[DrumminFreek]

After looking through about 12 pages of threads, I noticed that there isn't really a thread about snare wire specifically; while some make mention at it, they don't revolve around the topic. SO! I figured I'd start one.

I was using a stock snare for a long time (Ludwig Accent Rocker) and one day the snare wire just loosened itself and snapped. I'd been having some problems with it to begin with and decided it was time to just move on and buy a nicer snare anyways. I went out and got a PorkPie Little Squealer, which I love. But recently, one of the snare strands snapped.

So, I looked around on the net and realized that I've never really had any experience buying snare wire.

Does anyone have any general tips about picking out an affordable, yet good quality snare wire?

[Der Trommler]

Here is a quote from and article written by John Aldridge about snares. This is great info to have and to understand in order to get the sound you are looking for.

How Your Snare Beds Affect Your Snare Sound
By Not So Modern Drummer’s John Aldridge

When choosing a set of snare wires for your snare drum, it is important to consider the design of your drum as well as the type of sound you want to get from it. One of the most overlooked considerations in selecting the right set of snare wires is a drum’s snare beds. The snare bed is essential n creating a bow in the center of bottom head that increases the amount of contact between the drumhead and the snare wires themselves.

Keep in mind that not all snare beds are created equal. Some are as wide as 8 inches and as deep as a quarter inch, where others are as narrow as an inch and a half or as shallow as 4/1000ths of an inch. A deep, wide snare bed will produce a bow in the head which is fairly consistent over much of the surface. A narrow, shallow bed will create a bow and a snare sound that are less pronounced. However, both types of beds can be very effective in producing attractive snare sounds in a wide variety of applications.

To determine the type of snare bed your drum has, take the bottom head off the drum and place the drum on a flat surface. Put a light source inside the shell so that you can easily see the gap between the shell and the surface. This will allow you to more accurately gauge the width and depth of the snare bed. Once you’ve gotten a measurement of the bed, you can determine what type of snares will give you the sound and action you want.

Start with the basic premise of choosing a set of snares that will best complement the snare beds on your drum. Remember the old adage, “Less is more”. There are few places where this saying applies more accurately than in choosing a set of snare wires.

· To get the brightest, most resonant sound from the drum and the most activity out of the wires, select a set of snares that are about ½ the width of your snare bed, generally 12-16 strands. That way, the part of the head that is most active (the center of the bed) will have the most impact on the sound and provide you with the most snare action (sensitivity and response).

· If you are playing in an environment where you want a lot of snare action, but would prefer a bit shorter decay, choose a set of snares that are slightly wider – approximately 3/4ths the width of the snare bed – usually 16 to 20 strands.

· In a close-miked studio environment, where you might want to get the maximum snare sound but decreased response and decay, try a snare unit that is wide enough to cover the entire snare bed – 20 to 24 strands.

· To further dampen the drum, use the widest set of snares available (assuming the snare bed is wide enough to accommodate them). This will focus the drum’s tone and reduce the length of decay as much as is possible without muffling or choking the drum. However, as the bow of the head decreases towards the edges of the snare bed, the amount of tension on the snares may have to be increased to keep the outer strands from bussing excessively. Generally, this tends to lessen the impact of using wider snares in the first place, but because Puresound snares are designed to be more active than others, the 24-strand model is wide enough to accomplish this effect while avoiding snare wire tension problems.

· In situations where an even drier, tighter, yet still musical sound is required, the off-set wires of an Equalizer model may be the ideal choice.

[Luke]

I put these snares on my drum to replace the stock snares and they really helped the sound of my drum. I never realized how much better quality snares mattered in the sound of my drum.
Buy Puresound Blasters Series 20-Strand Snare Wire | Snare Drum Springs & Parts | Musician's Friend

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Yeah, Puresound Percussion is the place to go online.

Thanks, Der Trommler, for the pearls of wisdom!

	Pearl Drums Shop for Pearl Drums at Musician's Friend

[DrumminFreek]

Puresound is really the only company I've ever heard of that does snare wires. I assume they are about as top-of-the-line as you can get?

[Luke]

As far as I know they are.

[DrumminFreek]

Haha, cool. That's all I could find when I searched the web and I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything...

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

I don't really know if they're the best, the only, or whatever. But I was referred to Puresound by a vintage drum site when trying to get replacement snares for a 1962 Slingerland Radio King. The guy who referred me seemed to know what he was talking about.

[resonut]

Ive played various snare wires and im sold on FatCat wires. Ive been using them on every snaredrum i own.

[Luke]

I've tried the fat cat snares. They are good but they seem to buzz and be a little too high pitched for my taste, although they do sound pretty good on my steel snare.