You have mastered your drumming technique, but think that something is missing?
Actual sound quality and the test doesn’t come much from the snare drum. It depends on the snare wires, which are at the bottom of the snare drum.
Surprised, aren’t you?
These coiled wires, which most of us wouldn’t have paid attention, can influence the snare sound.
Snare wires can give you crisp or thick, punch or heavy, or dirty or clean sound.
So, which snare wire you should go for?
With multiple options in the market, selecting one could be a daunting task.
To make things easier for you, we will be providing a snare wire buying guide followed by five best snare wires.
Let’s begin.
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Five Best Snare Wires
Comparing all the mentioned factors, we have come up with five best wires.
🏆 PureSound Twisted Series Snare 🏆
PureSound is the best brand when it comes to snare wires. With their twisted series, they have come up with highly innovative wires.
These wires feature a high-grade steel alloy, which is coiled in pairs for heightened response and articulation with a dry and darker tone.
The sound that these wires offer is crisp and distinctive.
The unique braided design offers a better response even with little tension, which makes them superior to traditional wires. They are dynamic, sensitive, and durable
As they are thicker than usual snare wires, they work well with both low and high tension.
They are not as wet as usual snare drum at lower tension as they are thicker coils.
All in all, it is one of the best snare wires that play well. However, they are more expensive than other available options.
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- Dry and highly responsive sounds
- Performs well under low tension
- Unique braided design
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- Expensive
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🏆 PureSound Custom Pro 🏆
This wire is suitable for 14-inch snare drum. While they are also available in 20-strands, this 24-stand version is better if you are looking for better resonance. They are made up of high-quality brass material.
Another exciting feature of these snare wires is the endplates. Both the plates come with an anti-choke design. This means that the coils are lifted, which helps to prevent the typical buzzing sound.
This feature, along with the brass material, offers the pure bright sound to stand out.
Another exciting feature of the wires is the speed release straps. This feature allows you to disengage them efficiently and quickly. It saves time as compared to releasing straps from butt clamps or the strainer.
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- Minimal buzzing
- Bright tone
- Anti-choke plates
- Speed release strap
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- Limited compatibility
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🏆 Sabian Blend Phosphor Bronze 🏆
Similar to PureSound, Sabian is a leading brand in the drumming industry.
SBPB 42 is a unique wire that offers tonal excitement to drummers.
As we learnt before, more wires mean you can kill any additional low-end frequencies. It also allows the snare drum to get a piercing presence.
SBPB 42 not only comes with 42 wires but also defined sound because of a Phosphor Bronze combination
It is a great option if you want to stand out in a tiny bit.
All in all, it offers a refined and crisp tone.
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- Metal blend for a tight sound
- Offers snare-to-drum head contact
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- May not be durable
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🏆 PureSound Super 30 Series 🏆
Looking for an incredible sound at an affordable cost? This may be a great option for you.
As with other PureSound wires, they are manufactured and designed in the USA.
The Super 30 series include 30 wires made up of steel-alloy, which provide detailed and crisp snare drum response. Moreover, the wires are evenly placed to provide a much more consistent sound.
Using 30 wires also increases the articulation, providing more responsive and dynamic drum sounds. The sound is a penetrating and distinctive sound as compared to other wires, without compromising playability or feel
Wires are manufactured to offer a warm and highly responsive snare sound.
Overall, these wires provide an excellent sound despite the wires being snappy and tight or loosened. They are versatile and sound great on any snare drum regardless of shell composition and depth.
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- Increased snare presence with 30 wires
- Detailed and crisp playing response
- Versatile snare wires
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- None
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🏆 PureSound Blaster Series Snare Wire 🏆
These pair of professional quality wires are designed and manufactured in the USA.
The blaster series are specially curated for high-intensity drumming. With medium-gauge wires, they offer a strong snare projection.
These wires are made up of high-quality steel-alloy, which offer a crisp and quick response. The snare wires are versatile and offer great on different snare drums from metal to wood.
The wires have a unique angled end plate that offers a greater snare contact across the drumhead. This is due to the higher drum response and crisper sound.
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- Articulate and dynamic sounds
- Professional quality
- Bent edges
- Durable
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- May not be suitable for slow play
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An Overview on Snare Wire
Before moving ahead, let’s understand more about these wires.
If you ask advanced drummers, they all would tell you that snare wire matters a lot for producing the sound you want.
The snare drum is an extremely important part of the drumming set. They are important as they influence a large proportion of the snare sound. The qualities and features of snare drum wires aid in projecting the drum’s unique musical tone.
These wires offer the snare drum’s distinctive and desirable “crack”, which makes it so crucial in music.
Factors to Look For
Number of Wires
So, how does the wire produce the snap sound?
The snap is caused by wires vibrating together against the snare’s resonant head. So, the number of wires hitting the resonant head influences how snappy the sound will be.
Although snare wire has between 8-42 wires, the majority of the popular ones have 20-30 wires.
More snare wires offer sensitivity and articulation to the snare drum. It also provides an accentuated snare response.
On the other hand, snare drums with fewer wires offer lesser snare buzz. In this case, the sound from the drum shell is more prominent.
Thickness and Materials
The thickness and material of the wires will influence the genres of music you play.
Traditional materials offer a crisp and fast attack. If you select high-grade steel alloy, it will provide with papery and sensitive effect.
Moreover, the sound changes with different thickness of the wires.
How to Choose
To select from a variety of wires, you can compare them. Here are some things that you can look for while comparing:
Ease of Use
An ideal wire should be easy to set. Otherwise, you will end up spending much time in just getting the wires to work.
The Music You Play
The genre of music you play will also determine the suitability of the wire. Some snare wires offer refined and smoother music, while others are curated for aggressive play.
Quality
Will you opt for a drum set from an unknown brand? No, right?
The same applies to snare wires. Select a brand that has experience in this field.
Compatibility
Lastly, check for compatibility of snare wire with the snare drum you would be using. Most wires are compatible for 14-inch drums. However, if you have a custom snare, you need to check if the wire will fit.
How do snare wires affect the sound?
More snare wires offer sensitivity and articulation to the snare drum. It also provides an accentuated snare response. Snare drums with fewer wires offer lesser snare buzz.
When should you replace snare wires?
They do not need replacement unless a few wires snap. Here are a few other indications that may indicate a change of snare wires
- The snare sound becomes papery
- Wires are dirt laden or rusty
- Bent wires
- Excess snare resonance
How tight should snare wires be?
The desired tension for 20-30 strands is a medium tension for a snappy and bright snare sound. A loose strand will cause a buzzier sound due to rattle of wires. High tension, on the other hand, offers a sharper and faster response.
How do you set a snare wire?
Check the video here to know how to set a snare wire.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to beef the snare sound or need a snare wire replacement, finding the best option can significantly transform the drum sound. So, look for features, compare a few wires, before selecting one.
We hope this review and a buying guide will help you in making an informed decision
Happy Drumming