The Woodside Support is a highly adjustable guitar support with an excellent design and quality craftsmanship. It feels secure, stable, and comfortable. It also has varying degrees of guitar mobility while attached. It uses a reliable clamp system making it a secure option for important sessions or live performance. The pivoting clamp system even fits on raised fingerboard guitars. Many people will enjoy the support right out of the box but various accessories allow for higher or lower guitar positions and the angle block adjustment for a steeper guitar angle and closer proximity.
The above YouTube video is for the GS4-Lev Pro but see past reviews below.
More info, specs, and purchasing: Visit Woodside Guitars
Also see their list of international dealers where you can purchase the support.
The Pros of the Woodside Support
- Quality craftsmanship
- Feels secure and solid
- Trustworthy in performance compared to suction cups
- Adjustable custom height, angles, and positioning of the guitar
- Good maneuverability when attached if desired
- Quick to put on or take off
- Pivoting clamp system compensates for various guitars and raised fingerboards
- Easy hand adjustments for tightening and angles
- Even works on the right leg position for those who need it
- Works on matte finished guitars
Accessories
- Various Length Accessories – A number of longer or shorter collars and pieces allow for a very high or very low guitar position ensuring you will find the correct position.
- Angle Block (15º or 25º angle) – The additional Angle Block is excellent. I’ don’t need it ‘m happy with the standard 15º block but the 25º option really opens up possibilities for steeper angles and closer proximity. I talk about this in the video. It’s not just the steeper angle that I was impressed with but also that it moves the guitar body closer to one’s centre (or the lower bout closer to the left leg). This is amazing because it can help equalize and drop of the shoulders for relaxation depending on your body type and preferences.
Concerns and Discussions
Will the clamp come off? They shouldn’t if you’re playing in a healthy, normal, and responsible way. If it came off I think that would be due to irresponsible expectations and unhealthy playing habits. If it was not tightened enough or tightened too much and the player exerted direct force it could come off but…don’t do that. Don’t do that with any guitar support or even a footstool. I test this in the video GS3 review below.
The Clamp – Some people have concerns about attaching a clamp to their guitar. Remember that clamps are used in the making of guitars and the side of the instrument is pretty safe for this. Of course, you want to only tighten it enough to securely hold it in place. I’m completely comfortable with the clamp system on my expensive guitar. I played with the old Murata clamp for years and I’d say this system is even more safe due to the pivoting clamp that will more equally distribute the pressure.
In regards to your polish – If you have a bullet proof finish on a factory guitar I think you’re totally fine. For French polish, anything that comes in repeated contact with your guitar will have some wear and tear over the years. Even my leg, chest, and arm contact points eventually make their scuff marks in my French polish, not to mention nail marks on the top. I use a clear non-adhesive protective vinyl material to protect my guitar at the clamp contact point but I don’t think it’s even necessary. I use a non-guitar cling called Grafix ClingVinyl but there are guitar-specific products that are similar such as the brand Kling-on. I’ve used Vinyl on French polish and polyurethane finishes but I’ve been told not to use on lacquer finishes. There can be discolouration after removing the vinyl since it has protected the guitar from light and scuff marks. Regardless, use vinyl at your own risk, ask your luthier or guitar maker first. Like I said, I think the support is totally safe to use but I’m picky in this regard.
Conclusion
The Woodside Guitar Support is a highly adjustable, secure, and comfortable guitar support. I trust it in performance and love how the support and accessories enable the player to achieve a perfect custom guitar position.
For more info, models, specifications, and purchasing please visit Woodside Guitars.
Past Review of the GS3
Photos of the GS4-Lev Pro
Photos of the GS3
A great pity, unfortunately unusable after a short time. Although it’s not defective and it doesn’t matter whether I clamp it more lightly or more tightly, it slips off the frame during use / playing and falls to the floor (my guitar is finished with French Polish). This is a disaster in the middle of a concert. It can also happen that the guitar falls out of your hand if the support slips (this happened to me). Unfortunately, there is no explanation from Woodsite (despite a detailed description of the problem including photos) and certainly no “support”. Very annoying, so I can only warn you and advise against buying it. Too bad, because the idea is actually good, which is why I bought it.
Sorry to hear that, I wonder why? Mine doesn’t fall off. Are you sitting in the same general classical guitar position that I am in the video? What’s your tension level while playing?
I think I have the older model, but this should apply to the newer one too. I could suggest a few things to look for.
The clamp lever, which is spring loaded; can be rotated to tighten or loosen the clamp to fit the guitar securely.
The lower bout of the guitar is typically slightly bigger in depth than the upper. If the clamp isn’t snug on the guitar, it can slip out from the upper bout due to the pressure from the right forearm. Try adjusting the position of the clamp between the bouts.
Once you have the clamp position and attachment secured, keep the rotation loose. Adjust the position fully and then tighten the rotation.
Hope this helps.
BTW, the Extended User Manual available at the Woodside website is quite excellent and covers almost every query that has arisen over the last couple of years of me using the support: https://woodsideguitars.com/guitar-support
One thing mentioned is that over tightening the clamp could result in the guitar popping out.
Bradford thank you so much for sharing guitar supports with clamps because there isn’t a lot of choice. I have a question but I need to explain my situation first. I started with the small guitar support from Ukraine you talk about too. My guitar is open pore, clamps are the best secure option. And more I am practicing, more I realize this great minimalist guitar support is limited in adjustability. I am a woman and I noticed my chest adds a lot of unstability. If I want to play with a straight back, my chest pushes back the guitar away. So I have to position the guitar above my chest like the flamenco players. The guitar support very low on the guitar + put very close to my left knee to help lying down the guitar on me,my legs are crossed with a stool is very very low. Lots of tensions, left arm/hand, back left side, legs etc. not good.I feel I need something to prevent the guitar moving everywhere + especially would help to really lie down the guitar on me. Perhaps my analysis is wrong. So what would you recommend? Which one of the murata or the woodside would help me better to solve my situation? It’s difficult without seing me…. I will be happy to read your thoughts and recommendations. Thank you !
Hi Ellie,
I’m an advanced beginner myself, so I’m certainly no expert. However, I have small arms in proportion to my torso. So, I recently switched a 7/8th guitar once I realised that my body and arms simply couldn’t accommodate the regular 4/4 size guitars. The 630mm scale is also much more comfortable as an added bonus.
Regarding your comment about feeling like you want the guitar to lie on you; I tend to play in a position which seems similar. I first adjust the guitar to an angle that allows my ima knuckles to align on the top three strings. My wrist is a little elevated. The angle of the guitar is then adjusted to have the headstock at eye level. Once this basic position is assumed using the Woodside support; I keep the rotation loose. I then adjust the angle of the guitar so that the uppermost part of the upper bout is touching the middle of my chest that I can almost rest my chin on the guitar. At this angle, I can tuck my arms in and keep the wrist straight. I end up having to move my left thumb behind the neck in a few positions to ensure that I can reach the bass E string. In this position, the bottom of the guitar in the clamp is at an angle so that guitar is essentially falling into my chest. I tighten the rotation of the clamp after securing this falling position on my chest. I can see all six strings clearly and when barring the pressure of the finger is able to use gravity.
Just yesterday, I saw Charles Alexander Allred’s analysis video of Kyuhee Park on youtube; where she uses a very very similar posture and some aspects of the technique.
Hope this helps.