Hello chaps,

I'm just curious to know if folks that gig regularly usually bring their own piano stools along to shows? And if so, what are you sitting on?

It seems that keyboard players often get a bum deal (literally) when it comes to decent chairs at gigs - the seats provided are either far too high and you feel like you're perched above the keys, or far too low and you're stretching to reach the buttons. I've even had to make do with plastic beer bottle crates on a couple of occasions...and they dig-in in all the wrong places.

Anyway, I'm looking for a light-weight, height-adjustable (at least 57cm), collapsible stool that is reasonably stable - any suggestions?

Cheers,
James
x

I'm not a gigger but I got such a stool to bring to places where I knew they didn't have one that would be comfortable for me. I don't remember exactly where I got it, or who makes it or whatever, but you can find some on eBay.

Here are a couple on eBay:

-- Stageline

-- I don't see the exact one that I got, but this one, from the U.K. seems very similar. I can't tell for sure if it's lightweight but it seems it is.

You can also find others by googling lightweight piano bench (or stool).

BTW: The one I got is so good that I use it as my usual stool for one of our pianos.

I'm planning on following this thread. Some years ago I bought the Quik-Lok D 749 chair shown below:



While it's comfortable it is as heavy as some keyboards. I wish companies like Ultimate Support would make light weight stools or chairs.

While looking to see if anything else is being offered, I came across the following but it weighs 25 lbs.

link

If anyone makes a light weight folding chair I'd like to know as well.

I use this stool. Now you know my guilty shopping secrets - apologies to the more politically sensitive among you!

It's not height-adjustable, but it does the job, being about the right height when coupled with most standard double-X stands at their lowest setting. It's also light, folds up very slim and is very inexpensive in-store (usually between $10-$12). If there's a Walmart-owned operation in Japan, you might find it there (or something similar).

To avoid a numb bum from the rather miserly padding, I added a circular cushion with elasticated grip.

At home, I use this: Yamaha PKBB1 Keyboard Bench. It's extremely comfortable and height adjustable, but a little heavier and bulkier than the one I mentioned above.

Glenn Gould's chair, very famous chair, but may not be to your liking

Hmmm...when I said 'collapsible' that's not entirely what I had in mind...

Cheers,
James
x

I've always been a fan of the Quiklok stools. In particular the BX14, which has 5 seat positions 46.5, 55, 59.5, 62,64cm

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=p_16&sName=Stools-&-Benches

Thank you for the suggestions chaps.

I'm currently taking a look at what is available from Amazon Japan, here.

There's a nice red bench listed (a great match for my Nord!), however the height is only 48cm max.

Cheers,
James
x

Quik Lok BZ-7

Good height, from 45.5 to 63.5cm, and it weighs "only" 8,5 kg. Also very easy to set up.



http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=63&sName=BZ-7


Kind regards,
Manolios

This stool, while not red, looks as if it would fit your requirements, James:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/JAMSTANDS-JS-MB100-キーボードベンチ-M/dp/B001LQNQNU/ref=sr_1_23?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305520973&sr=1-23

It also looks very similar to the Quiklok stools that I have used for years (the same BX14 that siriosys mentioned). Not pretty, but more than butch enough for the job.

Jonathan

Hi James,

Here is a seat that I currently use, as it can adjust to higher positions:

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-KT7800-Plus-...901&sr=1-11

It can be set to sit quite high, at 25 inches, if needed.
(Which is well over 57cm, by the way...)

Also is nicely padded, and not heavy.

pv88

Looks like you have great choices there.
A lot of the ones between #43 and #84 are similar to mine, especially (I think) #51.

The chair I use is made from steel and would support the weight of ten piano players. I really don't understand why they can't use the same type of light weight aluminum tubing they use for speaker stands in folding\collapsible chairs.

When I play I really want to have some kind of back support thus I would prefer a chair over a bench. There has to be something out there ... or not?

@Dave, I can see why you want a Quik-Lok D 749
It looks like a massage-chair..

Quite nice if you think about it ...
You play a gig.. turn around to your crowd (chest against the back), and suddenly a hot girl makes it on stage and gives you a massage because of you playing great.


Sorry for the OT :P

James, I use a Quiklok BX-716. If you fancy more padding for your bottom, the 718 provides that. I just bought the thinner one to save room and weight.

Both of these seats have a quick release mechanism which is secure but folds to flat in seconds. They are far better than the ones where you have to uncrew a nut, adjust and reposition the nut. The fold-to-flat design also makes it very convenient for packing in a car and mine sits neatly atop my folded-down K&M 18950 stand.

I did at one point also purchase a Roc n Soc drum throne but it has rarely left the studio as it's way heavier and is an awkward shape to transport unless you break it down to the constituent components, which then involves more time. As a pianist used to sitting on a bench, I also found the sensation of almost sitting in a saddle to play a bit unsettling!

10fingers, yep, that's the one I went for in the end - JS-MB100, and it arrived this evening.



Here's my Electro3 and Dell netbook on a K&M stand, with the Electro2 bagged-up and propped against the wall. I still love the Electro2 and rather miss the extra EFX control and more intuitive preset buttons. Maybe I should set the two brothers up together again?

Cheers,
James
x

ps. Yeah, my mobile phone's camera is terrible, I know...

Looks better and less used than the one of Glenn Gould indeed