12 Best Snare Drum Stands 2024
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There are many components to a drum kit.
You could have your snare, toms, kick and even cymbals all in tow, but you still need hardware to prop it all up.
Most drummers like to put their snare on its own snare stand and considering the role it plays in a drum set, it’s hardly a surprise.
In this guide, we’ll be looking at the various options available for snare drum stands. Scan this list for the best stands out there.
Contents
Drum Workshop CP5300 5000 Series Snare Stand
Drum Workshop (or DW) is a well-known manufacturer among drummers. The company is based in Oxnard, California, and their product offerings include drum pedals and hardware, accessories, drumwear and DVDs.
Their artists include Aaron Gillespie, Glen Power, Jack Savidge, Jeff Burrows, Zak Starkey and others.
The Drum Workshop CP5300 5000 series snare stand is unassuming in appearance. Honestly, it looks like any other snare stand. But sometimes that’s a good thing. You don’t always want your hardware to give off a unique vibe.
This stand comes with an integrated tube joint memory lock, so you can keep your stand set up exactly how you like it. The fine-tooth tilter allows you to adjust the angle of the snare, so it’s sitting how you want it to be sitting as you hit it.
And, the tripod base (1-1/8”) gives you the stability you need. That’s important, because you don’t want your stand wobbling all around as you’re trying to nail a groove on stage or even in the studio. Of course, if you’re experiencing issues with slip, there might be other issues to address.
So, as we take a closer look at this Drum Workshop stand, this is what we noticed. Here’s a breakdown of its key pros and cons.
Pros: This stand features a heavy duty build without being overweight and is sure to take some abuse. Its build quality is matched to its durability too.
Cons: So far as snare stands are concerned, this one lands itself somewhere in the midrange to premium level price. Setup could also be a little easier, but once you’ve got everything sitting how you want it, this stand shines.
Item weight: 9.45 lbs.
Package dimensions: 21 x 6 x 5 inches
Pearl S1030 Snare Drum Stand
Pearl Drums might not need much of an introduction either, being one of the most popular brands. This multinational corporation was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa on April 2, 1946 in Japan.
Their vast product range includes complete drum sets, electronics, snares, hardware, percussion, marching and more. Their artist roster includes the likes of Matt Halpern, Taron Lockett and Casey Cooper.
The Pearl S1030 snare drum stand isn’t too shabby in its appearance, which might be slightly on the unusual side. This stand is part of Pearl’s tour-grade hardware supply, suggesting it shouldn’t crumble under an average sneeze.
Here’s what to expect feature wise:
- Fully adjustable snare basket. Works with drums ranging in size from 10” to 16”.
- Gearless basket tilter (gyro lock multi-axis).
- Air suspension rubber tips (patented).
- Die-cast insulated pipe joint.
Pros: Drummers loved the gyro lock tilt. They found this feature helped them adjust their snare exactly how they like it best. They also found the height to be highly adjustable. So, for drummers who need to get everything “just right”, there’s this solution.
Cons: Not much. This stand doesn’t come with memory locks, but you can buy and add them if you wish. The cost may also put some off, but we think this Pearl stand may have the perfect features to price ratio.
Item weight: 9.7 lbs.
Package dimensions: 5 x 5 x 16 inches
Gretsch Drums GRG5SS Heavyweight G5 Snare Drum Stand
Gretsch Drums is another well-known brand, and while they don’t get all the limelight, they do make great products. The Gretsch drums division was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1883.
The company specializes in a variety of drums, hardware and accessories. Their artist roster includes the likes of Andrew Marshall, Gerry Morgan, Vinnie Colaiuta, Charlie Watts and Eddie Fisher.
For the most part, the Grestsch Drums GRG5SS heavyweight G5 snare drum stand looks like your average snare stand, with maybe a couple of unique touches.
The features don’t tell us everything we need to know about the stand, but they do offer a starting point. Here’s what you get:
- 4mm double braced tripod setup.
- 1-1/8”, 1”, 3/4” tube joints with smooth action brass inserts.
- Ball tilter.
- Large basket adjustment knob.
- T-rod wing screws and wingnuts.
Funnily enough, there are some interesting typos in the product description (click on the link if you want to see them). But that has nothing to do with the quality of the stand, as this is yet another standout product (pun intended). Here’s a breakdown:
Pros: It’s solid and it just works. And, the asking price is more than reasonable for what you get. Drummers said they compared this product with others at around the same price point and couldn’t find anything better.
