Drums and percussion instruments are some of the most enjoyable to play but often require hardware to support them and keep them in place.
Drums are very popular instruments, and while drum manufacturers tend to offer their own hardware, the top drum brands may not necessarily make the best-of-the-best hardware.
When it comes to choosing the best hardware, there are plenty of options. In this article, we’ll consider the top 10 best drum hardware brands in the world today.
Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I’ve done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):
- Company reputation
- Variety of drum hardware
- Performance of the drum hardware
- Longevity of the drum hardware
- Accessibility of the drum hardware (how easy they are to find/buy)
- The company/brand must currently be in operation
With all that being said, let’s list out the brands.
The top 10 best drum hardware brands are:
Let’s get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 10 best drum hardware brands. I’ll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example of notable drum hardware, and a link to their official website.
Related My New Microphone articles:
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• Top 11 Best Drum Brands In The World
• Top 11 Best Electronic Drum Brands On The Market
• Top 11 Best Cymbal Brands In The World
Click here to return to My New Microphone’s articles on musical equipment brands/manufacturers.
Gibraltar
For many pro musicians, Gibraltar is the best money can buy in terms of drum hardware. Moreover, it was one of the main players during the big boom of massive drum kits in the eighties and early nineties. In this vein, the drum racks by Gibraltar became the trademark of an era.
In 2014, the company was purchased by DW, adding leverage and know-how to the already top-quality craftsmanship of the brand. Hence, if you want drum hardware that you can trust with your highest-priced cymbals or snare, you need to check Gibraltar before buying anything else.
Notable drum hardware: Gibraltar 9707ML-LD 9000 Series Liquid Drive Double Braced Hi-Hat Stand (link to check the price at Sweetwater)
The liquid drive system is what most call a smooth “butter-like” feel. Translated, this means that when you’re playing any fast, hard parts that require much footwork, you’ll find an ally in this hi-hat stand rather than another obstacle. Moreover, the hinged height adjustments allow surgeon-like height adjustments. Likewise, the step tension adjustment allows you to dial in exactly the amount you want. Finally, it also features a detachable base plate, making it nice and convenient to move around.
Do you want the best? Try a Gibraltar today.
Official website: gibraltarhardware.com
Gibraltar Hardware was founded in 1983. The company’s headquarters are in Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA.
Yamaha
Although this company excels in everything from motorcycles to Hi-Fi audio, it all started with music. Indeed, the very first product made by Yamaha was a piano. By 1967, and with the same commitment to excellence Yamaha offers in each product, a division for drums and electronic drums was created in Osaka, Japan.
By 1987, Yamaha acquired the English company Premier and gathered a different level of insight into the drum manufacturing process as the company entered the European market. Thus, combining the century-old tradition with state-of-the-art machinery and the know-how, every piece of Yamaha hardware is ready to rock the world night after night.
Yamaha is a brand you can trust.
Notable drum hardware: Yamaha FP-9D (link to check the price at Guitar Center)
Every drummer knows that the kick drum pedal is just as important and personal as the snare. Therefore, finding the tension, weight, and reliability you need in a sturdy model that will keep up night after night and won’t break the bank is nothing short of discovery. In that sense, the FP-9D by Yamaha is one of the best-kept secrets of the drumming world.
To begin with, it offers Yamaha’s exclusive (patent pending) Quick-Adjusting link technology. Also, it features a weight-adjustable beater and independent footboard/beater angle adjustment. Finally, the anti-skid heel spikes will keep your foot rocking carelessly, all night long.
Official website: yamaha.com
Yamaha was founded by Torakusu Yamaha in 1887. Nowadays, the company’s headquarters are in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Yamaha is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Tama
Holding Stewart Copeland’s (The Police) and Roger Taylor’s (Duan Duran) cymbals in stages for thousands of people to withstanding Bill Ward’s (Black Sabbath), Lars Ulrich’s (Metallica), and Dave Grohl’s (Nirvana) snare, Tama hardware has been a privileged witness to music history.
It all started in 1974 in Japan when the Hoshino Gakki Musical Instruments Company decided to branch out into the drum market. Currently, the company’s headquarters are in Sato, Japan, but most of the state-of-the-art hardware comes from Guangzhou, China.
Tama is today one of the three most important drum brands in the world. This is not due to an overnight phenomenon but to decades of non-stop innovation, hard work, and a deeply-rooted commitment to excellence.
If you want the best, you have to try Tama before buying.
Notable drum hardware: Iron Cobra 200 Twin Pedal Power Glide HP200PTW (link to check the price on Amazon)
Speaking of the best, Tama’s Iron Cobra series might very well be among the best in the market. In this case, the Iron Cobra 200 represents the top of Tama’s kick drums crop, which might very well mean the top of the crop of the entire market.
