Sonor Vintage 320 - California Blue! Just arrived yesterday and I am absolutely thrilled! Fit and finish are perfect (gorgeous!), out of the box sounds fantastic, and so inspiring to play. I had the tom/cymbal holder from my AQ2 set -- really makes for a nice compact setup. Unexpectedly the BG signature snare really goes well with the natural beech that can be seen inside the bass drum hoops. K Con / Special Dry cymbals and DW 5000 hardware completed the set. I am seriously considering selling my AQ2 now.
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Sonor Drum Thread official
- Thread starter JDA
- Start date
If I got another kit it would be the Sonor vintage.
I wish they could use real rosewood but I understand why they don’t. The rosewood veneer on the phonics is endangered now.
I bought a rosewood phonic snare years ago from the UK and the seller had to get a letter from sonor that was signed and started the drum was produced in 1984 (which was before it was listed as endangered) to get through customs.
I wish they could use real rosewood but I understand why they don’t. The rosewood veneer on the phonics is endangered now.
I bought a rosewood phonic snare years ago from the UK and the seller had to get a letter from sonor that was signed and started the drum was produced in 1984 (which was before it was listed as endangered) to get through customs.
I'm also a Sonor nut.
First two kits (paid for by part time work from the age of 11!!!) were Tama - a Swingstar and Starclassic birch. As soon as online selling became a thing I found a great deal on a Designer maple light - white sparkle - 10x8,14x14 and 20x18. I then found a Lite scandi birch in 10,12,14,15,20 (less than €500) and a phonic in black wrap 13x9,16x16,22x14 (€150).
Sold everything to fund one of the last Designers to be made before the SQ2s - 10x8,12x8,14x14,16x14 and 18 and 20x14 bass drums (this was 2005ish).
I then got into vintage American drums while they were still cheap - Gretch RB shell bank - every size available in mismatching finishes, radio kings etc.
Had a break from being a full-time musician - sold everything but have gradually built up the collection again as I began to do music 'full time' again.
Currently have 12x8,13x13,14x14 and 16x14 rosewood Phonics - professionally converted from orphan drums and veneered - they look like a factory kit; Lite scandi birch in 12,15,16 and 20; Phonic Mahogany in 13x9,16x16 and 22x14. Also a good few Sonor snares - D420, D516 and D518(?) and a custom segmented beech with Phonic lugs. The best drums, in my opinion. They're not particularly cool (if I get a rockabilly/Americana type gig for example) but I love how rock solid they are, that they take any head, that parts are easily found here in the EU and many of my heroes play/played them.
I still have a set of Gretsch Round Badge in a few sizes but am considering selling those as I'm cutting down the generic/commercial/just-for-money gigs for which I bought them, as I diversify income and focus more on original/creative projects for which my ears (and heart) tell me 'Sonor'.
Have often considered selling everything (again) to buy the Vintage series in a small shellbank but the cost is outrageous and it would be a sideways move sound and quality-wise.
I'll get around to taking pictures eventually
First two kits (paid for by part time work from the age of 11!!!) were Tama - a Swingstar and Starclassic birch. As soon as online selling became a thing I found a great deal on a Designer maple light - white sparkle - 10x8,14x14 and 20x18. I then found a Lite scandi birch in 10,12,14,15,20 (less than €500) and a phonic in black wrap 13x9,16x16,22x14 (€150).
Sold everything to fund one of the last Designers to be made before the SQ2s - 10x8,12x8,14x14,16x14 and 18 and 20x14 bass drums (this was 2005ish).
I then got into vintage American drums while they were still cheap - Gretch RB shell bank - every size available in mismatching finishes, radio kings etc.
Had a break from being a full-time musician - sold everything but have gradually built up the collection again as I began to do music 'full time' again.
Currently have 12x8,13x13,14x14 and 16x14 rosewood Phonics - professionally converted from orphan drums and veneered - they look like a factory kit; Lite scandi birch in 12,15,16 and 20; Phonic Mahogany in 13x9,16x16 and 22x14. Also a good few Sonor snares - D420, D516 and D518(?) and a custom segmented beech with Phonic lugs. The best drums, in my opinion. They're not particularly cool (if I get a rockabilly/Americana type gig for example) but I love how rock solid they are, that they take any head, that parts are easily found here in the EU and many of my heroes play/played them.
