Most comfortable guitar body type for playing sitting down

[rio]

For me, my L5 is the most comfortable guitar to play seated by far. My other archtops are 16” and the 17” larger body size of the L5 elevates the guitar off my leg to the perfect playing position. With solid bodies, semis or sometimes 16” archtops I’ll use a guitar cushion and the then become equally comfortable (except for the cushion being there) but the size of the L5 really puts the guitar into the best playing position for me. Standing is another story though.


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[aleksandar]

A flying V, or better yet, Zakk Wylde's coffin guitar.

[Thumpalumpacus]

An ES-335 is very comfortable to play seated, but the neck is about five frets too far left. The ES-330 (early model) is super comfortable.

I put on my Ibanez, I feel like I'm strapping on an aircraft-carrier, even after almost three years. But I never play it seated ... my armpit's too low.

[floatingpickup]

A flying V, or better yet, Zakk Wylde's coffin guitar.

How about this...

[GNAPPI]

I agree that the player's body is as much a factor as the guitars.John

Do you mean this?

[rpguitar]

For playing seated, the Klein Electric and Forshage Orion style ergonomic headless guitars, which rest on the right leg with the neck up at an angle, are about as perfect as one can get. In some cases, they will literally balance without being held by the player or strapped on.

This body type is not listed in the voting options. And many players don't have experience with them, so it's not unusual that they wouldn't be mentioned.

Barring that, my vote is for a 17" L-5 style, which has enough bout width to lift the neck up so one doesn't have to hunch too much. A 16" archtop might be better for shorter people.

Strats are great as far as the leg and balance are concerned, but you do have to hunch a bit.

[Greentone]

As some people have pointed out, the good old L5-CES is superbly comfortable to play. I have a Matsumoku copy and a custom-made 17" guitar by the top Gibson craftsman who used to build the Kalamazoo Award and Citation instruments at Gibson. These "L5"-shaped guitars are heaven.

[citizenk74]

For me, my two most comfortable guitars are my PRS C24 (Strat-type ergos) and my ES-175. I play everything strapped and seated for safety, comfort and consistency. For gigs I used to use a steel-frame chair that was the perfect height and seat angle. Worked for me.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I voted Tele. I'm right-handed but I rest it on my left leg and tilt the neck up, classical style.

[rob taft]

A flying V, or better yet, Zakk Wylde's coffin guitar.

I own a vintage Flying V and it is surprisingly comfortable to play sitting down. The guitar I recently purchased is a breeze to play in the seated position and in pretty much all positions.

[D.G.]

It's easier for me to list guitars that DON'T work seated:

Flying V
Steinberger


As for classical position, then I get a lot pickier. It's pretty much limited to classical style guitars.

[Bluedawg]

I'm one of the strap people ...

Studied classical while attending college and became really comfortable with the classical position

I adjust the strap with whatever I'm playing so that I can hold it in a position similar to a classical guitar resting on my left leg with a footrest

Makes playing a thin solid body or a Super 400 equally easy and comfortable .... for myself ... YMMV

[Robert1950]

I have a casino coupe which is a double cut, thinline, full hollow body that is 339 size. Fits me perfectly. A stratocaster also fits me just as well, in a different sort of way. Oh, and I ALWAYS play with strap, standing or sitting.

[Alder Statesman]

A Tele with a belly cut for me. And I even lost 30 pounds.

[fep]

I rest my right forearm on the upper edge of the guitar. With the wider guitars like a dreadnaught my wrist becomes more flat when fingerpicking which is more comfortable and more healthy.

[rob taft]

This my comfortable guitar sitting, standing or lying down.

[marcwhy]

This my comfortable guitar sitting, standing or lying down.

You know it, Rob!! [Love your fanned fret model!!]

[jasonmi3]

Nice Forshages! Here is mine! Hollow with a small block under only the bridge pickup.


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[P.J.]

With a strap my most comfortable guitar sitting down is my blue Parker Nitefly SA. It is my most comfortable guitar standing also. Not sure about squatting or lying down, though.

[arielcee]

I've mostly played, and prefer 3"+ deep, 16" wide bodies when sitting. I find it pretty necessary, for picking, to have enough surface area with which to form a steady enough fulcrum on my bicep/inner elbow, especially with any higher action and thicker picks.
My full bodied archtop is out of comission at the moment, and am stuck with a samick made 335 type. Learning to like it , it sounds nice, but in comparison it's like trying to shoot hoops with a golf ball. I guess it depends on, among other things(string size, action, neck, etc), what you are used to.

[daverepair]

My 1943 Epiphone Ritz, with a 15-1/4" wide lower bout, and 3" deep, is very comfortable to play sitting down.

[mr. beaumont]

For "couching" it, anything with a 12 fret neck connection. A classical nylon string would be ideal.

[rpjazzguitar]

Most guitars are comfortable. Here are the exceptions.

Godin Multiac Nylon. Lower bout is too short and the bridge is too far to the left for comfort. It feels like the nut is too far from my body and when I shift the guitar to the right to compensate, the short lower bout causes it to fall off my leg.

Big, thick archtops. My right arm is forced into an uncomfortable position. A big enough semi may have a similar issue.

Original Yamaha Silent Guitar. The upper frame piece feels like it's doing a surgical procedure on the lower part of your upper arm.
I think they changed that in the new model.

So, generally, I like guitars on the smaller side of neutral with the bridge not too far to the left.

The most comfortable guitar I ever played was a Yamaha Pacifica Strat copy. Slim, light, smallish neck. Comfortable all around.

[Gitfiddler]

Most comfortable body type for playing and sitting down?

Strats n Teles, of course!!

[Tal_175]

I'm a bit surprised that the category that includes ES 175 (3+ inch, 15-16 width) is by far the worst rated one in this poll. Of course this doesn't mean that it's considered the least comfortable guitar playing sitting down. It's the least likely to be considered the most comfortable Different things. When held in the Joe Pass position with a well chosen strap it's super comfortable (That's how I hold it).
Seriously, isn't ES 175 (and it's clones) the most widely owned (and beloved) guitar in this forum? Do people really consider it uncomfortable?