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Hey, how are you doing? I hope you are doing just fine.
So lately i've been playing guitar with my Sagework support for ergonomical reasons (back, breath, all that jazz), i've been using it in my right leg but i've also been continuously feeling my negra kind of unstable, out of balance (trust me, i've tried every combination i could with it). I don't expect a support in the right leg will have as much balance as would one in the left leg, but i started to wonder if there were other available options better suited for my needs (as i said i use it in my right leg, i play mostly in "cross-leg" position, but without crossing legs, that's why i bought a support, and also in that traditional position with the inclined guitar, i don't know the proper name of it).
Doing some research i came across two types of guitar supports that could possibly work with me: the ErgoPlay and the De Oro.
About the ErgoPlay: i've seen Grisha using it a lot in the right leg, so i wonder if it could provide a better balance than my Sagework. I don't know, it looks way more adjustable than my Sagework as well.
About the De Oro.: this one looks a bit similar to the ErgoPlay, plus it has a nice lap fit (i wonder if the Flamenco version is wider than the other models for this feature), and it's cheapier.
I also must say i'm afraid of suction cups (one of the motives i bought the Sagework), my guitar has a polyurethane finish so even though i should be fine using it i'm still afraid of it.
What do you guys think? Can you give me some guidance? My back thanks you all.
De Oro, man, all the way. Get his FiniSHIELD too if you're worried about the suction cups, but trust me, with PU finish you'll be fine even without the FiniSHIELD. Work with Diego directly via email and you can ask him to customize the strap / frame to fit exactly what you need. I think Sagework is great honestly. I didn't have problems like you did. But, it has a plastic (even though padded) body that was "cutting" in my right thigh because I have nerve problems in that thigh, so it's unable to tolerate pressure like normal people's thighs do LOL. The De Oro has a fabric/leather strap that is super easy on my legs especially because I use it across the lap so it spreads the pressure on both thighs to make it even easier on my nerves. Just go with De Oro man, and you won't regret it. Diego is amazingly kind and responsive.
I have the De Oro but don't use it because the suction cups put marks on my guitar which has French polish. I am thinking about ordering the Finishield.
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Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: Help with Guitar Support (in reply to Cervantes)
quote:
I have the De Oro but don't use it because the suction cups put marks on my guitar which has French polish. I am thinking about ordering the Finishield.
Yeah man - I use the FiniSHIELD on my Culpepper and it's perfect with the suction cups. Diego's website says to only use the cups on high gloss finish, so it was a gamble on your part to use them on French polish. I have heard others say they've used it on French polish with no issues, though, so I guess you got unlucky.
RE: Help with Guitar Support (in reply to rombsix)
I think De Oro it is then. I really like the Sagework especially in the classical position, it is amazing indeed though the plastic body leave marks in my right leg sometimes, haha (feel ya bro). De Oro has that 100% satisfaction guarantee so i guess i'll give it a shot.
I bought De Oro one after getting tail bone pain and it did work well. But, the suction cups are starting to wear off and come off easily now. That said, I am using the guitar support less and less now. I think/realized the problem was also my chair which was not adjustable. I removed the arm rests from my work chair whose height can be adjusted and it rotates too . I use the work chair now and keep switching between cross legged (without any guitar support) position and just using foot stool under right leg, that appears to be working well.
RE: Help with Guitar Support (in reply to palosanto)
Thanks for your sugestion. I know the Gitano and the Tenuto guitar supports, but they would not be useful for me, they are more useful with classical position not with the positions i mentioned. I considered the Murata as well, but i'm already talking with Diego, his support seems to have the optimal adjustability for me.
I use the Dynarette cushion for classical, the Murata for flamenco.
I acknowledge harassing Ramzi about using supports several years ago--sorry Ramzi-- but I caved and started using one for flamenco a while back. I learned to play flamenco in the old time position, with the lower bout on the right thigh, the guitar supported by the weight of the right upper arm. I am embarrassed to say that my belly is now too big for this to be practical. For it to work the back of the guitar needs to sit against the juncture of thigh and torso. To get a firm grip the headstock now sticks out too far forward.
With the Murata i come close to the old time position, with the lower bout resting further out on my right thigh. I like the way this presents my right hand to the strings. The "Paco" position doesn't work well for me, for either hand.
I tried a couple of supports with suction cups, but they didn't prove reliable for me. The Murata clamps on with a padded metal jaw. I was a bit cautious about this, fearing it might dent the instrument. After trying it on a less expensive cedar top guitar (which I no longer have) I decided it was safe to use on either of my flamencas. Haven't had any problem.
Well my "de oro" made it to Spain in less than 5 days. Normally a package from the other side of the pond spends twice that time in a warehouse awaiting customs clearance in Madrid.
Anyway product strong as described. The finishield fitted to my Valeriano Bernal in seconds with no issues - no need to trim, no air bubbles, easy peasy.
The suction pads look strong and so far fit firmly but are easy to remove and adjust.
I've played with a few positions and I have it now set to reduce the bend in my left wrist - it feels different of course but quite comfy.
Only issue was using it wearing shorts it could dig in the leg a bit. But that is a minor point that only occurred in certain positions. I might just stick a bit of fabric on it.
And I got an unexpected 4$ discount as the support came with 1 set of finishield. (I ordered 2 but one was included in some form).
Onwards and upwards, quite literally for my left hand .
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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)
RE: Help with Guitar Support (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
Of course.... but I was referring to how the guitar support could possibly bother your leg unless you are wearing some booty shorts lol
Yeah man, I mean shorts are going to cover less of your leg than pants. So if the shorts ride up a bit or you have a bit of a belly and need the guitar support to sit closer to the knee, then I can see how the support can then sit on bare skin and dig in.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Help with Guitar Support (in reply to AndresK)
Jokes aside, I am one of few advocates for abandoning any of those medieval torture devices to enslave your poor bodies to adapt ONE and only one prison position. Horrible for your body. Don’t be afraid to MOVE around in your chair and adapt different positions for each song, if not learn to change your seat position MID song. Your body with thank you for it. Don’t imprison it.
Jokes aside, I am one of few advocates for abandoning any of those medieval torture devices to enslave your poor bodies to adapt ONE and only one prison position. Horrible for your body. Don’t be afraid to MOVE around in your chair and adapt different positions for each song, if not learn to change your seat position MID song. Your body with thank you for it. Don’t imprison it.
In the past I have used the De Oro support but just could not get along with the suction cups. After that I switched to Dynarette cushion, but it does not stay in place. Without a support I use the Diego Del Morao position with feet on the floor and guitar sitting on my right leg and have to be hunched over to play. I would use the Paco position but do not have enough flexibility in my hips to cross over the right leg. I recently got a Sagework Umbra. I was worried about installing the magnets but it turned out to be really easy. I have it in the lowest position and guitar sits a little higher than I would like but I think I can get used to it. The curved part that contacts the leg is not very wide so it puts a lot of pressure that is a bit uncomfortable but so far is tolerable. I love how easy it is to attach and remove from the guitar and is always in the same place. Overall I like it but only had it a few days. I am thinking in the future maybe using the magnets and making my own out of wood to improve upon it.
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
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