Cons: Close to flawless. The price is more than reasonable and the Gretsch stand’s simplicity is sure to please many.
Item weight: 5 lbs.
Package dimensions: 23 x 5 x 9 inches
Yamaha SS-740A Snare Stand – Medium Weight, Single-Braced
Yamaha makes just about everything when it comes to musical instruments, and the multinational company has a long history of offering a wide range of products in any niche they compete in.
As such, there are plenty of people that love Yamaha drum products. The fact that they don’t specialize in anyone area, however, is sometimes their chief weakness.
When it comes to the Yamaha SS-740A snare stand, we find a moderately priced, medium weight product that looks like it’s been built to last.
Here’s what you can expect from the Yamaha stand:
- Single-braced design.
- Infinite tilter adjustment.
- Five-year warranty.
Okay, so we’re starting to get into “midrange” territory, and that means the products introduced might be a good fit for some, while not meeting the needs of others.
Here’s our breakdown:
Pros: Secure, adjustable and not too heavy. Most drummers loved how adjustable this stand was and found it to be better than some of the alternatives in this regard. The price isn’t half bad either.
Cons: Some honestly felt the Yamaha stand was a tad overpriced. And, the base can be a little wobbly depending on your setup. It may not work great for a 14” snare (think smaller).
Item weight: 5.73 lbs.
Package dimensions: 17.1 x 6.6 x 5.3 inches
Ludwig LAS22SS Atlas Standard Snare Stand
Ludwig Drums is a musical instrument company owned by Conn-Selmer. This US manufacturer was founded in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois.
Their artist roster is made up of Charles Adams, Tim Austin, Matt Billingslea, Bun E. Carlos, Kevin Dorn and other luminaries.
With a name like Atlas, you’d assume the Ludwig LAS22SS Atlas standard snare stand was designed to hold the weight of the world.
We’re not sure if it could, but overall, we find ourselves with yet another highly rated, sturdy stand many buyers loved.
Designed for gigging and touring, the stand isn’t overly heavy either. Here’s what comes included:
- Ball-in-socket tilter mechanism.
- Keystone wingnuts and base feet.
- Double-braced legs.
- Adjusts down to 15” for lower setups.
Not a flawless product, but still a good one, let’s distill the good and bad down to a few sentences.
Pros: This Ludwig stand is highly adjustable, easy to use and moderately priced.
Cons: Not as sturdy as it could be. Be sure to play around with it and test it out before putting your most expensive snare on it.
Item weight: 8 lbs.
Package dimensions: 25 x 17 x 17 inches
Gibraltar 8713UA Ultra Adjust Flat Base Tom/Snare Basket Stand
Another well-known brand, Gibraltar Hardware is a manufacturer of drums and percussion hardware. The company was founded in 1993.
Their artist roster is home to C.G. Ryche, Dale Moon, Glen Sobel, Josh Day, Mike White and others.
The Gibraltar 8713UA Ultra Adjust flat base tom/snare basket stand is unassuming in appearance but comes with some features drummers are bound to find attractive.
Speaking of features, let’s do a quick rundown:
- Ultra-adjust position basket adjustment.
- Low height setting.
- Works with toms and snares.
Now for the pros and cons.
Pros: Drummers appreciated that this stand went down to 15”. They were impressed with the build quality, stability and adjustability.
Cons: Relatively few. It may take a little bit of extra time to set up the Gibraltar stand and if you’re not looking for a flat based stand, this one isn’t for you.
Item weight: 6.25 lbs.
Package dimensions: 16 x 4.3 x 6.4 inches
Pearl S830 Snare Drum Stand
Moving down the list, we’ve got another Pearl option for you, and the Pearl S830 snare drum might be just as appealing as the last, especially if you’re on a tighter budget.
Pearl claims this is an excellent stand for drummers at any level, from beginners all the way to pros. A catch-all solution is rare, but in this case, we might be inclined to agree.
Here’s the stand in short:
- Gearless Unilock snare basket tilter.
- Adjustable mounting basket (fits 13 and 14” snare drums).
- Double-braced tripod design.
Now for the breakdown.
Pros: Pearl has struck a good balance between stability and weight with the S830 stand, which comes with a lightweight design. Users found it to be stable, secure and spatially efficient.
