Seats - Drum Throne for Tuba

[PaulMaybery]

Just thinking outside the box. With ergonomics being a bit of an issue with playing large tubas, I was reminded of all the very uncomfortable and problematic chairs that we are given at various venues upon which to rest our "derrières." A well respected colleague here on Tubenet made mention of using a drum throne and honestly I had never thought of one until I checked things out. I realize having just one more thing to drag around is a royal pain in that "derrière" but comfort on a gig, well why not. For several hours what we are sitting upon is our 'workplace' (I know of secretaries with chairs approaching the $2K price tag.)
I use a BAT which for now has a high lead pipe and requires a tuba rest, and I usually lug around a homemade seat to raise me up a bit more so my abdomen is not crunched.

Anyone out their with experience and dare I ask, an "opinion." Good ones are not cheap, but they could be a wise purchase.
I've attached a random photo of one that looks OK. Any thoughts?

[Chris Olka]

Ooh, me too, me too! I am fortunate enough to have a job where I can just leave my gear but have been intrigued with having a swiveling chair that is height-adjustable. I currently have been using wooden blocks for our Wenger orchestra chairs and it's not great. I also play the 6/4 Yamayorks so we are in similar situations. I've theorized that having the ability to swivel a bit also may help with peripheral communication within the brass section. My eyesight is rapidly deteriorating and it's become increasingly difficult to catch trumpet or trombone bell movement when giving entrance indications.

Any help or recommendations for swivel and height adjustable chairs (that don't look like cheap office equipment) would be appreciated here too!

Thanks,

[David Richoux]

I used one for a few years, it was OK on the ergonomics, but it did have a failure in one of the cast parts - a pin broke out from the lower center piece when the metal cracked. Fortunately it was a slow break ( kind of a sag instead of a jump) and I was able to deal with it as gracefully as possible. Get a high quality product from a reputable dealer!

I just use a chair now, BTW.

[Tubainsauga]

http://www.humanscale.com/products/prod ... edomSaddle

PD_12824_MAIN.jpg

This is one that I've been looking at for a general purpose office chair/practice chair. Height adjustable (options for extra tall gas cylinders) and puts you in a nice playing position (upright, knees below your hips). It's fairly expensive depending on the options, but all the individual parts can be purchased to be replaced or swapped. It also has the option for locking casters or glides.

[ArnoldGottlieb]

I'm on the road a lot and luckily my gear has a place to be stored. I've been using a Roc n Soc drum throne with a bicycle saddle and a back. I have the three leg version because that's what's the rental company provides, but when I spend my own money on one, I'll get the five leg stand. It's also a great chair for double bass, although I'm not using it at the right height right now for that. Mine is older, but it's pretty much this one http://rocnsoc.com/new/product-line/nitro-throne" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
Peace
ASG

[chhite]

I use the Roc N Soc Lunar Series with a back rest. It has a five-legged flat base that doesn't wobble and is available with different shaped cushions to suit. The chair has a gas shock for height adjustment and the back has enough play in it to suit everyone's taste. I even have the extended-height version at my repair bench. Durability is great. I've had mine for over a decade and it has never failed. The base also does not intrude on the space required to use a stand.

[MikeW]

Are you thinking of using the throne as a higher seat, or as a low tuba stand ? I have seen posts that could be interpreted either way.

Personally, I have a folding chair I got a few years ago from IKEA for about $35 CDN - at the time, it would have been a few dollars less in US. The seat is 25" high (compare 17" for a normal chair) and it has a footrest - something like a folding bar-chair. Much more comfortable playing position than a normal folding chair, but still a pita to carry about.

[PaulMaybery]

Hi Mike.

Yes, the height is the major concern - as is the comfort of a non-sculpted seat. Back support is good.
I do have a seat extension/cushion/whatever - but it tends to slide around and does not always fit on sculpted chairs very well.

My smaller F tuba I rest on my right thigh - very comfortable - not really that heavy. Plus I can sit with great posture and balance.

The BAT of course is a totally different issue. Even if the mp were lower and I could rest it on the corner of the chair, it would be to risky and in my case it would probably slip and I would knock myself out with the MP. At nominally 30 some pounds, I do not care to have it on my lap for 2 plus hours of rehearsal/gig time.

Some players who are larger/stronger than myself might assume this unnecessary. I speak for myself when I say I can use every bit of help that I can get. I do have physical limitations with arthritis and back/neck injury. It is never as simple as we would like to think.

On the more humorous side, I do enjoy being a bit of a "gear jock" Toys can be fun.

