Sonor Designer Kit HELP

[Thomas30]

Hi Drummers
Due to my father’s death, I’m compelled to sell his beloved Sonor Designer drum set. I haven’t been able to find any documents regarding the drums age and style. So I will be pleased if you could help me a bit.

I know that it is a Sonor Designer Set, with Maple light shells. But I am in serious doubt about the finish.
My first appinion will be African Bubinga, but I can't find any similar pictures on the web.






I hope you are able to help me.
Regards, Thomas Agerbaek, Denmark

[ConvertedLudwigPlayer]

Thomas,

I am sorry to hear about the passing of your father.

You should check out the Sonor Forum I am sure the people there will be able to give you a lot of good insight into the finish, age, pricing, etc.

http://www.sonormuseum.com/forum/

[pcastag]

My codonlences to your family, those look like ehat was called black stain, basically a birdseye maple with a stain.
Pc

[flurbs]

Hello Thomas, my condolences also to your family.

Pcastag got the finish spot-on, it's Black Maple, a transparent black stain over engineered birdseye maple outer veneer with a gloss lacquer finish. This veneer type and the screw-on badge would place the drums in the later Designer manufacturing years. I would guess early->mid '00's, however there should be ink-stamps inside the shells which will confirm the exact age. The first digit will be the year, the second and third will be the month. For example, I had a same-generation kit as this in the natural finish, they were stamped 203, indicating March 2002. If you'd like to post them here I'd be happy to help confirm.

Good luck with the sale, that's a beautiful, very high quality kit and Designers are generally held in very high regard, especially in Europe. Your father had excellent taste! Used prices aren't as high as they were pre-recession but unless you have to sell really quickly, I expect you'll find a very happy drummer who'll pay a fair price without too much difficulty.

Simon

[millerscapes]

Thomas,

I apologize that I can't offer any help on the kit. However, please accept my condolences and prayers to you and your family for your loss.

God Bless.

[Thomas30]

Thank you all for your condolences.

Inside the tom toms there are 4 digits: 9702
So it must be February 1997.

Thank you very much for your help so far. Just keep replying for the color/finish :-)

[Jeffx]

My condolences to your family.

You're right about the serial, and the finish is definately 'Stain Black'.
It's not bubinga, because you can clearly see the birdseye maple, and the colour of Sonor's 'Bubinga' finish is way lighter.

I think the catalogues at the sonormuseum might be a useful resource for you.