Champion or Phonic, and does it even matter - help identifying a sonor acrylic kit?

[JOSH REYNOLDS]

Hi there,

There is a smokey grey acrylic fourpiece kit for sale locally (about
six hours' drive away, but you know what I mean). I rang, but the
seller claims not to know which line it is, only that it dates from
1978/79 and is an "anniversary" edition. Does anyone know whether
champions we're still being made then, or is it bound to be a phonic?
I could sell my Pearl exports for about as much as he wants for the
Sonors - would that play better, do you think? Anyone prepared to make
a bold generalisation as to the musical qualities of acrylic shells?
Thanks if you can help, Rev Poindexter or anyone else!

Josh.

[Robert Schuh]

Post by JOSH REYNOLDS
Hi there,
There is a smokey grey acrylic fourpiece kit for sale locally (about
six hours' drive away, but you know what I mean). I rang, but the
seller claims not to know which line it is, only that it dates from
1978/79 and is an "anniversary" edition. Does anyone know whether
champions we're still being made then, or is it bound to be a phonic?
I could sell my Pearl exports for about as much as he wants for the
Sonors - would that play better, do you think? Anyone prepared to make
a bold generalisation as to the musical qualities of acrylic shells?
Thanks if you can help, Rev Poindexter or anyone else!
Josh.

Josh,
The Anniversary year was 1975, so I think he has his years mixed up. If it
is from the Anniversary year, I think it has to be a Phonic kit. The
Champions were 6 ply Beech v 9 ply Beech for the Phonics. The Phonics were
THE best drums Sonor ever made. Once they dropped Beech for Maple and
Birch, they no longer were the company they once were.


--
remove 5 2s to despam my e mail

[JVN]

Rob...good info but the kit he is considering is an Acryl kit.

[JOSH REYNOLDS]

Post by Robert Schuh
Champions were 6 ply Beech v 9 ply Beech for the Phonics. The Phonics were
THE best drums Sonor ever made.

That makes me think that the acrylic ones must have pretty cool
bearing edges, at least. Thanks Rob.

[Rev. Poindexter]

Post by Robert Schuh

Post by JOSH REYNOLDS
Hi there,
There is a smokey grey acrylic fourpiece kit for sale locally (about
six hours' drive away, but you know what I mean). I rang, but the
seller claims not to know which line it is, only that it dates from
1978/79 and is an "anniversary" edition. Does anyone know whether
champions we're still being made then, or is it bound to be a phonic?
I could sell my Pearl exports for about as much as he wants for the
Sonors - would that play better, do you think? Anyone prepared to make
a bold generalisation as to the musical qualities of acrylic shells?
Thanks if you can help, Rev Poindexter or anyone else!
Josh.

Josh,
The Anniversary year was 1975, so I think he has his years mixed up. If it
is from the Anniversary year, I think it has to be a Phonic kit. The
Champions were 6 ply Beech v 9 ply Beech for the Phonics. The Phonics were
THE best drums Sonor ever made. Once they dropped Beech for Maple and
Birch, they no longer were the company they once were.
--
remove 5 2s to despam my e mail

Hi Josh,

The "Anniversary kits" were available from late 1974 until 1977 or so
when the badges ran out. They are no different from later Phonic
offerings other than the badge which reads "Sonor 1875-1975."
Later badges read "Sonor Est. 1875".

The Acryl kits first appeared in 1975 and got the same "1875-1975"
badge as regular production. Since they used the badges until they were
gone it's entirely possible this kit was assembled in 1978. I've seen
both kinds of badges on 1977 drums.

Champion 6-ply beech shells were used until the Phonic debuted in late
1974. They may have continued the Champion line after that on a limited
and European only distribution basis. They found uses for the 6-ply
shell in their marching percussion lines and brought it back in the mid
80's for the Performer/Panther line.

RP

[JOSH REYNOLDS]

Post by Rev. Poindexter

Post by Robert Schuh

Post by JOSH REYNOLDS
Hi there,
There is a smokey grey acrylic fourpiece kit for sale locally (about
six hours' drive away, but you know what I mean). I rang, but the
seller claims not to know which line it is, only that it dates from
1978/79 and is an "anniversary" edition. Does anyone know whether
champions we're still being made then, or is it bound to be a phonic?
I could sell my Pearl exports for about as much as he wants for the
Sonors - would that play better, do you think? Anyone prepared to make
a bold generalisation as to the musical qualities of acrylic shells?
Thanks if you can help, Rev Poindexter or anyone else!
Josh.

Josh,
The Anniversary year was 1975, so I think he has his years mixed up. If it
is from the Anniversary year, I think it has to be a Phonic kit. The
Champions were 6 ply Beech v 9 ply Beech for the Phonics. The Phonics were
THE best drums Sonor ever made. Once they dropped Beech for Maple and
Birch, they no longer were the company they once were.
--
remove 5 2s to despam my e mail

Hi Josh,
The "Anniversary kits" were available from late 1974 until 1977 or so
when the badges ran out. They are no different from later Phonic
offerings other than the badge which reads "Sonor 1875-1975."
Later badges read "Sonor Est. 1875".
The Acryl kits first appeared in 1975 and got the same "1875-1975"
badge as regular production. Since they used the badges until they were
gone it's entirely possible this kit was assembled in 1978. I've seen
both kinds of badges on 1977 drums.
Champion 6-ply beech shells were used until the Phonic debuted in late
1974. They may have continued the Champion line after that on a limited
and European only distribution basis. They found uses for the 6-ply
shell in their marching percussion lines and brought it back in the mid
80's for the Performer/Panther line.
RP

Thanks Rev! Well, just in case anyone's wondering I didn't end up
buying the Sonor kit. I found a Tempus fibreglass kit and decided that
was more my sort of thing. But the Acryl sure sounded good (and looked
so cool!), if only I had enough money/room for both!

Regards

Josh Reynolds.

[Jonathan Peirce]

Post by Robert Schuh
The Phonics were

Post by Robert Schuh
THE best drums Sonor ever made. Once they dropped Beech for Maple and
Birch, they no longer were the company they once were.

EXACTLY.... rev go run sonor wouldcha?
JP