PM

[eupher61]

Roc n Soc is a nice one but pricey. I got a somewhat similar Tama throne for $150 I think. I don't adjust the throne, just the tuba rest. It's a PITA to haul, yep, but for some gigs it's well worth it.

[bort]

On the more humorous side, I do enjoy being a bit of a "gear jock" Toys can be fun.

Paul, from what I saw a few weeks ago, that's an understatement. I'd be surprised if there's much left that you don't already own (or haven't owned in the past)!

More seriously, I think investing in a comfortable seat is a wise move. Although I ain't no secretary, I do have a "fancy" office chair at home that probably cost around $700? Yes, that is a lot of money. But between work and school, I'm sitting there about 14(?) hours per day. Having a chair where my butt doesn't go numb and my back doesn't hurt is worth every penny.

On a different note, it's nice to see you posting more often here -- you've got a lot knowledge to share! This can be a silly place, so it's nice to have a little more legitimacy, and not just dopes like me with high post-counts.

[b.williams]

Are you thinking of using the throne as a higher seat, or as a low tuba stand ? I have seen posts that could be interpreted either way.

Personally, I have a folding chair I got a few years ago from IKEA for about $35 CDN - at the time, it would have been a few dollars less in US. The seat is 25" high (compare 17" for a normal chair) and it has a footrest - something like a folding bar-chair. Much more comfortable playing position than a normal folding chair, but still a pita to carry about.

I use the throne as a tuba stand.

[PaulMaybery]

Hey Joe, I admire your fortitude.
The back rest, for me, is there for occasional relief. That being said, and for performance rationale, there are also times when I like to lean back, with head and shoulders somewhat back, spine with a nice natural curve, pelvic cavity open, feet square in front, jaw sightly down and deliver a most relaxed and resonant sound with all systems wide open. (A page or to from the Alexander Technique.) That also being said, I 'usually' do sit forward a bit on the seat, trying to keep the spine aligned,and without having to feel that I'm trying to hold myself upward, simply just balanced. But the three compression fractures in my spine, at the neck, torso and lumbar sure enjoy having a respite now and then. If not careful, I wind up with "secretary's or typer's ache" in the mid back. Not fun, plus it makes me "grouchy."
Most instruments, IMHO, have a long, long, long way to go in the ergonomic department, when it comes to overcoming gravity.

Paul (if you notice, tends to use, probably, too many, commas.) Maybery

[Mark]

When I play the tuba (or euphonium or cimbasso or trombone or trumpet or saxophone or whatever), my back (ref: picture link in previous post) never touches any chair's backrest.

Am I the one who's done it wrong all these years ?

Ditto, when I'm playing. However, waiting for my exciting entrance in Bolero, I do like to lean back. On the other hand, when I know the provided chair may be insufficient, I do bring a folding keyboard bench. Drum thrones are just too difficult to haul around.

[J.Harris]

Here is the custom chair I made from a Roc and Soc Drum throne. Being a machinist does have its advantages. As you can see, the chair has an onboard,fully adjustable tuba stand, which has two collars which allows one to have two preset heights for bass and contrabass horns.The "stand" portion is all aluminum and though it looks bulky it is relatively light-weight. The design could use some refinement but it's extremely sturdy. It swivels and has pneumatic height adjustment as well. You can purchase a backrest for it as well. I'm pretty short (5'6") and the thing goes high enough that I'm almost standing which is cool for solos etc.. It is cumbersome to haul around but is extremely comfortable. The tuba stand "post" also makes a convenient carrying handle. I usually leave it at home for practice but will take it along with me for concerts, especially if I know the venue supplied chairs are sub-par. I'd show you a picture of the bottom bracket and how it attaches to the chair but hey, I may want to market the thing sometime.

[ArnoldGottlieb]

My chair, and a whole lot of gear...

IMG_0375.JPG

[peter birch]

I like to sit on a piano stool if one is available, but I do also have a keyboard bench.

[Jess Haney]

When I played a Besson 994 I used a drum throne that was highth adjustable by spinning it. It has been the best $30 investment I ever bought for the horn as I can take it anywhere and it works with any chair as well as having ample space for the horn. Mine was made by Squire.

[Radar]

I have my son's drum throne (with no backrest) in my music room from his drum set which is packed up in the basement. I've been using it to practice tuba, trombone, and euphonium for years and it's probably one of the most comfortable seats for that purpose I could find. That being said I don't drag it to rehearsals or performances outside the home. I just don't like making multiple trips from the car and try to keep what I carry down to a minimum.