An older review of three of the best guitar supports I use on a regular basis and why. I’ve done so many reviews of supports over the years that people are regularly asking which ones are my favourites. Truth is, they are all good but depending on your preferences one will be more useful than another.
I mainly use three supports: GuitarLift for performance, Ergoplay for general use, Gitano for on-the-go. I’d put the HB Lite support close in there too. Heres the Youtube Review Link.
Main Guitar Supports
The three main supports I mention in the video with links to my past reviews:
- Ergoplay (Amazon Link) – Recommended for most students as their first support. I recommend the Tröster model but the Tappert model is also fine. It’s a good first support and easy to use. I use it for practice and teaching as it’s easy to switch legs and use at various angles. I don’t trust the suction cups in performance but they are okay in general. It’s the most logic choice for the average person so choose this one if you don’t know which support you should get.
- Le Support (My Review) – Le Support is the most secure and comfortable feeling classical guitar support I’ve tried. The combination of non-slip contact on both legs and the weight of the support results in a very stable and secure feeling while playing. My guitar stays exactly where I position it and I can even be completely hands-free. It might be larger than some people want but after two weeks of using it I can’t go back to other supports. I’ll be using Le Support in all my future videos and live performances.
- GuitarLift (Review) – Similar to Le Support but with contact on only one leg. Pretty secure and solid. Maybe because of the angle or less stress on the suction cups, they don’t seem to come off. It has no maneuverability once attached but that is fine for high level performance (for me anyway).
Update: I’ve also really been enjoying the newer Murata GR-1 with suction cups.
Other Great Guitar Supports
- HB Supports (Review) – The clamps work well. The HB Lite has all the benefits of the Gitano but the security of a clamp-on device. That said, suction cups are convenient and are easy on your finish but clamps are more trustworthy.
- Tenuto (Tenuto.ca) – These are great but I just haven’t found one that is perfect for my smaller guitar. Lots of my friends and students have these and are very happy with them. More adjustable than the Gitano.
- Sageworks Magnetic Support (Review) – So cool, looks the best, best design! But I can’t be bothered with the magnets, I don’t even know why because they work great.
- Mundo (Review) – If you want maneuverability plus security this might be perfect for you.
FYI, the non-adhesive protective and suction enhancing vinyl material I mention in the video is a non-guitar one called Grafix ClingViynl. I’ve used it on French polish and polyurethane finishes but I’ve been told not to use on lacquer finishes so use at your own risk, ask your luthier or maker. Also, I often use a black cloth/foam on my right leg to keep the guitar from slipping, just a basic Shelf Liner.
Thank you for recommending the Tröster , based on your review I bought one and I’m very happy with it, it’s very fast and easy to use.
Great, yes, I think that it is the best support for many people. Or at the very least, the best one to start with before exploring all the others.
Nice piece of soft..real leather suede on your lap is also a great anti slip tool.
After trying out a few types of supports I discovered a very effective option that’s super-cheap, if not free if you already have some in your home: that thin waffly rubbery material used to keep rugs in place, and for shelves, too, I think. I place a small piece on my left thigh and — voilà — my guitar stays in place because the material grips on both sides.
What’s wrong with the good old fashioned footstool? I know it’s supposed to be bad for posture, and all that entails, but I’ve used this as my only support for more than 50 years, and never had any problems. I have a nice wooden four legged stool, and it’s perfect – looks cool too.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the footstool. It’s not as ergonomic but plenty comfortable for many people. I have completely switched over because I just feel better with guitar supports, more open and free, and I end up with better posture. But of course it’s all player preference.
I have tried a lot of supports. What I settled on is a good old-fashioned guitar strap. I tested it first with my beater guitar, a Cordoba three-quarter size. I took it to the guitar shop, The Blue Guitar in San Diego, and had them put strap pins on. I bought a $10 guitar strap from them and tried it out. I love it. Then I took my good guitar and had them put strap pins on that. Perfect. You can adjust the guitar position very easily. It is far and away the most secure method I know. You should try it, but I know 99.9% of guitarists will never consider a guitar strap.
Ya, straps are good but I can’t get the right position for myself with a normal sized guitar. With a smaller 19th century guitar it feels good to me. Also, I don’t know if I could bring myself to drill into my guitar!