What is revolutionary about the Iron Cobra series is that its performance is outstanding without breaking the bank. Moreover, it is a rare case of a kick drum pedal that doesn’t sacrifice speed to achieve power. Furthermore, it is compatible with Tama’s Cobra Coil making the footboard return even faster.
Official website: tama.com
Tama Drums was founded in 1974 by Hashino Gakki. The company headquarters is located in Seto, Aichi, Japan.
Tama is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Pearl
Pearl’s story is that of a one-man’s dream turned into tangible reality. Perhaps, the biggest breakthrough for the brand came in the fifties and sixties when rock n roll made it to the mainstream charts. Pearl was one of the few brands that were there to fill in for the exponential drum demand worldwide.
Nowadays, after decades of hard work, the company is among the top 3 brands in the world and can be seen in stages as well as garage band rehearsals in every corner of the planet. If you want hardware you trust to hold your drums and cymbals, Pearl is always a great choice.
Notable drum hardware: Pearl BC-2030 Boom Stand (link to check the price on Amazon)
The BC-2030 is Pearl’s most technically-advanced cymbal boom stand ever designed. It provides unheard-of flexibility to place cymbals in the exact spot you need them to perform flawlessly night after night. For this, the GyroLock Tilter is detachable and can be set and secured at any angle.
Moreover, the memory locks found every step of the way store your settings the way you want them, so you can expect a flawless performance every time you sit to play.
For those looking for an outstanding, highly versatile, and utterly dependable boom stand for their set, trying this one by Pearl is a must.
Official website: pearldrum.com
Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa in 1946. Currently, the company’s headquarters are in Chiba, Japan.
Pearl is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
DW
Although not everybody knows it, DW Drums owes its existence to manufacturing some of the best, most innovative pieces of drum hardware in the world. For example, the brand created the world’s first height-adjustable drummer seat.
Another great example is the now-legendary DW5000 pedal with a nylon strap. Also, the remote hi-hat pedal with a cable and the double-bass pedal can be written in DW Drums’ hall of fame as innovations.
DW is one of the most important drum hardware brands globally, manufacturing and releasing the type of gear you need to take your playing to the next level.
Notable drum hardware: DW 9399AL Airlift Tom/Snare Stand (link to check the price at Sweetwater)
This is, for most drummers, the best snare drum stand you can buy, and it is not a surprise is made by DW, one of the top brands in the world.
The neoprene pads increase snare resonance and isolation. Moreover, adding the plastic tube insulators, this stand is quiet enough to record your favourite snare with a close-up microphone. Also, the Mega-Tripod base gives this stand the largest footprint in the entire DW catalogue.
In addition to that, the Large Reset Handle with TechLock double-locking technology keeps the snare drum angle in place for your entire performance. Finally, the Airlift Shock makes height adjustment easier than ever before.
Everything you heard about DW is true, try this snare stand and verify it for yourself.
Official website: dwdrums.com
Don Lombardi founded Drum Workshop (which was to become DW Drums) in 1972. Currently, the company’s headquarters are in Oxnard, California, USA.
DW is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Ludwig
Perhaps, the biggest turning point for Ludwig was the moment Ringo Starr played a kit with the company’s logo at the Ed Sullivan Show in front of 73 million people. That sole fact catapulted the brand to the most privileged spot for drummers trying to imitate their idol.
Today, decades after that historic day, Ludwig belongs to the Selmer Group and continues to manufacture some of the best-sounding drum kits and most reliable hardware in the market, honouring the company’s commitment to quality.
Ludwig’s legacy is not only intact but growing by the day.
Notable drum hardware: Ludwig LP51TH Pro Series Drum Throne (link to check the price at Sweetwater)
Most people know Ludwig has been making some of the best drum kits on Earth for decades. All that time, though, they were making some of the best thrones or seats for drummers as well. In this case, their Pro Series is made of high-density foam, which makes it a great companion for long performances. Also, the ultra-strong tripod base bears double-braced legs as well as rubber feet to prevent sliding. Finally, the locking spindle adjustment goes from 18 to 25 inches in a breeze.
Official website: ludwig-drums.com
Ludwig was founded by Theobald and William Ludwig in 1909. Currently, the company’s headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Ludwig is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
PDP
The reason behind the creation of PDP was that DW’s prices were not competitive for beginners and students. Thus, through PDP, the company creates products following DW’s revolutionary designs at prices that most people could afford manufacturing in China, Taiwan, and Mexico.
