The wire on a snare is what sets it apart from other drums within your kit. If you are looking to create the nicest rattle on your snare for performances or recording, the best snare wires are essential.
The sound of a snare drum wire has been described as a crack or a rattle, it makes it stand out from the rest of the drums, and is why the snare is such a vital part of any drum beat. A loose or poor quality snare wire can ruin recordings or shows. If you already have a snare drum, but want to replace the snare drum wire, this is relatively simple to do. Our list shows you the top wire options for your snare.
Snare wires sit along the bottom of your snare drum. They’re tightened, and the “strands” within them vibrate when the drum is hit to form part of the snappy sound of a snare, ready to be played on beats 2 and 4!
Below, we’ve featured 4 of the best snare wire options to fit to your drum for a classy sound whether you are playing jazz, rock or heavy metal. Or any other genre, for that matter.
PureSound Super 30 Series Snare Wire – Best Overall
The PureSound has a fantastic snappy sound. There are 30 strands on this model, more than a lot of other wires. it’s pretty common for snare wires to have roughly 20 strands, but the extra give a crispness to the sound.
The wires have been coiled in a way that is equally spaced, which gives consistent response no matter how hard you hit the snare or whereabouts on the snare you hit. The 30 Series is designed to fit 14″ snares, but you can buy the same model for 12″ and 13″ snares.
The crisp sound is great for a punchy snare sound, it can work well for jazz, for rock and pop or for pretty much any other genre!
PureSound specialize in snare wires, and make their products in the US. They can be retrofitted, even if you have an old drum set, it is simple to fit one of these wires to the bottom of your snare to enjoy the sound.
Many users say that having switched to 30 strand designs instead of 20, they will never go back. It is clear to hear a difference. The response is very fast. Hit the drum and hear the buzz of the wire straight away.
You may need to be a bit careful with this model if you are a very heavy drummer, the sound of the wire might get overpowering, in which case you might want to go for a 20 strand model, such as the one below.
PureSound Blaster Series Snare Wire, 20 Strand
You wouldn’t get away with calling it the “Blaster” series unless it packed a punch. The PureSound 20 strand models do exactly this. They have a clear and snappy sound, but don’t rattle in an overpowering way. This is true even if you are a powerful drummer who hits hard.
Like the rest of the PureSound models, it is very well made, and put together in the USA. You can rely on the Blaster series for even spacing and a fast response. This quick response comes from the clever design, and the bent end clips. These help the snare wires to vibrate quickly when the drum is hit, and this ensures a fast sound, which feels great for those playing the drums.
The wires are made out of excellent steel-alloy, which are premium in quality. They’re great for all sorts of different drumming styles.
The PureSound brand is hard to fault for consistency and projection. If you’re looking for a 20 strand snare wire this could be a good choice.
You can retrofit, just like a lot of the other snare wires, it’s very simple to change your wire. This also comes in different sizes. It can work with 10″, 12″, 13″, and 14″ snares, just be sure to find the right model.
Canomo 2 Pack Steel Snare Drum Wire (20 Strand) – Best Cheap Option
There are plenty of reasons for buying cheap snare wires, and some of them sound perfectly acceptable. If you are a beginner, you might want to spend less on your replacement snare wires. There’s no point blowing all your drum set budget on wires. Also, it is worthwhile having spare wires in case anything happens to yours. Most drummers carry multiple wires, especially if they’re going on tour.
The Canomo 2 pack is a fantastic way to save a bit of money. They will do fine for some gigs, and even some basic recordings. They aren’t an elite snare wire, or the very best on the market. However, they are still worth a place on our list for their value. In terms of their features, these offer:
- An easy to install design.
- Great for 14 inch snare drums, also some of the best snare wires for cajon and box drums.
- Traditional snare sound and even dynamics.
- 20 strands, made with durable, high-quality steel.
They may be a cheap option, but these snare wires are still pretty good quality. They make for excellent replacements or spares. If you run a studio, or you are the sort of drummer who likes to keep spares for every piece of kit, this is an affordable way to make sure you have a backup if your snare wire starts misbehaving.
Gibraltar SC-4471 Snare 14 Inch/42 Strand
The Gibraltar brand name is one you probably will have heard of. They make all sorts of drum equipment. This is the best Gibraltar snare wire, and you don’t even have to use it with a Gibraltar drum. Many people have used this snare wire on other drum kits made by Mapex or other brands with great effective.
If you thought 30 strand gave a lot of response and a clear snappy sound, wait until you hear the Gibraltar SC-4471. If you need a wire to make a big impact on your drumming, this could be a fantastic choice.
This has often been used to give a real buzz to the snare sound. If you want an idea of the sound, this wire is suitable for field marching snare drums, so this is a little higher in pitch than some of the other wires. This can help it to cut through the mix and stand out in a live environment. A snare wire like this can transform your sound.
These snare wires are good for jazz, rock and heavy metal especially, but they’re fine for lots of different genres. You can also use this wire to tackle lower head ringing. You can just replace the head, too! With 42 strands, this is a really sensitive wire and feels nice to play.
Snare Wire Buying Guide
It’s all very well us giving you a list of snare wire reviews, but how do you choose the right one for you? You might have some questions about snare wires and how they work. How do they impact the sound of your drum? Our buying guide is designed to answer some of your questions.
How Hard is it to Change Snare Wires?
Changing a snare wire is not a complicated task. Even child drummers should be able to do it with ease. Whether yours has broken and you need to replace the wire, or you are just looking to upgrade your wire, the job should take a few minutes. Loosening and tightening the tensions screws is the most difficult aspect of the process. If you’re not a new drummer, you are probably familiar with doing this.
If you want more information about how to change snare wires, check out this post.
Snare Wires for Cajon and Box Drums
Snare wires do not just go to on the bottom of a snare drum in a standard kit. You can use a wire on a Cajon, too. Many Cajons are designed to have this as part of the design. It can open up a world of new sounds you can make by hitting a certain part of the drum.
This interesting post covers how Cajons have grown and the difference a snare wire can make. They’re installed in a different way, so be aware of this if you plan to use a snare wire on your own Cajon.
How Important is a Snare Wire?
Ask any successful drummer, they’ll tell you that the wire is vital to the sound. You don’t have to buy a snare wire to realise this. The video below shows the difference a snare drum wire can make. It even has our editor’s choice snare wire in the video, so you can hear the crisp rattle sound that it makes.
Wrapping it Up
Whether you need a replacement snare wire or you want to beef up your snare sound, finding the best snare wires can transform the drum sound. There aren’t many ways that you can have a big effect on the sound with just a few minutes and a relatively small price tag.
