Buying a hardware pack is a great way to complete a drum set or upgrade your current gear. Many people buy their hardware piece by piece, but a pack can save you money and ensure your stands match. The thing is, that doesn’t make every hardware pack a great buy. Some packs have a component or two where the quality level doesn’t quite justify the cost. Other packs might be fine, but there’s something even better around the same price. We made this list to help you pick the best values from the bunch.
We chose 4 hardware packs that are especially solid deals. Like our Best Values: Cymbal Packs, we’ll delve into the components of each option, what makes them great values, and what some of their downsides might be. The list includes packs from under $300 to just under $500 (at the time of writing). While you get more as you spend more, all of these hardware packs will give you a lot for your money.
On with the list! These are the best drum hardware pack values under $500.
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Ludwig 400 Series
Ludwig L4HPACK 400 Pack
The Ludwig 400 Series hardware pack is the least expensive option on this list, making it an appealing option that fits within many budgets. While there isn’t anything sophisticated about any of the components, they do the job. The stands are sturdy, providing plenty of support, even for heavier snares and cymbals. The pedal and hi-hat have some weaknesses, but they’re an upgrade from most student-level models. This pack is a popular choice for drummers who need some decent practice hardware, but want to keep their costs down as much as possible.
Cymbal Stands
This pack is the only one on the list that doesn’t include two cymbal boom stands. Instead, it has one straight and one boom. While having two boom stands is nice, the Ludwig configuration isn’t a problem for most players. Most drummers can set up comfortably mounting a crash cymbal on a straight stand and a ride cymbal on the boom.
These cymbal stands have a medium weight, heavy enough to provide the necessary stability and durability for almost any drummer. The fittings are tight, so these stands don’t wobble like some student-level versions. The feet are large and the adjustment wing nuts are ergonomic. One possible downside is the single-tier design of these stands. If you want to set your cymbals up high, a two-tier height adjustment may be needed. That being said, the vast majority of modern players set their cymbals up at a lower height.
Snare Stand
The included snare stand is simple, but well-built. It’s a medium-weight stand that can comfortably hold almost any snare drum. The tilter has a standard design with teeth, so basket angle adjustments aren’t quite as easy as they are with a gearless design. The basket knob is plastic, but smooth, and the feet are large and supportive.
Hi-Hat Stand
This pack comes with the straightforward, medium-weight L416HH hi-hat stand. It’s another component that doesn’t have many special features, but is solid for the price. This stand comes with only a couple of adjustments, including a tensioner adjustment. That’s a fairly common feature these days, but it’s not included on many cheaper hi-hat stands. At the time of writing, the L416HH’s footboard doesn’t swivel. That, along with the wide base of this stand, could cause some issues with setting the stand up where you prefer.
Pedal
Like the hi-hat stand, the included pedal has a simple design with minimal adjustments. It does have some nice features. There’s a solid footboard for stability and a two-sided beater. You can also adjust the footboard and beater angle with a drum key. The materials used are fairly heavy, which comes with costs and benefits. Damage is less likely, but the action slows down. Compared to the other pedals on this list, the Ludwig is a bit sluggish. That tends to matter more to advanced players, when foot technique is more developed. For everyone else, this pedal should be fine for most practice purposes.
In Short
The Ludwig 400 series hardware pack is a good choice for drummers looking for simple, but solid hardware. Compared to cheaper options, the Ludwig is more reliable, has better build quality, and better functionality. The snare and cymbal stands, in particular, are sturdy and well-made. This pack also has it’s weak points to keep in mind. The pedal and hi-hat stand have limited feel and adjustability. The snare basket isn’t gearless and there’s only one boom stand. However, considering the price this Ludwig pack sells for, it’s hard to argue with what it offers.
Yamaha HW-780
The Yamaha HW-780 is a popular pack from a company that makes great hardware. With an overall medium weight, this pack is durable enough for most drummers, while being light enough for transport. The stands are single-braced, but sturdy. The pedal and hi-hat stand are smooth and responsive. The components are user-friendly, with simple height, tension, and angle adjustments. All told, it’s easy to see why this pack gets such positive reviews from so many drummers.
