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Dentist chair, Norwegian ergonomic style. STOKKE are they called*. You can bend forward and reach for stuff as it swivels and to the sides at the same time sitting on it. Bring this to gigs when I play keys. Truly intuitive, the chair has a slightly rounded base, which tilts the chair in smooth, gentle movements. The saddle seat supports an upright, dynamic posture, which activates and strengthens core muscles in the abdomen and back. With feet placed on the floor, it’s easy to balance and stabilise, or tilt, pivot, or rotate 360°. The open angle between the upper and lower body improves blood circulation, boosting energy levels and concentration. You can't slouch on these, even if you try.
Forces you to sit with a straight back, like sitting on top of a horse. You can't be a couch potato on this, it hinders you from bad posture. Use this for long mixing sessions too. Real chairs with back and head/neck support just gets in the way for the sound. This one lets all frequencies pass by it.
Swivel, rotates like this, as you bend forward and to the sides... you don't have to leave the chair to pick something up, or reach for something, so to speak:
Which means you can have the legs not in a straight angle out form the chair, but pointed slanted downwards so the bass can hang exactly like if you were standing. The legs doesn't get in the way for the bass when sitting down. But you still have firm rest, just like you're sitting on an ordinary chair. It's adjustable so you can sit with a bass without any strap if you should like to. Normally I don't. Once I smashed my headstock into the studio monitor and ruined them because of the strap, and I swung around no thinking where the headstock would go. Since then I only use headless when practicing and strap on, since there's no neck diving at all. But regardless of this, something like these chairs are the only ones that works for playing upright bass while sitting down. Too.
*EDIT: It has changed name from Stokke to Varier Move these days.
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Forces you to sit with a straight back, like sitting on top of a horse. You can't be a couch potato on this, it hinders you from bad posture. Use this for long mixing sessions too. Real chairs with back and head/neck support just gets in the way for the sound. This one lets all frequencies pass by it.
Swivel, rotates like this, as you bend forward and to the sides... you don't have to leave the chair to pick something up, or reach for something, so to speak:
Which means you can have the legs not in a straight angle out form the chair, but pointed slanted downwards so the bass can hang exactly like if you were standing. The legs doesn't get in the way for the bass when sitting down. But you still have firm rest, just like you're sitting on an ordinary chair. It's adjustable so you can sit with a bass without any strap if you should like to. Normally I don't. Once I smashed my headstock into the studio monitor and ruined them because of the strap, and I swung around no thinking where the headstock would go. Since then I only use headless when practicing and strap on, since there's no neck diving at all. But regardless of this, something like these chairs are the only ones that works for playing upright bass while sitting down. Too.
*EDIT: It has changed name from Stokke to Varier Move these days.
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I used one of these for a long while when I had a music room. Very comfy angle, love it. Music stand in front if needed.
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Regular Office chair now at desk using computer & headphone setup. If fatigue starts I set it like a stool - chair on highest setting, move backside forward (not using backrest) & thighs 90° apart. Otherwise, I stand up for a song or two.
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Regular Office chair now at desk using computer & headphone setup. If fatigue starts I set it like a stool - chair on highest setting, move backside forward (not using backrest) & thighs 90° apart. Otherwise, I stand up for a song or two.
One thing that is taboo, and forbidden in my studio and the rehearsal space are ANY chair with wheels on. I've found absolutely no use for them, and they're only detrimental and hazardous to all cables. Mostly exists on posh office chairs. We only allow wheels on racks and flight cases.
Maybe try a memory foam cushion for the base of the seat, and some lumbar support (rolled woollen scarf or jumper ideal) behind your back at the level of your elbows.
Maybe this one would work for unwieldy neck diving basses? 
also a Varier, gravity balans. If you sit in it with a bass, just turn the bass forward, and point the head/neck towards the feet, and all of the chair will change position so you can climb out of again.
also a Varier, gravity balans. If you sit in it with a bass, just turn the bass forward, and point the head/neck towards the feet, and all of the chair will change position so you can climb out of again.
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Maybe this one would work for unwieldy neck diving basses?
also a Varier, gravity balans. If you sit in it with a bass, just turn the bass forward, and point the head/neck towards the feet, and all of the chair will change position so you can climb out of again.
