If you’re a guitarist or bedroom producer, you’ve probably realized that your “gaming” chair ends up being your studio chair too. That’s exactly why I picked up this blue AKRacing gaming chair (on Amazon) about a year ago: I wanted something comfortable for long sessions at the DAW and something that would work while playing guitar.
After a year of daily use, here’s how it’s held up—and more importantly, how it works in a music/guitar context.
Overview / First Impressions
I’ve been using this AKRacing chair for roughly a year, and functionally it still feels like the day I unboxed it. No squeaks, no weird wobbles, no collapsing cushions. It’s been solid.
I chose the blue version because, well, blue is my favorite color—but cosmetically it’s also held up well. No flaking, no obvious wear on the armrests or upholstery.
The short version: as a general-purpose and gaming chair, it’s great. As a guitar/studio chair, it’s almost perfect, with one key limitation.
Build Quality & Design
From a construction standpoint, this chair is impressive:
- Sturdy frame – It feels solid when you sit down. No feeling like it’s going to tip over under normal use.
- Comfortable padding – The seat and backrest are cushy without feeling mushy. Good for longer sessions.
- Adjustable support cushions – It comes with:
- A lumbar support pillow that can slide up or down for your lower back.
- A head/neck pillow you can position higher or lower depending on your height.
Both pillows strap onto the chair, and you can move them around to hit exactly where you need support, whether that’s lumbar or neck.
Overall, it looks and feels like a quality piece of gear, not a cheap throwaway chair.
Features & Functions
1. Recline
You can recline the backrest way back—far enough that you can basically lie down in it. If you like to lean back between takes, or just chill after a session, this is a nice perk.
2. Height Adjustment
The seat goes up and down easily with the standard gas lift. No issues there—it’s got enough range to work with most desk heights.
3. Armrest Adjustability
The armrests are where things get interesting (and where the chair falls short for guitar players):
- They can move up and down.
- They can slide forward and backward.
For normal computer use, this is great. You can dial in a comfortable position for typing, gaming, or editing.
How It Performs for Guitarists & Producers
From a guitarist/producer’s perspective, here’s how it performs in real-world use.
For Music Production
For DAW work, mixing, and general studio use:
- The lumbar support is genuinely helpful for long sessions.
- The neck pillow is nice if you lean back between takes or while listening.
- The recline function is a plus for taking short breaks without leaving your spot.
- The height and arm adjustments make it easy to get into a comfortable, ergonomic position at your desk.
If your main use is production and editing, this chair does the job really well.
For Playing Guitar
This is where my one major complaint comes in.
When you sit with a guitar—especially an electric with a standard body shape—the body of the guitar hits the armrest on the picking-hand side. That armrest just doesn’t go low enough to stay out of the way.
What I’ve found myself doing:
- Turning the armrest inward to create a bit more clearance.
- Sitting slightly forward in the chair so the guitar can clear the backrest.
This workaround kind of helps, but then:
- The chair feels like it’s tipping forward a bit.
- You lose that ideal “tucked in, fully supported” playing posture.
If you like to really pull the guitar into your body and sit back in the chair, the fixed minimum height of the armrests can be a real annoyance.
Limitations / Things to Know
Here’s the main limitation, especially for guitarists:
- Armrests don’t go low enough – They adjust up and down, but I wish they could go 3–4 inches lower than their minimum. That would solve the guitar clearance problem almost entirely.
Ideally, I’d love one of these options:
- Armrests that:
- Drop further down, or
- Can be removed cleanly when you want a “guitar mode” chair.
As it stands, you’re stuck working around them.
Everything else about the chair has been positive:
- No durability issues after a year.
- No mechanical failures in the recline or height mechanisms.
- No major comfort issues for long sessions.
Assembly Experience
One underrated win: this chair was very easy to assemble.
If you’ve ever opened a box of parts and dreaded the next hour of your life, this is a relief. The AKRacing chair came together quickly and without any confusing steps. That alone made the purchase feel more worthwhile.
Final Thoughts
After a year with this AKRacing gaming chair:
- As a general chair for gaming, working, and producing, I’m very happy with it.
- As a dedicated guitar/studio chair, it’s good but not perfect because of the armrest height.
If I were buying again specifically with guitar in mind, I’d probably:
- Spend a bit more for a model with:
- More armrest adjustability, or
- Removable armrests.
If you mostly produce and only occasionally play guitar in the chair, this AKRacing model is a solid choice. If you’re a guitarist first and everything else second, you might want to look for something with either lower armrests or the option to take them off entirely.
Resources
- AKRacing’s higher-end models – If you like this design but want more adjustability, it may be worth checking out the upgraded versions in their lineup, as they sometimes offer more refined ergonomics and armrest options.