Cymbal Stands
The Yamaha HW-780 pack includes two CS-755 cymbal boom stands. The inclusion of a second boom stand is an upgrade from the Ludwig 400 pack above. These Yamaha stands have hideaway boom arms, so even if you prefer a straight design, it’s easy to slide the boom arm into the main tube. The CS-755 stands also have two-tiered height adjustments. That makes it easier for players who like to set their cymbals up a little higher than normal.
Snare Stand
Yamaha includes the SS-740A snare stand with this pack. It’s a straightforward stand, but it includes a feature many drummers like – a gearless tilter. This makes adjusting the angle of your snare drum easier and more precise. The slim profile of the tilter might make you think it wouldn’t hold heavier snares well, but we’ve seen no issues in that regard. The stand’s basket adjustment knob is plastic, but it’s smooth and very ergonomic.
Hi-Hat Stand
This pack includes the Yamaha HS-740A hi-hat stand. It’s a stand with smooth action and good stability. The tension adjustment is easy to use. The legs are rotatable, as well. For 3-legged stands, that’s a big plus. You’ll be able to sneak the stand in close to your snare drum without legs running into each other. It also allows you to use a double bass drum pedal.
Pedal
The included FP-7210A bass drum pedal has a very simple design. It uses a single chain drive and no footboard. That combination gives this pedal some side-to-side wobble, so it’s not the most stable pedal on this list. On the plus side, this pedal uses lightweight materials. That gives it a quick and responsive feel. Faster patterns, like quick double-strokes, are easier to pull off with lightweight pedal designs.
In Short
The Yamaha HW-780 could be a great choice for many drummers. It’s the only single-braced pack on this list. Many drummers like its balance of weight and transportability. The single-braced legs help keep the stands compact and easier to carry, while the medium-weight center tubing adds support. Throw in the responsive feel of the pedal and hi-hat stand, the gearless snare tilter, and the high overall build quality, and you have a pack well worth its cost.
Tama Iron Cobra 200
The Tama HB5W is a great hardware pack value that incorporates good build quality and some higher-end features. The stands are medium-weight, double-braced, and very user-friendly. Almost all of the pack’s angle adjustments are gearless, so it’s easy to position your gear where it’s most comfortable to you. The stands are supportive, and the pedal and hi-hat stand are fast and responsive. Tama may be best known for drums and high-end bass drum pedals, but they also make great hardware in the semi-pro price range. This HB5W pack is certainly an example of that.
Cymbal Stands
Tama includes two HC63BW boom stands with this pack. They’re solid medium-weight stands with knurled hideaway boom arms. The Quick-Set tilters are made very well, with a solid construction built to last. These tilters are gearless, allowing for easy, smooth angle adjustments. These stands also have two-tier vertical height adjustments for extended reach.
Snare Stand
The HS60W snare stand is one of our favorite snare stand values available. We discussed it in Best Values: Snare Stands, if you want to read more detail. The HS60W isn’t the most complex snare stand, but we really like the overall build and design features. The basket tilter uses the same gearless design as this pack’s cymbal stands. The tilter is rock-solid, giving you easy adjustability and durability. This stand also includes a swiveling basket, which allows you to spin the snare independent of the rest of the stand.
Hi-Hat Stand
This pack includes the HH205 hi-hat stand. It’s a medium-weight stand with easy-to-use adjustments. It has a pedal tension adjustment and a swiveling base. The pedal has a responsive and comfortable feel. The only design upgrade we’d like to see is the chain pedal attachment, which is currently plastic. It’s highly unlikely to break from playing, but it’s a potential vulnerability when the stand is thrown into a hardware bag.
Pedal
The Iron Cobra 200 bass drum pedal is another good value from Tama, whether it’s purchased in a pack or purchased separately. Like the matching hi-hat stand, this pedal is quick and responsive. It has a single-chain drive. That often leads to a lot of unwanted side-to-side movement, but this pedal includes a solid footboard, giving it extra stability. This pedal has an angle adjustment and a two-sided beater. All of that makes it a solid all-around pedal for the price.
