Are you looking to add a nice snare to your drum collection, but don’t want to spend a bunch of money? Maybe you’re upgrading from a starter snare or you just need a new type of sound. In any case, this list is for you! Many less-expensive snare drums have cheap parts and poor sound quality, but we’ve compiled a list of solid standouts. These are snare drums that defy their own selling prices.
All of the drums on this list sell new for under $300 (at the time of writing). Some even sell for under $200. We focused on value here – on the drums that will give you the most for your money. They’ll all sound good in a practice space or on a live stage, while holding up to the typical wear and tear that drums go through. In fact, many drummers prefer these snares for playing live shows. You’ll get high enough quality to sound great, but it’s not the end of the world if your snare drum gets a scratch or two.
This list includes a variety of brands, shell materials, and sizes, so one or two of them probably fit your situation well. As we run down the list, we’ll get into what we like and don’t like about each of the drums. Many of the weaker points can be easily upgraded down the road, so we’ll also let you know how to make those improvements.
On with the list! These are the best snare drum values under $300.
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Yamaha
Stage Custom Birch
Yamaha’s Stage Custom is a well-known value when it comes to drum sets. The snare drum can be purchased separately, too. While it may be the least expensive snare on this list, it’s a nice upgrade from typical snare drums that come with student drum kits. The Stage Custom isn’t fancy, but the overall value is tremendous when considering its price.
What we like:
Shell: This drum has a 100% birch shell, making it the only fully-birch drum on this list. It also has a lacquer finish, which is a nice upgrade from wrapped student-level snares. There are several attractive colors to pick from, so you can find something that will look good with your other drums.
Lugs: The 10-lug configuration is important for articulation and it helps the drum stay in tune longer. Many snares near this price have 8 lugs per side, which makes those drums sound less defined and the tuning to be less stable.
What we don’t like:
Size options: The 14”x5.5” size is a very versatile size. Ideally, there would also be a 14”x6.5” option available. The extra depth would fill out the tone a bit, since birch in a 5.5” depth can be somewhat dry. Even if Yamaha offered that extra depth at a slightly higher cost, the option would be welcome.
What you could upgrade:
Heads: These drums will come with Chinese-made Remo heads, so an upgrade to professional heads is advised at some point. Birch isn’t extreme in terms of tone or resonance, so you shouldn’t have to compensate too much in any way. Being a 5.5”-deep birch shell, it might be a good idea to lean towards some type of single-ply batter head to avoid sounding too boxy or choked. If you want to maximize durability without stifling the tone too much, a dotted single-ply head or a head with 12-mil thickness should do the trick.
Hoops: An easy upgrade would be to get thicker hoops. These drums will come standard with 1.5mm hoops, which is thinner than most players would prefer. The drum is certainly playable out of the box, but thicker hoops would take the drum to another level. At a minimum, upgrading the top hoop to a 2.3mm thickness would help this drum’s sensitivity and allow rimshots and cross-sticks to sound more full-bodied. We recommend the Gibraltar 14″ 10-lug batter hoop. If you went beyond a 2.3mm thickness on this drum, you may risk drying out the tone a bit too much, so a 2.3mm is probably best for most players.
Ludwig
Supralite Steel
The Ludwig Supralite line may provide the best value in steel snares currently available. They’re a step up from cheap student steel snares in almost every way. Since steel shells cost less to manufacture than quality wood shells, the extra money can go towards higher-quality components, which these Supralite drums have. There are also three depth options, so you can get a drum that fits your style. If you’re looking for the brighter tone of a metal-shelled snare, a Ludwig Supralite is certainly worth considering.
What we like:
Hoops: The 2.3mm hoops that come standard on these snares should work for just about anybody. You’ll get a big tuning range and a nice balance between articulation and tone.
Lugs: The 10-lug configuration combined with the 2.3mm hoops allow for pro-level tuning stability. On metal drums, having 10 lugs can decrease excessive shell resonance a bit, but the tube lug design of the Supralite creates very little contact. The lugs are made very well, with brass construction and an attractive look.
Strainer: Ludwig upgraded the strainer on these drums, now including the P88I. It’s one of our favorite strainer designs, so the fact that they’re installed on drums in this price range is impressive. The P88I is well-built, has smooth action, and features a semi-locking tension nut that keeps the snare tension from loosening while you play.
What we don’t like:
Size options: OK, so this is getting a little picky. This model comes in three different depths, which is more than most of the snares in this price range. One of the three should work great for most drummers. A 13″ option, such as a 13″x5.5″, would round out the line even more. But again, this is a minor complaint.
What you could upgrade:
Heads: Like most of the drums on this list, the included heads are not high quality. That’s one way these lower prices are possible, after all. It doesn’t hurt to use the original heads up. Just realize the sound potential of the drum is much higher than what you’re hearing with those heads installed. Steel-shelled snares have a brighter, more resonant tone than wood drums. Most players prefer to tame some of that extra resonance with external dampening, a two-ply head, or a head that has built-in dampening.
