Pack-a-seat too low?

Alex Cattaneo · Post by **Alex Cattaneo** » 15 Dec 2012 7:44 am

Someone in my neck of the woods is selling a pack-a-seat, which is pretty incredibly rare in my area. First time I see one in fact. Thing is, it's 21" high, and I need at least 22". What can I do to make it fit? Change the legs? How much would that set me back?

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 15 Dec 2012 8:07 am

1 inch, hmmmm, if it were me, I'd first consider an additional cushion of some sort. If that isn't viable, maybe some type of leg riser...think crutch tips. Idk, just a thought.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Dec 2012 8:14 am

You can put some 1" blocks where the legs attach to the base of the seat.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 15 Dec 2012 8:17 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:You can put some 1" blocks where the legs attach to the base of the seat.

Even better,

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 15 Dec 2012 8:47 am

I ended up epoxy-ing in some dowels inside the tubes and putting a cap on the end. Works well.

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 15 Dec 2012 10:04 am

Alex, all the above are good ideas...You have to see the way the pack seat is built to decide how to add an inch.Adding onto the legs may inhibit folding it up...I've found on some you can add 1x pine spacer between the top and the cushion(see pics-spacer btw blue tape). Another factor is cushion firmness(how far you sink into it)My Steeler's Choice and my SteelSeat Lite appear the same height(21") but I sit an inch taller on SS Lite because of the firmer cushion,ERGO you could just change the foam! JS

Howard Steinberg · Post by **Howard Steinberg** » 15 Dec 2012 2:00 pm

I may be wrong but I think that 21" may be standard height for a pack seat. I think that John's idea for a higher cushion is a good bet. The late pianist Errol Garner was a short man who used to play sitting on the Manhattan yellow pages. I think a cushion would be more comfortable.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 15 Dec 2012 2:16 pm

What Erv said. Did that to an Emmons seat I bought about twenty years ago. Still use it. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Tony Williamson · Post by **Tony Williamson** » 15 Dec 2012 3:24 pm

carry you around a 25x25 piece of one inch plywood. plop the legs down on it. sit.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 15 Dec 2012 10:57 pm

Aluminum "short" with wood interior dowel fastened with pan head screws and a lab foot for good measure.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 16 Dec 2012 2:44 am

Erv...great thinking there and the easy way to do it

Micky Byrne U.K.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Dec 2012 6:48 am

Micky,
This subject reminds me of a story.
The old farmer was having trouble getting his mule in the barn because he kept brushing his ears on the mantle of the door.
He was planning to jack up the barn.
His neighbor suggested just digging out a bit under the door.
The old farmer said that the trouble was with the mule's ears, not his hoofs.

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 16 Dec 2012 8:03 am

Obviously there are several ways to do this. I had an old sho-bud seat that I raised with 3/4" blocks and it worked out well. If you go this route you will also need new bolts for the extra height as well as a block for the retainer for the legs. If I had it to do over again I would probably do something very similar to what Brian McGaughey is showing in his post. A simple elegant solution.
And by the way - if you ever do but a new seat I highly recommend the height adjustment option offered by Steelseat.com. Every seat should have one!

Randy Brown · Post by **Randy Brown** » 17 Dec 2012 8:01 am

On my Steeler's Choice seat, I used some threaded inserts and adjustable feet, from Alliance express, to raise it up.

http://www.alliance-express.com/round-p ... ed-inserts

Here are the parts I used:
LRT1140A (round insert, 1" O.D. guage 18)
AFB1015A (adjustable foot, 1" base, 2" long bolt for adjustment)

The parts themselves came to about $9, but Alliance has a $15 minimum order, plus shipping costs. You might consider buying enough for 2 seats (to meet the minimum order) and reselling the other set.

I've had these on my seat for over a year now, and it works GREAT! It looks very professional and the feet are adjustable which is handy if the floor is not level.

Alex Cattaneo · Post by **Alex Cattaneo** » 17 Dec 2012 10:20 am

Yes! Thanks Randy, that's a perfect solution.

Bruce W Heffner · Post by **Bruce W Heffner** » 18 Dec 2012 11:26 am

This is a great idea from Randy. The only other way to do it cleanly is to order the seat with the taller legs or post order a set of legs which can get pricey. For me, with an Emmons guitar the 1", taller really is an advantage; however, with a Carter or a Magnum the standard height is better. Thanks again Randy.

Bruce W

Randy Brown · Post by **Randy Brown** » 18 Dec 2012 11:35 am

I snapped a couple of pictures in case anyone is curious.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 22 Dec 2012 9:37 am

My first professional steel seat was too high...but I had been used to various seats like beer cases on folding chairs, so I just used it until, viola, one day it felt comfortable.

Bruce W Heffner · Post by **Bruce W Heffner** » 22 Dec 2012 11:55 am

I received the inserts you referenced LRT1140A. Did you have to persuade them to go in? If so, did you beat them in, open the tube up or shave the diameter of the inserts? The inserts are at least .010 larger than Rollans black plugs. Before I get radical please advise.

Thanks,

Bruce

Randy Brown · Post by **Randy Brown** » 23 Dec 2012 8:42 am

Bruce, they were snug. I did have to tap them in gently with a hammer, but nothing radical. I didn't have to modify anything. Perhaps the legs on your seat have a different wall thickness than mine.

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 26 Dec 2012 8:43 am

Guys me being a fabricator it appears that Brian has the best idea of all and looks stronger and a better support for the player . Look how neat it looks and simple to do . All the stress will be on the add on and not on the wood inside . G.P.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 26 Dec 2012 6:32 pm

So you pac-a-seat builders can now add that option.

Thanx,
Jim

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Pack-a-seat too low?

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