I used to play the guitar (badly <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />), and the strings I used were nylon-type. I seemed to go through them fairly quickly, but they were bottom of the range strings (Now THAT must be the reason for the strange sounds that I heard whenever I played <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />). Electric guitars use steel strings. well, that is what they are called, but they might not be made of real 'steel'. Perhaps they are the better option for snares.

I'll have a look at piano wire aswell(I can play piano relativly well <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, so the strings MUST be of a better quality!). If I get do get hold of some, I'll let you know what it is like.