I use a proper square not, but I have seen some pretty crazy looking attempts over the years...

J!m !

A square KNOT is correct!... and for many reasons, not the least of which is as tension/pull is increased on the knot, it gets tighter. As tension/pull is relaxed on the knot, it loosens! Properly tied, the square knot has function and beauty. Perfect for attaching snare wires with cord, which is why it was used! Here's an EASY way to tie the square knot CORRECTLY every time:

Right over left.. ( like tying a shoelace ) .. then left over right! Instant PERFECT square knot. No "grannies"! LOL!!

Tommyp

Thanks! that makes it easy.

Not is not what I intended to write.

Spell check doesn't know word usage only spelling.

And I have tied about 10 grannies for every sucessfull square knot...

Your method worked very well Purdie! Thanks for all the input guys

J!m!

I was 'jes funnin' with you on the KNOT ! Course "spell check" doesn't exist on this site within the parameters of our software, so... one is always on their own with regard to spelling/syntax. Regarding the "granny" knots:

EXCELLENT!... and you too Jeff! I have been using/tying square knots since I was a kid, and I never forgot the "right over left, left over right" for a PERFECT square knot every time. It has come in handy for the past 40 years as most ALL my snare/wires are attached with cord. My father was ex Navy... 'nuff said!

Tommyp

Dumb question, do you have to use cord made specificaly for drums? I was in my local store yesterday and saw Gibralter snare cords but they were 9.00 so I did not buy them. And since wer'e on the subject, are the Gibralter brands so much better that puresounds? The puresounds were like 28.00, I think. Not trying to be cheep but is there really a difference? I need some wires for my new snare I just made.

I will be interested to hear the answer to this. I was so fed up with snare cord failure that I replaced ALL my P-83's and 85's with P-86's and started using grosgrain ribbon. I could not be happier. I have used the Gibralter cord and found it lacking. Purdie suggests construction cord of some sort. Whatever I bought cannot be what he is using as it was a miserable failure. Whatever the red Ludwig cord might be, that seems to work pretty well.

As to Puresound wires, they are very well manufactured and work great. They have a lot of options available. I am rather fond of the Equalizer model on some of my snares. I am not as excited about the Blaster series as it produces a LOT of snare sound. That is all personal preference however.

Cheap wires or expensive wires, the biggest problem with any of them is when they start to stretch. Once they do it is statistically impossible for the wires to stretch uniformly so you end up with some wires a tiny bit longer than others. When that happens you start to tension the snares tighter to compensate for what sounds like loose snares (the longer wires) and in the process you begin over-tightening the other, shorter wires thus choking the drum. Puresound wires and the German wires are better made units and will most likely last longer or sound better longer perhaps. I will say this, for your usage, standard wire sets from a company like Gibralter are certainly fine. I am sure there are a lot of great drummers out there that use standard snare wires to produce great sounding snare drums. The main reason I use Puresound wires is that it is just another thing that clients notice when they rent my kits. Same thing with the P-86. Everyone eventually runs into a P-83 or P-85 that has to be engaged with both hands and what a hassle that is. Regardless those are the strainers seen on most Acrolites, Supras and Black Beauties. When a drummer picks up one of my Ludwig snares, they often mention that they appreciate the details. They surely do not like it when a snare cord breaks mid-set in front of several thousand people. I don't like that either.

Squint/Jeff -

> Purdie suggests construction cord of some sort.

What I use is; venetian blind cord! It's perfect. Hit the basement or attic and see if there's an old set of blinds. Cut the cord off. It'll last you for years and there is enough cord on a set of blinds to do 30+ snare drums.

I suppose construction cord is ok too, but the blind cord is perfecto!

Hey Tommy - Right over left, left over right is how I learned to tie square knots in the Boy Scouts when I was 12. Right out of the Scout Manual. I had to learn to tie several knots to pass the test for my Second Class Scout badge. I still remember a lot of the names, bowline, half-hitch, dbl. half-hitch, sheet, halyard, etc. etc. etc. You an old scout?

John

I think the "Around the Neck" cord used used for spectacles is similar to John's blind cord, just sear the ends with a lighter.. works for me, but the pink cord packaged by Pearl is Ok too.

(Square knot is known as the Reef knot down here)

Cheers