PDP was thought of as the entry-level brand for drummers to earn their way into DW. Recently, and to critical acclaim, the company manufactured and sold high-quality gear that can be found in most stages around the world.
If you want quality you can trust at a price you can pay, you have to try PDP.
Notable drum hardware: PDP Concept Series Hi-Hat Stand 2 Legs (link to check the price on Amazon)
Designed in sunny California by the DW team, this two-leg hi-hat stand is revolutionary design-wise and a super-sturdy, ultra-dependable piece of gear ready for the road.
The heavy-gauge steel tubing makes it unbreakable under normal circumstances. Also, the quick-release hi-hat clutch with multi-position tension adjustment works fast and smoothly. Finally, the double-braced legs and the oversized anti-slip rubber feet will keep it in place and working great the entire show.
Official website: pacificdrums.com
PDP was founded in 1999 by its parent company, DW. The company shares DW’s headquarters in Oxnard, California, USA.
PDP is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mapex
Although it all started in Taiwan as a small endeavour, the brand soon grew astronomically thanks to the platform provided by KHS, one of the biggest musical instrument and accessories manufacturers in the world. Such is the case that Mapex was, for example, the brand of choice for Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater’s virtuoso drummer.
Nowadays, after more than three decades of successful innovation and organic growth, Mapex hardware can be found holding cymbals and snares in any major stage or studio in the world. If you haven’t already, you need to give Mapex a chance before buying anything else.
Notable drum hardware: Mapex B995A Double Braced 2-Tier Triple Boom Stand (link to check the price on Amazon)
Sometimes, space is a scarce resource, especially in crowded stages. For times like those, having three cymbals installed in one trustworthy 3-cymbal stand can prove to be a game-changer. Indeed, this piece by Mapex with easy-to-remove hide-away boom arms can offer you three different stands with adjustable heights in the same package so you can be set up and ready to go in a breeze.
Before buying anything else, give this revolutionary piece of equipment a try.
Official website: mapexdrums.com
Parent company: KHS Musical Instruments
Mapex was founded in 1989 in Taiwan by KHS Musical Instruments. Currently, the headquarters are in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, USA.
Mapex is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Gretsch
Gretsch is a brand that has gone beyond style and sound to become a synonym with quality, great sound, and impeccable craftsmanship. Because of that, virtuosos like Vinnie Colaiuta, gone legends like Charlie Watts, new celebrities like Taylor Hawkins, or accomplished professionals like Matt Sorum all choose Gretsch to build their sonic careers upon.
Nowadays, the company’s commitment is just as powerful and is still run by the Gretsch family, keeping the legacy intact. If you want quality that you can trust from a legendary brand, you need to try Gretsch hardware today.
Notable drum hardware: Gretsch GRG5SS G5 Snare Stand (link to check the price on Amazon)
Snare stands play a key role in every drummer’s performance. Indeed, they can be game-changer or game-breaker for every drummer. In this case, Gretsch’s G5 line represents the highest standards in hardware for the brand and, hence, for the world.
The nylon fibre composite lock makes storing your settings easier than ever. Speaking of which, the ball tilter for precise positioning and the large basket adjustment knob drastically reduces setting time. Finally, the sturdy 4mm double-braced construction and oversized rubber feet make this a reliable, tour-ready piece of gear.
Official website: gretschdrums.com
Friedrich Gretsch founded this company in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York. The company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in Ridgeland, North Carolina, USA.
Gretsch is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Atlas Pro
The first time that Ludwig introduced the Atlas series to the world was in 1966. Most people don’t know this, but Ludwig started making hardware rather than entire drum kits. They were among the companies setting the standard for the market in the early days.
Thus, after the global boom the company experienced in the sixties, the budget grew, and so did the demand for high-quality Ludwig hardware to use with other drum kits as well. That was the beginning of Atlas Pro, the brand that Ludwig created to offer the best of the best in hardware exclusively for professional touring musicians.
Nowadays, this brand still represents the highest standards globally for hardware making. If you haven’t already, give them a try, they will surprise you.
Notable drum hardware: Atlas Pro Straight LAP27CS Pro Cymbal Stand (link to check the price at Sweetwater)
Atlas Pro straight cymbal stand represents the best the band can create and can make a perfect ride, china, or splash stand for your kit.
To begin with, the Aerodyne Tilter, a dual-axis, gearless rotating positioning system, keeps your cymbals locked in securely in any position you want. Also, the Vice-Grip tube joint with an integrated memory lock delivers a rock-solid grip while keeping stress to a minimum on the support tubing. Finally, the nylon-lined tubing eliminates stand noise, making it perfect for studio recordings as well as stages.
Official website: ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/products/atlas
Parent company: Ludwig
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