I remember all the hype when Thomas Lang was playing these and was in the promotional materials. Were all the sales driven around him?
I remember being really surprised when he jumped ship to DW, and even more surprised that he went back to playing standard pedal designs after the Twin Effect.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?
Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 7:50 am
by Jules
Here is one for sale, PLUS I have a line on one in Mint condition, if anyone is interested.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?
Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 1:50 pm
by Frank Godiva
So what’s the purpose of this contraption?
Outside of extreme metal, what are they good for?
From the product description
It features a Splitboard (a footboard split into 2 independent sections). The larger upper portion controls the right beater; the smaller heel portion controls the left. Each operates independently with its own cam and springs. The beater cams can be individually adjusted without changing the board positions.
These videos really show how this thing is a one trick pony and I love the guy in the first one with the big legs that says “it’s easy to be sloppy with these.” No kidding cause it definitely takes a technique that you would never use otherwise with any other pedal.
Sorry, but color me unimpressed.
Adjustment and maintenance
Btw Sonor is not the only one to make this “thing” and this video puts on full display the weird way you have to play it and how dreadful it can sound.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?
Was an attachment for any pedal that did a similar thing.
I was really surprised that Sonor spend the design time on building and tooling up for the twin pedal. I bet it was a huge financial loss.
It metal gymnastics that it would take to learn to play one, especially if you have a long term muscle memory to a normal pedal it far beyond what 99% of people would ever go through.
I sometimes find heal/toe that I randomly learned (even though i did not know what it was) can be a hinderance, as switching between two toe hits for slow double and a heal/toe for fast ones is mentally hard. (heal toe for two a slow double result is a very weak second hit)
I'm sure Thomas langs move to DW was another product on Sonor being in germany, DW being just up the road once he was LA based and Sonor poor distribution and artist relations in the USA compared to a US brand. Sonor dont seem to see any value in having their endorsees play interesting ste up to drive sales anymore which i think i a bad decision. Lang has shown of several interesting custom kits in the last 10 years from DW which i'm sure has helped driven sales.
Use old guys know and love sonor, but i would be interesting if you asked 15/25 year olds about brands how many of them these days would even put sonor in there top 5 desired brands.
The twin effect come up for sale on german ebay about few months allways look like new and take months to either sell or the seller give up.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 6:54 am
by Jules
I wonder whose idea the Twin Effect pedal was to begin with. I wonder if Thomas Lang had thought up the idea and Sonor liked it enough to make it.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?
I wonder whose idea the Twin Effect pedal was to begin with. I wonder if Thomas Lang had thought up the idea and Sonor liked it enough to make it.
It would be an interesting interview to find out!
I always wonder how many giant step singles and double sell these days, I bet they are outsold hundreds to 1 by tama iron cobras and pearl demon drive, Sone seem to make zero effort to promote their pedals. You should ask in the interviews what pedals guys are using. I find in Modern drummer rig rundowns the number of gut endorsed by a drum brand but using DW pedals is amazing, I really dont think DW pedal are special at all, I think maybe guy have just got used to the cams on the model they bought and can find a similar feel from the brand of drums they endorce.
Re: Twin Effect Pedal - When/why was it discontinued?