All were very stable as I believe most are. The seat portion is going to be pretty similar, I believe. Since getting a seat with a back, I will never buy one without; and I've never seen the need for a power strip in a pak-a-seat.

I've used seats with the U-shaped tubular legs (each end of the U is a leg) and also legs made from a U-shaped solid steel rod with a locking bracket -- the kind you squeeze to lock/unlock -- they are surprisingly stable.

Size/capacity is another 'feature'. If my pak-a-seat is heavier than my amp, it may just be TOO BIG or TOO FULL. If I had one of those double-wide jobs I'd be tempted to fill it so full I'd have to invest in a dolly for it. I prefer one that just has enough room for necessities. I don't even carry an extra volume pedal in my seat any more, so the size isn't a big deal for me.

It's a tool. As long as it is solidly built, looks presentable, carries my stuff, and I don't fall off of it, I'm happy. Most of the new ones I've seen are well built and cost more than I want to spend.
You can't go wrong with Kenny Rollans' product -- AND there are many others that I'm sure are equally good -- but the Steelers Choice is the best one I've ever owned.

Now I go for regular armless bar chairs.

I only use the steel for 3-4 songs per set so I don't need a back.

Because I keep getting up and down to play guitar it's pretty functional....Well, it works for me.

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RUS-LER S-10 / NV 400
Randall rack amp system
TELE's & STRAT FENDER TWIN
Seymour Duncan 50W tube amp

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What's the best seat for pedal steel?

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Front row at Scotty's International Steel Guitar Convention!

For me, the back is vital - I have a lower back problem - but some don't need this. I've been virtually resident at a theatre near me for twelve months, and my Steeler's Choice seat is a permanent fixture in the 'pit' - even if I'm only playing six-string, it's the 'best seat in the house'!

I have two. They're better-built than the Emmons or the Sho-bud ones I had before - I think it's 'no contest'!

Ken is great to deal with, too - he went to a lot of trouble to see that I was happy with my ones, and threw in a bunch of spare fittings in case I needed to replace things at a later date.

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 27 September 2003 at 02:10 PM.]

The web site address is www.toteseat.comI play non-pedal, but I sure do like mine.

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Do any come with adjustable height?

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The current price on these from Carter is $65.00 plus shipping. There are cheaper thrones available, but they may not beak down and set up as quickly, or allow height adjustment.

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I've never seen the need for a power strip in a pak-a-seat.

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I was told by a seat builder that side pocket styles were for "bedroom pickers"

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Rick McDuffie
Marlen SD-10, Sho-Bud Professional S-10, Paul Reed Smith McCarty, Hofner New President, Fernandes LE2G
Rick's Music Photo Gallery
www.tarheelmusic.com

As a reward for all your help, I'll tell you a real country tale about seats from back home in Mississippi. My Dad grew up in a little crossroads town in the Northeast corner of Mississippi, called Kossuth. It's about 5 miles outside of Corinth, and when you're 5 miles out of Corinth you are away back out in the country. My Grandparents ran a little general store at the crossroads that sold everything from horse collars to groceries. Next to the store was a gas station. There were always a couple of ole boys playing checkers in front of the station, and they sat on empty nail kegs from my Grandad's store.

My Dad retired back to Kossuth and the house he was born in. When he got too ill to keep it up it was sold, and I had the sad task of selling off the contents. One of the ole boys who frequented the store came by and bought one of the old benches that sat around the big pot-belly stove that sat in the middle of the store and heated it. As he was leaving, he told me this tale.

One time two or three ole boys from Kossuth decided to see New York City. So they drove up there. But somewhere in Manhattan they got into a big car wreck, and were killed along with the people in the other car.

A reporter went to the hospital where they took the bodies. He asked the emergency room doc who the people were and where they were from. "Oh," he said, "It was a real mess. The people in one car, we couldn't tell anything about them. But the ones in the other car were from Kossuth, Mississippi."

"Well, how did you know that?" asked the reporter.

The Steeler's Choice seat has the side-pocket on the left, and the lid opens away from you. This is great design - I leave mine open and it creates a sort of tray on which I put my coffee cup (in rehearsal only ) and/or my current reading material (for when the show has too much dialogue!)

Being on the player's left allows him to root around in the compartments without taking his (or her) picks off, but it now occurs to me that the open lid could accommodate two or three 'Boss'-type effects-units, and they'd be easily accessible for making adjustments. Not for me - I use a Profex - but it's a thought.

Jim Cohen gets MY vote. Not only is he a terrific player who uses a Steeler's Choice seat, but I see from yet another 'thread' that he has a '57 Morris Minor!!!! When we watch old British movies from my extensive collection, Susie always has to put up with me exclaiming 'Morris Minor!' whenever one appears anywhere in the scene....

Pretty, pretty cars - especially with that split-windscreen - but I bet a Nashville 1000 would only just go in the boot!

| Bracket |
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