DRUMANDSTAGE FORUM

I have recently been intrigued by this product after doing a semi-deep dive. The company is over 105 years old, and they make very high end products. This is not a discount house selling thin sheets of printed paper for use in MDF furniture manufacturing. This is very high grade product. Go to the SQ2 Configurator, and unless you want to spec something specific, select the default conjuration and go click on the different veneers. The Bubinga Replica Veneer is one of the most expensive veneers of all the options. $435 USD more expensive than the genuine Ebony veneer (semi-gloss).

If you take a look around the Alpi website and see some of their videos, you may have a totally different view about these products. I see why they offer replica veneers that were once in the line up as genuine veneers, as some people are more interested in the look than the distinction that it is a genuine veneer. And when you see some of the other things Alpi is doing, it just may make you wish that something you see there was available on the configurator.

https://www.alpi.us/en

If you click on some of the videos and learn about some of the collaborations and histories with their clients, you quickly realize that this isn't a short cut, at all but a unique and high quality option.

And to reiterate from another post, unlike some or maybe most companies in the industry, Alpi does not use a poplar wood "slurry".

Take a look around the site and let the rest of us know what you think.

ALPI is much more well known for interior designs rather than drum veneer.

So if one was so inclined and heavy in the wallet, you could get your whole house to match.

Do we know what veneers are still genuine? Or are they all Alpi?

jthiele87 wrote: Thu Jul 24, 2025 2:25 pm

Do we know what veneers are still genuine? Or are they all Alpi?

There are a few genuine veneers left in the SQ2 line. There ones I’m aware of are Scandinavian Birch, American Walnut, African Marble, Smoked Larch and Silky Oak whip is actually Australian Lacewood. They’re may be a few more that I’m not aware of but the vast majority is ALPI.

I largely have zero issue with the Alpi veneers, they're obviously a very high quality, boutique product which is very much in keeping with Sonor's German made drums. I also think it's great, and necessary, that environmental protection is part of informed buying choices. You can't go ripping down the real trees forever.

My one caveat is the 150th Signature Series drums which have a genuine veneer... one look at those and you know it's just different. And very, very beautiful.