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A high-quality snare drum stand is a crucial element in creating a comfortable base to play drums from. The best snare drum stands are robust, supportive, offer excellent positioning flexibility, and are comfortable for making adjustments.
Entry-level drum kits typically come with snare drum stands, but intermediate and pro kits require you to buy them and other hardware separately.
If you need a snare drum stand or want to upgrade from your current one, there are several top-tier options to choose from.
All snare drum stands perform the same task but typically differ in their mechanisms and designs, adding to their adjustability or stability.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best snare drum stands on the drum market. I’ve compared performance, durability, stability, and cost to give you my top recommendations.
In a Rush Round-Up
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Snare Stands Reviews
DW 9000 Series Air Lift Snare Drum Stand
DW 9000 Series Air Lift Snare Drum Stand Review
The DW 9000 Series Snare Stand is the most heavy-duty snare drum stand on the market. An incredible feat of engineering, this snare drum stand is designed to offer the ultimate snare drum angle adjustment and enormous stability and secure placement.
No matter how you like to have your snare drum angled, or where you like to place your rack tom, this 9000 series DW snare drum stand will securely position your snare drum in any way you choose.
This snare drum stand has been designed with double bass drum pedal users in mind. It utilizes an offset basket that allows for optimal positioning being balanced and secure.
I also personally love the black handle fine-tooth tilter that is easy to grip and allows for smooth and painless adjustments.
This is the best snare drum stand for professionals and intermediate-level drummers, as it is incredibly rugged and designed to withstand the rigors of consistent touring. This snare drum stand will hold up to any amount of playing and can be depended on for every show.
If you are looking for a heavy-duty and road-worthy stand that offers greater flexibility for positioning than any other snare drum stand on the market, this is the best snare stand for you.
Features:
- Very heavy-duty
- Air Lift technology
- Enormous stability
Pros
- The best snare stand for stability and balance
- Air lift technology for effortless adjustments
- Offset basket allows for double bass pedals
Cons
- Expensive snare stand
Pearl S930 Snare Drum Stand
Pearl S930 Snare Drum Stand Review
In a close second place for the best snare drum stand on the market is this robust and high quality Pearl S930 Snare Drum Stand. It is a very well designed piece of drum hardware and it offers excellent value for money – making it the ideal tool for the gigging drummer.
The construction of this snare stand is of a high quality, with strong tubes, double braced legs, and thick braces present throughout. It’s a medium-weight stand that is sturdy enough to remain balanced whilst playing and not too difficult to transport also.
My favorite feature of this Pearl snare stand is the superb Uni-Lock Tilter for smooth, gearless basket positioning. This feature allows the snare drum to be positioned at any angle of choice, with limitless freedom.
The tripod base is sturdy and supports the stand well, and the basket is solid enough to support even the heaviest snare drums. The basket tips are made of a soft protective rubber that will not choke the sound.
This is the best snare stand for the money on the market. It is affordable yet it is suitable for even professional drummers thanks to its robust and solid construction.
Last but not least, Pearl is offering a lifetime warranty with this snare drum stand which proves how confident Pearl is in the quality of this product, and that it will last forever. If you buy this snare drum stand you can play it for a lifetime!
Features:
- Affordable yet professional quality
- Thick tubing and strong braces
- Lifetime warranty offered
Pros
- Uni-Lock Tilter offers limitless angle adjustment
- The best snare stand for the money
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No offset basket
DW 5000 Series Snare Drum Stand
DW 5000 Series Snare Drum Stand Review
Up next on our list we have the DW 5000 Series Snare Drum Stand, and this is another top quality snare stand offering from the renowned DW brand.
This is another premium-priced snare drum stand that is very similar to the 9000 series stand in terms of build quality and features. This model is lighter than the 9000 series, and this means it is easier to transport.
This snare stand boasts an immense build quality and it is super sturdy. It is the perfect workhorse that can be depended on for all manners of drum performances. Club gigs, studio sessions, rehearsals, and festivals alike. This is another snare stand that is ready to stand up to every gig.
Just like the 9000 series snare stand, this model also utilizes an offset basket that means it’s perfect for double bass pedal setups and allows for ultimate freedom and flexibility when positioning the snare drum.
It’s an infinitely adjustable snare stand that offers professional dependability for frequent performances.
Overall this is the best snare drum stand for professional drummers that demand high-quality features at a price that’s not going to break the bank. It is perfect for drummers playing a double bass drum pedal and want to be able to set up their snare drum however they please.
Features:
- Ultimate freedom and flexibility
- Offset basket for optimal positioning
- Heavy-duty construction
Pros
- Perfect for gigging and touring drummers
- Very strong and durable
- Professional features throughout
Cons
- None
DW 3000 Series Snare Drum Stand
DW 3000 Series Snare Drum Stand Review
Another DW snare drum stand, this DW 3000 Series Snare Drum Stand is an affordable product that will hold up to even the heaviest hitters. This snare stand is lighter than both the 5000 and 9000 series snare stands, but this isn’t to mean it isn’t solidly built!
It features double-braced legs, high-quality tubing, memory locks (for saving favored settings), and an easy-grip fine-tooth tilter that allows for easy basket angle adjustments. I personally really like the mechanism that is used to open and close the basket to hold the snare drum.
This is a lighter snare drum stand, which makes it the best snare drum stand for gigging drummers who want to make their hardware bag as light as possible, and don’t fancy having to break their back with a selection of super heavy stands.
