Back Beat Snare Wire

Brad Schlueter / writer, reviewer or product tester

Usually, if a drummer wants to alter the sound of a drum, he’ll change the heads. That can make a dramatic difference to the way a drum sounds. However, many drummers have favorite heads and resist swapping them for those with a different sound and feel.

Upgrading the wires under your drum is another effective, if often overlooked method, to improve the sound of your snare. The more wires in contact with the bottom head the drier the drum will be. If you have a very lively or thick metal snare that has too much ring, one way to help tame it is with a wider set of snare wires. The number of wires beneath a snare can also affect the drum tone a bit.

Enter the Back Beat 30 and 42 Snare Wires (models CPSS-BB14 SNP30 and CPSS-BB14 SNPW). These chromed snare wire sets are similar to each other but differ in the number of coiled wires that contact the bottom head. The 42-strand model is about 4” wide compared to the 30-strand model that is an inch narrower.

As you’d expect, the wider wires had a drier sound than the narrower set. So if you have a drum that sounds too lively with standard 20-strand wires, either of these models can help dampen the decay.

I tried these on a couple of different drums. One of my metal snares has a raucous, lively character and long decay was noticeably improved with these wires. I slightly preferred the 30-strand model on my drum, but if yours is livelier than mine, the 42-strand model might work better. However, I liked how the 42-strand model helped dry up some of my drum’s rim shots. It seemed that the brightness of my drum was slightly attenuated, bringing out more of the midrange, making for a fuller and more balanced tone. Best of all, my drum’s seemed to become more sensitive with these wires.

Also, I noticed that if you like your wires to be a little on the loose side, more wires can give a smoother, denser rattle/decay. This can be effective on a power ballad.

I also received sets of the Vintage Wires (CPSL-14NP, CPSL-14DR) and Back Beat Wires) CPSS-14NP, CPSS-14DR) to try out. Frankly, I liked all of these wires on my snares. I put each set on the same drum and all these wires improved the sound over the stock wires that had been on the drum. My drum seemed brighter and crisper with the Canopus wires. If I had to pick one or two for my drum, I’d choose the chrome vintage or chrome backbeat model, since they were a touch brighter than the natural wires in each series. If your drum doesn’t need brightening, the natural finish wires might be a better choice.

When I loosened these wires some, they had a slightly coarser decay than the wider wires mentioned earlier, but were still quite nice.

Special Review from Mike Baird

EVALUATION OF CANOPUS SNARE WIRES
SEPT 14 2013 BY MIKE BAIRD

Let me start out by saying that from one drum to the next it was very difficult to find what would be a normal wood or metal drum (ply, steam bent, what type of wood etc.) metal brass, steel etc. But I did pick a few drums to get a general consensus this is what I used.

METAL DRUS USED
DW chrome over steel 61⁄2 X 14 a Tama chrome over steel 3x13 piccolo and a DW copper 61⁄2 X 14.

WOOD DRUMS USED
For wood we used early 80’s DW Craviotto 61⁄2 x 14 maple steam bent and a Tama 5x14 maple ply and a 3x13 piccolo ply drum.

BACK BEAT WIRES ON METAL DRUMS

BACK BEAT CHROME PLATED WIRES (CPSS-BB14NP)
Really crisp top end but not as warm as the DR and more overtones. The NP wires have a lower pitch compared to the Back Beat DR, which seemed like it would be just the opposite because of it being NP. More body then stock wires.

BACK BEAT NON PLATED WIRES (CPSS-BB14DR)
Fewer overtones, more top then the NP wires but dark but better body than regular stock wires.

Synopsis
Back Beat Wires really come alive in higher drum tunings the NP are more suited to club or live situations where drums ARE NOT mic’ed. Back Beat DR not as bright as the NP but still bright just more warmth and fatness but very dark.

VINTAGE WIRES ON METAL DRUMS

VINTAGE CHROME PLATED WIRES (CPSL-14NP, CPSL-13NP)
Good top end, good bite not sharp like Back beat and adds a very nice fat sound. Over all my favorite for studio and concert setting.

VINTAGE NON PLATED WIRES (CPSL-14DR, CPSL-13DR)
Vintage DR wires have a good top end and very good lower midrange, and dark but not as dark as the Back Beats DR. This wire I feel would shine on a vintage WFL or older vintage metal drum like that. Lots of body for Ballads, blues etc.

Synopsis
Both Vintage wires work great on all metal drums.

BACK BEAT WIRES ON WOOD DRUMS

BACK BEAT CHROME PLATED WIRES (CPSS-BB14NP)
A little nasal sounding better suited for higher tunings good for orchestral or jazz type finesse music or where playing definition is needed.

BACK BEAT NON PLATED WIRES (CPSS-BB14DR)
On wood drums the Back Beats DR work better than metal. Nice top end and body.

VINTAGE WIRES ON WOOD DRUMS

VINTAGE CHROME PLATED WIRES (CPSL-14NP, CPSL-13NP)
These have everything, sweet top end very good midrange and body. Not as much body as the Vintage DR but makes up for with everything else.

VINTAGE NON PLATED WIRES (CPSL-14DR, CPSL-13DR)
More meat or body and not as crisp as the Vintage NP, very good.

Synopsis
Turning high or low with both of the vintage wires work great. Sensivity is very good as well.

Summary

All the wires are much better than stock or standard wires; it then comes down to the drum the player and the gig. For me I really like the vintage wires especially the Vintage NP because it has everything and would fit any tuning range. But there are certain drums I would use the Vintage Brass for recordings or gigs where I really need that extra body.