Most drummers need their snare stands to do a few simple things: hold their snare drum securely, position the drum at the correct height and angle, and handle the normal wear and tear of playing live shows. There are plenty of super-expensive stands that do those things well, but what about models in a more affordable price range?
We picked five such stands. They’re all under $100 (at the time of writing) and do all the things most drummers need. All of them are easy to adjust and have good build quality. However, they also each have their own unique design features, giving you options that fit your needs.
You may notice this list’s price range is only about $30. The reason is that snare stands have a sweet spot in value right now. Currently, that’s in the $70 – $100 range. We feel that stands under that range are either poorly made, wobbly, prone to break, or simply that spending the extra $15 or $20 is well worth it.
Hopefully something here is within your budget and has the features you feel are most important to you. All of them will give you a lot for your money, so you can buy with confidence, no matter which you choose.
On with the list! These are the best snare stand values under $100.
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Tama Stage Master
HS40WN Snare Stand
The Tama HS40WN may be the most straightforward stand on this list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great choice for some drummers. Part of its appeal is its simplicity, and the quality is a step up from stands that cost only slightly less. The Stage Master has smoother adjustments and provides sturdier support than those less expensive options. While not recommended for heavy snare drums, it’s can work very well for lighter uses.
This stand’s tilter is very basic, but surprisingly effective. The toothless design makes micro-adjustments easy. Cheaper standard tilters often use large teeth, which dictate the possible angles the drum can be set at. Sometimes the perfect angle is somewhere in between the teeth. The Stage Master’s gearless tilter means you don’t have to compromise. It’s not as adjustable as a ball-in-socket, but it’s a lot better than inexpensive toothed designs.
Another nice feature on this Tama stand is the swiveling basket. With a simple loosening of a drum key bolt, you can rotate the basket independent of the stand. That’s not possible on most snare stands, but it’s handy. If the stand is set up – the base properly placed, height set, and the tilter at the right angle – you can just spin the very top of the stand. Maybe you want the snare strainer or basket arms in a different position. With the Stage Master, you can simply spin the basket and retighten with a drum key.
Other than those features, this stand is fairly basic. It would be a good choice for drummers who want something simple, smooth, and easy to carry around. Compared to cheaper alternatives, the Stage Master has better design features and higher quality, making it a solid overall value.
PDP 800 Series
Snare Stand
PDP’s 800 Series snare stand is a medium-weight stand that covers all the essentials. It has a smooth tilter, ergonomic adjustments, and a solid build. Some of the parts were upgraded from the previous version, making this stand more user-friendly. While it shares some similarities with the Tama Stage Master above, it has a few extras, too.
The tilter now consists of a well-known DW design, which is called the Glide-Tilter on PDP hardware. This tilter is toothless, so you’ll have an easy time getting the snare angle you want. It has an ergonomic handle for tightening and loosening. The handle also has a spring-loaded release, so you can position it after you’re done tightening. Like the Tama HS40WN, the PDP isn’t as adjustable as a ball-in-socket stand, but it’s a well-made design.
This PDP stand has a memory lock, which isn’t the case with the Tama. While memory locks aren’t usually imperative, they have some benefits. First, they add some support. If you have a particularly heavy snare drum, a memory lock is extra assurance. Second, they keep a stand from turning. Snare stands without memory locks can twist, potentially rubbing against a tom. A memory lock can help you avoid that. This PDP lock is made of a composite material, rather than metal, but it still gets the job done.
The 800 Series stand would be a good option for drummers looking for a medium-weight double-braced stand that has an upgraded tilter mechanism. It has large rubber feet and a memory lock. The build quality and upgraded features make it a very good overall value.
Pearl S930S
Snare Stand
The Pearl S930S is a solid value from a company known for solid hardware. Pearl uses sturdy parts that are built to last. In fact, their hardware is even backed up by a lifetime warranty. Usually, you won’t need it. This snare stand is no exception. Despite it being in Pearl’s mid-level hardware, this stand is durable, with well-made metal components and thick rubber basket tips.
The tilter adjustment is similar to the previous two stands mentioned. It’s a toothless design, with a bit of a twist. Pearl calls it the “Uni-Lock Gearless” tilter. It rotates on a cylindrical post and gets tightened with a big ergonomic wing nut. This nut can be easily overlooked, but it’s something we really like. Most tilters are locked in place with a smallish tightener. Sometimes there’s either not enough leverage to tighten firmly, or you’re forced to put all your might into the process. This Pearl version is easy and comfortable to adjust because of its large size and ergonomic shape.
