I’ve been playing with the music team at Hathern Baptist Church for a few weeks now and, although they have plenty of channels going into the desk, they are a bit short on mic stands. Not a problem – not only do I have a mic of my own but I also have a stand. However, while the mic is one of Shure’s workhorses, the stand is a cheapish one from Stagg and the boom arm attachment has lost its ability to hold in position when a mic is attached.

I’ve taken it apart and turned the rubber pads the other way round. They were quite worn on the side that engaged with the patterns in the metal connector… but that didn’t solve it. I’ve tried adding some leather disks (an old studio trick suggested online) but they aren’t thick enough on their own but too thick to use alongside the rubber pads. As you might expect, I’ve also tried a 3d printed solution but I didn’t get the print orientation right and the part broke while trying to attach it (and almost certainly wouldn’t have worked even without that.

This morning I was contemplating another 3d printed approach but I couldn’t find the metal strips I thought I had in the shed which would have added some critical strength as connectors. However, I then had the bright of idea of using a bit of string or, more precisely, black paracord. I’ve tied it between the base of the clutch (height control) and the back of the the boom connector. That way, as the weight of the mic tries to rotate the front end down, the back end is reinforced by the connection to the central pole. I’ll have to see if my clove hitch knots are sufficient and if the paracord can hold the strain over an extended period but testing so far, including tonight’s rehearsal, seems positive.

Not only is it simple and easy but it also barely adds any weight or visual clutter to the set up. Probably a win, with just a bit of string.