[COLOR="DarkRed"]Duuude...have you kept it in a closet for 30 years ????...it looks pretty immaculate ![/COLOR]

Ha...probably about 26! At some point in the early 80's the little nut (3m at bottom of the throw-off) fell off the snare at practice...couldn't find a replacement but we had a welder! I've had another snare that was with the kit I purchased back then so just kept this one stored away. In just the past few days I decided to grind off the weld and try and fix it. Pictured first is the weld (which it couldn't be adjusted because of the weld). It had a small regular 3m nut originally. I replaced it with a small 3m acorn nut I found at Ace Hardware. I think it looks better. The large adjustment screw went through what you see pictured (2nd) and has a smaller threaded end that goes through the small separate "U" shaped part with the 2 holes for the string to the snare wires.

That is a late 60's/early 70's steel student drum, you can tell by the throwoff which is a simple mechanism. I assume it is a seamed drum....not seamless for the price you paid. I think it might be D421 or D426 part number.

There is also the D454 seamless drum with a similar looking shell and lugs but it has a much beefier throw off and butt with indiividual wire tensioning....and also a fancy muffler system.

Sonor changed from the double teardrop lugs on their snares to this single lug version I think in 1968. By 1975 all metal snares had switched to the Phonic/Champion (bowtie) lug.

Thanks for your insight and pointing out the features of this drum.

It does have the seam you've mentioned.

Ah yes....I have a very similar drum with slightly different lugs. Nice sound with a great ring....but with that thin edge you can over tension and choke it if you're not careful. I like a coated Amb batter.

Nice drum! How's the tuning on it?

Just for reference/ Here's a pic of my 1965 wood version (same lugs as yours) with the "round the clock" strainer. The wrap is a weird gold sparkle with a black pin stripe.

I realize this thread is very old, but I only just signed up for this forum, due in part because I was looking for info on this exact drum! I got one of these Sonor student snare drums at the age of 6 (around 1970) for about $100.00 and still use it. I spent many years playing professionally on the road and in Los Angeles and have used this student Sonor as my main snare drum for most of my career. In fact, my drum has been used on numerous albums and tv/movie sound tracks and I used to rent it to some big-time (remain nameless) session guys that loved it's sound. When tuned in it's sweet spot, this drum will take heads off! It appears to be very similar to more expensive Sonor's of the era, except for the throw-off, which I love for it's simplicity. Although I have had the opportunity to use many other snare drums, this student Sonor and my old mid-60's supraphonic 400 have always been my favorites!

If anyone reads this post, I hope you find it helpful or at least interesting.

GREAT!!!...Lets listen to this drum in action.Can you give us a link so we can dial it in?...Love Sonor metal snare drums,right up there with the Luds!

Let me search and try to find some links...I know there are a few on i-Tunes and ALLMusic.com. If I remember right, it was used on the "Silver Spoons" theme (old 80's TV show), as well as a few others.