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Sonor "Metal" Snares from the 60s-70s

Posts: 194 Threads: 62

I've been looking at getting another metal snare and am curious about these. The strainers look pretty rickety, but what about the sound of these things? Particularly the D-444, D-426 and D-454.

It looks like the type of metal varied - some are listed as steel, some aluminum and some COB with "ferromanganese". The D-444 for example - it seems some are steel and others COB. The 70s hoops are triple-flanged and the 60s are like the Teardrop drums. All this said, would one of these with a steel shell be as harsh as say a modern Tama or Yamaha with a steel shell? Do they all sound relatively similar regardless of metal used and would I still be able to get a sound fairly close to a drum like the Premier, Gretsch, Rogers or Slingerland COBs? What's the US price range for these? Thanks.

Posted on 7 years ago
#1
Posts: 1432 Threads: 110

Hello,

Show me even one Sonor snare made of aluminium - I'd buy it instantly.

(But even Sonor itself and the Sonor drum forum stated that Sonor never made any aluminium snare drums. Much to my regret.)

To rest of your questions: sorry - I can't be of help.

Cheers, Ralf

Vintage STAR (= Pre-Tama) website: www.star-drums.de
Posted on 7 years ago
#2
Posts: 6523 Threads: 37

You wont find an Aluminum SONOR snare. The steel one`s are triple plated and before 1970 and after 1980`s sometime. (87+). The Ferromanganese snare are Champion and Phonic. That stock was ordered from an auto factory and stopped when the factory no longer ordered it for floors. It is often mistaken for COB because it has no magnetic properties. The Nickel, Brass, Chrome plating process for all drums contributes to that as well. People see the middle layer and think Brass. The easy answer is to weigh it.

No two D model snares are the same. There is a difference in material or size or trim. You do have to watch for the early 70`s budget lines, they had steel shells, hoops with plastic trim. Yes, you can find a sound fairly close to all major drum makers, There COB are thicker gauged as well as the ferro`s. A little more punch and crack.

Your problems wont be sound or build, the problem will be finding one for sale.

If you pick one up, run it by us. I currently have a 454 (small logo) and a 505. I wont part with them.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 7 years ago
#3
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

I had a steel phonic for a while. Restored it and played it a bit but it wasn't anything amazing. It's a high quality steel snare. Nothing more, nothing less.

If I had a Sonor kit I'd match it up with that, but as a lone snare in the "pile" it doesn't make sense for me.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#4
Posts: 6523 Threads: 37

From J!m

I had a steel phonic for a while. Restored it and played it a bit but it wasn't anything amazing. It's a high quality steel snare. Nothing more, nothing less. If I had a Sonor kit I'd match it up with that, but as a lone snare in the "pile" it doesn't make sense for me.

A steel Phonic snare would be late 80`s plus. Ferro snares lose their ring quick and have a sweet spot that don`t ring at all.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 7 years ago
#5
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

It was made in "West Germany" certainly not late 80's. I don't remember the model but it is the Ferro Manganese shell. Seamless as I recall but I may be mixing it up with the Yamaha snare... Which is also a good steel snare.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#6
Posts: 6523 Threads: 37

From J!m

It was made in "West Germany" certainly not late 80's. I don't remember the model but it is the Ferro Manganese shell. Seamless as I recall but I may be mixing it up with the Yamaha snare... Which is also a good steel snare.

All the Phonic snares are ferro and seamless drawn shell, hoops. If it has the large mallet logo on the lugs, the earliest it can be is 79.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 7 years ago
#7
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

I found a picture. It was a D454 with the (missing) adhesive Sonor label- it was not the later label held by the vent grommet.

It has a light gray tension screw for the snares. Maybe is was a 79. The wall was still up then.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#8
Posts: 194 Threads: 62

Thanks for the help all. I appreciate it. I attached a photos of the two snares I'm looking at. One is a D-444 from the late '60s (right) and the other is a Phonic D-454 from the 70s (left). So now that I've narrowed it down, does anyone know of any major differences in sound with these two?

Thanks again

Posted on 7 years ago
#9
Posts: 6523 Threads: 37

I can speak for the 454. It has a very short note, almost too short. With 22 wires, it snares for jazz well. You can get it to sort of crack with a very tight tension on the heads. rim shots are just as quick as the note. For all those reasons I don`t favor it. I hit way to hard for that. If you like jazz or soft Rock, you`ll like it.

The teardrop snare has a heavier hoop and lug so I would imagine it will effect the sound difference between the two. I never tried one. Both look presentable shape.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 7 years ago
#10
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