Sonor spotting

[tcbetka]

A little Alan Parsons Project. No idea who the drummer is, but I've always loved this tune!

[tcbetka]

OK, not sure whether or not it's the guy in the video--but the drummer on the studio cut (which I think is the audio here) is Stuart Elliott:

https://stuartelliott.com/discography/

I did find references to him using Sonor drums back in the day (and even more recently), but Sonor's artist page (which is GOD-awful to use by the way) doesn't list him as a current artist. There are pictures on his website with him playing DW drums too though, for what that's worth.

If you watch the drummer during the chorus(es), he typically plays the hi-hat groove right through the snare fills, but I suppose those fills might have been over-dubbed afterwards as well. But the vocals do indeed seem to be those of the studio cut, so this might very well be the original band...which includes Stuart Elliott on the drums.

Finally, AI (oddly enough) tells me: Stuart Elliott used a custom-made Sonor drum set in the 1970s, likely a large setup based on his later preferences and the custom work of the time. The Sonor Phonic was a model made in the mid-1970s, featuring a pewter metally finish and a specific shell configuration...

[Jules]

There is quite a bit about the Sonor site that is lacking. I don't know who maintains the site, but it's not impressive.

[tcbetka]

There is quite a bit about the Sonor site that is lacking. I don't know who maintains the site, but it's not impressive.

Leading edge drums/systems, archaic website...

Well, that might not be entirely fair to be honest--but the website is NOT "user-friendly" IMHO.

[Jules]

I remember when they PROBABLY had the worst website in the industry. They were all about building drums and everything else was a distraction. (That's my take, may bot be accurate). They also had to be nearly forced to get multi color retail boxes for hardware, snares and such. They didn't want the extra expense and didn't realize how imperative the look on the sales floor was when it came to box displays and such.

[DaveInNZ]

Leading edge drums/systems, archaic website...

All I do all day is websites... so I'll take this one and bite. Their site is actually pretty great, apart from the logic of where things sit and the map of how you find what you want. Smacks to me of the site map being done separately, and then the web team (assuming external) just building it without asking questions.

Next refresh just needs a really good user experience person to be on the payroll and they're laughing. The actual site works great it just doesn't flow well. There's a LOT of content on there, with a LOT of back end data its pulling through, presumably live with lookups on demand - that's complex stuff to get right (this is my job) and they nailed it.

[Jules]

Here are two pages that totally leave you guessing about the product...

Not even full pictures of the snares.

https://www.sonor.com/drums/instruments/special-snares

And the hardware page SEEMS like there should be hyper links or linked photos to individual pages. Their flagship hardware is barely represent AT ALL. There is a 6000 series throne and then the BAS things with ZERO explanation. The hex rods/clutches aren't mentioned, ether are the 600 series/BAS solid rivets or other features. That page should make you feel like you NEED Sonor hardware, but there are no details.

https://www.sonor.com/drums/instruments/hardware-series

And I just remember my first time going on the site after they went with the current format and this weren't (aren't) as intuitive as they could be. But, that's just my take.