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Double Bass bass stool seat height (DB Forum thread)

#22
robobass said:
Like I said somewhere else, forget about a carrier/stool combo. It would be nice if someone could design just a nice stool. Drum stools are clunky, and at 15 lbs. I'd rather drag a wood stool or just stand. Look at modern camping gear and you see some super clever designs which are stable and very light. It oughtn't be that hard to adapt one of these for bass players.
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When I first started sitting I had a wooden stool that was one of my teacher's old stools. I think it was one of her teacher's old stools, and it might get passed down to a student of mine one day. It wasn't that heavy, but it didn't travel all that well. Then I got one of the super light aluminum stools that was also a dream to sit on, but it was an absolute pain to carry. It made for a lot of extra trips back to the car, or I would have to leave it outside the door(s), get the bass through, go back for the stool, then pick everything up again. Not ideal.

With the drum stool being a tripod, I carry it oriented vertically on the front of my bass bag. Two of the legs straddle the fingerboard, the feet gently touch the bag/top in the upper bout, and the third sticks out in front scaring away people that don't move. I can use the stool shaft to steer the bass on the wheel, and still carry a coffee in my other hand. Stairs suck, but it's actually quite easy.

jmlee said:
Ah, Canada. Where standard orchestral footwear is three pairs of socks and Sorels.
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Not always standard footwear, but more often than I would like. Especially when your rehearsal space is in a church and they keep the heat down to "the pipes shouldn't freeze at this temperature" during the week and only turn it up on Sundays. They're also good for those rehearsals where everyone else hasn't taken their boots off and tracked in a bunch of snow, or when you have to walk through the puddle/brass section. Wet socks are never fun, but when it's a combination of road salt and horn juice, it's a special level of no thanks.
 
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#23
Mike, your drum stool is probably the best option for the schlepp, but the bar is very low. I used to use one like that. I found it bendy and creaky when set high enough for me to sit comfortably, and it seems like that much metal could be better configured for both stability and portability, not to mention aesthetics. When mine got stolen from my car I was actually kind of happy. Like when I sold my GK 112. I decided I'd rather sacrifice a bit of comfort getting to the gig than to sacrifice happiness once there.

Example of what I mean: The top one costs €6 and weighs 2 lbs. A bit short though. The bottom one is 30 oz., 26" or 30", but costs €85. They are surprisingly rigid. I don't think either are ideal for bass, but the principal could easily be adapted.

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#24
A stool similar to this is what I currently use:

Trademark Home Collection 18" Cushioned Folding Stool, Black - Walmart.com

Sorry for the link, I'm not sure of how to imbed a pic.

The one I have came from a Walmart brick and mortar store- I believe I paid ten dollars for it. It's 24" tall and folds flat for transport. While it's light, it's also strong, and it's surprisingly comfortable as well. No creaks and squeaks either- which was a drawback for my beloved wooden stool.

Joe
 
#25
The bar is set very low. Of all the options I have tried, I have been happiest with the drum stool. It is extremely sturdy, which is likely because I am using it at a medium-low height instead of at a more traditional bass stool height. It is very comfortable to sit on even for long rehearsals. My back gets sore from a lack of support long before my backside has anything to complain about. It makes the schlepp nicely because the weight is supported by the bass/wheel, and if my vehicle is particularly full I can collapse the legs and remove the seat to make it fit in a tight space. My old wooden stool was lighter but awkward to carry, and would creak occasionally if I moved the wrong way. It had a cushion my teacher made for it that was relatively comfortable, but not ideal. The aluminum stool was a dream to sit on, but it was very expensive, took up a ton of space while in transport, and was extremely awkward to carry around. It is also higher than I currently sit as that changed part way through my undergrad, so it doesn't get used even at home in the studio.

The three complaints I have about the drum stool: It's heavy. I have thought about attaching a shoulder strap somehow, but I wear my bow case on a shoulder strap so that would be awkward. The angle I have it on means I have to carry around a block for the rear leg that eats up one of my accessory pockets in my gig bag that used to nicely fit three tall cans for those occasions where they were necessary. And it makes a slight "swoosh" sound when sitting on it as the foam compresses and the air escapes. I am guessing that could be eliminated if it wasn't covered in leather/"leather" as there is a soft cloth top option, or I could alter it in some way to allow the air to escape easier. It is not at all noticeable in a section, but when standing up for page turns between movements in chamber music the ensemble has noticed it before. I could also see it being picked up in a studio, but I really don't do much studio work.

