When did the Veneer Change on the Sonor Signatures?

[Jules]

Does anyone know when Sonor's Bubunga changed on the Signature line. Also, does anyone with with good photos of each mind posting a few for comparison?

[sonordrug]

I don't have the exact answer on that but I would say it is easy to tell the first one or two cycles of Signatures, both Ebony and Bubinga didn't last but about 2 years, max. Meaning, the grain was pretty much incredible on those. Started becoming not bad but, just less interesting figuring. My guess is the first allotment of trees/veneer was the choice stuff. The next change I noticed is somewhere around 1990 give or take where the new version was more quilted and a darker red, that's for the Bubinga. Never did like the look of those.

Having said that (regarding the darker quilted (?) new Bubinga looks generally great on the SE's. I like the gloss lacquer on them.

Always wondered why no one (from the factory) has ever come forth with all kinds of minutiae about the evolution of each series. There must have been numerous people that were there for many years who know these things. I'd bet a lot of them are either deceased or just long gone.

[Jules]

It's almost like no one ever realized that someone may notice or care that there were changes. They have almost been a little cavalier in regarding making changes like that without notice of any sort.