Before Pac-A-Seats--What Did You Perch On??

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 10 Jul 2014 8:45 am

Sitting on my Walker seat this morning with a backrest while picking a song or two, takes me back to LBPAS (Life Before Pac-A-Seat) days when I just used whatever "straight back" chair was available in the club/joint I was playing in. I know I take it for granted now but thinking back, some of those old chairs were kinda rough after 4-5 hours! How about any of you other "seasoned players...okay, okay..those of us 60+

What is your old best or worst chair/seat memory, e.g., splinters, breaking, etc?

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 10 Jul 2014 9:45 am

I would grab whatever was at the club, but I can remember lots of outside gigs where I sat on my case, or even my amp when space was tight.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 10 Jul 2014 10:14 am

I used to use a drum throne. It was more comfortable then the Shobud Pak-A-Seat that I bought, but the storage space the the P-Seat was just too useful!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 10 Jul 2014 10:18 am

After finding few chairs at home of a comfortable height to sit on for learning, I think I bought a Sho-Bud seat before I even owned a steel (I started learning on borrowed guitars)

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 10 Jul 2014 1:50 pm

At home, it was a straight back wooden chair. At the clubs, it was a chair from a table they always had. At outside venues, I always stole a folding chair. I never used my amp or case. Finally bought a ShoBud pack-a-seat and used it for over 20 yrs. BTW, I still have it. But, I use a Walker seat with a back rest now. It always keeps my bottom comfy.

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 10 Jul 2014 3:14 pm

Back in the 60s, I used a 3 foot folding step ladder that my brother in law and I had upholstered the top step so that my boney butt wouldn't get too tired. Do you know that I still have that little seat today? Of course now I use a regular steel seat.
Billy Easton

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 10 Jul 2014 3:45 pm

How about a pic of your old step-ladder seat Billy? You were really serious about playing steel for sure!

Another thought just hit me, what did I do with all the junk/stuff I now have in my Walker seat?? Duh, I didn't have all the "must have" items back then...

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 10 Jul 2014 5:48 pm

Billy, You stole my thunder. As soon as I saw the subject of this thread I immediately thought of you and the step ladder. I sat on the same ladder when you let me set in with Sparky, Larry , and Nelson. Sadly those three are no longer with us but their memories survive.

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 10 Jul 2014 8:02 pm

I am spending the summer in Western New York, but if I remember when I get back to AZ, I will take a picture and post it. I also carried a cheap brief case with my volume pedal and cables at the time.

Billy

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 10 Jul 2014 8:15 pm

I picked up a drum throne on the way to an outdoor gig where I knew I would not find a chair. It's three legs make a very stable base, but are so far apart they are a hazard on a crowded stage.

Dan

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 10 Jul 2014 9:05 pm

Speedy West sat on his guitar case.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 10 Jul 2014 9:12 pm

So did Sneaky Pete.

L. A. Wunder · Post by **L. A. Wunder** » 10 Jul 2014 9:45 pm

I when I started, I used a metal folding chair. I was about 4'9" tall and weighed less than 70 lbs. every time I stepped on a pedal, the chair would skid backwards. I had to put the back legs of the chair against the wall so it wouldn't slide. I also had to reach up for the knee-levers. I got a pak-a-seat a year later, I did t grow much, and I still have to sit near the edge of it to play.e

Dick Hitchcock · Post by **Dick Hitchcock** » 11 Jul 2014 6:05 am

I bought a bar stool, and cut the legs to the height of my Sho Bud....Used it for 30 years, and then bought a steel seat from Joe Naylor a couple of years ago...Sure helps to pack accessories in...

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Jul 2014 8:17 am

I used to use whatever was available, usually a straight back chair. At home it was a kitchen chair.

My first "steel seat" was one I bought from Kline at the ISGC.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 11 Jul 2014 8:22 am

Hey Dick,
That looks like a comfortable little seat you came up with there and having it for 30 years...I think it paid for itself many times over! It appears your Red Cup has a good little seat to...you sure didn't want to spill your "water" now!

Thanks for the photo...just goes to show you that you don't need a fancy seat...CW

John Butler · Post by **John Butler** » 11 Jul 2014 7:11 pm

I had a straight back wooden chair. But it was a little short. My wife found a really soft cushion about 3 inches thick. It was perfect. I took that chair everywhere I played. I finally bought a "steelers choice" seat from Bobbe before he passed. Love the storage. But I still have my chair.

Tony Smart · Post by **Tony Smart** » 12 Jul 2014 3:30 am

This was very uncomfortable until I discovered it was sharp side down........

Dick Hitchcock · Post by **Dick Hitchcock** » 12 Jul 2014 6:47 am

Carl...That seat was pretty comfortable..I think it cost me all of $10.00...As for the red cup....One gets parched at those outdoor doings as we all know!!

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 12 Jul 2014 7:16 am

I hear you brother...sometimes simple can be just fine with me!

Been there, done that on the refreshments...it was always amazing to me how folks would just have "beverages" delivered to you and sit them around your steel. My thing was, I can barely play sober let alone tipsey...sooooooo, I just wet my whistle as needed...

Bill L. Wilson · Post by **Bill L. Wilson** » 12 Jul 2014 8:24 am

Tony, your first chair looks like it was recommended by your Proctologist, depending on which end is up. Before the Sho-Bud Pac-A-Seat, mine was a folding metal chair, or an old Oak chair from home.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 12 Jul 2014 9:16 am

Before I got a pac-a-seat, I used a keyboard bench. On Christmas Day of 1999, I sat behind my first steel in a kitchen chair, then used a keyboard bench until Christmas of 2000, when I got my first pac-a-seat. My first pac-a-seat was an Elite Pac-A-Seat, then in 2003, I got my current pac-a-seat, my Out West pac-a-seat

Kevin Raymer · Post by **Kevin Raymer** » 12 Jul 2014 12:07 pm

Leopard covered Pork Pie drum throne.

Made my tushie very happy.

Chuck Christensen · Post by **Chuck Christensen** » 12 Jul 2014 1:12 pm

I used any chair I could find (this was in 52)

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 3 Nov 2014 10:28 am

Well, just wanted to dust this post off a little bit and see if anyone else wanted to chime in on the type of seat you used to sit on? I really didn't know there was a Pac-a-Seat when I first started 40+ years ago and as has been said, "just used whatever seats the venue (Beer Joint/Club) had available." If you were short or tall, you just had to adjust and deal with it. I'll bet that some of us more seasoned pickers (55+) are still using a "regular" chair of some type...hey, if it works for you, why not?

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Before Pac-A-Seats--What Did You Perch On??

Before Pac-A-Seats--What Did You Perch On??

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My First Perch.

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