I saw where someone on one of the Facebook Sonor pages that they were tired of seeing African Marble.
It HAS become very possibly their best selling veneer in the SQ2 series.
But, when are we trying to impress when we buy a drum and choose the finish? True, if when we go to Sonor fan pages and see scads of drum sets in the same finish, it looses its luster after a while. But, if you are ordering the finish to look good behind your band, because it inspires you, or even because you just like it best; what difference does the online saturation level on Sonor pages make?
That said; I could be swayed to go with something different because of the fact that I like to walk my own road, so to speak. I am a Todd Sucherman fan, but I wouldn't want anyone to think I was copying his look, ya know.
Even when I ordered an SQ2 a few years ago in basically a Phil Rudd configuration, I opted for a finish far removed from the black that he toured with his last few tours with the band. But, then again, black has been done to death by everyone, and admittedly the African Marble has an elegance and class beyond tried (tired) and true finish like Piano Black.
Just my 2 cents.
Re: African Marble... Too much of a good thing?
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2025 12:15 am
by SonorBart
I've had mine for 8 years and haven't grown tired of the finish. I love Sonor exotic wood finishes: I have Scandi Birch Lites and a Rosewood Vintage Series and had but sold Bubinga Sigs and Rosewood Lites. I prefer semi-gloss/matte to gloss finishes on exotic veneers. I think with Todd Suchman's kit getting so much publicity, African Marble has been seen more now than before, but I think it's a great finish. I like that it's a "real" veneer and not Alpi, but wonder what species it really is.
Re: African Marble... Too much of a good thing?
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2025 2:03 pm
by Frank Godiva
Imho African marble is the current top end veneer replacing Bubinga and Rosewood which was the flagships of the past. But I’m a little torn on this new direction…
Taking African marble and putting stains and faded over it. Does it look pretty yes; but would anyone want Bubinga or Rosewood or Scandinavian Birch with a stain fade on it?
Re: African Marble... Too much of a good thing?
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2025 2:19 pm
by Jules
Well... if not, they won't order it that way. If I wanted a fade and/or stain it might really look good over the African Marble. I have been playing in the configurator lately (just dreaming, for now) and really have tired of some of the more popular finishes. Absolutely a personal preference, obviously.
Re: African Marble... Too much of a good thing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2025 12:50 pm
by drummermark
I recently put in an order for a 5pc SQ2 with the African Marble veneer, inside and out. Not ashamed to say that I 100% copied Todd's kit, other than the gold hardware and number of drums. And it's not so much that I wanted to copy HIM but that after hearing the kit, and other heavy beech kits, I know that I want that sound. I played around with the different finishes and just couldn't get around how stunning African Marble looks. Previous kits I've owned have been sold colors or fades and knew that I wanted something completely different this time around. In my small part of the local drumming community, don't think I'm gonna see an identical kit
Re: African Marble... Too much of a good thing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2025 12:58 pm
by Jules
Welcome! I think it is probably the best looking finish they have. And if I were to order an SQ2 and budget permitted, I would probably get it in a fade.
Welcome! I think it is probably the best looking finish they have. And if I were to order an SQ2 and budget permitted, I would probably get it in a fade.
Do you have any Sonor gear now?
I did get a 6.5 x 14 Steel Kompressor to hold me over as I wait for the SQ2 to arrive. Now I just need a time machine to jump ahead 12 months!
