The 4 Best Snare Wires – Drum Reviews 2023

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Snare wires are as important as the heads you’re using on your snare drums when it comes to their performance. Actually, they might have a larger impact at the end the day. A snare wire is what gives the snare its character. That signature rattling and buzzing sound you get when you strike the snare head can be attributed to the wires underneath. Snare wires come in all kinds of flavors. Which one you choose will determine the type of sound your snare drum will create.

There are two things that define a snare wire – the number of wires available and the materials they are made of. We are looking for good build qualities, great choice of materials, and distinct performance. All of the models on our list fit that description.

These are what we consider the 4 best snare wires on the market:

Sabian SBPB42 42 Strand Phosphor Bronze Snare Wire

Sabian is one of the leading brands in the world of modern drums. They need no special introduction as almost anyone who has ever sat behind a drum set knows exactly the type of performance this brand is capable of offering. Their SBPB 42 is a very unique snare wire that adds layer upon layer of tonal excitement to its users. With that said, let’s check out the specs.

Features and Performance

The number of wires is a very big deal when you have a defined tone in mind. More wires usually means that you get to kill off any excess low-end frequencies, all while making the snare drum have a piercing presence in the mix. The Sabian SBPB42 42 version not only comes with 42 wires but it also gives you that somewhat defined sound only a Phosphor Bronze combination could offer.

In terms of application, the uses as are numerous. Generally, you would want to have one of these if you are trying to stand out just that tiny bit. A very crisp and refined tone is what any drummer can expect from this snare wire.

PureSound Super 30 Series Snare Wire

Pure Sound has been releasing some rather interesting products lately. It’s no secret that they know how to make a great snare wire. They have been doing so for quite some time. One of their more noticeable wire snare models has got to be the PureSound Super 30 Series. This thing just brings your snare to a whole new level.

Features and Performance

What truly defines this snare wire is both the number of the wires and their gauge. You are looking at a magical number of 30, which many drummers consider to be the golden middle. Wire gauge can tell a lot about this snare drum. The gauge of the strings somewhat dictates the sharpness of the snare. Have too many and you lose all that rich lower end while having the standard 20 doesn’t really work all too well with all genres of music.

The build quality and performance indicate that PureSound really tried their best at delivering a good performance in a new suite. The nature of the Super Sound 30 Series allows them to be heard in no matter how aggressive your band is. This snare wire offers crispy tone and remarkable fidelity in terms of playing. This is what you would want to have if you are interested in experimenting a bit. It is one of the best snare wires for the money.

Review of Pure Sound 30 strand Snare Wires

Pure Sound Custom Pro Brass Snare Wire

We have another Pure Sound wire model for you today. We chose to go with this snare wire despite already covering Pure Sound as a brand. They went all in trying to produce a snare wire that had some finesse to it, and the result was the Pure Sound Custom Pro. This is often considered to be a very niche choice, but it is something we’d like you to know about nonetheless.

Features and Performance

The whole hype about this particular snare wire comes from Pure Sound’s use of brass in the coils. Brass is not your regular choice, but it brings some pretty formidable tonal qualities that simply can’t be disregarded. Build quality is what we have grown to expect from Pure Sound. This snare wire is easy to setup, and the tone it offers makes the whole thing more than justified.

Brass delivers a fairly balanced and subtle expression. Pure Sound Custom Pro Brass snare wire is the epitome of what brass does to the snare. It’s definitely not something you would want to use in more aggressive genres of music, but if subtle excellence is your main priority, this is the wire you’d want to get.

Changing My Snare Wires On My Sonor Phonic Snare Drum

Pearl S022 20 Strand Snare Wire

Pearl is another great company which used their profits well and deiced to start building drum related products. In a very short time, drummers around the world figured out that Pearl’s accessories and components match those of a more expensive model.

Features and Sound

Having 20 wires underneath your snare drum is what most people consider to be the standard at the moment. The Pearl S022 20 Strand snare wire is no exception. Sometimes simple and conservative design gets the most attention just because it’s familiar and a safe bet no matter which genre of music you play, In other words, Pearl S022 20 Strand is a standard type of snare wire, but it definitely adds some range to your kit. if you’re on a serious budget, these might be the best snare wires you can buy.

Snare Wire Conclusion

Overall, while the tone snare wires deliver a major impact on your final sonic attack, this is a factor greatly affected by your personal taste. However, a string of objective points can be jotted down: the power of the punch and overall roundedness of the sound for example, and the better those are, the better your sound is. That’s what we tried to do, and can confidently say that each of the listed items is a product you cannot regret purchasing.

Snare wires we showed you today were ranked based on both their performance and quality. Our choice probably won’t match that of all drummers around the world. With that said, we feel our selection offers a great cross section of what you can expect to see on the market. They’re, in our humble, the best snare wires period in their respective price ranges.

At the end of the day, it will be up to you and your personal preference. Our job was to introduce you to some great models, and give you enough info to make an educated choice you won’t regret soon afterward. Good luck!

Written and Reviewed By

  • Micah Johnson started playing music in high school, when he taught himself the bass to join his friend’s band. He added guitar and drums during his twenties playing in local clubs, and along the way, he picked up unique, hands-on experience from hand drums to studio mixers. On Song Simian, he aims to share this knowledge from 20+ years playing and recording music. When not in gearhead mode, he enjoys photography and travel.

  • Marko is the senior editor and writer on Ultimate Guitar, the No. 1 guitar spot on the web, since early 2013. His work was also featured on a variety of other notable gear spots such as Guitar Fella, Consordini, and, of course, Song Simian. His musical journey began at a very young age, and he finally opted to pick up an instrument in his early teenage years. A fan of King Crimson. A travel enthusiast.

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