Newbie question about seats

Chris Tarrow · From: Maplewood, NJ

I am about to buy a PSG seat, can anyone tell me how to determine the right height for the chair?

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

Hmm....well this is probably flame bait but my advice is buy a bench type seat that is adjustable for height rather than a pac-seat. I think the pac-seats are the the most over-priced piece of gear there is. You could buy a really nice used 'LazyBoy' recliner for what most pac-seats go for. There's no height adjustment on them either. If it's too high you can take a hacksaw to the legs but if it's too short you'd have to either rebuild it or stack cushions on top. To each his own but I much prefer my bench and I use a separate storage solution. On the other hand most players seem to favor the pac-seats and I'm sure someone will be along real soon to tell you why

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Step 1. Find a chair, box, bench, or milk-crate that you can sit on and feel comfortable playing.

Step 2. Measure its height.

Step 3. Find a seat that's that high, or higher. (The legs can always be cut off.)

DO NOT ACCEPT ANYONE ELSE'S MEASUREMENTS - BUY WHAT'S COMFORTABLE FOR YOU!

David Doggett · Posted 14 Jun 2006 8:45 am

Generally you want the height that will keep your thighs parallel to the ground. But you have to take into consideration the height of your steel guitar. You don't want your thighs bumping the back apron of the guitar, and you don't want to be too low to work the knee levers (including verticals) properly.

Having said that, I agree with Bill. I got a very nice packaseat with a side compartment and a back. It's comfortable for practice at home, but I don't carry it to many gigs. Why? It is heavy, even when empty. When you load it up with volume pedal and cords, it is very heavy. Worse, it doesn't hold all the gear I need to bring to a gig (spare guitar cords and speaker cords of various lengths, connectors, tuner, tools, flashlight, duct tape, POD, etc). So I have to bring a gig bag anyway. Everything will fit in my gear bag alone, so I don't need the storage space in the packaseat. Then the packaseat is just one more additional heavy item. So it usually works better for me to bring the gig bag and a lightweight adjustable keyboard bench. The only time I might bring the packaseat is if I am playing a long night with several sets. Then the cushioning and back of the packaseat is nice to have and maybe worth the effort.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 14 June 2006 at 09:48 AM.]

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Chris,
I'll bring a couple with me to the session thursday. You can check them out.

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Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

get a drum throne. that's what they call em.

it has tripod legs for stability, it is light weight, fully adjustable, affordable (several models to choose from), can be found at any music center, packs up tight, I use one.

Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

I'm with Randy.

Nice padded Tama drum throne, completely adjustible, folds up, solid solid hardware.

I've had mine 25 years.

Chris

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Carter SD-12 Extended E-9 with 5 & 6; Peavey N 112; Small Stone, Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I don't know about you guys, but my pac-a-seat is indispensible to me. Everything's in one box that you can sit on. The backrest is great for lower back support, and the sidecar has all my strings, picks and a bar holder. I used to carry around a seat AND a bag of stuff. Now I just grab the seat and go. Sure it's heavy, but it's comfortable and stable.

I got my seat used for $100 + shipping. You'll pay that for a drum throne or good quality stool anyway. I guess you can measure the height of a comfortable chair, and ask for measurements the next time you see a used one listed. Mine's a little high, which is great because my elbows aren't all bent up at the steel. My arms are slightly angled, allowing me comfortable accurate playing.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

everything associated with this instrument is insanely expensive. I dont get it. volume pedal is a pot, a string and a metal case, and it should cost $140? a pac a seat is a cushion and a box with some folding legs and it should cost $200? bah.....

mike nolan · From: Forest Hills, NY USA

Chris,
Check out what Bob brings... If you are new to the PSG, I would suggest getting a drum throne that you can adjust. It might take a while to find out just the right height for you. When I first started I sat higher than I do now.... I think that as I sorted out my blocking/wrist/hand position I felt more comfortable at different heights. It is probably bad to move around that much, but I did.... and I am glad that I didn't spend the money on a seat that was the wrong size. When you get it nailed down, then start shopping for the Pack a Seat.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

I find that having a backrest to use between songs or even briefly between licks allows my whole body, including my picking hands, to rest and play less tensely. I leave the sidecar compartment on my seat open and the padded lid makes a handy holder for my picks, bar and tuner. They are handy and well protected, saving wear on the top of the steel guitar. If you can try a few seats with your guitar you can quickly find a good height, otherwise just order a few inches higher and cut it off later. I agree the prices for steel accessories are high but the quantities being sold don't allow for mass production prices.

