Comfortable and Functional: The Best Drum Throne
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ROC-N-SOC Back Rest Black Drum Throne -
Pork Pie Round Drum Throne -
Drum Workshop Heavy Duty Drum Throne -
Ahead Spinal G Drum Throne -
Tama Ht730 Ergo-Rider Drum Throne -
Buyer's Guide
A drum throne is a fancy name for the stool that drummers sit on while they play. After all, since you’re sitting on a throne, you should feel like a king! A good drum throne will position the player in an upright and comfortable position. The three main variables that distinguish drum thrones from each other are: seat design, height adjustment mechanism, and legs; these often change within models provided by a particular company.
The most important part of the throne is the padded seat (for obvious reasons) which vary by design and the amount of cushion they provide. Ideally you’ll want to have several thrones you can use for different gigs. For example, if you have an intense rock gig, you may prefer a firm seat and vice versa a soft seat for musical theater or pops concert gigs.
One common seat design is a round pad that looks similar to the top of a barstool. The other design you’re likely to see is called a bicycle seat or “tractor style”, although it’s actually much wider and more comfortable than a bicycle seat. A bicycle/tractor seat design is triangular in shape, and feels drastically different than a round top. I have thrones with both seat designs and I usually use the bicycle/tractor style for longer gigs because they’re more comfortable.
The seats height adjustment mechanism is sometimes hydraulic (similar to a modern office chair) with a lever that you pull to raise and lower the seat. This mechanism adjusts the quickest but it will most likely start to fail after several years of consistent use. There’s also an extended pole design similar to a cymbal stand and other pieces of drumming hardware. This design can be difficult to adjust but it’s often the easiest to set and remain level if you have a locking bracket. Finally there’s the screw type design that spins to adjust the height. In my opinion this design often moves around slightly height-wise but is more durable overall.
The last variable to account for is the number of legs on a throne. Thrones typically have three, four, or even five legs which can usually be folded so the base can be neatly packed into a hardware bag. Many thrones also have a backrest that you can purchase separately and is highly recommended if you spend a lot of time playing. One thing to note is some companies are experimenting with tilting thrones but we’re going to be focusing on the traditional design for this best list.
The criteria we’ve used in choosing these best drum thrones is their level of comfort, ease of adjustment, and overall durability. Comfort is important when you spend long hours practicing and playing gigs and these picks feature the perfect amount of support and padding, both the resting position and while you’re playing.
Drum thrones also need to be height adjustable for obvious reasons, and all of these picks of the best drum throne in 2022 are easily adjustable; you may find yourself plating gigs that don’t allow a lot of space to get off of your throne to adjust the height so this is a key feature to have. Lastly, each of these thrones are durably constructed because who doesn’t hate situations in which you reach to pick up your throne, and the seat separates from the base?
Here are the best drum thrones of 2022
ROC-N-SOC Back Rest Black Drum Throne - Best Drum Throne Overall
The Roc-N-Soc Lunar Series is the most customizable throne available. When purchasing this throne, you can choose one of four different seat designs which are available in multiple velour colors of velour and are also available in black vinyl. With five different height options to choose from, the Lunar series also features a gas lift for easy height adjustments. There’s even integrated gas shocks which reduce back fatigue. With five legs on the base for added stability, the Lunar throne is the perfect balance of a comfortable easy chair which gives you a good surface to work from.
Pork Pie Round Drum Throne - Runner Up
No list of best drum thrones would be complete without a selection from Pork Pie which manufactures some of the most comfortable thrones on the market. The seat top is made of high density foam designed to support any drummer for hours of playing. The throne features a durable, screw-type height adjustment mechanism and three double braced legs to keep you steady. This throne is sturdy enough to support drummers of almost any shape or size, it’s one of the softest thrones available without sacrificing a solid base to play from. Granted, it’s a fairly expensive throne, but well worth the price of entry for the level of quality you’re getting.
Drum Workshop Heavy Duty Drum Throne - Honorable Mention
DW’s Airlift 9100 AL is part of their top of the line DW 9000 series hardware so right off the bat you just know this is a throne of the highest quality. My favorite part about this throne is that it has four legs instead of three. The extra leg makes a world of difference as the throne is overall much more stable. Drummers will find the thrones seat offers firm support without sacrificing any comfort. This throne offers hydraulic height adjustment and it’s also built to be very durable for years of reliable use. With the DW 9000 name on it, you know it is of the highest quality. While this throne is available in a 9120 model with a bicycle style seat, I personally recommend the round seat of the 9100.
Ahead Spinal G Drum Throne - Consider
Ahead is a company specializing in making unique products for drummers. Ahead has recently developed their Spinal-G throne to try and combat back pain with a bicycle seat looks like it has a slice down the center. Made up of two separate parts, the seats opening is meant to stop the tail-bone from compressing which causes pain. It features a four legged base that is very sturdy, a screw-type height adjuster, and the seat is filled with memory foam for a comfortable seating experience.
Available in a couple different top and side colors, I personally prefer the black-on-black combination because it hides the opening a little better than the red top. The price of this throne is on the high end of the spectrum, but it is still competitively priced. It will be well worth the money for players who have tried other thrones and still have chronic back pain.
