Steel Guitar Seats - Drum Thrones

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 30 Jun 2021 7:46 am

I just received my ROC-N-SOC Drum Throne and find it a really comfortable seat for steel guitar. I can adjust the height to just where I like it.

I put the pedal,strings,gadgets etc.in a briefcase and it's all soo much lighter to carry in and out of a venue.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 30 Jun 2021 10:56 am

One thing for sure, drum thrones are cheaper than steel seats. I can get a basic Steelers Choice seat for $250. I may do that someday, but for now, I'm good.

Looks like I've fixed the squeaking noise in my old steel seat. I turned it over and took the legs and brackets off. I put some gun grease on the inside of the four brackets that hold the legs. I had a bunch of nylon washers of various sizes, so I used them when putting it back together, putting them between the brackets and the wood, and on the bolts. The seat is no longer squeaking.

Now, I have two seats to use. I may sell off the drum throne if my fix works.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 30 Jun 2021 12:15 pm

I have always used a 3-legged drum throne for pedal steel. When I started playing, I got a good, solid throne and never looked back. Now I have one packed up and ready to gig, and one set up at home. Being tall, it took a while to figure out the correct steel and seat height - a steel seat would have locked me in before I was ready. I also think the 3 legs works better for me in practical gig situations, since the stage 'surface' sometimes wavers significantly. The storage space in the pack seats I've seen wouldn't be enough for me. I carry quite a bit of stuff to gigs - volume pedal, portable guitar stands, a couple of small cases with guitar-oriented tools, extra tubes, lots of extra strings, cables, a volt-ohm-meter, and other stuff. I usually stuff manage to stuff my Quilter Tone Block (in its bag) in there too - I use a Samsonite type of carry-on as a gig bag.

Initially I didn't use a backrest, but last year I got a pair of the Gibralter 'universal' backrests. Both thrones have the screw-adjustments for height, which can be effectively locked down for a full gig, and these backrests work perfectly. That does help my back, but it does make the throne a bit more cumbersome to load. It's a bit of a PITA to take the backrest off and put it back on. I also think the clamp would fatigue prematurely if I was doing that all the time.

I tried a bunch of different types of thrones. I wanted to like the hydraulic versions, but the seat moved up and down too much for me. YMMV.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Jun 2021 12:35 pm

Years ago when I bought my fingertip Sho~Bud from Shot Jackson I also bought a Sho~Bud seat.
I still have it along with a few Steeler's Choice seats.
It's just part of the deal!:D
Erv

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 30 Jun 2021 6:56 pm

In my 20's I used an Indian motorcycle seat and it was just fine..until a fire ate it...now in my 70s, I need the back support so it is pack seat time. Whatever works.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 1 Jul 2021 4:03 am

Pack a seat keeps everything in one place and no chance to forget a brief case full of accessory gear. Hauling stuff is what they make carts for! The drone seat with a back does look mighty comfortable and the adjustable height is nice.

Johnny Baker · Post by **Johnny Baker** » 6 Jul 2021 7:52 pm

Greg Cutshaw wrote:Pack a seat keeps everything in one place and no chance to forget a brief case full of accessory gear. Hauling stuff is what they make carts for! The drone seat with a back does look mighty comfortable and the adjustable height is nice.

This sums it up, for me. I am in the process of building a new seat, for my new steel, that is currently on order and should be done in about 3 to 4 weeks now. I thought about purchasing one but, my word the sticker shock is keeping me from spending that extra money as it's tied up in waiting for my new guitar. By the time I get finished, I will have about $100 in materials in it. All the wood, legs, screws/nails/glue, and minor things have come from old project scraps. The foam, vinyl, felt/speaker carpet, and a few other things will be bought new. I may post a few pictures, when it's done. Take care.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 8 Jul 2021 6:22 am

I received my piano bench from Sweetwater and tried it on a session the other night. About $60. Here it is:

Gator Frameworks GFW-KEY-BNCH-1 Standard Black Keyboard Bench

It is comfortable, seems solid, and is adjustable to the right height for this tall guy. We'll see about the plastic knobs though! Only drawback is that it doesn't fit in my Samsonite suitcase, as did the drum throne. So this makes an extra item to load in and out.

Chris

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 8 Jul 2021 11:46 am

I have used drum seats on travel gigs where I only fly my steel. I rent a drum throne and an amp for the gig. Works great. For local gigs, a pak-a-seat is best for me.

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 8 Jul 2021 1:28 pm

I prefer small folding keyboard benches and a bag full of gear. I have had very nice pack seats but never use them.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 9 Jul 2021 9:10 am

I've used both. I would prefer the pac-seat, but I need a tall seat. 24-1/2 to 25" works best. My GFI pac-seat seat is 23" high with crutch tips on the legs.

I've had a Tama drum throne since the 80's. Love the adjustable height, but I can't tolerate any rotation, which happens no matter how hard I lock things up.

The throne base extends well beyond the seat diameter. That makes it stable, but is a trip hazard. Maybe I'm just clumsy, but there it is.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 9 Jul 2021 1:29 pm

Dan Robinson wrote:I've used both. I would prefer the pac-seat, but I need a tall seat. 24-1/2 to 25" works best. My GFI pac-seat seat is 23" high with crutch tips on the legs.

From checking their web page, it doesn't look like GFI makes pac-seats anymore. I've seen photos, and they look well made.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 9 Jul 2021 3:09 pm

Ken Mizell wrote:
Dan Robinson wrote:I've used both. I would prefer the pac-seat, but I need a tall seat. 24-1/2 to 25" works best. My GFI pac-seat seat is 23" high with crutch tips on the legs.
From checking their web page, it doesn't look like GFI makes pac-seats anymore. I've seen photos, and they look well made.

Yep, no longer available. I got it some time ago from Jim Bloomfield. It's a nice compact seat. The legs won't fit folded up with the crutch tips, but that's OK. I'm thinking of adding a 2" extension to each of the legs.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 9 Jul 2021 3:13 pm

GFI also made seats with aluminum extrusion corners too. I've been looking at the Gruen Road Case Seats and Steelers Choice. I may finally break down and buy one when I get the cash. I got the squeaks out of my old seat made by Dekley around 1981, but it's not too comfortable these days. I've got crutch tips on mine right now, just to save the carpet.

Bas Kapitein · Post by **Bas Kapitein** » 10 Jul 2021 8:50 am

I use a drum-seat with a backrest because it is completely adjustable. It works for a single-neck but not for a double-neck. Those beasts have two optimal positions that are easier to find on a steal seat Did you ever considered fisherman's seats?

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 8 Aug 2021 1:19 pm

Update - I sold my drum throne. Turns out I didnâ€™t care for the swiveling seat. After I got the squeaking out of my old Dekley seat, I decided to use it. Then, a local friend of mine and forumite decided to downsize some of his steel gear. He made me a generous offer I couldnâ€™t pass up on a Steelers Choice seat with a backrest. I bought it. I love it, and now I realize why they are so popular. Very impressive. Now, my seating is taken care of for many years. +10 for Steelers Choice.