How to choose a drum throne?
1st Decision – Budget
First thing first, the BUDGET!
We are talking about drum thrones in the range of $130 to $220. For anything cheaper, you risk getting a shitty drum throne that:
- won’t last
- can break
- is not comfortable
With any of the drum thrones above, you will avoid that, and some you can even upgrade with a backrest.
2nd Decision – With or without a backrest
A backrest is a must for many drummers due to back problems that a lot of us have. So don’t save your cash; save your back.
If you don’t need a backrest even better, you will pay less for a throne. The fact that your drum throne has a backrest does not mean that you need to lean back all the time.
It is only there to support your back when you need it, and you can take it off.
3rd Decision – Seat shape
So, motorbike style, rounded or something other. Small companies tend to come up with different shapes, but 99% of the time, it’s either rounded or bike type.
There is no right or wrong, and it’s a matter of personal preference. I say try both and see what fits you.
Pro tips
Foam – what makes a rock-solid throne even better is good foam in the seat. Get a throne with a quality foam seat with advanced formulas or plain old furniture padding.
Hardware – look for a drum seat made of firm alloy and heavy legs. The heavier the hardware, the better.
Fastening and Adjustment Options – sometimes in for a small price difference you can get more options to adjust the throne so, eyes open!
7 The Best Drum Thrones
I will focus on getting the best value for money in one drum throne. Of course, we can go cheaper and save a few bucks, but that’s not the point. The point is to be comfortable while playing to enjoy not get stressed every time we sit on a stiff drum throne.
These are the best drum thrones, and here is what they all have in common:
- All made by trusted brands
- All are comfortable for gigs longer than 3 hours
- All used by professional drummers
You will not get wrong with any of these thrones, but before you decide, let me go in-depth and do a drum throne review one by one.
Tama Round Rider XL
If you are searching for a company that produces the best drum thrones, Tama should be among your top 3 choices. Tama 1st chair is an industry-standard used by professional drummers worldwide.
Tama Rounder Rider XL is an enhanced version of the regular Round Rider. It comes with a thicker and larger seat. It is a throne from their “1st chair” line.
What to expect
Seat – Big and firm, like it is supposed to be. Soft memory foam will make you feel cozy and comfortable. The 2-3 hour gig will fly in no time.
Hardware – strong double legs and stiff rubber feet will keep you firmly on the ground and prevent shaking.
Features – You can adjust the height in 2 ways, by twirling the throne or twirling the height lock. It utilizes the “Rocklock” system to prevent moving and provides stability.
Tama 1st Chair Round Rider is my suggestion for all drummers who want a great drum throne period. Tama may charge you more, but you buy it once and don’t have to think about it again.
Gibraltar Softy
This Gibraltar drum throne is a direct competitor to the Tama Round Rider XL. They offer almost identical performance & features, but the price of this drum throne is quite cheaper than Tama.
What to expect
Seat – The memory foam and the 5-inch thickness makes this drum throne very cozy and soft and with a wide seat. Gibraltar Softy offers great value for money while being the most comfortable budget throne from this list.
Hardware – Rock solid legs but not as heavy as hardware on Tama thrones.
Features – It extends 20″ to 26″. You can adjust the height by twirling the seat with a memory lock. 4 finish options with not top of the class materials. The plastic used is poor.
You can’t buy a backrest with this throne, but it is comfortable, and it won’t let you down either way.
I would suggest this drum throne for all drummers searching for comfort and who don’t need a backrest.
Gibraltar 9608
Gibraltar is currently producing two types of this model. The one with a round drum throne seat has a label of 9608, and the motorbike type of seat is 9608M.
Gibraltar drum throne 9608MB is the same one but with a backrest. This one is great if you have back problems.
What to expect
Seat – You can choose between a round seat or a motorcycle seat. For a rounded seat, they use PVC, and for the motorbike type, they use a Cordura.
Hardware – The screw underneath the drum seat holds pretty tight. You can adjust the height by twirling the throne. Besides aluminum on this throne, they have used plastic (not the best one). It comes with a double-braced leg base.