Pearl also utilizes their Air Suspension tips on the basket, which is beneficial in a couple of ways. First, they help the drum breathe. Even when firmly clamped, the flexibility in the rubber suspends the drum, similar to a tom suspension mount. This can especially help drummers who mount a tom on a snare stand. The second benefit of these suspension tips is the grip. Snare drums can jump or shift when a drummer hits hard, especially with light snare drums. The Air Suspension tips grab the bottom snare hoop, keeping everything firmly in place.
The S930S is single-braced, so it works best when the legs are spread out a bit. If you prefer more support, Pearl offers a double-braced version, as well, called the S930. That version is another good value and includes all of the basket features described above. However, it didn’t quite meet our price threshold to make this list. Whether you need more support with double-braced legs or more want to keep your load a bit lighter with the single-braced, either of the Pearl 900 Series snare stands would be worth considering.
Mapex Armory
Snare Stand
The Armory hardware line is generally good for the money. We include the hi-hat stand in Best Values: Hi-Hat Stands. The snare stand is a great value, as well. It’s has good overall build quality, like all the stands on this list. However, the Mapex Armory has a couple of unique features that the others don’t – a hybrid ball-and-socket tilter and color options.
Mapex calls the tilter design the ‘Offset Omni-Ball Snare Basket Adjuster’. That’s a mouthful, but it’s essentially a tilter comprised of two parts. The Snare Basket Adjuster is a standard toothed tilter that sets the angle of the Omni-Ball. Most drummers could set the standard tilter once, then use the Omni-Ball to adjust snare angles.
The beauty of the ball-in-socket is the basket can be tilted left, right, up, down, or spun around. It can handle most angles needed for snare drums. There’s still a reason for the standard Basket Adjuster, however. It helps this stand get very steep angles – for toms or electronic pads, for instance. By working together, both parts of the Armory tilter make nearly any angle possible.
Beyond the tilter, the most notable thing about the Mapex Armory snare stand is a choice of color. The picture above is the black version, but it comes in standard chrome, as well. The black is a very popular option. That shouldn’t be surprising, perhaps, since it’s such a unique hardware color. While some drummers prefer chrome, black can look great in certain drum setups.
The Armory snare stand would be a good choice for drummers looking for something medium-weight with a ball-in-socket tilter. It’s not the only ball-in-socket stand on this list (see the next listing), but it’s only one of two. This stand has a good overall quality, includes a metal memory lock, and is the only stand that comes in two colors.
Ludwig Atlas
Snare Stand
The Ludwig Atlas Standard snare stand is a super-solid option that adjusts with ease. It’s very supportive, has a smooth ball-in-socket tilter design, and even has some nice cosmetic touches. It’s a good choice for a wide variety of drums and drummers, including drummers with deep snare drums.
The Atlas tilter is very simple to use. Its adjustment wing bolt is easy to access and big enough to grip. Just reach underneath to hold the basket, loosen the tilter, tilt the drum into place, and retighten. The Mapex Armory has a more sophisticated tilter design, but the Atlas titler is effective and a bit easier to use. Adjustments can usually be done in a few seconds without leaving the drum throne. The snare basket on this stand is slightly more off-center than other stands on this list, so positioning a leg underneath is advised.
The Ludwig tilter design has another benefit, besides the easy angle adjustments. Because it protrudes horizontally, the basket can sit lower. That’s great for drummers with deeper snare drums or those who just like to sit low. Many ball-in-socket snare stands sit too high for those players. There are other snare stands specifically designed for low positioning, like the Pearl S930D and the Tama Low-Profile Roadpro. However, the Atlas’ combination of a ball-in-socket tilter, the ability to get low, and a sub-$100 cost, is certainly appealing to many drummers.
This Atlas snare stand would work well for drummers who want something medium-weight, but supportive, very easy to tilt, and that’s able to set up at lower positions. It has good build quality and even has some nice cosmetic styling on the wing nuts and feet. Overall, it’s a very versatile stand at a reasonable price.
Wrap-Up
Those are the best snare stand values under $100. They’re all well-built and easy to adjust, but also have their own unique design features. Hopefully, these differences will help you determine which is best for you. Whichever one that may be, you can be sure you’re getting a great value.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
Need a new snare drum and like the sound of steel? Check out our Best Steel Snare Drums, By Budget!