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Guitar players have a variety of accessories and tools at their disposal, all of which are aimed at enhancing one's performance. Truth is that some of these tools are more popular than others, especially in the main stream. Guitar chairs and stools are often forgotten or written off as unnecessary. After all, there's not much that can't be solved with a decent strap, right? Guitar stools are actually a very useful piece of kit that is used every day by numerous artists. Today we are going to talk about stools, chairs and show you some of the best picks on the market right now. Lets get started. Even if you are just starting our, keep in mind that after you get your first guitar, you should spend some time on thinking where you will practice!
Stage performance goes far beyond rocking out with your metal band. There are performances which include one or two artists and their acoustic guitars. As you probably know, acoustic guitars are far more comfortable to play when sitting down. Generally speaking, guitar chairs and stools are there to alleviate unnecessary stress and offer more comfort. We also use them for practice. As a matter of fact, practicing on a guitar chair puts you in the optimal body position.
Choosing the right guitar chair or stool comes down to several simple factors, most of which are fairly logical. If you are planning to buy this as a gift for your guitarist friend, you better discuss the options first before you make a purchase. First thing you want to figure out is what kind of design you want. There are simple stools, which don't differ too much from your regular stool, while there are also pretty advanced designs that incorporate back rests, advanced seat shapes and so on.
When you get that covered, it is time to check out some basics. Build quality comes as the first logical point to focus on. You will want to get a stool or chair that features rock solid chassis. This thing has to support you and your instrument. You would be surprised how many flimsy chairs are being sold today, which are anything but safe.
Modularity is another big thing. A good chair needs to be able to conform to your height, perfect foot rest position and so on. Lastly, there's comfort. Or in other words, padding. Getting something with a decent amount of padding is a good way to ensure comfort. Now that we know roughly what to look for in guitar chairs, lets take a look at some great models.
| Image | Guitar Chairs / Rating | Summary | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
+ -  | K&M Performance Stool Total of 4.87/5 | An ergonomic solution for frequent performers who demand comfort,durability and quality. | |
+ -  | Quik Lok DX749 Total of 4.73/5 | Fully modular chair that features adjustable components and a durable enough chassis. | |
+ -  | Fender 30" Custom Shop Pinstripe Bar Stool Total of 4.63/5 | Simple stool that may not offer much in modularity, but offers style. | |
+ -  | Gator Frameworks GFWGTRSEAT Total of 4.77/5 | Affordable setup aimed at acoustic guitar players who are on a budget. | |
+ -  | Gibraltar 6608 Total of 4.67/5 | A simple model that proves that drum thrones are a great alternative. |
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The first stool we want to show you comes from K&M and it represents a rock solid build worthy of professionals. K&M went with a high gauge steel chassis that is fully adjustable in height, along with an equally adjustable foot rest.
The seat itself is an ergonomic type, meaning that it isn't a round one. They have used their popular memory foam, which is covered with leather.
K&M's Performance Stool isn't cheap by any means, however it is absolutely worth the investment. The level of comfort it offers simply trumps most of the stuff out there.
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Compared to K&M, Quik Lok offers more cost effective solutions which are still highly modular. Their DX749 is a great example of this. It is a chair with a back rest and foot rest, both of which are fully adjustable by height.
Same goes for the seat itself. The chassis on this model is made of quality steel and inspires confidence when you sit on it. There is no play, no movement. DX749 is as stable as it gets for this design.
In terms of comfort, padding is fairly basic. With that said, it gets the job done and prevents fatigue with a great deal of success. Overall, a very solid choice.
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Here we run into our first classic stool. This one is made by Fender and features a classic logo on top. They have used thick steel tubing for the chassis, making this a very stable platform.
Stools like these weren't designed for comfort per se. Usually the focus is on aesthetics more than anything else.
Even so, Fender's 30" Custom Shop pinstripe bar stool works great for playing guitar. Especially at this price.
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Those who are on a budget but still want some advanced features will appreciate brands such as Gator Frameworks. Their GFWGTRSEAT is a fairly simple version of a guitar chair with a footrest and backrest.
Granted, both of these are fixed. Even thought you don't get to adjust much on this particular model, it still meets two important requirements.
It is stable enough for serious use and it is comfortable. At this price, we can't really complain at all.
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We have already covered one budget solution, but we can push it even further into the affordable range. What we have here is actually a drum throne, which is unorthodox but can give you some pretty important benefits.
First of all, you get proper height adjustment. Since drum thrones have to be capable of withstanding a drummer playing full clip, they can definitely support a relatively static guitar player.
On top of that, you get an ergonomic seat that features plenty of padding and decent quality faux leather cover. The price makes it a bargain to say the least.
Guitar stools can be extremely useful and deserve some recognition. This is one of those accessories that you don't even know you need, but will ultimately appreciate when you spend some time using it. Models we have chosen for this list cover a range of awesome chairs, including something for every budget no matter how restrictive it is. All you have to do is figure out what kind of design works best for your needs and take it from there.
RJ Unsinn says
I noticed the conspicuous absence of “The Original Guitar Chair” in your review lineup. Did it simply not make the cut or are you not aware of this chair?
I’ve been eyeing one because the build quality looks really good. It’s difficult to find reviews however (except for the builders own website… and those are sure to be biased.)
Unfortunately, the builder only sells them directly, so there’s no chance of dropping into my local music store and giving one a try.
The main drawback I see to them is the price. For the larger 21″ size I need, the price is US$450 … plus $35 shipping. Pricey… but might be worth it.
Have you taken one of these for a test drive? Their website is originalguitarchair (with the normal dot com ending).
I’d love your take on this chair.