If you get neck and back pain when playing saxophone, it can really get in the way.
Could the Sax Seat be the answer to neck and back issues when playing saxophone? We often hear about this problem, from the thousands of adult learners we have in Sax School.
I don’t personally have issues with neck pain, but as I’m getting older I’m finding I do get sore, especially when I’ve been playing my baritone sax for long periods of time. It’s something we all need to be aware of as sax players, to make sure we can play saxophone for a long time to come.
So I’m excited to see if this new product is a solution.
Sax Seat Kickstarter
I first heard about the Sax Seat from one of my Sax School members who had seen their Kickstarter campaign. It’s exciting to hear that they did achieve their target on their Kickstarter and the Sax Seat is going into production in January.
The Sax Seat was developed by Kostas Efesopoulos in Cyprus. The idea was to create a seat that helped sax players have a better posture when playing sitting down. We all tend to slouch when we’re playing, but that’s really bad for our diaphragm and our air support.
What makes the Sax Seat special?
The Sax Seat consists of a really sturdy seat with a backrest, and an innovative arm that supports the bottom of the saxophone and takes its weight. Both the arm and the seat are adjustable.
Once it’s correctly adjusted, the saxophone mouthpiece is the perfect height for playing and there’s no weight on my neck or back at all. I don’t even need to use a neck strap, although you could use yours for a bit of extra peace of mind.
You can also slide the arm around so you can play your sax to the side of your body. This would be great if you’re playing in a stage band or concert band.
Using the Sax Seat with a baritone sax
I was really keen to find out how the Sax Seat helped me when I’m playing my baritone sax.
First I need to adjust the arm to support my bari at the right height. I can also adjust the angle of the pad, and move it in and out to get the right position.
Once it’s adjusted, I can play my baritone sax without any weight on my neck strap at all. Exciting!
Check out the video to see the Sax Seat in action with my baritone, as I play a new arrangement I’ve been working on with Fred Vigdor of Average White Band. Fred is one of our Sax School tutors, and you can see more of this project inside Sax School.
Negatives
The Sax Seat is quite expensive at around £240 or $310 US. However, if it means you can play for saxophone comfortably, I reckon that’s a pretty small price to pay. It’s really well made too so it should last for years.
It’s also pretty heavy at around 10 kilos or 22 lbs. So if you’re taking it to gigs or rehearsals, it’s going to need a bit of extra effort. It does pack down though – watch my demo in the video.
My Verdict
I think this is a great product and if you have issues with your neck and back, this could be the solution.
The weight is a factor, but taking this product along to band rehearsals or gigs means you’ll always be comfortable. And it could be the difference which allows you to play saxophone. If I was playing a lot of baritone sax, especially, I would definitely consider buying one of these.
How to order the Sax Seat
You can preorder the Sax Seat now and it will be available from January 2021.