Q1: Those are early 70`s lugs !!Q2: Those were on the Rocker, Action, Medley, Swinger, and Ranger. These were the entry level drums, on the other end were the Champion and Super Champion series.Q3: Yes, all the afore mention except the Champions, had "lick-N-stick" tags. I`m not sure about that snare yet !!
THANKS for the help! The snare's simply a Ludwig Standard that's being sold with the kit.
I agree about the great quality of Sonor from the 60s with ONE EXCEPTION:
The cheap, flimsy round largely PLASTIC snare throwoffs. What's up with that?
It's like they build a Mercedes Benz then they put bicycle tires on it! Pretty funny, actually. More annoying than anything, really. Other than that they actually have BETTER build quality than most USA sets.
The snare looks like a Ludwig Standard to me, looking at the lugs. I swear, from this last pic those look like Ludwig lugs all the way around, but then I don't know diddly about Sonor....
He said the snare was a Ludwig Standard. But his original question was "good and bad points of purchasing a 60s Sonor Kit".. since the entire set is an economy line 70s Sonor set, I just thought I'd chime in about the 60s strainer since no one had earlier, and it really is an interesting dichotomy because overall Sonor had (and still have now, I think) badass quality.
I can only speak to 70s and up Sonor kits.
Great sounds on the German made kits.
Some of that hardware is wonky, though. I mean, dang. What the heck were they thinking with some of those Tom mounts? Odd and unusual and very impractical.
Did I mention they sound great? They most certainly do.
Those lugs look a little different from the ones on my circa-1970 Sonor Champions. Take a look at mine pictured below; they seem more angular than the ones in your picture. Those seem to have a more curved profile.
I agree about the great quality of Sonor from the 60s with ONE EXCEPTION:The cheap, flimsy round largely PLASTIC snare throwoffs. What's up with that? It's like they build a Mercedes Benz then they put bicycle tires on it! Pretty funny, actually. More annoying than anything, really. Other than that they actually have BETTER build quality than most USA sets.
HUH? No plastic here! Also, for me, this vies with the Gretsch micro-sensative as the most visually elegant throw, but it's simpler and more reliable than the micro 'tombstone'.
Ron
Those lugs look a little different from the ones on my circa-1970 Sonor Champions. Take a look at mine pictured below; they seem more angular than the ones in your picture. Those seem to have a more curved profile.
Those lugs actually look like late 70's early 80's Phonics lugs to be honest. Those are the same lugs I have on my early 80's Phonics kit. Unless my kit was a Frankenkit, which by the discoloration around the lugs when I cleaned it, I highly doubt it.
Oldschool, you will not regret acquiring a nice Sonor tear-drop kit.
Sonor "Tear-Drop" aka "Shark-Tooth" kits from the mid '60's are works of art! The three ply European Beech shells with solid Beech re-rings are likely the thinnest out there. I measured mine at 3.5mm thick. The 12" tom literally vibrates visibly when struck and the sustain goes on and on...The slotted t-rods could be used on the space station to hold something important in place, they are that good! The rims are unique and add to the resonance of the shell with their enlarged surface area... German sound engineering and research again.
Furthermore, the tone controls on the bass and snares are mechanical works of art, with flawless function and precision...German engineering wins on just about everything..The only real weaknesses on these kits were the wraps and I agree, the cheapo plastic part on the snare strainer was a lapse in judgement. Most Sonor TD kits of that era have cracked or faded wraps that did not stand the test of time unlike the shells and hardware.
cheers!
-kellyj