Features – You can adjust a height by twirling the throne and the memory lock for seating always on the same height. It extends 20″ to 26″. It has a lock system and a memory lock to prevent from shaking and lock the height.
Backrest addon – You can buy a backrest separately for both 9608 and 9608M. The backrest is adjustable, and it can be closer to you or far back.
The flaw is that you can’t adjust a backrest precisely by an angle so, sometimes it is too far from your back. Both have the same hardware, while the only difference is in the seat’s shape and the material.
If you buy this throne with a backrest, you will have some difficulties transporting it since it is very complicated to take it off after every gig.
I would suggest this drum throne for semi-professional drummers. If you are searching for the best value for the money in a drum throne with a backrest, this is it.
DW- Drum Workshop 5120
Drum workshop is an American company that established its name as one of the leading drum manufactures.
They are currently producing one of the most expensive and quality drum lines on the market, the DW Collector series.
They are not kidding when it comes to hardware either. So many great artists such as Russ Miller, Chris Adler, Dom Famularo use their gear. It is the same with drum thrones, except they do not have as many throne lines and models.
What to expect
Seat – 2 models in this series DW5120 and 5100. They are being produced with both motorbike and rounded drum throne seats. The size of the seat is 13″. My vote always goes to the motorbike seat because the shape has more sense.
Hardware – 3 double-braced legs will provide stability when playing and keep you firmly on the ground. The screw system on the lock is rock solid and very simple-looking. Plastic on the bottom side of the seat is not the best, but it is not too shaky when you tighten up the screw.
Features – You can adjust the seat height by twirling the seat, and if you want to memorize your height, you can tighten the lock. Only 3 screws on the entire drum throne make DW 5120 one of the simplest on the market.
DW doesn’t produce a lot of drum thrones, so they put a lot of effort into DW 5120 yet, there is room for improvement.
Tama HT741 Ergo-Rider Quartet
Top pick
ThatScore
- Adjustable backrest
- Best comfort ever
- Unique seat shape
Top pick
Tama HT741 Ergo-Rider Quartet
- Adjustable backrest
- Best comfort ever
- Unique seat shape
ThatScore
Tama HT741 Ergo-Rider Quartet – Top pick
What to expect
Features
You can adjust the height by twirling the seat or by twirling the height lock. Its 4-doubled leg makes it stable even better than the hardware construction with 3 legs.
What makes its stability even better is that it lowers the distance of the center throne pipe to the floor.
Rocklock system is Tama’s invention made to prevent side to side motion within the base.
Glide-Tite Grip Joint is also Tama’s invention designed for a more secure attachment.
Seat lock has Two-piece locking system for better throne base to seat connection.
“Foot life,” means a special layer of rubber added between legs and feet to prevent rubber to metal contact.
Since I play very long gigs, I had to find the most comfortable drum throne with a backrest.
I found Tama Ergo-Rider Quartet. I have been using it for over 2 years now, and I am enjoying every second on it.
There are two structure types of this throne, with 3 feet and 4 feet. I have the one with three legs but I thing there is not much of a difference.
What I like
Seat shape and comfort
The shape of the seat is quite unique. It is something between the rounded seat and a motorbike one. The comfort is extraordinary, there is no drum chair with this much comfort.
Backrest features
You can adjust the backrest by the tiny bits. On most thrones, it is possible to adjust the backrest forward/backward and up/down but not the exact angle of it.
That feature makes this throne stand out from the others. Also, you can buy a backrest separately.
The fact that the backrest can be angled makes it perfect for transport. Comfort is the best feature, and it is too good to be true.
What I don’t like
Material
It is hard to find a bad feature on this throne, but there is one. After 1 year of use, my Ergo Rider material cracker. For the price, it should be more durable, but this could be the only case with the piece that I bought.
Verdict
Taking all under consideration, this is the best drum throne with a backrest that you could find. In terms of comfort you will not be able to find a better throne with a backrest then Tama Ht741.