I would really like to see some better options, and I could see it being farther reaching than just a bass stool as a lightweight and easily portable stool that is also comfortable and sturdy seems like it would have tons of potential applications. The drawback is that height, or height adjustment is far more important to us as bass players than soccer moms, campers, picnic attendees etc.
 
#26
I would really like to see some better options, and I could see it being farther reaching than just a bass stool as a lightweight and easily portable stool that is also comfortable and sturdy seems like it would have tons of potential applications. The drawback is that height, or height adjustment is far more important to us as bass players than soccer moms, campers, picnic attendees etc.

+1 on all counts. Making it adjustable always adds weight and reduces stability. I might try my hand at this. First, the seat itself I think must be a rigid piece, not cloth. Perhaps it could be hinged so it could fold in two. Second, I might just make it in two or three fixed lengths rather than adjustable. An obstacle for me would be selling to North America. My Capos are easy enough to direct mail from Europe, but a stool would be to big. I'd need to find a reseller. So, I've got the bug, but this will take awhile. Don't expect to get one anytime soon. If this were done properly, it could conceivably fit into a bow pocket on your bag!
 
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#29
Eric Hochberg said:
Here's what I've been using for a couple of years on one-off gigs.

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Folds flat for transport on a cart with my amp. Downsides - Not particularly comfortable and I can't find a carry bag
for it. It's now more scratched up than I'd like...
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Actually I use something very similar. In Europe they sell them (well, a more basic version) in the big supermarkets for ironing. No footrest or padded seat, but they are like 15 bucks. I find mine comfortable and stable enough, but it tends to collapse when I try to reposition myself onstage while already holding my bass, and it doesn't stay folded during transport. These two issues are easily solved with a bungee, but then it don't look so nice. The Lemur one maybe has this problem solved though. It looks like a good option, but I hope we can someday do better.
 
#31
robobass said:
I would really like to see some better options, and I could see it being farther reaching than just a bass stool as a lightweight and easily portable stool that is also comfortable and sturdy seems like it would have tons of potential applications. The drawback is that height, or height adjustment is far more important to us as bass players than soccer moms, campers, picnic attendees etc.

+1 on all counts. Making it adjustable always adds weight and reduces stability. I might try my hand at this. First, the seat itself I think must be a rigid piece, not cloth. Perhaps it could be hinged so it could fold in two. Second, I might just make it in two or three fixed lengths rather than adjustable. An obstacle for me would be selling to North America. My Capos are easy enough to direct mail from Europe, but a stool would be to big. I'd need to find a reseller. So, I've got the bug, but this will take awhile. Don't expect to get one anytime soon. If this were done properly, it could conceivably fit into a bow pocket on your bag!
Click to expand...

Will it be called the "Ass-Tray"?
You're Welcome...
 
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#35
robobass said:
Actually I use something very similar. In Europe they sell them (well, a more basic version) in the big supermarkets for ironing. No footrest or padded seat, but they are like 15 bucks. I find mine comfortable and stable enough, but it tends to collapse when I try to reposition myself onstage while already holding my bass, and it doesn't stay folded during transport. These two issues are easily solved with a bungee, but then it don't look so nice. The Lemur one maybe has this problem solved though. It looks like a good option, but I hope we can someday do better.
Click to expand...

I have no problem with it collapsing. The seat needs more padding and maybe a rounder shape rather than what it is. After 1/2 hour or so I need
to get off it for a minute or two. Unfortunately, my endpin is all in, so continuing to play while standing up isn't ideal.
 
#36
For the studio I'm all in for comfort. I like it adjustable.
I've tried everything, thrones, stools, regular chairs etc.
The way I see it the more comfortable you are the longer you will play.
I finally ponied up and got a Cadillac. A HON adjustable from 22"-32" armless with adjustable backrest. It even has a foot ring that's adjustable. It's perfect.
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