K&M 14045 Stool

I thought long and hard about whether to but one of these stools I play double bass in an orchestra and was taught to play sitting down. I had been using a drum stool at it's highest setting but it was never very comfortable and also not high enough. Following a back operation I thought I had better treat myself. This stool is just right. A very comfortable seat. Very well made and a massive range of height adjustments. My first time out was a 2 hour rehearsal followed by a 1 and a half hour concert. I have never played so comfortably. I have added the optional backrest which makes for a really comfortable throne. It comes with a 5 year manufacturers guarantee as well as the 3 year one from Thomann.

1. The foam material of the saddle, although thick, is very soft, (misleading photos, which looks tighter), as a result of which it does not hold the body firmly.

2. Settings for the footrest unacceptable. The last hole in height should be the first one. We are supposed to use the footrest to bring the leg 90° in relation to the body so that the musical instrument does not slip off the leg, without the need for a belt. I'm 1.87cm high and with the saddle at the lowest point and the footrest at the highest point (and only then) comes the 90° leg. It's like using a short chair and not a stool. Imagine what happens to someone shorter. I performed my first live with this particular saddle which lasted 4 hours. One hour you can tolerate it. From then on, you are constantly looking for a place to rest your body but in vain.

I bought this stool a year ago for home use after I started playing the acoustic guitar again. I found that sitting on a drum stool for a couple of hours did my back, neck - and playing - no favours at all, so I wanted to buy something designed for the purpose.
I chose K&M because I liked the quality feel of a drum microphone clip I have made by them. This stool does not disappoint. The metal parts are all very well finished, and the saddle-style seat pad is a lovely piece of upholstery. It took longer to put together that I expected - there were more parts than just the base and the seat - but it was worth the effort.

The stool is absolutely as solid as a rock, and once you have found the right adjustment (and it is super adjustable), it is set for life. I have used it every day for a year and haven't had to tighten anything. It is not the lightest of things, but it will pay you back by lasting years and years and being utterly reliable. Very highly recommended indeed.

I like this design so much that I have two of them, one with a backrest and one without.

It's not cheap but it's very well-made and sturdy, and both of mine have now lasted for years without any problems at all. Nothing has broken or worn, nothing has come detached.

The adjustability is excellent, and it is easy to find heights for both seat and footrest that work with acoustic guitar, electric bass, and double bass.

These stools are bulky and better suited to life in a music room or studio than going out gigging with them, but my vehicle is big enough that I can usually take one with me.