I still have a set of Gretsch Round Badge in a few sizes but am considering selling those as I'm cutting down the generic/commercial/just-for-money gigs for which I bought them, as I diversify income and focus more on original/creative projects for which my ears (and heart) tell me 'Sonor'.
Have often considered selling everything (again) to buy the Vintage series in a small shellbank but the cost is outrageous and it would be a sideways move sound and quality-wise.
I'll get around to taking pictures eventually
cinemadrummer2001
Very well Known Member
I always loved Cindy Blackman’s standard sized signatures. If she still owns them I hope she has a Reverb sale the same day I win the lottery and I can buy them!
S-Class (complete rig is 10, 12, 13 RT’s, 14x14, 16x16 FT’s, 17.25x22 BD, and 5.5” SD.
Also some pics of part of my Delite shell bank.
Attachments
Yow! I’d sure like to get my hands on their twin sisters. Rosewood inside too?
They are basically the same beech shell as phonics. Maybe a little thicker but if you did a side by side I’d imagine you couldn’t hear much of a difference. Phonics are standard size so they would be a great option. That’s if you can find them, phonic’s seem to be getting more rare in the second hand market. Wrapped phonics used to be pretty common but now-a-days finding that’s changed.
I have 8, 10, 12, 13, 14FT, 16FT and 22BD.
The 8, 13, 16FT and 22BD are rosewood only outside. I also have a rosewood champion 18BD I can use and these cover everything.
Those drums are killer and I cannot believe how good she had them sounding there. . I hardly ever h
ear these drums singing because they are so thick but she knows how to get them going . . or maybe those are Sig Lites?
Drum Mer
DFO Master
I think she is the only other drummer that has a Signature Special Edition in short sizes.
These are Maple and can sing for sure, regardless their thickness.
Its amazing German engineering, that is for sure.
My first own kit was a blue Sonic Plus in 10/12/14/20. Nice birch kit, one of the last lower level lines made in Germany. After 20 years of playing that kit, it was time for something new.
After that, I briefly owned an AQ2 in 10/12/16/22 with the white marine pearl finish. Very good bang for the buck, but not the kit to accompany me for the next 20 years.
Thus, I sold the other kits and my current kit is a Prolite 12/16/22 in Nussbaum finish and a Prolite steel snare (14). I‘ve drooled over that kit for like ten years and now I‘m super happy to call one my own. Thinking about getting another tom soon.
Those are the only three kits I‘ve owned since 27 years. Ok, there is one Special Edition Martini kit in turquoise galaxy sparkle in my basement but that doesn‘t really count for me.
After that, I briefly owned an AQ2 in 10/12/16/22 with the white marine pearl finish. Very good bang for the buck, but not the kit to accompany me for the next 20 years.
Thus, I sold the other kits and my current kit is a Prolite 12/16/22 in Nussbaum finish and a Prolite steel snare (14). I‘ve drooled over that kit for like ten years and now I‘m super happy to call one my own. Thinking about getting another tom soon.
Those are the only three kits I‘ve owned since 27 years. Ok, there is one Special Edition Martini kit in turquoise galaxy sparkle in my basement but that doesn‘t really count for me.
Frank Godiva
DFO Master
Gone but not forgotten
Frank Godiva
DFO Master
Gone but not forgotten II
Frank Godiva
DFO Master
Gone but not forgotten III
Drum Mer
DFO Master
Stunning Hilite spotted with a full set of alu Pro-Tec hardware.
www.ilgaragediasso.net
SONOR Hilite Black Diamond, 1990s.
Batteria meravigliosa in condizioni ottime, senza graffi, danni, ossidazioni o altri difetti. 22
waynel
Active Member
My SQ2 Bop kit
waynel
Active Member
Very cool.. what are the shell material and thickness ?