This snare drum stand is a great piece of drum hardware, offering quality features at an affordable price. It is solid and robust but not too heavy.
Much like it’s bigger brother DW snare drum stand, this model also offers limitless adjustment of the snare basket with the fine-tooth tilter, making it a painless task to find your preferred snare drum angle.
Features:
- Professional quality snare stand
- Solid and robust but lightweight
- Limitless adjustment of basket
Pros
- Affordable price tag
- Professional quality throughout
- Lots of adjustment options for positioning
Cons
- No offset basket
Gibraltar 5706 Snare Drum Stand
Gibraltar 5706 Snare Drum Stand Review
Up last for review we have the Gibraltar Pro Adjust Snare Drum Stand that utilizes strong components and it offers a good range of adjustability and stability.
The snare drum stand features strong cast tubing and a double braced tripod with rubber feet. This stand is smooth to adjust but it does not include memory locks that are necessary to save chosen settings.
This snare drum stand is by far the lightest of all the products mentioned thus far, and this would mean it might not stand up to very heavy hitters or frequent professional touring. It also isn’t a suitable snare stand for very heavy metal snare drums.
However, it is an excellent budget snare stand for beginners and also for rehearsal studio setups, and also for light gigging. It holds the snare drum securely in the basket and offers a good range of adjustment for snare height and angle.
This budget snare drum stand offers great value for money and is also versatile and lightweight making it perfect to transport. But if you are looking for a professional level snare drum stand then this might not be the best snare stand for you.
Features:
- Budget price snare drum stand
- Fine geared snare basket adjustment
- Good quality construction
Pros
- The best snare stand on a budget
- Sturdy construction
- Lightweight for easy transport
Cons
- Lacks high quality features of premium snare stands
- No memory locks
Snare Drum Stand Buyer’s Guide
Many drummers underestimate the feeling of playing drums with your snare on a highly supportive stand.
While the stands that come with complete drum sets are functional, they don’t come close to the quality of top-tier snare stands.
I highly suggest getting a heavy-duty stand to put your snare drum on. Inexpensive stands tend to wobble, and their tilters make it challenging to obtain perfect angles.
High-quality snare stands also have denser rubber on their gaskets, keeping your snare drum safe and allowing its full range of tones to come out.
Here’s what you should look for when choosing a high-quality snare drum stand.
What Features to Look for in a Snare Drum Stand
Tilting Mechanism
The tilting mechanism is where most of your frustration comes from if you use a cheap snare drum stand.
They often have you locking the stand in place, only to find your snare drum sitting at a sharper angle than what you wanted.
Higher-quality snare drum stands have tilting mechanisms that work better and offer greater flexibility for positioning.
They’re a lot more secure, and they’re easier to manage. They also provide a lot more adjustability when it comes to angles.
The better tilting mechanisms are one of the best reasons for spending a bit more on a professional snare drum stand.
Every hardware brand has its own technology for tilters, but know that you’ll always get a superior angling mechanism and more comfortable adjustments when you spend more money on a top-tier snare stand.
Stability
Stability in a snare drum stand is key, considering that the snare is the drum that gets played the most on your drum set.
Cheap snare stands are flimsy, unsupportive, and prone to falling over, whereas more expensive ones are very stable with double braced legs.
The stability comes from both the thickness of the tubing and the quality of the hardware. If all the wingnuts lock into place with little movement, the stand will feel very stable to play on.
Cheaper stands tend to loosen over time, which gets very frustrating. Some mid-priced snare drum stands also do this.
If you want to ensure that everything stays tightly in place and feels comfortable to play, it’s best to invest in a high-quality snare drum stand as you can afford.
Height
The height of a snare drum stand isn’t something to worry about if you’re placing your snare on a standard drum kit. Most snare stands can be positioned to stand 18” to 24” tall.
However, you may need a taller snare drum stand if you plan on using it for an orchestral snare drum to play while standing. You may also need a taller stand if you want to mount a rack tom onto it.
In those cases, make sure to check the maximum height of the snare drum stand before you buy it.
Weight
Weight is another factor that affects stability. Generally, the heavier the snare stand is, the more expensive it’ll be.
For example, the DW 9000 series snare stand is the heaviest I’ve experienced and the most costly on the market.
However, getting the heaviest possible stand isn’t always the most practical thing to do.
You should get a heavy stand if your drum kit doesn’t move around too much. It will feel the most stable to play on.
You might want to buy a medium-weight stand if you play gigs often. A heavy snare stand will weigh your hardware bag down quite significantly.
Snare Drum Stand FAQs
At What Angle Should You Tilt Your Snare Drum?
If you used matched grip, the best angle to place your snare drum at is a flat one. This will allow you to get the most force behind your strokes as they connect with the drumhead.
Having your snare tilted slightly away from you is ideal for traditional grip. Your snare will line up better with your snare playing hand.
Some drummers prefer a bit of an angle toward them, even when playing matched grip. This is acceptable too but be careful not to tilt the snare drum too much as you’ll lose the power from your strokes. It will also be hard to play rimshots.
Why Do Drummers Mount Their Toms on Snare Drum Stands?
Drummers mount their rack toms on snare stands in place of mounting them on the bass drum or a cymbal stand.
When a tom is mounted on a cymbal stand, it tends to wobble a bit. The snare stand makes it feel a lot more secure.