Cons: Honestly, we can’t find any. It might not be the best for some setups, but for most standard setups, this is a great solution.
Item weight: 9 lbs.
Package dimensions: 5 x 4 x 14 inches
Pearl S930 Snare Drum Stand
We’re not done with the Pearl line just yet, as there are more stellar products to introduce before we move onto others.
The Pearl S930 snare drum stand is obviously a lot like the S830 just introduced, so there’s no need for another lengthy description here.
Basically, you get the same Uni-Lock tilter for positioning your basket, which fits snares or toms ranging from 10 to 14”. The wide trident tripod design helps prevent wobble and the stand also comes with a fully insulated pipe joint.
Manufacturer claims the stand was built with gigging in mind, suggesting a durable design.
Pros: Attractive, sturdy, adjustable and heavy duty. The asking price is minimal too.
Cons: Some snares (such as those with wood hoop rims) may not fit properly. Some found the stand to be less than durable, with some components breaking on them.
Item weight: 2.2 lbs.
Package dimensions: 5 x 4 x 15 inches
MAPEX S600EB Snare Drum Stand
The Taiwanese MAPEX was established by KHS Musical Instruments in 1989. Mapex makes drum kits as well as hardware.
On their artist roster, you’ll find Chris Adler, Wen Wei Chen, Neco Engin and others.
Right off the bat, the MAPEX S600EB snare drum stand doesn’t look like the rest, and that’s because of its black plated appearance (you can get it in chrome too, however). If you prefer it over the traditional chrome look, you may have found yourself a solid alternative.
Here’s a sense of what you get with this stand:
- Offset multi-step tilter.
- Die-cast basket adjuster.
- Double braced ratchet adjuster.
Here’s the basic verdict on this product.
Pros: Nice looking finish, solid, stable and good adjustability.
Cons: Not much. The Mapex more than does the job, but in some respects, it may not exceed expectations. It’s basically a solid option for the price.
Item weight: 6.61 lbs.
Package dimensions: 17 x 6 x 6 inches
Gibraltar 4706 Double Braced Lightweight Snare Stand
When it comes to snare stands, Gibraltar clearly has more than one product to offer. And, there’s a reason why this one makes our list.
The Gibraltar 4706 double braced lightweight snare stand may look ordinary, but its functionality is right on the money, especially in terms of its cost.
Here’s what you get:
- Hinged height adjustment with nylon collar insert.
- Geared basket tilter.
- Nylon wing nut basket arm adjuster.
The stand has been built with gigging in mind, thus its compact and portable design.
So, how does it compare with the other stands? What makes this one worth a look?
Pros: Some drummers felt this was the best snare stand for the money. We can’t confirm or deny, but we agree that what you get for the price is awesome.
The stand is in fact lightweight as advertised. It’s also sturdy and solid, as you would expect from a quality stand.
Cons: For home and rehearsal use, this stand should hold up to repeated use. We’re not so sure about regular gigging and touring, despite manufacturer claims. It’s not a heavy duty stand.
Item weight: 4.41 lbs.
Package dimensions: 13.4 x 5.5 x 3.1 inches
Gibraltar 5706 Medium Weight Double Braced Snare Stand
We probably don’t need to say too much about the Gibraltar 5706 medium weight double braced snare stand, as it’s like the 4706, except that it’s heavier.
Here’s the lowdown on this stand:
- Double-braced tripod design.
- Round rubber feet.
- Hinged height adjustment with nylon collar insert.
- Geared basket tilter.
- Nylon wing nut basket arm adjuster.
As noted, it’s a lot like the 4706. Now for the overall verdict.
Pros: This stand holds your snare securely and works as advertised. The asking price is more than reasonable and it’s stable too.
Cons: Despite manufacturer claims that this is a medium weight stand, it’s still closer to the lightweight side of things. Only recommended for smaller snares.
Item weight: 3.09 lbs.
Package dimensions: 15.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 inches
Donner Snare Drum Stand
Now it’s time to explore budget stands for those who don’t have a lot to spend, and Donner certainly fits that description. Their brand name has quickly become synonymous with deals.
Donner might be best known for guitar gear and effects pedals, but they offer a great deal more – ukuleles, mandolins, violins, keyboards, microphones, wind instruments, drums and so on.
