How do I know if my Force kit was made in Germany or Asia?

[Frank Godiva]

There is probably no more confusing of a term in the Sonor world then Force.

The easy rule of thumb is to look at the series number.

If it ends in an even number like Force 2000, it’s made in Germany.

If it ends in an odd number like 3001 or 3007 or 3007, it was made in Asia.

Force and Force custom were made in Taiwan.

Force Maples were made in Germany.

[Frank Godiva]

“Though built in China, Sonor's 2001 and 3001 lines' character remains essentially German. Literally and figuratively, this is by design; everything Sonor makes is first devised, planned, and developed in Germany.

But this kind of imprinting doesn't stop at the drawing board. Sonor ensures that its ideals (some would say obsession) regarding workmanship are maintained through vigilant oversight by one of four Sonor quality managers from Germany who oversee the Tianjin operation on a rotating basis.

Before Sonor ventured east, JMT had already been OEMing drumsets for several budget-level brands. That experience was a mixed blessing for Sonor, since JM's standards and procedures weren't initially compatible with Sonor's.

"It took a little time to understand each other, "We have different ways of thinking, different ways of working." One early challenge was China's traditional reliance on standardization, which enhances economy, but sometimes fosters resistance to modify old designs and manufacturing procedures.

Sonor's quality mantra takes on physical form in the Tianjin factory, where quality-control specialists closely examine every component. For example, in one corner of the plant I watched two workers check tom-holder castings. They used marker pens to circle flaws that I could barely see. Marked parts were placed in reject bins.

Other workers are just as fastidious with Sonor's drum finishes. Anyone entering the lacquer finishing area must first remove their shoes and enter a "clean-room" cubicle where any dust is blown from their clothes and hair.

Sonor's quality reflects the special training given to JM's Sonor workers, as well as the high standards Sonor sets for their wares. But while high quality has long been ingrained in Sonor's corporate culture, the pressure to keep it high was especially strong with their two Force series.

"When we made the decision to cooperate with a Chinese company, the whole world was watching, "We have a strong name to lose if we don't live up to our reputation. So we had to be very careful about what we do here. We had to establish a different quality standard, and we had to do it immediately. The first impression, if it's a bad one, can kill you. But our team here learned very quickly. And now they have a similar vision."

Sonor produced about six thousand drumsets in Tianjin during their first year. But after they had made another six thousand, management had to make a decision about the hardware molds, which degrade after time and use. Recognizing that they had to build new molds for the series anyway, they decided to redesign the Force line.

Along with many minor upgrades, the second generation of Force drums included smaller lugs, ball & socket tom holders, and prism clamps on tom brackets and bass drum spurs. "The original tom mount design functioned perfectly, and people really liked it. But these days, drummers prefer low-mass hardware that's easy to use."

Another reason for the Force redesign was Sonor products' identity and brand recognition by the public. "During the last four or five years, Sonor had too many different 'faces' "We used to have the Force face, the Sonor Class face, the S-Class face, and the Designer face. All of them were completely different, and people got confused. I think it's very important for Sonor to have the same face—or very similar faces on all the lines, from the bottom to the top.

"We may continue to upgrade the hardware, but we won't totally change the mechanics. All the current hardware fits together, even with the old Signature and Sonic series. This is a big advantage for the consumer who may be interchanging parts, and for the dealer who is stocking them."