For me it depends on the drum. I am looking for a 3point strainer and have bought pursound wires for it, but I'm currently using german snare wires until I find the 3point strainer. I think if I can get original snare wires for a vintage drum I would do that, but Pursound are pretty darn good and the German snare wires IMO are a step down. Price wise I mostly use the german snare wires. I stay away from generic wires altogether unless it's an inexpensive snare drum.

Depends on the drum. Through trial & error, I've put different sets on different drums.

My 1950s Radio King works fantastic with Puresound Custom 16-strand wires and doesn't seem to like most other types. On more modern drums without such deep, wide snare beds, I've had good luck with cheap Pearl S-022 wires. I like the sound of cable snares for certain applications and have a Slingerland Sound King equipped with Grover Club Dark snares.

It really does depend on the drum, head combination, snare beds, etc. I've had some high end drums that sounded great with inexpensive wires and lower priced drums that really needed Puresounds and the like. What I have found for a good all-around sound is the Puresound Blasters. While they are supposedly for louder playing, the truth of the matter is that the bent end plates create a more sensitive sound by pulling the wires into the head with less tension than standard flat end plates. Bottom line? It sure can cost allot of $$$ to find the right sound for a given snare drum. But, once your ideal sound is found, it will bring a smile to your face!

So after reading everyone's take on this subject I settled on Puresound 16 Strand Customs. It was most similar to the original wires and I feel like if Rogers put 16 strand wires on at the factory then they cut a snare bed to accommodate those wires. It sounds great and is ready to start gigging immediately. Here she is all done and shiny!!Excited

Can't go wrong with 16-strand Puresound Customs! Glad you like them!

I have tried a lot of replacement wires and after a lot of money and time I decided I get the best response and sound from simple Pearl snappy replacement wires. I like them because the edges lay flat against the drum with two small, raised channels for the chords and the wires are light.

Some wires like Tama Starcast wires are really only for Tama snares with Tama snare beds- it seems to be the angle of the edges that just makes them a poor choice for other drums. Especially for small diameter snare drums like 10" and 12"- I go with the lightest wires possible- so I use Pearl. I like Grover wires but I have had one or two of those light wires snap off if I hit a really shocking accent (even playing jazz!). SO I say regardless of brand - go light weight.

Interesting stuff! I have always been sort of curious what those Grover wires sound like, but hearing that one of the wires snapped from regular playing worries me. Maybe it was a defective set, anyone else use these wires? I'm just intrigued every music store I go to out here only has the Puresounds or cheapo wires and those are the only options. I also hear that those Pearl snappy wires are good. I have a free floater with some Pearl wires and it sounds pretty good, but I think that has more to do with the stave bubinga shell I threw in there than the wires!

Canopus wires from Japan are real good too I have heard..............