Sonor 3007 vs Mapex Saturn

[Nineball]

So I am finally in the market for a new kit, and after looking over what I wanted it has come down to the Sonor Force 3007 vs the Mapex Saturn. I am going to a local dealer in a few days to try them out, but I was also looking for opinions here on what people thought are better.

One thing I am taking into consideration is the fact that the Sonor is ~$500 cheaper than the Mapex, so I can get a few more cymbals (new set also being bought) or a new, REALLY nice BP snare as well (was thinking hammered brass or solid steel). That leads me to my next question, are the snares that come with these sets very good? I have had my eye on a BP for some time, but if the ones that come with these kits are nice then I could go without it and save 450 for now and as I mentioned earlier get more cymbals and hardware.

[Ironcobra]

We will need more details such as how many drums, what sizes etc.

[Clubdrums]

ive got a pro m and i love it. i can imagine that the saturns are pretty groovin. i also have a bp snare that i use as a main because i love it so much. although i dont know really anything about the sonors. see what else people have to say

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by ironcobra

We will need more details such as how many drums, what sizes etc.

Ok here are the two setups from each I was looking at:

Sonor Force 3007 F3007 Studio1
20x17.5 Bass
10x8 Rack Tom
12x9 Rack Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
14x5.5 Snare
Blue Sparkle or Midnight Fade finish, not sure which I like more
Comes with tom holder, 2x boom stands, hi-hat stand, snare stand, bass pedal. Massmusic also lets you pick a 8x8 rack, 10x8 rack or steel snare (I would take the 8x8 since a 10x8 would be dumb obviously)
$1299

Mapex Saturn 5 Piece Fusionease
22x18 Bass
10x8 Rack Tom
12x9 Rack Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
14x5.5 Snare
Electric Blue Sparkle Finish
Comes with tom holder, 2x boom stands, hi-hat stand, snare stand and bass pedal
$1770

I'll post totals with cymbals selected in a little bit, but those are the two choices right now.

[Signals]

Hi Nineball,

I've owned both kits (as well as Pro-M), and they are ALL great for the money. Let me offer the following:

- Overall, I preferred the Saturn's -- they sounded better to my ear as they have a wider tuning range

- The Saturn's are North American maple, and walnut. The Force kits are NA maple as well, sandwiched between Asian maple.

- Both kits offer 2.3mm rims

- The Saturn snare was a bit more 'versatile' to me.

- I prefer the Sonor 400 series hardware over the Mapex.

- The Force kits offer 'tune safe' lugs.

- The Saturn kits have die-cast claws on the bass.

I'll post more if I can think of it... :)


EDIT: I owned the Force 3005, but it is quite similar the the 3007's

[Signals]

Oh, and I've also owned the Black Panther hammered-stainless snare -- it's great for the money. It's got plenty of crack, but the sound is tamed a bit by the hand hammering. Overall, I really liked it.

[Signals]

Here's some pics (they're all gone now):

[Mike St.Clair]

When I looked at the Saturn kit a couple years back, they were both made in the same factory. Or I should say the Pro M's and Sonor 3005's (?) were. I've only heard issues with lack of dealer/manuf. support for these drums versus the mainstream names. Hence the reason I bought my Tama Starclassic birch kit last spring 2006.

[Signals]

Originally Posted by Mike St.Clair

When I looked at the Saturn kit a couple years back, they were both made in the same factory. Or I should say the Pro M's and Sonor 3005's (?) were. I've only heard issues with lack of dealer/manuf. support for these drums versus the mainstream names. Hence the reason I bought my Tama Starclassic birch kit last spring 2006.

Yeah, I believe Mapex owns a bit of Sonor's parent company. That would explain being in the same factory.

However, I'd like to point out that the Mapex factory is ISO 9001 certified -- that's the best you can get when it comes to quality control.

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by Signals

Hi Nineball,

I've owned both kits (as well as Pro-M), and they are ALL great for the money. Let me offer the following:

- Overall, I preferred the Saturn's -- they sounded better to my ear as they have a wider tuning range

- The Saturn's are North American maple, and walnut. The Force kits are NA maple as well, sandwiched between Asian maple.

- Both kits offer 2.3mm rims

- The Saturn snare was a bit more 'versatile' to me.

- I prefer the Sonor 400 series hardware over the Mapex.

- The Force kits offer 'tune safe' lugs.

- The Saturn kits have die-cast claws on the bass.

I'll post more if I can think of it... :)


EDIT: I owned the Force 3005, but it is quite similar the the 3007's

Thanks alot for the input! I might go with the hammered stainless steel snare instead of the solid steel because it is $200 cheaper, my only concern is is it too ringy? If not, that will be my choice, I LOVE it's look.

[Signals]

Originally Posted by Nineball

Thanks alot for the input! I might go with the hammered stainless steel snare instead of the solid steel because it is $200 cheaper, my only concern is is it too ringy? If not, that will be my choice, I LOVE it's look.

No problem.

Oh, I thought of 3 more things:

-The Saturn's bass drum is 'virgin' -- no tom mount hole.
- None of the Saturn hardware penetrates the drum shells
- The Saturn's floor-tom legs have memory locks.

My 'ldeal' kit would be Saturn drums with Sonor 400 series stands.

Regarding the snare: The hand-hammering cuts the ring down quite a bit, but there's still some there. A thicker head does a good job of toning it down even more.

Personally, I got the snare because of the ring -- it's there if you need it, and if not, just use a head designed to deaden it.

[Nineball]

Alright, here is my tentative cymbal setup I want to buy:
Zildjian 21" A Sweet Ride
Zildjian 18" A Custom Crash
Zildjian 19" A Custom Crash
Zildjian 11" K Custom Hybrid Splash
Zildjian 14" K Custom Session Hi-Hats
Zildjian 18" K Dark Crash
Zildjian 19" Z Custom Rock Crash

So with the Sonor 3007 and the BP Hammered Stainless Steel Snare, that puts me at $3156. Considering I will need to buy 1-2 more stands and I will want new drum heads, this has me leaning towards the Sonor because its $480 less.

[Signals]

^ Sounds good. You're going to be happy with whatever kit you choose -- they're both great for the money. Good luck.

[aydee]

Originally Posted by Signals

Here's some pics (they're all gone now):

oooooooo that mapex fade is so good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by Signals

^ Sounds good. You're going to be happy with whatever kit you choose -- they're both great for the money. Good luck.

Well, I had a change of heart today (sort of). Went to a local dealer and was just messing around comparing the Zildjians and Sabians, and I really decided I loved the AAX line more than the zildjians. So I settled on the 14"AAXcelerator HH, 10"AAX splash, 18" AAX Dark Crash, 16"AAXplosion Crash, 20"AAX Studio Ride (All Brilliant). I really liked the hammered stainless steel BP snare, but now I have a bit more money available to get a really top of the line snare. The two I have my eye on are the Dunnet 6.5x13 Titanium and the Sonor Artist Steel Black 14x5, and was wondering if anybody owned either of these two snares.

[Signals]

Originally Posted by aydee

oooooooo that mapex fade is so good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks. It was a Mapex 15th anniversary kit. The outer ply was quilted maple -- I don't know why I ever sold it as it was a great looking/sounding kit.

Here's a close-up: