Pack - A-Seat seat crash

Bob Lawrence · From: Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

I was having a good time playing along with a song and doing some recording. I stopped to grab a sip of hot coffee that was behind me and the next thing I knew I was on the floor, the leg from my new seat was completely off the seat bracket and when sliding across the floor. Hot coffee went flying all over the place and of course it found my new portable recording device.

It was quite the shock to the system. Whoa!

If your a little heavy like me(233 LBS) be careful out there .

_________________
Franklin D10, Telonics (E9)True Tone(C6) pickups, Fender Steel King , Evans (FET 500LV), Nashville 400, Quilter MicroBlock 45 amp's, Telonics FP100 volume pedal, PodXT(effects only), Boss RV3(delay & reverb),Steel Guitar Black Box,Bill Lawrence cables, Walker Seat,Peterson Flip Tuner, IVL Steel Rider, IK Multimedia IRig Pro DUO for recording.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Blame it on the "budget" (cheapie) hardware approach. Although I have an inexpensive seat (Elite), it has 3 brackets on each side, and they are made from steel. Those in your picture look to be aluminum. Confused

Steve Green · From: Gulfport, MS, USA

I'm a big guy, myself. I use this seat and don't have any worries.

_________________
Some songs I've written

Barry Blackwood · Posted 13 Jun 2016 7:08 am

What about this? Swivel seat fits a five gallon bucket with gear stowage inside.. Cool

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Proof that cheapest isn't always the best. Rolling Eyes

Next time buy "Steeler's Choice".
They'll never let you down. Very Happy

Joe Naylor · From: Avondale, Arizona, USA

I have my seat clamps special made they are not conduit clamps.

These are more than twice the thickness of any on the market. Not off the shelf. Made by a custom fabricator.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP

Chris Templeton · From: The Green Mountain State

The best seat I've seen was one Buddy had that had screw in legs. A minute or two extra for setup but no squeaking.
I can't remember the name.
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8:

Bob Lawrence · From: Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

@ Donny Hinson

re:re:Blame it on the "budget" (cheapie) hardware approach

Something is not right. When I opened the box the first night I seen 2 screws that were loose(one was practically out) I tried to screw them back in but they would not tighten up.

So much for being Made In America Sad

I would ship it back but it cost me $100 American for shipping to get it to Nova Scotia which sounds crazy in itself but I was told that several shipping methods were tried and that was the best price.
_________________
Franklin D10, Telonics (E9)True Tone(C6) pickups, Fender Steel King , Evans (FET 500LV), Nashville 400, Quilter MicroBlock 45 amp's, Telonics FP100 volume pedal, PodXT(effects only), Boss RV3(delay & reverb),Steel Guitar Black Box,Bill Lawrence cables, Walker Seat,Peterson Flip Tuner, IVL Steel Rider, IK Multimedia IRig Pro DUO for recording.

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Bob, you can break off some toothpicks in the wallowed out holes with or without some wood glue to make the screw holes "screwable" again.

Patrick Laffrat · From: Gemenos, France

made in Belgium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZOpNVh63ko

ajm · From: Los Angeles

So back to the original problem.

Bob now has a seat that needs to be fixed.

Where can he get some new and hopefully stronger brackets so that this won't happen again?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I've had this old seat since '82. The folks at Jackson Guitar Co. in Nashville built it for me. It gets bounced about, takes a beating and it's full of junk. All I ever have to do is check the screw tightness from time to time and I've replaced the nylon inserts also.

These clamps are just common steel conduit clamps. They are about 1/16" or maybe a little thicker. It would take considerable force to bend them. Maybe the current ones are not as heavy or have inferior steel.

I don't know what happened to Bob's seat....strange, but I don't see how the brackets would just fail on their own like that.

How are the legs made? Are they bent tubing like these?

Bob Lawrence · From: Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

@Jerry Overstreet

re: I don't know what happened to Bob's seat....strange

My opinion is that it's a design flaw. The grade of material used is too soft(I think it's aluminum and not steel) and\or the material is not thick enough.(just compare it with the bracket from a old original Sho-Bud seat) ). This seat has the side compartment and 4 legs but the weight is distributed more on the right hand legs. ( viewed from sitting on it). Then if you move to your right and turn as I did to grab my coffee , most of you weight hits the right hand legs . It just collapsed and of course I wasn't expecting that to happen. Whoa!

*********** WARNING **** If you have this model seat made with these brackets your's may open as well and most likely when you least expect it.

The solution is quite simple, replace the brackets. Also, I have contacted the vendor and am waiting to see if they can offer a solution. If not, I will most likely look for better quality brackets or have some made by a local machinist friend or just send the seat back to the vendor.
_________________
Franklin D10, Telonics (E9)True Tone(C6) pickups, Fender Steel King , Evans (FET 500LV), Nashville 400, Quilter MicroBlock 45 amp's, Telonics FP100 volume pedal, PodXT(effects only), Boss RV3(delay & reverb),Steel Guitar Black Box,Bill Lawrence cables, Walker Seat,Peterson Flip Tuner, IVL Steel Rider, IK Multimedia IRig Pro DUO for recording.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Obviously there is a problem. Not trying to down play that, just trying to understand how such a thing could happen. The weight should be carried by the legs pushing up against the block the brackets are bolted to as shown by the rub marks there. The brackets are to allow the legs to rotate and stay on plane.

I guess somehow your twisting motion reaching back allowed something to give way....,that's what I'm trying to understand.

Anyway, good luck with a resolution.

Bob Lawrence · From: Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

For the thickness argument I've added a few pictures.

(1)Kyser pick (2)Walker seat clamp (3) Sho-bud seat clamp

Comparing the thickness of a Walker seat camp with a Sho-Bud seat clamp(looks like Steel)

_________________
Franklin D10, Telonics (E9)True Tone(C6) pickups, Fender Steel King , Evans (FET 500LV), Nashville 400, Quilter MicroBlock 45 amp's, Telonics FP100 volume pedal, PodXT(effects only), Boss RV3(delay & reverb),Steel Guitar Black Box,Bill Lawrence cables, Walker Seat,Peterson Flip Tuner, IVL Steel Rider, IK Multimedia IRig Pro DUO for recording.

Bob Lawrence · From: Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, Canada

@Jerry Overstreet

re:Obviously there is a problem. Not trying to down play

No problem, I didn't feel that you did. Smile

I'm like you, just posting a few facts and trying to understand what happened so it can be improved. Hopefully no one gets hurt in the meantime due to a crash.

re:Anyway, good luck with a resolution.

Thanks!!
_________________
Franklin D10, Telonics (E9)True Tone(C6) pickups, Fender Steel King , Evans (FET 500LV), Nashville 400, Quilter MicroBlock 45 amp's, Telonics FP100 volume pedal, PodXT(effects only), Boss RV3(delay & reverb),Steel Guitar Black Box,Bill Lawrence cables, Walker Seat,Peterson Flip Tuner, IVL Steel Rider, IK Multimedia IRig Pro DUO for recording.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Big difference. Those heavy ones are like the ones on my seat.

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I do something that's really simple to keep screws, etc. in place. Whenever I find one loose or the hole is stripped out in the wood, I'll add a small amount of Gorilla glue to the screw and re-insert or glue in the hole itself. The screws/bolts that secure the legs especially need to be regularly looked at. In closing, as far as seats go, I believe Joe Naylor makes the best steel seat. Regardless of the builder(s), a player will have to check screws, bolts, etc. just like we do with PSG's.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

It could be that the wing nut holding the the legs in position was loose, causing the them to be at an angle, rather than vertical. This would put a lot of stress on the clamps, and perhaps caused them to bend. If the legs were locked solidly in the vertical position, there shouldn't be much stress on those clamps.

Joe Naylor · From: Avondale, Arizona, USA

thanks Billy

Since the seat latches are not the kind I use and that was not my seat. I want to point out that sometimes the roughest treatment a seat gets is from my shop to the customers door.

I will admit I have had issues too.

These seats are custom build and yes hand made and it upsets me when a statement is made "so much for made in America" I know most of the builders of seats and steels as well. A few years ago there was an issue with a steel guitar that had arrived at a customer. I wound up helping the guy out - I am not patting myself on the back but these things do happen.

I strive to get customers what they want. When I get a note from a customer that says they like the seat. That is great. Then when something is wrong it is the worst feeling ever. I feel a disappointment in myself.

Yes, I make an effort to make steelseats heavy duty.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Joe
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I just call things the way I see them. It is what it is. I'm sitting here in my office looking at the seat I purchased f/ Steelseats.com( J. Naylor ). Somebody show me a better made seat and I'll buy it. When I support something, it's 100%. Thanks.

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

I own three steel seats,Two Steel Seats.Com from Joe Naylor and they are the beez knees never had any problems,I also have an "Elite Seat"that a friend of mine brought back from Nashville about 15years ago...The"Elite"has been repaired so many times that there is more glue than wood holding it together.I believe that Joe Naylor makes the finest seat out there!! Winking

_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

Yikes! I've never trusted those things and this validates my concerns. Besides, I've always thought they were the most outlandishly expensive steel guitar accessory of all. I prefer a folding bench. No storage ( substitute a sturdy nylon gym bag with zippered pockets) but they are way stronger and they don't cost as much.

Jess Tolbirt · From: White Bluff, Tn.

the thin clamp is an EMT conduit clamp.
The thicker clamp is a Rigid conduit clamp..
go to your local electrical supply dealer or electrician and ask for a few rigid clamps and they will most likely give you some..

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

It seems I've seen a pipe hanger like this but I don't remember where or if they're still made.
One could get strap and bend it easily enough I'd think.

The Bremer seat, posted by Patrick, is the nicest piece of engineering and design I've seen.

Forum Index > Steel Players	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic