Steel Guitar Seats - Drum Thrones

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 23 Jun 2021 5:25 am

My 40 year old Dekley pac-a-seat started squeaking a lot a few months ago. I don't know how to cure the problem. Otherwise, it is in very good condition. The squeaking got annoying, so I decided to look for a new pac-a-seat. I got sticker shock when I started looking, and I don't have a lot of spare money for things like this these days. So, I decided to buy a drum throne. I didnt throw out the old Dekley seat though, and all of my steel stuff is still in it. I am very happy with the drum throne. It is very comfortable and stable, and I like being able to adjust the height.

Are others using a drum throne to play steel? I also think its a good idea for folks starting out.

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 23 Jun 2021 5:50 am

I used one for a long time and it works great. I'm back to a pac a seat now because it has a back and I have a bad back.

I still use the drummers throne in my shop though when I'm sawing mother of pearl inlays--it gets me down at just the right level to be able to see what I'm doing.

Dave

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 23 Jun 2021 6:02 am

I have always used drum thrones. Pac-a-seats to me were really a "pain" in the b....

I also have a drum throne with an adjustable back rest.

Colin Swinney · Post by **Colin Swinney** » 23 Jun 2021 6:57 am

I price shopped drum thrones but most have a swivel that I didnâ€™t care for. I need to feel stable and locked in. This On Stage bench has been perfect and at about $40 was by far the most affordable option. Iâ€™d still love a pac-a-seat with a back rest but itâ€™s become low priority compared to other accessories on my want list.

https://on-stage.com/products/view/10507

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 23 Jun 2021 7:06 am

Colin - I looked at those seats too. I would have went for it, but I wanted something that could adjust a bit higher. Mine swivels, butnit can be locked too.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 23 Jun 2021 8:12 am

Ken, I have seats with backrests now but a keyboard bench adjustable height gets used now and then. I seen a few others using them too.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 23 Jun 2021 9:28 am

Iâ€™ve seen several players use drum thrones on stage, and all of the miscellaneous hardware carried in a brief case. A fully loaded pac-a-seat can get pretty heavy.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Jun 2021 10:21 am

My take on this:
If you're a drummer, use a drum seat.
If you're a steel player, use a steel seat.

Erv

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Jun 2021 1:01 pm

I tried a drum throne once. After the first set my back was killing me and that was when I was young.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Jun 2021 1:08 pm

Exactly!

Erv

Alan Watt · Post by **Alan Watt** » 23 Jun 2021 1:15 pm

Well, after sitting on a drum throne playing lap steel for about a year and a half, I was glad when I started using an old stand I had for it.
But with my pedal steel, the same drum throne works pretty well. Granted, I'm only about a month into serious PSG playing, but I'm not feeling much strain on my back. I might eventually get a pac-a-seat, but for now, the throne functions pretty well.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 23 Jun 2021 5:56 pm

I had to find a mobile solution that would adjust quickly to three levels and this seems to work well. I might even take it on a gig.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 23 Jun 2021 7:41 pm

I just purchased a Roc-N-Soc Drum throne with the gas shock adjustable height. After 42 years, I'm just getting tired of picking up a steel seat that weighs around 43 lbs.

I plan to put my VP pedal, cables, tuner and strings in a briefcase to lighten the load.

Mike Bacciarini · Post by **Mike Bacciarini** » 23 Jun 2021 7:49 pm

I use the same as Dick but with a back rest, and itâ€™s great.

Andrew Goulet · Post by **Andrew Goulet** » 25 Jun 2021 6:20 am

I use a foldable piano bench with a custom box installed underneath to hold picks, bar, extra strings, string winder, etc... It gives me easy access to the essentials onstage, is very light, and I can pack it into a bag with my pedal board and other stuff. I would like to add a back rest, but still looking for a good option. I'm not sure I could build a comfortable back rest.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 25 Jun 2021 6:45 am

Swiveling would work great for someone who doubled on keyboards,and worth the inconvenience of having to carry around drum-throne hardware. I'm lucky; my current gig is steel-only so my ancient lightweight no-name backless pak-a-seat does the job most times. For when things are more uptown, I bring my color-matched Steeler's Choice Sidecar.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jun 2021 6:51 am

Dave,
I'm like you.
I believe that I have at least three Steeler's Choice seats in colors to match my steel; black, red and blue.

Erv

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 25 Jun 2021 9:19 am

My ancient old ACE seat will get a little squeaky every now and then. Usually, all I have to do is go through and tighten every screw and the squeak goes away. Sometimes a little dab of lubricant is necessary.

Gary Newcomb · Post by **Gary Newcomb** » 25 Jun 2021 12:03 pm

Roc n Soc drum throne user here (swivel / hydraulic/ no back rest). I like it much better than the Steelers Choice seat I had.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 25 Jun 2021 2:22 pm

My first Tama drum throne lasted 30 years. I bought another one and have modified it so that 1) it stays at the height I want and doesn't slip downwards, and 2) the pillar doesn't gradually flatten and burr over so you can't take off the seat. Maddening. (I bought some hard nylon washers and put them between the pillar and the pot metal seat attachment.

But like Colin I just ordered a piano bench from Sweetwater and will try that out.

Nice thing about the throne though is that the 2 pieces fit in my parts case: an old Samsonite suitcase.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 25 Jun 2021 4:19 pm

Ive still got this 40 year old pac-a-seat, made by Dekley. I had it reupholstered. It's still in great shape and is still serviceable. It squeaks, the wood I guess. I'd like to find a way to cure the problem. I would still use this if playing away from home. The folded up drum throne isn't too hard to take out either.

Tommy Mc · Post by **Tommy Mc** » 27 Jun 2021 6:35 am

It must have been at least 35 years ago when I decided I needed a seat that was specific to the steel. I wasn't gigging yet, just playing around the house. One day, I took some measurements and went down cellar, determined not to come out until I'd created a seat. I came up with a padded 3-legged seat, which I'm still using. Although it doesn't fold, it's fairly compact and lighter than a drum throne. It may not be for everybody, but it works well for me.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 27 Jun 2021 10:09 am

Lee Baucum wrote:My ancient old ACE seat will get a little squeaky every now and then. Usually, all I have to do is go through and tighten every screw and the squeak goes away. Sometimes a little dab of lubricant is necessary.

Lee - Thanks for the info. Iâ€™m going to empty mine out, flip it over, and give this a try. A screw driver and some 3-in-1 Oil may work. Iâ€™m keeping the drum throne though.

Tom Suchon · Post by **Tom Suchon** » 27 Jun 2021 11:17 am

I started playing about 2 years ago. Bought me a Zum Stage one. Then I saw Travis Toys G2 for sale and the wife said okay. Travis is a bigger kind of guy and had extended legs on it. I didn't want to mess with History, so I found this at Goodwill for $15. 22 inches to the top of the seat, and if I am going to strum a regular guitar, I can pull out the footstool ! Its ugly, but it works!

Joe Cook · Post by **Joe Cook** » 28 Jun 2021 6:09 pm

I use the Roc n Soc drum throne, adjustable with a back. I have a nice SteelSeat.com seat, but I find the drum throne better for lap steel. The Pac a seat is too high. I can use the drum throne for both PSG and lap steel.