and am satisfied with the build quality.It holds my NS Design WAV5 violin perfectly securely.I appreciate the carrying case for the stand as well

Very sturdy violin stand. Probably the best on the market. I have no regrets after receiving it and touching/feeling it. It has my recommendation. I wholeheartedly disagree with reviews that said the stand was easy to knock over or easy to knock the violin off the stand. Yes, that can happen if you set the height of the legs incorrectly. When set correctly, it is almost impossible to tip over the stand or dislodge the violin from its stand, even with a good strong bump. By the way, it my mandolin fits the stand perfectly as well, so that is a nice bonus.