Seats: SteelSeat.com or Steeler's Choice?

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Hi,
I'm planning on getting a new seat soon. I've been using an old beater seat that needs to be retired. My old seat is falling apart, and my back gets pretty tired sitting on it, so I'm going to go with a new seat with a backrest/lumbar support.
From what I've read on the forum I'm feeling like either going with a SteelSeat.com seat or a Steeler's Choice seat. I am sure that either of these seats will be great, and both look and sound like high quality products. It would be nice to hear some impressions of both seats from people who have had a chance to try them. I have read the posts on the forum for these seats, and it's all very positive, but it would be great to hear from people who have actually seen both seats. One thing I know is that the SteelSeat.com seat has deeper compartments and more space, but I'm also assuming that it would be a little heavier due to the larger box size. Either seat will be at least as large as the seat I've been using, and that's big enough, so the larger box vs. lighter seat dilemma is a wash for me as I can see the benefits of both. As I said, I'm sure I will be happy with either of these seats, but any impressions or advice will help me make my decision and is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Cliff

Thom Beeman · From: California, USA, R.I.P.

Cliff, I don't know the empty weight of the steelers choice but, empty weight on steelseat.com is 22lbs.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've built some seats, before I retired 12 years ago (and I know several that are still in use today). I now have a Steeler's Choice "Sidekick" model with seat back. I've thought about other brands but the "Sidekick" storage area and lid is the best (most convenient and useful) design.

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

You might consider Walker seats as well.

I bought one about 6 months ago. I was impressed with the way that Ray "bent over backwards" to make sure it fit. ......It has been the most comfortable steel seat I've ever owned.

Also, Ray sent is sending me some parts to rejuvenate my old Kline pack-a-seat (for band practice). The guy is actually helping me repair a product he didn't even build. How can you beat that for service?

http://www.walkerseats.com/home.htm

Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

Been at it since 74,best seat I Ever used!!!!
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Morton Kellas · From: Chazy, NY, USA 1

My preference is Steelseat.com. I am impressed with how solid the seat is and the quality and choice of materials used in the building process. The cushion is firm and supports you well while playing. The best way to deciede would be to try one out for yourself. There are some good seats out there. I rate steelseat.com a "10".

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Steelers Choice. Jody.

Lem Smith · From: Long Beach, MS

I've not had any experience with the other brands, so I can't comment on them, but I've got one of the seats built by Thom at steelseat.com and I don't see how one could be any better. It has stood up to heavy use, literally since I am not a little guy! It's very roomy with plenty of storage space, and is also very comfortable during those long playing sessions.

If I were needing another steel seat, I wouldn't hesitate to get another one from Thom at steelseat.com.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i've got a steelers choice w/back and side compartment. i prefer my simple sho-bud pack a seat...smaller, more stable, easier to carry.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I have one of Thom Beeman's Steel Seats.Com...I haven't tried the others that are out there.My seat has enough extra room to put Jimmy Hoffa in there. Laughing

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George Macdonald · From: Vancouver Island BC Canada

I have both a Steelers Choice and a Walker seat. They are both excellent seats as I'm sure the Steelseat.com seats are. My first Steelers Choice seat had the side compartment which is a good feature for getting at strings without getting up. I found it to be a little too bulky and heavy for me. Now I have a Steelers choice standard width seat but with back rest and power bar. I love the power bar feature. My Walker seat is the "Esquire" model that comes with the back rest, and I must say that the Walker is a very comfortable seat. Both are very well made, and both Ray Walker and Dan Rollans are great people to deal with. George

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

"I have one of Thom Beeman's Steel Seats.Com...I haven't tried the others that are out there.My seat has enough extra room to put Jimmy Hoffa in there."

I wish I could put Jimmy Day in there. Smile

I too, have one of Thom's seats and it's roomy and built like a brick ....house.

Arch.
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I'm well behaved, so there!

Dave Diehl · From: Mechanicsville, MD, USA

I can't comment on SteelSeat.com because I have never dealt with those seats. They may be very good products. I can tell you however that you won't find a better seat that the Steelers Choice AND Kenny and his son are some of the finest folks I have ever dealt with. They stand behind their products 100%.... my option however is that number is more like 100+%.

Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Cliff i had my seat custom made by Steelers Choice and it is great ! I had it made a somewhat longer than standard . It has a nice backrest along with the side compartment . The whole seat is bigger . I'm very happy with mine . Great craftsmanship and the material is very soft to sit on . I think the price is comparable with the rest of the seats like it . My money was well spent . G.P.

Edgar Hattabaugh · From: Oklahoma, USA

Cillf: Take a look at KC's Seat and Cases before
you buy. they are amoung the best out there.
KC@kcseatsandcases.com
Ed

Mike Christensen · From: Cook Minnesota

Cliff; I have had a Steelers Choice with sidecar and backrest for two years. It is a great seat.I broke one of the hoops for one of the clasps. Icalled them they sent me a new clasp for free,no postage even. Ya just can't beat that. I believe it could fall out the back of a pickup at road speed and be just fine. Very well built. Happy Trails

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Thanks for all the great replies.
Much appreciated!

Cliff

Brandon Ordoyne · From: Needville,Texas USA

Steeler's Choice w/ sidekick

Brandon
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Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

I have only ever used Steelers Choice seats, and they are outstanding, but I have checked out Toms seats at Dallas and they look to be a very well built and designed throne !! You would do well with either.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Cliff, come on over and set a spell on my ATA SteelSeat.com chair. It's very roomy, but a little heavy with thick wood and extra metal.

I really like this seat for comfort and stability...but honestly, ALL seats I've seen miss the boat in the area of ergonomic industrial design.

That exposed boat seat hinge used by most is a clothing/upholstery mangler.

The u-shaped legs are primitive and stiff and take too much time setting up, especially with the dopey little butterfly thingy that holds the struts in place.

All that hardware and STILL not adjustable for height! Give me a break.

And why can't these things, as heavy as they end up when loaded with gear, have retractable wheels and handle?

You seat makers, consider this a challenge to make some much-needed improvements to all your designs. If I had time and the talent, I'd do it myself! If you'll make one like this, I'd buy it in a heartbeat! Confused

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Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Hey John,
those are great ideas! It seems like they would be pretty doable, especially with all of the stuff that's going on with some of these seats already. You sure you don't have the time to make the seat you're thinking of? You'd probably sell lots of them. I'll buy the first one!

Hope all is well,
Cliff

Ray Walker · From: Smithfield, NC, USA, R.I.P.

Well John you make some points...but....

1. The time and money one would have to put into a seat that you described...would without a doubt make the cost so unbearable that you would be putting another post on here giving your opinion for why seat builders are hurting us all by running the costs up on seats.
2. What good is making what you qualify as a great seat if no one or perhaps a very few can afford to buy it.

3. To the best of my knowledge, most all steel players have a certain height seat that they use and since it is for them and them alone...why spend extra monies making it adjustable when it will stay in the fixed position you are comfortable with to begin with.

4. Wheels and handles can be loaded on...which also makes the seat even heavier when loading and unloading and runs the costs up again so that few can afford the seat.

5. If you had the time and talent you would probably make "one" but you sure as heck wouldn't be in the business of selling them.

Finally, this post is in no way intended to hurt feelings or insult anyone...it is simply a statement of facts so that perhaps folks like you can understand that we builders can do but so much in the production of our products. You have some great ideas, John.
We recently did a two year study on making an amp protector(cover) padded inside. By the time the tooling costs were finished the case would only cost 52.00 each (mycosts) and then you have to make a profit of some kind...because of food and stuff like that.....and the initial cost for setting the whole thing up was $20,000 bucks. Now how many can I sell and how long if ever will it take to just re-coop costs let alone make "any" profit. We're talking hundreds at a time not just one or two. Again...you have some really great ideas for a seat and I guess I can make one for me exactly as you have proposed...but I simply don't have a need for one like that....it would be cool to say I owned one though Very Happy

Ray

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Making the seat adjustable for height seems like an all-around good idea to me. Yes, each buyer will be using the seat only for him(or her)self, so he(she) would likely "set it and forget it", but from the manufacturer's point of view, with adjustable-height legs you could sell the same product to all customers, instead of either having to custom build for each or sell only to those who like the fixed height of your seats.

I don't know the practicality or cost implications, of course. But if someone can afford to spend in the thousands for at least one pedal steel guitar, they can surely afford to spend in the hundreds for a quality seat that they will be using for many years. JMO.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Ray, all great points, and with the market as small as it is, buyers for my "deluxe" pack-a-seat would probably be a tiny smidgen of even that! With all the lightweight, rollable, handled suitcases and gear made these days, isn't there some wholesale source for the parts that could be used with minor adaptation for the great steeler's seat?

Pro piano seats are height adjustable, they have a very smooth but still simple mechanical way of adjusting height. That could probably be adapted, though it would add to the weight and cost.

Great steels generally have position-adjustable knee levers, and you can raise front, back or all legs, so I think seat height adjustment would be welcome, too, at least in theory, if not sales. Height adjustment would compensate for seat cushion sag over time, too!
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John Drury · From: Gallatin, Tn USA

I have a Steelers Choice with a back rest and power supply that I got from SGN, great seat!
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