Most of the time it’s a guitar stand—but when you take your guitar in hand, it becomes a high stool to sit upon while you perform. We put together the minimum necessary elements to allow the guitar to play the leading role. The Solo has been designed taking the circumstances in which it will be used into account, including the rounded shape of the back of the seat that makes it easy to handle when carrying, and the high position of the footrest that makes it easy to stabilize playing posture.
Solo
Harmony
The two-sided design allows for changing the front-facing side between standing the guitar and playing. Three finishes are available to match your guitar of choice and the feel of the room, and the large R-shape applied for reinforcement at the base of the legs gives it just the right amount of presence.
Classic
Beloved
A bench made in the image of a pet bed in the living room. Great attention was given to creating a design to make the guitar seem comfortable, such as allowing the proper amount of space around the neck and adding a soft leather cushion on the inside.
Classic
Well-Made
The unique shape that interweaves arcs with straight lines was formed by overlaying multiple layers of thin wooden boards and bending the resulting ply slowly and carefully. The soft curvature conveys a feeling of the quality of the construction without compromising the pleasant texture of the wood, while being strong enough to be used for sitting upon while playing.
Toshihide Suzuki
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory
Akie Hinokio
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory
Creating a place for musical instruments.
The Solo and Classic are furniture for guitarists that are commercialized versions of the concept models presented at the Yamaha Design Exhibition “Please Please Me” in 2010.
Musical instruments are typically stored in cases, but a project was launched with the goal of creating a place for such instruments in the owner's living space. From among the concept models presented by the project, two of them are now to commercialized 10 years later. It is very rare for a product to be brought to reality in this way.
Solo is a high stool that can be used as a guitar stand, and then sat upon when it’s time to play. The front is switched between when the guitar is standing and when you are playing, but the pick-shaped top surface has a seat with a gentle recess to allow a natural seated position.
While highlighting the presence of the guitar, the goal was also to create a beautiful piece of furniture as well, so I came up with a tall and slim tripod stool. I engaged in repeated trial and error, such as adjusting the angle of the legs in order to lower the center of gravity for better stability and devising how to wrap the leather on the part touching the guitar so as not to damage the body. It was the first time for me to design furniture, so I started out groping for solutions by buying leftover materials myself, shaving them down, putting them together, and then actually sitting down. It was a fun experience to be able to work in such a different area. I think that I was able to make use my day-to-day experience at work, such as the pursuit of a pleasant texture, and a quest for unity of the fine details.
(Suzuki)
Classic is a bench designed in the image of a pet bed in a living space, likening a guitar to a pet so that instrument and owner can live together as closely as possible. The shape that outlines the silhouette of the guitar is the biggest feature, but I tried to keep the guitar inside looking as comfortable as possible. Because using the shape of a guitar case as-is would make the neck part look cramped, I searched for a shape that could create a feeling of space while maintaining stability.
When I was a student, I belonged to a group of classical guitarists, but after graduating from college I had few opportunities to play, and my guitar would be stuck in a hard case inside a dark closet. Sometimes when I would take it out, I would feel guilty, like I was sorry for the guitar, and this design was born because I wanted to be able to spend time with my guitar in the same room.
The design calls to mind a pet who always sleeps right next to its owner and seeks attention by repeatedly glancing at the owner. If there is anyone who feels far away from their guitar, I hope that through Classic they will be able to give proper attention to their beloved instrument.
(Hinokio)
