DW 9300AL AirLift Snare Drum Stand — Pneumatic Height
The 9300AL is a snare drum stand with a pneumatic cylinder: the drum floats on a cushion of air. A shock housed in the column offsets its weight, so you set the height with one hand, drum still in place, instead of lifting it with one arm while tightening with the other.
What sets it apart
- Internal pneumatic cylinder, US patent 7 718 878
- Height adjustment without having to hold up the drum
- Offset basket designed for double pedal setups
- Basket detachable from the tilter
- Reversible basket knob to close the arms
- Double-braced legs
What the cylinder actually solves
Adjusting the height of a loaded snare stand takes three hands: one to hold the drum, one to loosen, one to tighten again. In practice, you take the snare off, adjust the empty stand, put it back, and find you have to start over.
The cylinder replaces the first hand. It pushes up with a force close to the weight of the drum; you loosen, guide it, and tighten again. You adjust while watching the result, not while fighting gravity.
An assist that counts in the studio
Recording is where the gain is clearest. Placing a snare mic comes down to the centimetre, and you often need to correct the drum's height after listening back. With a regular stand, every correction moves everything; with the cylinder, you move the drum alone and nothing else changes.
The same advantage applies to a drummer who alternates between a deep snare and a shallow one, whose playing heights are not the same.
What the air does not take away
The cylinder assists, it does not lock. The mechanical clamps are still what hold the height and angle once you have found them. A pneumatic stand is therefore no more fragile in use: the part that takes the hits is the same as on the manual version.
Specifications
| Assist | Pneumatic cylinder built into the column |
|---|---|
| Patent | US patent 7 718 878 |
| Basket | Offset, detachable |
| Angle adjustment | Large handle backed by a TechLock |
| Construction | Double-braced legs |
What it is for
- Studio work, where the height gets corrected between takes
- Drummers who change snares often
- Double pedal setups, thanks to the offset basket
- Stages with little setup time
- Drummers who want to spare their back and wrists
Compare with other manufacturers
Assisted-height stands offered elsewhere:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Gibraltar | Gas-lift snare stand | Assist by an external gas spring along the column |
| Tama | Star series snare stand | No assist; fully manual adjustment |
| Pearl | 1030 Series ball-joint stand | Free 360-degree angle, height set by hand |
| Sonor | 4000 Series stand | Thinner column, lower overall weight |
Frequently asked questions
- Can the cylinder push the drum up while I am playing?
- No. Once the column is tightened, the mechanical clamp holds it. The cylinder only acts when the collar is loosened.
- Is it suitable for a very heavy snare?
- The assist is calibrated for a snare drum. With an unusually heavy drum, the cylinder helps less, without affecting how well the stand holds.
- How is it different from the version without the cylinder?
- The basket, tilter and legs are the same design. Only the column changes, along with the shock inside it.
Avis clients
Does the assisted height adjustment save you time at sessions?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.