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Hooked Up - ezStand

Hooked Up - ezStand

Written by Dan Keener on 7/16/2008 for AV  
More On: Hooked Up
Welcome to Hooked Up, the Gaming Nexus series that puts the spotlight on gaming related products that impact the Video Game experience. This week we take a look at ezGear’s ezStand guitar stand.


Stand


What is it?

The ezStand by ezGear is a product designed to hold virtually any guitar controller (both first and third party) on any platform for games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Not only will it get the controllers off the floor, but it adds extra layers of protection for the instrument with lots of padding and a security strap for the neck.

Product Quick Reference  
Company ezGear
Product ezStand
Price $15.99
Product Website www.ezgear.com


Impressions
“Perfect, absolutely perfect.” That was the thought running through my head when I pulled the ezStand out of the box and started putting it together. I assembled it in less than 30 seconds without the aid of directions and marveled at how easy and simple the design was. It was simply a matter of folding the legs out into a locked position, inserting the neck into the base and tightening it down and then threading the u-shaped piece that supports the guitar through the hole. It was seriously that easy.

The ezStand is all-metal construction which makes it extremely sturdy and doubtful it will ever collapse (or fall apart) from everyday use. Two of my pet peeves with other stands have been cheap plastic and failure to hold together for more than a handful of uses. The others simply looked and felt cheap. I have checked out about a half dozen of these stands from various companies, and the ezStand is the first to blend price, quality of construction and ease of use into one package.

One real nice feature is the piece that supports the guitar controller pivots, unlike most that remain fixed. So regardless of which guitar controller style, it will make contact and provide support for the controller on both of its arms.

I spent some time trying to come up with a negative, any negative, on the ezStand and I simply could not find fault with it. While $15.99 may seem pricey for a Guitar Controller stand, the ezStand offers superior construction and durability that warrants the price.

Pros Cons
Easy to Set Up None
All-metal Construction  
Padded  
Adjustable Neck  

Gaming Impact

Since the first Guitar Hero game hit the market, the genre has evolved from fantasy play to trying to realistically emulate the real music experience. Along with this come higher quality controllers that look and feel like the real thing. Because these musical controllers add quite a bit of cost to the titles (and are pricey stand alone), it only makes sense to protect them and store them properly like any good musician. The ezStand does just that, by not only getting these faux guitars up off the floor where accidents can be avoided, but by protecting it with cushioned contacts on the bottom and neck. As of now, you will not find a better product to store your controllers.

The Skinny
The ezStand is by far and away the best guitar controller stand on the market that I have experienced. The difference is in the quality and flexibility of the design, which allow any guitar type to easily be stored and protected. The bottom line is that ezGear provides the best option on the market to protect and store your guitar controllers.

Where to Find/Buy

The ezStand guitar controller stand from ezGear can be found at the ezGear website. In addition, it can also be found at online retailers such as Amazon.com, and in a bundle at Buy.com .

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.

Hooked Up - ezStand Hooked Up - ezStand Hooked Up - ezStand Hooked Up - ezStand

About Author

Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles.  After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.  I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One.  Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.

Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.


 

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