Hallo zusammen,
bei diesem Test widme ich mich zwei Drummersitzen die ich beide ausführlich testen konnte. Dieser Vergleich spiegelt meinen subjektiven Eindruck wider und kann durchaus den Meinungen meiner Drummer-Kollegen widersprechen.
Folgende “Thrones” habe ich intensiv getestet:
Yamaha DS-840 |
Tama HT530 |
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Ursprünglich war ich auf der Suche nach einem Sitz der qualitativ wertig sein, aber meinen Geldbeutel nicht übermässig strapazieren sollte. Nach einigen Tests bei meinen Freunden von Cream Music, überzeugte mich der Tama HT530 trotz des relativ hohen Preises von 160 Euro. Wenn man schon einige Jahrzehnte als Drummer unterwegs ist, legt man sehr wohl Wert auf Qualität; speziell Tama hat hierbei immer überzeugt. Da ist man auch eher mal bereit den einen oder anderen Euro mehr zu zahlen. Diese angesprochene “bekannte” Qualität der Tama Produkte findet man auch beim HT530. Fangen wir also von unten nach oben an.
Der breite Sattel passt nicht in jedes Hardwarebag. Da muß dann schon etwas Grösseres her. Da ich ohnehin ein breites Rollcase (Innenmaße 140 x 40 x 40cm) mein Eigen nenne, kommt der Sattel dann oben immer als Letztes darauf: passt aber gerade so! Viel schmäler hätte das Case dann auch nicht sein dürfen. Des weiteren viel mir auf, dass meine Beine zwar mehr als bequem auf dem Sattel auflagen, dies mich jedoch (gefühlt) bei schnellen Doublebass-Parts einbremst. Um dies näher zu überprüfen rutschte ich auf dem Sattel weiter nach vorne, was zwar die Beinfreiheit erhöhte, jedoch den Bequemlichkeitsfaktor gegen Null tendieren ließ. In dieser unbequemen Sitzposition war es tatsächlich möglich schnellere Parts mit geringerem Aufwand auf meiner Demon zu spielen.
Yamaha DS-840 | Tama HT530 | |
Gewicht: | 5,3 kg | 7,0kg |
Einstellbare Höhe: | 46cm – 65 cm | 45cm – 64 cm |
Sitzform: | Rund 330mm | Sattel |
Unterteil: | dreibeinig/doppelstrebig | dreibeinig/doppelstrebig |
Preis | 113 Euro | 160 Euro |
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in this text, I am dealing with two drummer seats, that I was able to test thoroughly. This comparative view is based on my personal experience and can obviously differ from the points of view of my drummer colleagues.
I have intensively tested the following „Thrones“:
Yamaha DS-840 |
Tama HT530 |
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Initially, I was looking for a seat, that was qualitatively valuable, but did not strain my purse too much. After some tests with my friends from Cream Musik, the Tama HT530 won over, despite the relatively high price of 160 €. Being on the move as drummer for quite some decades, I definitely have always put emphasis on good quality; Tama has always convinced me in that respect. For this, one is surely prepared to spend some additional euros. You can find this already mentioned, „well-known“ quality of Tama products also with the HT530. Let’s start from bottom to the top.
The very stable, 3-legged, double braced bottom with the „Sit Tight-Rocklok“ can easily be moved apart and together. Nothing is squeaking or shaking. The screws can easily be tighten firmly and easily be losened again. Once installed, it seems to be nearly poured-in-place; it stands extremely stable, regardless of the ground it is positioned on.
The „Sit Tight-Rocklok“ allows a very quick setting of the required hight (45,0 cm to 64,0 cm) and is also able to save this setting via programming, in order not to always search for the right position.
The broad and very comfortable saddle of the HT530 is an additional plus. It is a real pleasure to play even longer gigs/ rehearsals sitting on it. I have never sat so comfortably at the drums before. But exactly with this broad saddle I was facing my first problem.
How can I put this thing in a normal hardware case?
The broad saddle does not fit into every hardware bag. You need to find something bigger. Anyway, as I call my own a large case (internal dimensions 140 x 40 x 40 cm), I always put the saddle last on its top and it only just fits! The case could definitely not be narrower than that! Further, I found out, that although my legs were lying very comfortable on the saddle, I rather felt, that it was stopping me when playing quick double-base parts. In order to check this more precise, I slipped forwards on the saddle, which increased the freedom of my legs but which moved the level of comfort towards nil. In fact, it was possible to play quicker parts on my Demon with little effort, sitting in this uncomfortable position. This discovery puzzled me. Hmm…, 160 Euros, very comfortable, but I can not get the optimum out of my Demon. The saddles of other suppliers did either make a bad impression right from the start, or were even more expensive. Thus, I still tested some further round saddles yet and got stuck on the Yamaha DS-840. Regarding the price, it is a great deal cheaper than the above mentioned but is offering the well known Yamaha quality. It was really fun taking a seat for the first time, as I was used to the saddle and in search for the retaining element in the back, I went tumbling down backwards. 🙂
After I held up enough to ridicule, I sat correctly on the DS-840 and was very surprised to find out, that not only the freedom of leg movement was sufficient, but also playing for two hours and more was perfectly possible. In comparison with the HT530 it is clear, that one has to lower one’s sight with regard to comfortableness, but not to the extent that you would return home from a gig with back and backside aches. This is by no means the case! The seating surface is very well cushioned, and even after longer sitting sessions, it is not sat flat. With some providers, in particular after a short time, one is sitting on the board lying underneath!
In terms of stability, the 3-legged, double braced bottom does not only correspond with the HT530; the legs stand more apart from each other (this can be see on the photo). This increases stability even more. In terms of weight the DS-840 is scoring some further points, as it weights less and thus, it is transportable in a more comfortable way.
The seat hight is adjustable just by the simple rotation of the seating surface. The span of the hight setting is approximately similar to the HT530 (46,0 cm till 65,0 cm). A little deficiency are the rear tightening screws for the adjustment of the seat hight of the DS-840, as they always unloose independently after about one hour on a regular basis. In this case, one can help indeed by using Loctite and the problem can quickly be solved; with the HT530 though, this problem was completely unknown to me. Yamaha should improve here, maybe use better material, as there would still be room for 5-10 Euros more due to the very good cost-benefit ration of this product.
After the tests, I decided in favor of the Yamaha DS-840, as the advantages exceed the disadvantages. The Tama HT530 still remains the most comfortable seat I was able to test so far, but due to his construction type and the expensive price, it is the inferior one of my tested seats.
Finally you find a summary of or a comparison between the two drummer seats:
Yamaha DS-840 | Tama HT530 | |
Weight: | 5,3 kg | 7,0kg |
Adjustable Hight: | 46cm – 65 cm | 45cm – 64 cm |
Seat form: | round 330 mm | saddle |
Bottom part: | 3-legged, double braced | 3-legged, double braced |
Price: | 113 Euro | 160 Euro |
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