Tama Ht730 Ergo-Rider Drum Throne - Best Drum Throne
Tama’s HT130 is a basic but wonderful throne for your consideration. This pick has a firm, round seat covered by leather which makes it very affordable and durable. While I have several drum thrones for a variety of different playing situations, I often use the HT130 for recording because it seems to keep me in the moment. I’ll admit it’s a little harder than most thrones, but this throne is still comfortable enough to use for short playing sessions.
The thrones height adjustment mechanism is similar to a cymbal stand along with a locking clamp to prevent it from falling if the tightening wing nut fails. The base of the throne is very solid in comparison to other entry level thrones and its pretty lightweight which means easy transportation when you’re gigging. I also appreciate that the top of the seat detaches with a simple turn of a wing nut for travel purposes. Overall this seat is a great value for the budget conscious drummer.
Buyer's Guide
Why Do Drummers Need The Best Drum Throne?
Back problems for drummers are more common than you would think. Having to sit on the throne for hours as they showcase their talent can mess up their backs pretty easily. So whether you have developed back problems from your drumming adventures or are carrying an old sports injury, the only way to treat your body right is by getting the best drum throne that has been carefully crafted to target back problems so that you no longer have to walk around like the “Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Since you may find the market brimming with options, it is essential to ensure that you get a drum throne that is suited to your specific needs so your favourite hobby never has to feel like a chore. Our guide will take you through the features you need to be looking out for to make sure getting the best drum throne for the money is not your only priority, your comfort is too.
What Should You Consider When Buying A Drum Throne?
Seat:
There are generally two types of seats that drum thrones have. A standard one and a motorcycle one; the first thing you need to determine is which one is more likely to be comfortable for you. While there are good arguments on both sides of the camp, we have no trouble admitting that the choice of seat depends strictly on personal preference.
If you ask us, we suggest you look at these two types of seats like we do. If you are more of a rounded seat person then it might be difficult to break that habit. However, if you prefer the cutouts that lessen the restrictions on leg movements then you should go for the motorcycle seat.
Foam:
If you ask the designers of drum thrones what the most essential part of a throne is, you’ll be quite surprised by their answer, for it is neither the seat design or its hardware that makes a good drum throne but the foam that the seat has.
There are a few brands that have managed to curate some pretty advanced formulas that make memory foam seem like a thing of the stone age, while others still use the plain old padding you will find in any random piece of furniture. But the best drum throne is the only one that comes with a quality foam seat to ensure maximum comfort.
Hardware:
This is pretty obvious but having good hardware on your stool can change the whole game. If this part of the throne has not been prioritized then you can put any amount of fancy foam and your drum throne will still not be able to hold up.
So what you should be looking for is a drum seat that is made of decent alloys and does not sport super thin bracing. As long as the hardware of your throne is good and sturdy, you’ll be good to go!
Height Adjustment:
Sitting at the wrong height from your drum kit can be pretty dangerous for your spine. This is what leads to poor posture and bad aches and pains in every drummer. Which is why you need to ensure that you’re sitting at a comfortable height so that there is no straining in order to reach the drum kit. In order to combat that, drum thrones that give you the option to adjust the height are your best bet!
Back Support:
Now let’s talk about the most important and often overlooked thing when using a drum throne; your back. If some support is what your back seems to crave, you’ll know by the aches and pains you feel from your shoulders right down to where your spine ends. This happens when you play for long periods of time in a posture that seems to hate your body. This is where an adjustable backrest comes in. While the Tama Ergo-Rider on our list ships with a backrest itself, there are other options on our list that are compatible with them. All you need to do is install a backrest and your back is sure to thank you!
Which Drum Throne Should You Buy?
Because every drummer has different requirements, it is impossible to find a one-for-all solution. However, to make sure that you do find the best option for you, you need to figure out what you like, what height is optimal for you and just keep narrowing down the list until you have something you’re happy with. Simple as that.
When you look at the various designs on our list, you’ll be glad to know that they all perform pretty great in service. So if you can’t seem to decide on one or you don’t know which one will be the best option for you then you can blindly go for any one from our list with the satisfaction that there wasn’t much to risk.
FAQs
Should you get a firm or a soft drum throne?
We don’t have a specific answer for you. However, a comfortable amount of cushioning will always be better if you can make sure that there is plenty of strong support and a firm backrest so that your drum throne is equipped to handle all the extra weight.
What’s the best drum seat shape for back problems?
Although this depends on personal preference, it is important to note that if you’re a person that wants free movement of the legs then a motorcycle seat would be the way to go as it allows more flexibility. This option can also be pretty painless in the long run. However, some drummers have managed to achieve success while sitting on rounded thrones so it is safe to say it truly depends on you.
How can you take care of your drum throne?
When you’re no longer using your throne, make sure you keep it away from anything that is likely to snag the material. Another essential advice is to refrain from putting too much pressure on it and overloading it. Moreover, if you have a stool that has a height adjustment setting then follow instructions so you don’t end up accidentally breaking the mechanism.
