It depends on the brand and design, but on PureSound wires, I think your second pic with the underside routing is correct. Otherwise, the cord holds the wires up off the head too much.

Second pic is how I do it.. But if you get a chance, try some "Gross Grain" ribbon.. Its a little thinner and less likely to shear off..

Cheers

John

It seems to depend on a combination of things.

When it comes to snare wires that have no channels for the cord (like the photos here) I have had luck routing the snare cord both ways, usually like the first photo.

On one of my snares (don't remember which right now), if I try to run the snare cord like photo #2, it pulls down on the end plate but lifts the snares from the center of the head slightly, and buzzes like crazy.

You would think that having the cords come out from under the end plate would cause the wires to lift, but usually just the end plate lifts at the edge, and the wires actually make better, more even head contact.

I try both ways to see which is better for that drum/wire combo. Usually one works clearly better than the other.

Ribbon where possible. I've got some puresound customs on at the moment which came with these 'quick release' straps; basically straps with loops seen into them and wire clips to connect/disconnect the wires without having to release them from the strainer. Worked well for a while until they dropped the wires on me about a minute into a set. Ended up having to reattach them using my shoe laces. Never again, only ever using the ribbon.

http://snaredrumz.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-properly-thread-snare-cord.html

mike

on older snares I usually use string on the throw side (have to) and a piece of mylar on the butt end. Works great.

Also I use the exact opposite of the Tarrani method.

Sometimes you can get by with the first arrangement, but it depends on the shape of the snare bed. Older snare drums might be more forgiving in that regard. Most newer drums have sharp bearing edges and relatively slight snare beds so the second technique is madatory to avoid having the end of the snares up off the head or, worse yet, inducing bending into the entire snare set.

I thought that Puresound wires were designed to be strung this way. I can't possibly imagine how they could work as he suggested, on any snare drum. Have you tried this method and if so, on what drum?

I was thinking about this exact issue over the weekend.

By the design of Puresound wires, Pic #2 should be the correct way.

But, every time I setup a drum like Pic #2, the snares just don't sound right. The drum always sound loose and muddy, even when the wires are adjusted tight. I flip the cord like Pic #1 and everything sounds like it's supposed to.

I don't get it. Totally baffling.

-Tim