Les Ismore,
so did you get the top piece only? Or the entire throne? I'm not settled on what to order. Never had a Rock'n'Soc or compatible stand. So in case I'd get the CARMICHAEL top piece only I'd have to buy a compatible stand anyway.
I purchased just to top. If your current base is 7/8" it'll fit. They use ROC N SOC bottom plates and bases, which are 7/8" You could adapt your bottom bracket to the CARMICHAEL, but you'd need to install inserts (the plywood is 1/2") and the hole pattern they drilled is for the ROC n SOC stuff.
If you're serious contact CARMICHAEL, they'll answer ALL your questions, excellent customer service... talk to Dan himself, join the family.
I did a gig yesterday and Im still blown away. I feel great, actually got home and did yoga/weight training. At the gig its a new approach, dealing with reserve power. I believe its actually helping my L5 injury heal, I know it is. So what's that worth to me? Can't say enough good about it.
They're on ebay.
While I have the scale plugged in- The CARMICHAEL top weighs in at 5.06 lbs, thats w/o a bracket on the bottom, with my bracket it weighs 8.05 lbs and the top fits perfectly in a 14x5.5 drum bag.
As far as carrying the seat tops of thrones around...I agree they are klunky to move around. What I do is tie a loop of some thin but strong braided cord to it. I backed some screws and washers out and tied the cord around the screws and tightened it back down. That allows you to carry your throne top with just one finger. Plus it's free, basically. Just make the loop so it doesn't extend past the seat edge or less, you don't need too much. It makes life so much easier. Like Gatzen says, it's the little things that make a big difference. Or something like that.
Larry, you're a genius.
Yes. Yes I am lol. I'm glad you like my suggestion KIG. I always Larry-ize things that I'm not happy with. I tie cords to my snare drums too, using the lugs and/or tension rods. It makes it very convenient to grab it. I like your suggestions about the magnets. And the light. Not sure how you use a magnet on a round cymbal stand though. Another thing I do is to tie a car litter bag onto my floor tom. I put my glasses, keys, wallet and phone in there when I play because I don't like stuff in my pockets when I drum. Placing them on the floor puts them in harms way. It works great. No one sees it anyway.
Because of Les' comments & high opinion of the Charmichael seat, I bid, and won a seat top on eBay.
I did a "test" with a couple pieces of thick material at work on a seat, just to see what it would be like and it was pretty "freeing" feeling--even with the ganky way I set it up.
I should get it by Thursday in FedEx, and will try it out on my gig Friday night (opening for Vince Neil).
WOW
My office chair feels like crap now :-(
I used a Roc-N-Soc for years, then a Tama Ergo Rider for a couple years, then the Pearl round Roadster for the last two.
The Tama was pretty comfortable, the Pearl has been decent too.
After using a round a few years ago on a backline gig, it felt better than the tractor style, so I went back to it.
I bought a Gibraltar soft seat last year as well, and that thing has been sitting. I'm selling it now. I've never tried the split Gibraltar tractor style seat.
Like the tractor style, where it puts you in a good spot on the seat automatically, similar to the front of a round, the Charmicael does the same thing. There is no leg movement restriction AT ALL on this seat.
I can't say I have any back "issues" either, no pain, but something hasn't seemed "right" on anything for a while.
One height will be OK for a bit, then I'd have to change it because there's "something"..so I guess there is SOME KIND of issue
This Charmichael seat top is something else. The size of it is bigger than usual seats, and it's perfect. I'm siting on it, and it feels like I'm sitting straighter naturally without thinking about it.
THANK YOU LES for posting about this seat.
As Les has stated, it's pretty crazy the change in feel. I'm sitting on it at work, and now I want the dang thing for my desk at work. I don't have the bucks for that right now, so I may have to put something together that's similar for my computer chair.
If you have back pain, or something is not right sitting on anything you are trying out, then this seat is probably going to correct it. The size of the it is great, and the foam is very supportive. No sag in, but not hard feeling.
IMO, it's easily worth the money the top costs. I'm stoked that I got this seat.
...
The AHEAD SPINAL G hasn't gotten good reviews, its cheaper, tho the design incorporates springs, for what reason I don't know, and the gap is too small. Im curious to hear about BertTheDrummer's experience w/it. Again the designer is a chiropractor, not a drummer. He licensed the design to AHEAD.