On drums...

No need to go editing our posts. We can concentrate on issues without worrying about the small stuff that stops thought and conversation. We have no vested interests to protect, except that of mutual respect.

In conversations with people outside of our 'virtual communities,' the reaction to Sonor's announcement is one of outrage. I'm talking about dealers and long-time fans of Sonor who feel betrayed - and duped. Sonor, to those of us who have loved her for so many years, was dear because she made mature instruments for serious musicians. All of us were willing to understand, even as it did not appeal to us, when she made decisions to keep her financial house in order through marketing to youth. But now it seems that "she" in some nightmarish fashion became a "he," masquerading as a maiden aunty, snitching a cigarette in the restroom when he thinks no one is watching.

How's that for poetic retribution?

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Gregory

I sold my Designer ML 8x14 last year because it just didn't look "right" to me. I thought Sonor was using a different strain of wood, and I didn't like it as much as my Bubinga Signature.

We have a product here in the US called "Chicken McNuggets"; sure, everything that's in them came off a chicken, but a lot of it isn't what we would eat intentionally.

Unfortunately, we can't say the same about Sonor's finishes; otherwise we could call it McBubinga, or McRosewood, etc.

During the Link Era, the wood Sonor used for shells was chosen for it's physical and sonic properties. Initially, the beauty was secondary or even tertiary. On the other hand, for at least fifty years, Poplar was used by Ludwig as filler wood between Mahogany or Maple. Sometime in the nineties, they chose to go with 100% maple. I didn't think that was a good idea at the time, and it seemed to me that they were caving in to what they felt their market demanded. I was happy with my maple/poplar 6 ply drums from the seventies, so none of this affected me. Now, Ludwig has three or four completely unique shell designs. And, they offer maple/poplar shells again. So, everything comes back around.
I guess this thing with Sonor is kind of the same for me. I'm happy with my 'Lites, and they are (like most Link Era drums) unique among their contemporaries. Sure, Sonorlites are obviously (to me) Sonor's (better) answer to Yamaha's Recording Custom Drums. But, back then, Sonor was able to come up with something uniquely their own in response to this market threat.
I have felt for some time that Sonor started giving up much of their mystique in the early to mid-nineties as their drums became more like their competitor's products. For a while there, wasn't everything MAPLE?
Sonor has been steadily chipping away at their core-market in the US for almost twenty years now. By core market, I'm writing of the avocational drummer with an extra $10,000 of disposable income for their dream kit.
I hope for them that they can overcome this trend and remain relevent. If not, we may soon be discussing this once-great company in past-tense.
Truth is, the revelations concerning Sonor's current finishes are trivial compared to all the horror stories concerning SQ2s delivery and quality problems, coupled with marginal resolutions to customer complaints. Ask any of these folks this question: After your experience, would YOU buy another Sonor kit?
This question of integrity has a cost; I was considering the purchase of the new Steve Smith cast snare drum for my fiftieth birthday, but I won't be blindly supporting the company anytime soon. I have more than enough drums to keep me happy.

Brian

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Drums and No Money will get Me through Hard Times better than Money and No Drums!
-A Recovering Drum Addict

Greg, I sent you, Cliff and Brian a PM with clear explanation why I edited. I'm quite happy with my edit.
If I wanted to bring a battle to Cliffs door step then I would have left it. Certaintly a battle Cliff could handle but one I am all too willing to fight myself.
Find your own battle's Cliff


Brain, we were posting at the same time. Sheesh this site is getting overrun.

Edit: McBubinga. Now that's funny.

And I appreciated the original post, Cliff's post, your subsequent edit, the PM, and this post.

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Gregory

That creates quite a picture, Gregory!
Brian

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Drums and No Money will get Me through Hard Times better than Money and No Drums!
-A Recovering Drum Addict

And I missed all the action - typical European style - LATE IN RESPONSE...

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Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!

Where did you get the idea that SClassix are mass-produced drums? They are made by the same hands in the same presses as SQ2's on the same day. The only difference is that you are bound to certain sizes and different hardware and that Sonor keeps kits in stock so the waiting time is reduced. Exactly the same quality and same (Alpi)veneers as SQ2. Saw it with my own eyes at the factory.

When me and puttenvr were at the factory a couple of years ago we became convinced that the veneers were artificial except for cottonwood and scandi. The other stuff we saw was too alike to be real. Piles and piles of rosewood and ebony exactly the same. There aren't enough rosewood or ebony trees in the world to achief that.
When I showed my SClassics rosewood and the Steve Smith kit to my brother in law who is a woodcraftsman he smiled and said Alpi. I was furious until he showed me the samples and I got quiet. That my tigerwood SQ2 was Alpi is obvious. I'm not disappointed, I don't care.It has no effect on the sound and the kits look good. I don't understand what all the fuzz is about at the museum. I know the prices and troubles my b.i.l. has finding a matching piece of veneer when he has to repair something antique. Almost impossible.

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SQ2Tigerwood, Steve Smith kit, SClassix scandi,Teardrop rosewood, Swinger blue ripple,snares: D505, D554, Steve Smith snares, SQ2 13x6.5 scandi, Benny Greb signature, Artist cottonwood, Lite

Hey, Rob. "Mass Production" specifies neither a particular number of units built nor a level of quality , but rather a mode of manufacture that makes use of economies of scale, both in material and in labor, to reduce production costs. I think Classix could well fall under that rubric, and so could SQ. SQ use mass production techniques, slightly complicated by variations in size and so lose a bit of the cost and time gains realized in making repeated sizes.

I agree that Classix are of a quality associated less with mass produced goods, but Mercedes Benz has long defined the high end of mass produced cars, so Sonor is in good company.

I can state simply why I find Sonor's actions outrageous: if I had not been repeatedly told that rosewood was really rosewood, I would have bought a wrap and saved myself five or so bills. I dislike being lied to, which is the net effect of Sonor's corporate secrecy. I have a deep personal aversion to faux wood.

So: now I own what I am predisposed not to like, through Sonor's premeditated silence.

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Gregory

I must say that if I had paid big bucks for a high end drum kit like an SQ2 and later found out that the "exotic" veneer was actually stained poplar I wouldn't be too happy. Not that there's anything wrong with stained poplar, of course , but I'd be upset about the lack of full disclosure.

Barry

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Sig EB 14x14 t-s conv
Phonic+ 24, 18, 16 & 14(2)
Phonic 24, 22, 18 t-bd conv, 16, 16x12, 15, 14(2), 13, 12(3)
Snares: Phonic Roswd 10x14 & 14x14 t-s conv, D508 8x14, D518X, Performr & 3001
6 pc Performer kit
Sig/5000 II /Phonic hrdwr

You said it, Barry!


I hope cleaning up the multiple postings was okay. This site gets slow, and the submit button gets pushed more than once, and each time it shows up as another post.

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Gregory