Greg

Greg's Web Page
MSA/Steel King Sounds

Chris Tarrow · From: Maplewood, NJ

Thanks everyone, David in particular, this gives me a good starting point:

Generally you want the height that will keep your thighs parallel to the ground.

I really need something with a backrest, so I may go ahead and get a pac-a-seat, also, keeping all my junk out of sight always goes over well around these parts.

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

Just a note about Pac-a-seats with backrests. I've never owned one, but since I've always tripled on guitar and fiddle and am constantly up and down, I think it would be more of a hindrance for me.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Taller.

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

Michael, I agree about the backrest. I double on six string lead and I'm switching between the two all the time. A backrest would just be a nuisance to me. And when you think about it, you don't see drummers or keyboard players with a backrest. And the rest of the band are standing up all night...usually with a heavy guitar hanging around theirs necks. We don't want to be gittin' too comfy or we might nod off.
Chris, You seem settled on the idea of a pac-a-seat and admittedly they're the most popular option for the storage factor. ( not enough storage for me though) But it's worth noting that the " thighs parallel" rule David refers to is just a rough guide and it isn't always practical. I have short legs and for my thighs to be level while seated I would have to have my seat much too low to effectively operate the knee levers on a standard height steel. That's another advantage to an adjustable bench...I tried different settings over time until I hit on a perfect height for me. When seated my knees are lower than my hips but it works very well in that I am comfortable and I can easily operate all pedals and knee levers. Whatever you sit on, it's very important that it suits YOU, as Donny said.

Chris Tarrow · From: Maplewood, NJ

Hmm. OK. Well I'm going to check out Bob Hoffnar's seat tonight and see if I can get this thing figured out. Thanks guys. Bobby, you can close this topic.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I also like the drum throne idea - and the "saddle" types are much more comfortable.

But mostly I use my gig box - a rolling toolbox from Home Depot that holds spare parts, tools, cables, strings, extra effects, batteriues, extension cords, power conditioner etc. I set a thin cushion on it and I'm at right around 17 1/2", which is exactly the right height for me. In fact, it's in front of my computer, with my 400 to the left and my 1000 to the right. Pretty darned convenient! I'm sitting on it right now.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Chris, When I bought my Carter D-10 I also bought this seat which is adjustable and really like it a lot, plus it folds up nice and flat.

[This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 15 June 2006 at 07:15 AM.]

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

18.5". I like a back too, because I spend as much time writing music, resetting tracks, thinking, fidgeting, as I do actually playing sometimes.

Kenny Brown · From: Auburn, Alabama, USA

I paid $50 for a brand new drum throne. So yeah, I tote my gear in another bag instead.

I've never tried a pac-a-seat although i imagine eventually i will.

the drum throne works real well for me.

Do what works for you bro--can't go wrong there.

John McGann · From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

I have a Steeler's Choice pack-a-seat w/ sidecar, back rest, powerstrip, da woiks...I LOVE it and use it all the time; I shot a few non-steel DVDS using it for a seat; everyone outside the steel world wants to know what it is and wants to get one too.

I can fit my volume pedal, cords, tuner and everything in there- the back rest is great and reminds me to sit up straight...

You might drag you steel to a music store and try out the drum throne; find a buddy w/ a pack a seat and try it too. Why not check out all the options first?

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

30 years playing steel and just bought a packaseat for Thom Beeman at SteelSeat.com.
I always used a Tama drum throne.. I am selling it.. although it fit in my old road case (a snare drum fiber case), I had to unpack it along with my vpedal, cables, power strip, AC cords, picks , strings, tuner, tool bag, efx pedals, .. etc.. you get the idea. Now I leave everything i do not need to unpack, under my butt. I use a 4 space rack and 3 cables and 1 AC & ready to play in less than 10 minutes. It is way more convenient.

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

Chris, snatch that throne from Bo!

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I'm surprised at how many here do not use a pac-a-seat. Interesting.

George Redmon · From: Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.

the ultimate pac~a~seat box....

I can put everything in there..including the phone number of that sweet little girl drummer that sat in last saturday night!
i use to keep a bottle of Jack,cigarettes, and a parking lot pick me up for between sets..now it's just Geratol, Pepto Bismol, and No Doze...."don't git around much anymore".....

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