Studio Designs Swing Arm Lamp, 13-watt, White, 6.5" W x 7" D x 36" H

I had one for 20 years and then I did the unthinkable last year--I left it behind in a move, unable to retrieve it. I thought I could move on but I couldn't stop thinking about it, about how it made my desk work so much easier, how perfectly it lit the room in the evenings if I swiveled the head so the light reflected up the wall, the classic lines of the design... It was like I was hung up on an old flame. It was a little ridiculous, I'll admit.Finally I broke down and decided I needed to get another but, tragically, I couldn't remember the brand I'd had since it'd been two decades since I bought my first one. I hunted online and settled on 3 different possibilities. The two others were shipped first and I just couldn't see myself using them. They were both flimsy, the clamps badly designed, and on one the shade was so shallow the bulb stuck out beyond the rim by more than an inch--definitely not something I wanted hovering near my face.And then the Studio Designs lamp arrived and the second I pulled it out of the box I knew I'd finally been reunited with Ultimate Best Lamp. None other can compare. It's sturdy, it's classic, it's smart. Wait for a sale if you have to, I know the price can seem a bit steep, but trust me--all the other, cheaper options suck balls.

Only 50% 5-star? Come on, people, this comes with a CFL bulb and costs under fifteen bucks!! Don't expect it to be an heirloom, don't expect it to survive kids batting it around, but if you want something that looks OK and works well and doesn't break the bank... then this is the one for you. I personally NEVER use the clamp bases. I screw them to my garage wall or work table, and this base accepts four wood screws for a really solid mount. It has two holes for the base of the lamp so you can mount it horizontally or vertically. (Yes, it's really thin metal and you may need to push it around a bit after the delivery guy kicks it down your stairs, but it's still a good bargain.)

I have had zero issues with this lamp! I am honestly amazed, you normally do not find deals like this WITH A BULB! That doesn't turn out to be total crap haha. I have used it over my workspace for many months now and is perfect when drafting, or needing a large amount of light! This bulb that it comes with will keep you up through all hours of the night if you don't look out your window.Very modern studio style lamp that works well and is build to my standards! I highly recommend this lamp and is worth it when you are doing important work, or you are behind on finals week!

The clamp base broke! I was just relaxing several feet away from the lamp when I heard a CRACK and the lamp fell off my desk. The clamp had cracked completely in half on the side where the lamp fits in.The last swing arm lamp I owned had a metal base that lasted forever, but this one is flimsy plastic. I also had to keep tightening it because it kept becoming loose after a few hours.Update:So I replaced the clamp base with a sturdy metal one that works great. I pointed the lamp in a nice direction and it was fine for a few weeks. Then from the other room, I heard a CRASH! The actual metal that the lamp is made of had cracked this time. I wasn't doing anything weird with the lamp, wasn't putting it in odd positions or putting pressure on it. The metal literally just couldn't withstand the weight of the small desk lamp.Now I gotta get a whole new lamp, cuz I don't think I'll magically develop the welding skills needed to repair this dumb thing.

The lamp itself is a great purchase, I never thought I needed to be able to direct the light at my desk before I got this, but now I can't imagine how I lived without that luxury. Whether it's detailed drawing, craft/task lighting, or just having some desk lighting at night without illuminating the entire room, this swing arm lamp is perfect for my needs.Having said that, there are a few "upgrades" which the lamp truly benefits from. First of all is a metal desk clamp. The one supplied with this lamp is plastic and technically it works, but I found that it was likely to come loose over time if you were constantly moving the lamp around. You can buy a metal one for about $8 (Also sold by Studio Designs, just search for "Metal Adjustable Arm Clamp - Black" on the product title here on Amazon). This allows for a better, more sturdy attachment to your desk. While not strictly required, if you will be moving the lamp a lot it will be worth it.The most important upgrade for me though is to get rid of the stock tension springs - they are BAD! I purchased two of these lamps, in one I put a slightly heavy LED bulb inside and in the other I just left the stock CFL bulb that came with the lamp in. Both lamps began to have problems holding themselves in position after a few weeks, severely limiting my ability to place the light where I wanted at any given time. I highly recommend heading to the hardware store and buying 4 better quality extension springs (I bought the size 7/16" x 3-11/16" x .047", which was closest to the original that I could find). They can be found on amazon, but for some reason they are $10 per 2-pack of springs vs $3 at Lowe's as of the day I'm writing this. Once you get these new springs, simply pull off the old springs (being careful to not damage the plastic housing the ends attach to) and attach the new ones. I recommend removing and installing the springs one at a time to make it easier to keep the lamp in one place during installation. If you buy the same springs I did, they are MUCH stronger at first, so much so that you cannot keep the lamp extended. As they wear it should be able to hold up the weight of the lamp much better than the included springs. Since I just installed these new springs myself I will update this review if anything else develops, but I expect in a week or two they should be working just fine.Once you install the new metal clamp (optional) and the stronger extension springs (recommended), you'll still be out just $28 for the lamp (as of this writing), $8 for the metal clamp, and $6 for a pair of springs, or about $42 depending on price fluctuations - still a great deal! It's just a shame that Studio Designs doesn't provide higher quality materials to begin with. However, because the upgrades are relatively cheap (compared to more expensive Luxo brand lamps) and easy, I still give this lamp 4 stars.