Review: DW 3300 Snare Stand Stands Out
(mtebaldi | Posted 2010-07-08)
There is no worse nightmare for a drummer than when he realizes in the middle of a song during a live performance or recording session that, for some strange reason, his cymbals are farther away every second that passes, his snare is in a slight different position with every hit he punches, he doesn’t feel as tall behind the kit as he was 10 seconds ago, and his kick pedal happens to slide diagonally away from his foot. Ah ... hardware nightmares. I’m sure you had at least one of these during your drumming career. Hardware is one of the most underestimated pieces of a drum kit. It seems we usually end up understanding their vital importance on our performance when it’s just too late.
I’ve been a proud user of the DW hardware line for over 5 years now. It might seem recent, but DW products were very costly back in my Brazilian hometown. Now days, every time I have just a glimpse of a DW logo I’m all smiles and a comforting feeling warms my heart. This same exact DW snare stand model, the 3300, traveled with me all over Europe last summer.
Besides being one of the cheapest snare stands by DW, priced currently at $64.99, its quality and features make it worth every cent spent. The DW 3300 features a tripod base with double-braced legs that provides strong stability, and its heavy-duty rubbery feet will prevent the snare drum from dancing around. A 9.5” upper tube, mounted on another, thicker 9.5” tube, gives you plenty of options to set your preferred snare height position, while a strong memory lock provides precision for remembering it, also preventing your drum from sliding down when you are beating the crap out of it. A fine-tooth tilter allows precise adjustment of the snare angle and it also offers three pre-marked commonly used positions. A metal roll screw provides a quick to way set and strong support for adjusting the arms' spread, which fits snares of 12”, 13” and 14” of diameter. The snare drum rests on three heavy-duty rubbery hands for protection and stability.
I usually adjust my snare stand as follows:
I start spreading its legs so it cover a 14” diameter footprint, giving plenty of support for my 14” snare and enough space for my double kick pedals. I position the stand so two of its legs are 3” inches away parallel to my right foot, the metal roll screw that controls the arms spread is facing my way so it’s easy to reach if I need a quick adjustment. I set the upper tube 3” above the joint and then incline the snare just a bit, making it higher over my end, so the stick hits a little of the rim when I play, a la’ Buddy Rich. You can turn the upper tube around and then incline it a la’ Nicko McBrain, if you will.
It’s a great feeling to have when you know that the most important part of your kit will stand still as a rock through out your performance. After going through a few snare hardware nightmares, I’ve learned that the DW 3300 is one stand I can always rely on. Its superb quality contributes greatly to my performance, and with a such affordable price, this is a piece you will buy with no regrets.
For more information about the DW 3000 hardware line, visit www.dwdrums.com.