PDP
Black Wax Maple
Yes, that’s a lot of size options! With more sizes available than any other drum on this list, the PDP Black Wax Maples are worth a look for any drummer. Plus, they all include a bunch of other great features, making them very impressive in the price range. These drums could fit into just about any genre on just about any stage.
What we like:
Shell: Getting a 100% maple shell at this price is possible with other brands and models, but to be combined with the Black Wax’s other features is what’s unique. This 10-ply shell comes with (as the name suggests) a hand-applied matte black finish that fits with most drum sets.
Size Options: As shown above, these snares come in multiple diameters and depths. As of late-2023, the options are 10”x6”, 12”x6”, 13”x5.5”, 13”x7”, 14”x5.5”, and 14”x6.5”. That’s a lot compared to other snares in this price range, giving players a great way to tailor their sound to their own particular situation.
Hoops: The 2.3mm hoops that come standard on these snares are part of what makes these drums such good values. Other maple snares around this price often need a hoop upgrade to match the Black Wax’s quality.
Strainer: The DW Mag Throw is one of the best strainers on the market. Being included on these drums as standard hardware is a big plus. The Mag Throw works very smoothly and its lack of many moving parts makes it very durable.
What we don’t like:
Color Options: Most wood snare drums come in at least a couple of colors. Sure, that would make the model name ‘Black Wax’ somewhat meaningless, but a natural finish option would have been nice. Other than that, there’s not much to complain about. These are great all-around drums considering the cost.
Availability: Within the past year, it’s become harder to find some Black Wax sizes. Even Amazon has limited sizes most of the time. The good news is that you can usually find the size you want somewhere with a quick Google search, and the most popular sizes have been more plentiful.
What you could upgrade:
Heads: Replacing top and bottom heads is recommended, as it is with most of the drums on this list. The heads on this PDP are Chinese-made Remo heads. They don’t have the sound quality of standard Remo, Evans, or Aquarian heads, so installing better heads will make this drum really shine. For 13″ and 14″ diameters, DrumheadSelector.com can help you find some good options that fit your sound and playing style.
Wires: The snare wires that come installed are not very good. When you upgrade the heads, it might be worth changing the wires while you’re at it. We love the 20-strand Puresound Custom Pros, which are available for 13″ diameter and 14″ diameter drums. After upgrading heads and wires, the Black Wax snares reach their maximum potential, giving you a really nice all-around drum.
Tama SLP
Big Black Steel
It may not be the most versatile drum on this list, but the Tama Big Black Steel snare does what it does very well. This snare is designed to produce a deep full-throated tone – a sound that’s increasingly in demand these days. If you like the sound of a robust, low-pitched backbeat, this might be a great drum to add to your collection.
What we like:
Lugs: The 10-lug configuration helps this drum retain some attack and helps with tuning, especially above lower tensions. The depth of the drum takes care of the tonal body plenty, so any assistance given to the initial stick contact certainly helps.
Hoops: This drum comes stocked with 2.3mm hoops. Like the lug configuration, this is a nice middle ground, allowing the drum to breathe, while having a strong rimshot tone.
Hardware: The hardware is definitely one of the appeals of this drum. Black hardware in this price range often looks cheap, but not so with the Big Black Steel’s black nickel hardware. It looks great, while matching the drum’s black shell. It’s also well-made, so durability should be of no concern.
What we don’t like:
Size options: Tama’s SLP snares are each designed to have one set of specs, one color, and one size option. Like we mentioned, this SLP Big Black Steel does what it does, and it does it well. The 14”x8” size maximizes that sound. Just be aware of its limitations. There won’t be much sensitivity with this drum, particularly at lower volumes. It’s made to provide a full, fat, and deep sound. If you’re looking for an all-purpose type of drum, another model on this list would be a better choice.
What you could upgrade:
Batter Head: The heads on this drum are not as low-quality as some of the other drums on this list. However, many players using this drum would benefit from a thicker batter head, maybe even a head with some built-in dampening. This would allow you to tune lower, have resonance control, and have extra durability.
Wrap-Up
There you have it – the best snare drum values under $300. It’s nice that drum brands are offering unique snare designs that don’t cost a ton, but still sound great. We’re even seeing some high-end specs make their way down to these sub-$300 drums. With so much variety and quality out there, along with the ability to do a simple upgrade or two, getting a quality snare sound at a good price is still attainable.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
Want to upgrade your snare drum head? Check out our Most Versatile Snare Drum Heads!
Just bought the black wax in 6.5 depth. Wanted a maple snare but the mag throw is what really sold me. That costs $70 alone and looks super nice.