HT750C throne

While it would be tempting to say that Tama's new throne is a gas—since that's what gives the new First Chair Hydraulix its effortless height adjustment and comfortable floating feeling—that would be silly and cliche, and thrones are serious business to both players and drum shops.

But the new stool, part of Tama's 1st Chair group of professional thrones is a completely serious series of firsts for the company since this is Tama's first hydraulic throne as well as offering a very important first for hydraulic thrones in general.

As with existing gas-lifted thrones the level of comfort exceeds standard thrones with a floating feeling that still offers the security of total stability. Adjustments, up and down, are easy and seemingly instantaneous, an especially important feature for live performance when time is everything. But packing up after the performance is where the Tama version offers another first: unlike other gas-lifted thrones, the 1st Chair Hydraulix seat comes off easily from the base for fast pack-up.

The 1st Chair Hydraulix comes in two versions. The HT750C Ergo Rider features Tama's ergodynamically shaped bicycle seat. The JT650C (pictured here) comes with an all new Round Rider Seat that has a rounder shape with lower profile seams for completely unimpeded leg motion and a special air pocket in the bottom of the seat that helps reduce playing fatigue.

The HT750C Ergo-Rider Hydraulix lists for $265.99. The HT650C Round-Rider Hydraulix lists for $249.99.