Thomas Lang - Why did he leave Sonor?

[Jules]

I know people shift companies from time to time, but Thomas leaving Sonor was shocking to me. He had mastered the Giant Step Twin Effect pedal and machine-like execution was flawless. It seemed like the perfect marriage of gear and artist and suddenly, he was off the roster.

Him going to DW was a total shocker. I think he has a lot going on in LA and having that close proximity to the manufacturer would be ideal for such a ground breaking artist. I kept waiting for some similarly new-fangled concept from DW but it never came.

The fact that there was no new over the top pedal design with DW left me wondering if he had painted himself into a corner with the Twin Effect pedal. He was the poster child of that specific product and maybe after the novelty wore off, it wasn't really something he wanted to have to incorporate into everything he did.

If he has ever spoken about any of this, I missed it. Please enlighten me.

[Scott_M]

From what I remember at the time, it was because of the Tour Support.

DW's Tour Support capability is amazing - from supplying big name touring artists with multiple sets of drums and hardware during a tour, to the ability to just walk into any DW dealer, buy the part and "expense it" for the lesser known artists.

[tcbetka]

From what I remember at the time, it was because of the Tour Support.

DW's Tour Support capability is amazing - from supplying big name touring artists with multiple sets of drums and hardware during a tour, to the ability to just walk into any DW dealer, buy the part and "expense it" for the lesser known artists.

Who was he touring with? I guess I've never seen him playing with a "band" other than a little thing here or there, at some sort of event. I didn't realize he was associated with any one "band" in that sense. Color me ignorant, I guess.

[Scott_M]

Who was he touring with? I guess I've never seen him playing with a "band" other than a little thing here or there, at some sort of event. I didn't realize he was associated with any one "band" in that sense. Color me ignorant, I guess.

Tour Support isn't just about touring with a band, but also supporting workshops, master classes, etc that some also do (Todd Sucherman and Steve Smith come to mind from Sonor's artists).

The Tour Support clauses really come down to the question - If you don't have the gear you need when you need it for a show, workshop, repairs on the road, etc, and you're restricted to a specific brand of gear, how much of a benefit is that endorsement agreement for you...?

[tcbetka]

Right, understood. But since most clinicians are sponsored by the drum manufacturer of the kit they're playing...it would seem logical that their clinics WOULD be supported, no? Any drum company that would send a clinician out there to do clinics, and not support them, is cutting their own throat.