In the world of professional drum sets, most options offer incredible tones and build quality. There’s something very special about high-end kits that you only get to experience when you sit and play them.
If you’re looking to get a high-end drum set, you should consider the Sonor SQ1. While it’s not the most premium kit in Sonor’s product range, it still easily competes with every high-end kit on the market.
In this review, we’re going to check out the Sonor SQ1 and look into everything that makes it such a fantastic drum set. Let’s get to it.
The main idea behind the SQ1 is that it lends many features from Sonor’s flagship SQ2 line, but it comes in a more streamlined package. While the SQ2 line involves custom kits, the SQ1 line has various setup options that can’t be customized.
The biggest feature of the SQ1 kit is its European birch shells. These shells give the kit its tone, and they’re premium quality.
The other notable features all involve the construction of the kit. The shells are made with Sonor’s Cross Lamination Tension Free system for durability. The shells are also made a bit smaller so that drumheads resonate freely when attached.
Lastly, the drums have different parts to help extend sustain, such as the special rack tom brackets and floor tom feet.
The tone quality of the Sonor SQ1 toms is amazing. The shells are made from high-quality European birch, and the toms have 7-ply shells while the bass drum has a 10-ply shell.
The birch gives the drums plenty of attack, but they’re also quite dry and round. The resulting effect is a modern drum sound that we all commonly hear in contemporary music.
The drums are also quite easy to tune, so you can easily alter those tones to fit whatever context you’re playing in.
Overall, you get completely professional quality sounds from these drums. The way they’re made causes them to sound incredible, and they easily compete with higher-priced drum sets with their tones.
The construction features are a big standout for the SQ1 drum set. There are a few noteworthy features to mention.
Starting with the CLTF ply construction for the shells. This process ensures that the drums are durable and very strong. Sonor has designed these shells to last decades.
They also made the shells using what they call Optimum Shell Measurement. This means the shells are slightly smaller than normal to allow the drumheads to vibrate and resonate freely.
The last noteworthy construction feature is the Sound Sustainer tom brackets. You’ll find these on the rack toms and floor tom, and they ensure that the drums resonate without any interruption from the metal parts that attach to them.
This kit feels amazing to play. It puts out exactly what you put in, meaning it responds wonderfully to dynamics and musical playing. You could easily use it to play a vibrant pop gig in front of a large crowd, but you could also use it to play a jazz set in a small pub.
It feels very well built, and playing on such a well-built kit often allows you to play a bit better.
Although the tom tones are quite dry, you still get plenty of projection, making the kit sound great in any environment.
The value you get for the money is relatively good, but it’s only something that pro drummers will feel. If you’re inexperienced, you may be wondering why this kit is so expensive.
It also doesn’t come with a snare drum, meaning you need to buy the SQ1 snare drum separately if you want it.
If you don’t have a high budget, this won’t be a good drum set option for you. However, we think the price is justified, considering how premium this kit is. It’s still a bit more affordable than other premium kits with similar features.
Since the tom tones are quite dry, the kit works very well when placed under microphones. You get high-quality tones that are easily controllable within a mix of different instruments.
The tones are very modern with this kit, so it would be an excellent drum kit to use when recording pop, hip-hop, or fusion albums.
The bass drum is a standout when it comes to studio recording, as it sounds incredibly clean and punchy.
The Sonor SQ1 is also an excellent drum set for live gigging purposes. When sitting on a stage, it’s the birch shells that give it an edge. Birch shells have boosted attack compared to other shells, and that makes them amazing for live gigs, as you get plenty of energy from the drums.
The kit also looks amazing when set up on a live stage. The finishes are all inspired by classic cars, and they’re solid colors that look fantastic in all environments.
The Sonor SQ1 is a fantastic drum set if you’re looking for premium tones and construction features. Many pro drummers will love this set, and it’s a dream drum set for other drummers as well.
When buying it, you have the option of getting various shell packs with different shell sizes. Pick the one that speaks to you the most, and then find a snare drum to go with the kit.
The great thing about the SQ1 line is that you can buy individual drums as well. So, you can always get an extra tom later on if you need it.
If the kit seems a bit too expensive, the Sonor AQ2 line may be your next best option.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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