There are a few drum thrones with a backrest anyways.
Features that backrest offers along with durability, stability, comfort, and a unique seat shape make this comfort the best in the world.
If you play long gigs or just want ultimate comfort this is it.
Since I personally use this drum throne the only downside is the material of the seat that I have already mentioned.
It cracked after a few years and that’s it. All the other hardware parts stayed the same.
Pearl Roadster
If you like a motorbike seat style, this throne will suit your needs. Durability is a huge factor in drum equipment, and we all like durable drumming gear.
I believe Pearl Roadster will hold the test of time, that is for sure. It does have a high price but is justified with the quality. The hardware is so firm that it will not move for years.
What to expect
If you like a true motorbike-style seat, this would be your throne. Pearl stands for quality in the drumming community.
Seat – Whether you like a motorbike seat or not, you will be comfortable in Pearl Roadster because of the great foam in the seat. The seat and the backrest are large and cozy.
Hardware – The quality is very much like that of Tama Round Rider, but the material of the seat is better. Both seat material and the hardware are of superior quality. Pearl, indeed, justified the trust among the drumming world.
Features – Stop lock is there to stop a throne from spinning, which is very solid. Lock/Spin seat bracket is another part there to prevent a seat from spinning,
The backrest can go back and forth, up and down, but it can’t be adjusted by angle. However, it is quite big and comfortable.
Gibraltar 9608MB
Overall, Gibraltar’s products are not too expensive. They fall into the mid-range of the quality category.
Leading drum companies such as Yamaha, Tama, Pearl have a couple of premium lines out of reach for Gibraltar. Yet, Gibraltar always offers pretty good value for money.
What to expect
Seat – 9608MB’s seat is unique. It is not too thick but has great curves designed to fit your rear. Materials used for the seat are Cordura on top and vinyl on the edges. In addition, it is filled with memory foam.
Hardware – The throne has 3 double-braced legs and large rubber feet. What makes it a bit unstable is the screw underneath the seat.
No matter how hard you tighten the lock, the seat remains shaky. That happens on the Tama model also. This is because the backrest can go only back and forth and up and down.
Features – The seat height can be adjusted by twirling. And you can memorize your custom height with a memory lock.
Backrest – Another thing good about Gibraltar is that you have the option to buy a backrest separately.
There are two types of backrest Gibraltar produces:
- GUBR – fits all their thrones except pneumatic and hydraulic
- GBR – fits 9608OS and 9608HM throne models
The 9608MB is offered with a backrest as a package, but you can also check out different shapes here. Gibraltar also has a few base variations; this one is labeled as B9608.
It is the best alternative to expensive thrones with a backrest.
We are not getting the premium quality but have in mind that nobody offers something similar to this drum throne.
It is best for drummers who don’t have long gigs but want a throne with a backrest.
Mapex T770
On this list, T770 is the only drum throne with 4 legs. This feature may seem very appealing; you can think it is rock solid because of it, but the reality is slightly different.
Let’s find out!
What to expect
Seat – This Mapex drum throne comes with a rounded seat only. The seat is tick, but in contrast, it is very firm. It looks like a fat pillow waiting for you to fall in and have the most comfortable sleep.
The seat is quite firm and uncomfortable, considering its thickness.
Hardware – You can notice this at the first touch – the materials aren’t nearly as good as Tama’s. Furthermore, the construction doesn’t seem so sturdy. It comes with 4 solid legs and a backrest.
Features – Height range is between 18″ and 25″. With 4 double-based legs, it provides stability in the lower part of the throne. You can adjust the height by twirling the seat, and a memory lock is used to memorize your height.
T770 comes with a backrest that can move only back and forth. Like Gibraltar, the 9608 model T770 does not have a possibility of small adjustments.
This throne will meet the needs of drummers trying to get a drum throne with a backrest at a low price.
Conclusion
Denis Loncaric
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.
je parcours tous des articles du blog toujours tres bien ecrit continuez comme ça
I must disappoint you, I am using WP