Link? I might have to get one of those.
Not for playing bass, though...
I have to agree with bherman. These things are insanely comfortable. They come in 2 heights.
That Varier stuff looks nice, but a little pricey for me. Think I may go for this, unless something better in that price range shows up: ROC-N-SOC Original Saddle Drum Throne with Back rest | eBay
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When taking lessons back in the '70s, we used a standard folding chair. In music class at school, we used standard folding chairs. So, that's what I use and I spend 8 to 10 hours a day in the studio. I put a pillow on the seat and back, but that's about it. They seem good enough for almost every orchestra I've ever seen. $10 at Walmart.
Same as the link above I gave you all in dentist chair post, they're all from Varier.
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They do last, and yes, they don't come cheap, but they can hold a sumo wrestler if you like.
Yeah, that one will do. Saddle drum throne is the same principle. Mine Varier Move is still working after 25 years, and the gas (yes, gas cartridge) hasn't still run out inside the height lift. If you register for newsletters at their site you'll be selected one each month for chances to win a Varier Move (that dentist chair). If they were too expensive. That huge one were you can tilt back and lay almost flat - the Varier Balans costs a fortune though. But hey, if we can buy Dingwalls and Foderas, lightweight amps, cabs for saving our backs...so....
save your backs fellows!
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And if you're going to go drum throne-I like the Roc-n-Soc nitro, tractor style seat. Haven't bought the backrest for it but I think that would be *really* comfy.
Edit: clearly I didn't read the entire thread before posting. I do recommend the Roc-n-Soc from personal experience.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Or you can go for those kinetic drum thrones... but they're mostly for chicks. Girls likes sitting on them when active...
Gives you a firm massage in the rear end, while holding down the bottom in double regards. No risk that you won't feel that low B of your 5er ever, at any volume.
Gives you a firm massage in the rear end, while holding down the bottom in double regards. No risk that you won't feel that low B of your 5er ever, at any volume.
These will do just as well. But when the thing is with all these is the bottom "spread out" legs. You can't raise these as high that your legs will be in a slanted angle pointing down towards the floor. Then these legs that has to be folded out to keep balance will get in the way for your feet and legs. They just gets in the way. With the dentist chair (Varier Move above) you have the rounded plate at the bottom and you can raise it with the gas lift as high as possible without losing balance. You have to keep the feet at the floor at all times. Nothing sticks out from the chair to lift up and rest your legs on (which in the long run, will get you fatigued faster). A straight "pole", so to speak, that goes up from the bottom to the seating cushing are always the least intrusive solution.
Mind you, I sound like a Varier Move salesman by now, but they are numerous copies out there, and variants of these one these days, the patent has run out by now. You can get counterfeit copies even, but it neither says Stokke, or Varier on their labels. And they should come way cheaper. But the most important thing to keep in mind, while those drum thrones, and special stools made for musicians work well, remember that these Varier chairs are NOT solely for musicians playing, you can use them in/at most other activities too, just as well. I can very well think that spending that much amount of dough for buying a chair just for such a targeted and niche purpose is really a tad overkill, but you can use these chairs in any other actvity too. Say, you should perform some pastime root canal work on your kids, for saving the dough, of having to go to your dentist...
You should keep in mind what piano players sits on, for days on end, while practicing those marathon hours of honing. They rarely reports problems. Or seeks alternate solutions to their chairs. Very little difference in posture, and very little difference in the placement of hands and fingers, from bass players. You either sit down or you don't. So to speak.
Just a tip if you think I am a Varier salesman, or hypes anything of Scandinavian design. Stokke/Variers kneeling chairs you should avoid at all costs. Even if they were given to you for free. Doesn't help anything, back, knees, prolonged sittings, whatever. This is actually where I wonder what they have been smoking when designing.
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I tried to use these in office, at work, some years ago. Within 15 minutes my both legs fell asleep. Try to operate your pedalboard with this one, if you dare! Avoid. A huge no no. It's an order. Period!
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I tried to use these in office, at work, some years ago. Within 15 minutes my both legs fell asleep. Try to operate your pedalboard with this one, if you dare! Avoid. A huge no no. It's an order. Period!
