Sonor Snare Drums

If you know your snare drums, you know Sonor. The German maker has been building some of the most revered snares in the world for generations, from the legendary heavyweight metal Signature snares of the 1980s, to the iconic wooden Phonic, to the deep beech tradition the company is famous for. That heritage runs right through the range today.

The good news is that "a Sonor snare" no longer means a high-end price tag. The range now runs from the brilliantly affordable Kompressor metal snares, through the premium Artist Series, the artist signature models and the faithful Phonic re-issues, all the way up to a fully bespoke SQ2. We are a team of professional working drummers, we keep these on the floor in Fareham, and we will happily help you find the right one.

The short version: for an affordable, do-anything metal snare, look at the Kompressor. For a premium character piece, the Artist Series. For an artist-designed signature, Gavin Harrison or Benny Greb. For vintage warmth, a Phonic re-issue. And for exactly your sound, a custom SQ2.

Who plays a Sonor snare?

Sonor has long been the choice of some of the most respected drummers around, several of whom have their own signature snare:

• Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, The Pineapple Thief)

• Benny Greb (solo artist, Marbles, clinician)

• Jost Nickel (Jan Delay and Disko No.1)

• Steve Smith (Journey, Vital Information)

• Danny Carey (Tool)

Sonor Kompressor: affordable German metal

The Kompressor series filled a real gap: proper German-made metal snares at a price that makes sense. Each uses Sonor's Optimum Shell Measurement, a slightly undersized shell that lets the head float and breathe, with TuneSafe lugs, 2.3mm Power Hoops and USA-made Remo heads. A genuine workhorse, and the easiest way into the brand.

• Steel, 14"x5.75" and 14"x6.5" (1mm). Bright, aggressive and cutting, with sharp, controllable overtones.

• Brass, 14"x5.75" and 14"x6.5" (1.2mm, black nickel plated). Warm and rounded, with rich character and strong projection.

• Aluminium, 14"x5.75" and 14"x8" (1.2mm). Dry and focused, with an articulate, slightly vintage voice.

• Beech. The wood option in the range, with a full, articulate, responsive tone and the same hardware as the metal models.

See the Sonor Kompressor snares, including the Steel 14"x5.75", the Brass 14"x5.75" and the Aluminium 14"x8".

Sonor Artist Series: premium character snares

The Artist Series is Sonor's premium snare line, a handful of hand-built, Made in Germany character pieces in maple, beech and cast bronze, with exotic veneers and gold or black chrome hardware. Each is a drum you fall for and build a sound around.

• Cottonwood, 14"x6" maple. The warm, punchy all-rounder.

• Tineo, 13"x5" beech. A thick 27-ply shell for a deep, dry, controlled sound, ideal for funk and electronic styles.

• Scandinavian Birch, 14"x5" maple. Bright, open and transparent, with gold hardware. Note: the shell is maple, the Scandinavian Birch is the veneer.

• Amboina, 13"x7" maple. Deep, fat and dynamic, a burl showpiece with gold hardware.

• Bronze, 14"x6" cast bronze. The loud, cutting heavyweight.

There is a full rundown in our Sonor Artist Series snares guide, or jump to the Cottonwood and the Bronze.

Sonor signature snares

Designed hand in hand with the artists who play them, and built in Germany.

• Gavin Harrison Protean, 14"x5.25". A slim 6-ply birch shell with clever hybrid bearing edges (rounded on top, 45 degrees underneath) and the Dual Glide strainer, for huge versatility. 

• Benny Greb Signature Beech v2.0, 13"x5.75". A 9-ply beech shell with a bubinga inlay, teardrop lugs and Benny's MonoRail dampening system.

• Benny Greb Signature Brass v2.0, 13"x5.75". The brass sibling, with the same MonoRail dampening (a sheepskin and a felt dampener) and a Vintage Brass finish.

• Jost Nickel Signature, 14"x6.25". A deep 14-ply signature model from the face of the Momentum series.

Sonor Phonic Re-Issue: a modern classic

By popular demand, Sonor re-issued two heavyweights of the early 1980s, the famous wooden Phonic D 515 and D 516. Made in Germany on 9-ply beech shells with 45 degree bearing edges and chrome hardware, they recapture a genuinely iconic sound with modern build quality.

• Rosewood, 14"x5.75". The D 515 re-issue.

• Mahogany, 14"x6.5" (£765). The D 516 re-issue, with a touch more body.

Matching kit snares: Vintage, Momentum and SQ2

If you play a Sonor kit, there is a snare to match it. The Vintage Series snares share the beech shells and teardrop look of the kits, the new Momentum snares come in the same woods and finishes (including the gorgeous California Burl), and an SQ2 snare can be specified exactly like an SQ2 kit, in maple, birch, beech or acrylic. Browse them on the Sonor brand page, and there is more on the kits in our Sonor professional drum kits guide. 

Starting out: the AQ2 snare

If you are building up from a first kit, the maple AQ2 snare is a lovely, affordable step up from a stock snare, with the same warm, balanced voice as the AQ2 kits. New to drums? Our Sonor beginner drum kits guide is the place to start.

One for the vintage lovers: Horst Link and ferromanganese

No Sonor snare story is complete without the Horst Link era. Between roughly 1980 and 1991, under designer Horst Link, Sonor built its prestige Signature series, drums famed for uncompromising build quality and sound. The most sought-after are the seamless ferromanganese steel Signature snares (models like the HLD 582 and HLD 588) and the cast bronze ones (the HLD 590 and the HLD 593 piccolo). They are true collector's pieces now, and they turn up only used. We always have a changing selection of used drums and snares, so if a Horst Link ferromanganese or bronze Signature is on your wish list, it is worth asking us.

Which Sonor snare is right for you?

• Best value, do everything: the Kompressor metal snares.

• A premium character snare: the Artist Series, in maple, beech or bronze.

• An artist-designed signature: Gavin Harrison for versatility, Benny Greb for two-in-one dampening.

• Vintage warmth, modern build: a Phonic Re-Issue in Rosewood or Mahogany.

• Exactly your sound: a custom SQ2 snare.

• A first upgrade: the maple AQ2 snare.

Not sure? That is what we are here for. Come and play a few side by side in our Fareham showroom, or give us a call on 01329 834012. You can also browse all snare drums, or read our snare drum buyer's guide for help choosing.