Sagework Umbra Magnetic Guitar Support - Standard

272 reviews

Price:
Sale price$89.00 USD
Stock:
In stock

Customer Reviews

Based on 272 reviews
93%
(252)
4%
(11)
2%
(6)
1%
(3)
0%
(0)
Y
Y. Jin
Adjustability issues, but overall solid

(1) Installing issues:

I have installed the magnets four times, and each time ran into the same issue - when guiding the magnet on the inside, it tends to leap slightly out of my hand towards the outside support's magnet (and the outside support shifts towards the inside magnet), leading to the final position being misaligned from where I wanted it. Usually it's only by a small amount so not a big deal, but for one of my installs, I forgot to hold on to the support so it ended up crooked by a few centimeters (was harder than usual to move my hand around in this particular guitar, so I think I reflexively used my other hand to shift something and then the magnets snapped together while my hand was off). I decided not to bother trying to fix it because I was hoping it wouldn't end up being too bad, and I’ve read that it was very difficult to remove the strips, especially with the awkward angle inside the guitar. (Unfortunately, I didn’t notice until a few days later that the support was crooked enough that one of the pads was now pressing into the guitar at a slight angle, which is probably bad for the pad; ended up loosening all the strings again, then used a hand-warmer to attempt to loosen up the strip. Was still not able to pull it off by pulling the top, but I ended up being able to half-twist half-pull the magnet off without that much trouble, not sure how much the heat helped)

In the instructions, while "hold firmly to the magnet" is bolded, the "hold the support" is not bolded and is earlier above on the page, might be better to write as "Holding firmly on to both the support and the magnet, …". There's not a whole lot that can be done about the magnet jumping behavior otherwise I think, the magnets are too powerful and the angle is awkward inside the guitar, plus I can't see anything so I can’t try to align it to land directly on top of the outside magnet. I've always done the upper-body magnet first but it might be better to do the lower-body first, since the upper-body is probably easier to take off?

(2) Adjustability issues:

The crooked support leads me to the second issue, the limits with adjustability. In my case, the crookedness could’ve been mitigated if the support feet could be rotationally adjusted even a little bit, but it can't be rotated. Even with my other installations that aren't misaligned, I've found myself wishing that I could rotate it sometimes, so I can move the guitar body closer under my right arm (with the headstock angled further away from me), which is something I've found to be more comfortable sometimes. Unfortunately since the guitar sides are curved and the magnets are flat, I have to place the support in parallel with the guitar body – it can't be put at an angle because then the magnets won't rest flat on the guitar (which will make the support less stable and likely damage the cork over time).

Also, while the support can be adjusted significantly prior to picking the final location, once the magnets are locked, the support is significantly limited in its adjustment range. E.g. for my acoustic, I usually want to play with my acoustic guitar on the left leg in classical position, but sometimes I want to play traditionally on the right leg; but that requires a significantly different adjustment, which cannot be fully done with my current locked-in magnet positions (to be fair, this support is more for classicals). Or, I have bigger guitars and the magnets are in different places along the body, so the support’s arm height needs to be adjusted every time. Not sure if that one has a fix though, I ended up just buying a second support to not have to adjust constantly by guitar size.

(3) Review issues:

This is unrelated to the guitar support, but I didn't like how there seems to be a time limit on leaving a review? This is my second support, as I mentioned; I bought the first one back in mid-Nov, then got an email requesting feedback, but waited for a few months of using it until attempting to review it in early Feb. However when I attempted to submit that review, nothing happened; if there's a time limit to leave a review, it should be mentioned somewhere (I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to review a product we ordered at any time from the website either if we're logged in – but the review button only showed up when I started the review via the email, otherwise there's no option to leave a review even while logged in).

Overall:

Assuming the magnets are in the correct place, and you don't have much adjusting needs in general, the support is good; it’s sturdy and it's easy to attach and detach which is all way better than the suction cup supports. However it’s definitely a tedious process where little things can go wrong, and the support’s adjustability definitely has limits. Despite the issues, overall I do still like the support, hence the 4-star rating.

S
Sami Abdulhadi

Love the product!

J
John H
Sagework.....works!

I am a second year student of classical guitar, enjoying retirement and playing guitar regularly. I have back problems with sitting/using a foot rest. I had tried at least four of the most popular guitar supports to alleviate the stress without long-term success. Although I knew about your model and heard its positive reviews on YouTube, I was a little hesistant about the magnets. I finally reached a point that I needed to try at least one more type of guitar support because I wasn't getting the relief and comfort I was searching for. I purchased the less expensive Umbra standard model after purchasing a new guitar and have been utterly impressed with its quality, flexibility and ease of use. I had a little anxiety about installing the magnets but I followed the directions carefully and "viola'", it works! It has now been a month or so and I have not had a problem with it and my back feels much better :-)

R
Rebecca Decker
Sticky enough?

I think in theory this product will be great. I'm having a hard time getting the adhesive to do the job. I have a reverb in the guitar and when the magnets come loose I have to search for it around all the metal.

Hello, Rebecca.

I'm sorry to hear you've having trouble with the adhesive strips. The cause(s) of the magnets not staying adhered can be any of the following below. Could one of these apply to you?

- The area wasn't properly cleaned before attaching the magnets.

- The magnets were touching an interior brace or a very curved area, not allowing the adhesive strip to make full contact with the side of the guitar.

- The support was not allowed to stay on the guitar long enough after the initial installation for the adhesive to fully cure.

- The magnets were attached with the adhesive strip and then the adhesive strip was moved and reused in a different location.

L
Larry Aase
Giving your guitar a lift

This is a great device. I have been using a suction cup model for a long time but this device is superior in every way. I play a nylon string instrument and this put the guitar in a much better position. You will find your instrument will be easier to play and you won't be bent over the guitar. Nice work Sagework!

Description

WARNING: Do not use magnetic guitar supports if you have a pacemaker or similar device.

Size: Standard
Which size to choose?: Please see our Sizing Options page
Weight (including magnets): 10.0 oz
Orientation: Great for right-handed or left-handed players. (Our supports are symmetrical.)
Fit: Sagework supports work with most standard-sized guitars, but do not work with most thin-body guitars.  For a guide to see if our supports will work in your guitar, CLICK HERE.

This is the more economical version of the Atlas Magnetic Guitar Support. Functionally, it is exactly the same, but the wooden parts of the standard model are replaced with Vydyne, a high quality reinforced nylon that is both strong and beautiful. Sagework guitar supports are symmetrical and work for both right or left-handed players.

Parts Included: Guitar Support, one Internal Magnet Set, Adhesive Strips & Markers, Allen Wrench, & Complete Installation Instructions. (For additional Internal Magnet Sets for additional guitars, please choose from the options below the Add to Cart button.)

Orders outside of the United States: Your country will likely charge you an import duty plus your standard local taxes. These charges can sometimes be up to 50% of the value of your order. If you are not located in the United States, we recommend purchasing from a dealer in your country. CLICK HERE for a list of non-U.S. dealers.

How easy is it to install? - Watch the following video:



Review by Allen Matthews:


Designed and built in USA from domestic and foreign components.
U.S. Patents 8901403 & 8455744.
Formerly known as the "Barnett Umbra"

You may also like

Recently viewed