In Short
The Tama HB5W Iron Cobra 200 pack has a good mix of functionality, transportability, quality, and affordability. The overall weight makes this pack a good option for both gigging and practicing drummers. The gearless tilters and two-tier height adjustments make positioning cymbals very easy. The hi-hat stand and bass drum pedal are light and fast. All together, it’s a pack that gives you a lot for your money.
Mapex Armory
The Mapex Armory HP8005 is the most expensive pack on this list, sneaking in just under $500 at the time of writing. For that extra cost, you get hardware that’s more durable and has more features than any of the other options we’ve mentioned. The cymbal and snare stands are very supportive and easy to adjust. The hi-hat stand and pedal are solid for the price. Each piece is a good value individually, so the value gets even better when purchased at the pack price.
Cymbal Stands
Two B800 boom stands are included with this pack. They’re heavy enough for just about any drumming style. They also have some features normally seen on more expensive stands. The tilter design is what Mapex calls the ‘Super-Glide’ tilter. It’s a gearless tilter that incorporates a spring-loaded locking arm, similar to what DW uses across much of its hardware. The Mapex version is made of metal, however, which is a big plus. These boom stands also include two-tier height adjustment, memory locks, and quick-release wing nuts.
Snare Stand
The Armory snare stand was one of our picks for Best Values: Snare Stands. It’s a solid, medium-weight stand with a nice ball-in-socket basket tilter. A ball-in-socket design is our preferred tilter style. All of the other snare stands on this list allow you to change the basket angle in one direction, whether it’s gearless or not. However, with a ball-in-socket, you can easily adjust in any direction. This snare stand also comes with a memory lock, which can provide extra support for heavier snare drums.
Hi-Hat Stand
The Mapex H800 hi-hat stand is another model we really like. That’s why we included it in our Best Values: Hi-Hat Stands. Like the rest of the pack, it’s a solid stand that has some features not seen on the alternatives listed above. The H800 is on the heavier side, in both feel and weight, but it’s smooth. That’s made possible by the Mapex Tru-Direct-Pull, which is a more sophisticated pull system. This stand has a swiveling base, a solid footplate, and a quick-release clutch, adding to its value.
Pedal
This Mapex pack includes the P800 single bass drum pedal. It’s a robust pedal design with a fairly smooth feel and plenty of durability. It’s the only pedal on this list with a double-chain drive. That, along with the solid footboard, gives this pedal extra stability, although there is some sideways leeway in the hinge. This pedal has some unique features, as well. It has a two-sided beater that accepts interchangeable weights and a self-adjusting hoop clamp for a firm grip.
The overall feel of the Armory pedal is similar to the hi-hat stand. The materials used are heavier than they are on some of the pedals previously mentioned. Lighter pedals can make playing with speed easier (as long as they’re well-constructed). However, lighter pedals can lack some power and durability. The Mapex Armory’s heft can make playing very fast patterns a bit more difficult, but it thrives in the power and durability that lighter pedals can lack.
In Short
The Mapex HP8005 Armory pack approaches the professional range of hardware. It’s very durable and incorporates many useful adjustment features. This pack is the only one on the list that includes a ball-in-socket snare basket, a solid hi-hat footboard, memory locks, a quick-release clutch, quick-release wing nuts, and two color options – chrome and black. Those are all nice benefits. While the Armory is the most expensive pack on this list, you get a lot of quality and extra features and for that extra cost.
Wrap-Up
Those are our picks for the best drum hardware pack values under $500. Like all drum gear, they all have their own positives and negatives. The right one for you might depend on your budget, playing habits, or even brand preference. Hopefully we helped you find the right pack for your situation. Whichever one that is, you can be confident your money will go a long way.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
Need some help putting your hi-hat stand together? Here’s our guide on How To Assemble a Hi-Hat Stand!