So, what do you get when you pick up the Donner snare drum stand? Here’s an overview:
- Adjustable basket for 10” – 14” drums.
- Rubber arm tips.
- Double-braced tripod design.
- Drumstick holder.
- 30-day money back guarantee.
Pros: First and foremost, this stand comes at an incredibly affordable price. Many drummers enjoyed its sturdiness and functionality.
Cons: The stand is a tad short depending on your needs. Some had issues with wobbling as well.
At the beginner or student level, the Donner could be a solid option. We don’t think it’s going to do the trick for the intermediate, semi-professional or dedicated pro though.
Item weight: 4.72 lbs.
Package dimensions: 14.1 x 5.7 x 4.3 inches
What Should I Look For In A Snare Drum Stand?
If you’ve got a snare, then you need a stand. It’s just that simple. Likewise, we don’t think finding a snare drum stand, is overly complicated either.
But there are still certain criteria we like to consider (and you should also consider) when buying a drum stand. We’ll look at each of these to help you narrow down your options.
Specifically, in the sections that follow, we’ll be looking at:
- Sturdiness/robustness
- Stability
- Adjustability/usability
- Cost-efficiency/budget
Here’s our breakdown of each of these key factors.
Sturdiness
“Sturdiness” kind of says it all. Why put a whole bunch of money into a stand that doesn’t hold up?
As such, this should be considered one of your top priorities (if not top priority) when buying a snare stand.
If you’re a gigging or touring musician, you will be carrying your stand (and other hardware) with you everywhere you go, and it will become clear, relatively quickly, whether you’ve got a stand that’s going to take some abuse or not.
We can’t test the robustness of any product, but we do suggest scanning online reviews, checking video demos and even going into an instrument store to try out a few stands for yourself. You should get a better idea of what’s going to work for you just by doing a bit of homework.
Stability
Stability goes hand in hand with sturdiness, but it’s not the same.
Sturdiness or durability is about how breakable the stand is. The less breakable, the better. After all, drummers tend to carry all their hardware in a single, heavy hardware bag, where there’s bound to be some shifting and shuffling, especially while stowed in a moving car.
Meanwhile, stability is about how wobbly the stand is. The less wobble, the better. The more it adjusts to the surface it’s on, the less likely it is to be wobble prone.
Of course, you’ve got to ensure you’re playing on a flat surface. Otherwise, you shouldn’t be surprised when your stand shifts unexpectedly.
So, when you’re looking for the right stand, it’s a good idea to look into its overall stability.
Adjustability
To some extent, your stand needs to be adjustable.
You need to able to bring your snare up (or down) to a comfortable height) and be able to adjust the angle of the snare.
This is the bare minimum, but even here, a quality stand outperforms a lesser one.
With a low-quality stand, you could run into issues and limitations relatively quickly, and while it’s okay to make compromises when and where necessary, if you play a lot of drums, it’s important not to settle.
So, before a purchase, ensure that you’re getting what you need.
Cost-Efficiency
Though snare drum stands aren’t overly expensive, you can spend anywhere from about $30 all the way up to $150 or more for one. So, that represents a significant spread.
While this isn’t true across the board, in general, brand name snare drum stands cost more than off brand stands. Quality and reliability are going to be a factor too, but to an extent, it seems like you do pay more for well-known brands.
There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with lower cost alternatives, especially if you aren’t planning on touring the world any time soon. But we always recommend checking the reviews as well, just so you can be mindful of any issues associated with specific stands.
So, we suggest keeping an eye on the price when buying a stand. Your budget it an important factor when it comes to buying gear, and we’d hate to see you overspend or go into debt for a purchase you could put off until a little later.
Use your budget as a filter for finding your ideal snare stand.
Top Snare Drum Stands, Final Thoughts
Once you have one, a snare stand isn’t a piece of gear you’re going to be giving a whole lot of thought to, and that is as it should be. If it’s doing its job, you’ll hardly notice it.
If you do notice it, it’s probably because it just isn’t a good fit for you. Maybe it isn’t adjustable in the way you need, or maybe it doesn’t maintain its hold once you’ve locked it in.
So, it’s worth spending a bit of time considering the options, because there certainly isn’t a shortage of them. You’re more likely to end up with the right fit if you do your due diligence.
With that, we wish you happy snare drum stand shopping.
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