All I've ever used is P-83's with cord. Are you using a square knot?

Take a look and see where the cord is breaking. I have a set of Ludwig snares like yours and had the same problem; one of the holes on the snare was evidently sharp on the edge or something and cutting the cord. Could be the same issue with the strainer.

What type of cord are you using? The Gibraltar cord is awful. Ludwig cord is great; in fact, that's what I was using on the drum mentioned, so I knew there was some other problem.

Also, those strainers can back up on their own, so you might check that. Sometimes if you have the snares real tight, you can have that problem. So lots of things to check!

Yes, for sure check for sharp edges on the strainer or anywhere the cord makes contact. The music stores sell snare cord for, I'm guessing, something like 300 times what it actually cost. Now if it's actual Ludwig brand... whew... instant left hand rolls! :) I can picture all those elves at the Ludwig plant winding that cord late into the night.

Is there really a Ludwig factory where people show up and work each day? I can't help but be skeptical about that.

I raided an old venetian blind recently and got easily three lifetimes worth of snare cord. I used to by it by the foot at a boating store that's now closed. I only bought cord actually sold for drums at a music store once maybe 40 years ago before I found other sources.

Always carry some in your gig bag, and remember that if you leave it a little long on a drum you'll have enough to tie it back together at a gig.

Yup, I'm fairly sure I'm using a square knot, but I'm knot (haha) great with knots and those diagrams confuse me a little!

I'm using BigDog snare cord.

Can't see any sharp bits anywhere. The cord that was on before wasn't as strong so perhaps that's why it snapped. I've got band practice this evening so if it snaps again, there must be a sharp spot somewhere which I've missed?

Do you guys just tie a single square knot? I don't have much cord left after this to tie anything more secure...

Thanks!

Yes, I use a single. I've done doubles but came to think that after the first one it doesn't matter.

Think of your basic knot, the first knot you ever learned: one string crosses over the other, then goes underneath.

When you tie your basic knot, you have to decide which string to cross over on top of the other. For instance, you might choose to put the right string over the left. If you do that, and then tie another basic knot and cross the opposite one over, left over right, then you end up with a square knot.

So a square knot is two basic knots in a row, opposite of each other. Confused? :confused:

Square knots, or reef knots, jam up against themselves and can be hard to undo. Because of that, doing doubles never seems to matter, unless I guess if you had some really difficult to tie, slippery rope.

For the first 20 minutes of band prac tonight I thought I would keep having problems as the snare still kept going loose (I think the strainer may possibly have been working its way loose as I had it very close to almost falling out). Anyway, it seems to have settled now. Perhaps the cord needed to be stretched and now it has reached a point where it won't stretch anymore? I will let you know if I have any more problems.. Thanks for all your help!

Two suggestions: First, use either Ludwig or Puresound snare cord. Second, loop the cord around the strainer and through two holes on each side before tying the square knot off. You do that and the cord won't slip of back off. Yes Sir

I don't think I can get hold of ludwig or puresound snare cord in the UK! I don't have enough cord to do what you said either, but anyway, it seems to be holding out now. I'll probably try find something similar from a fabric shop, so I can use a longer length and tie it through the holes as you say!

Just make sure that it's Scottish!

Myself I'd go for a Campbell tartan. :)