SQ1
versatile like you

SQ1 Series

A new dimension in sound

With the combination of the Birch shell construction and SONOR's latest invention, the "Sound Sustainer" mounting solution you can feel the difference. SONOR designs drums with the intention to continuously improve the acoustic quality in any given situation. You have to look at it from many angles as there are many factors influencing the acoustic performance. SQ1 is the perfect example: a new Birch wood shell construction chosen in a process of blindfold sound tests, combined with a new technical solution, the Sound Sustainer mount. Birch was chosen because of our desire for a very balanced sound. It features characteristic high end frequencies and clearly defined low-end. It's therefore often the material for desired go-to-drums in recording studios around the world.

These drums roar - Chris Coleman

"The SQ1 birch shells have that really big sound, with great versatility and full tone – even at lower tension ... these drums roar!"

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SQ1 Features

Simply the best

SONOR designed a drum mounting solution that would affect the resonance and sustain of a drum as little as possible. Inspiration for the Sound Sustainer mount came from the automotive industry where vibration-control technology is used for engine mounting systems. The result is a unique concept of mounting toms and floor toms that integrates rubber insulation within the mount to avoid any shell-to-mount contact. It was even taken to independently scientific testing, to make sure the concept worked. it showed the improvement in extended sustain, clean overtone spectrum and clearly defined fundamental tone compared to traditional mounting methods.

100% European Birch

SQ1 drum shells are made of 100% European Birch. Because of its sound characteristics - balanced mids with pronounced lows and highs - the Birch drum sound is very popular for studio recordings as well as live performances. When developing SQ1, SONOR tested several combinations of Birch-based shell materials. SONOR's conclusion was that pure Birch provided the most versatile sounding drum.

Cross Laminated Tension Free (C.L.T.F.)

Drum shells need to act as solid acoustic unities as the foundation for a great drum sound. We use cross-laminated plies of birch to form a perfectly round shell with great stability. Each ply is laminated at a 90° angle to allow for a shell that is tension-free. SONOR's tension-free shells would keep their round shape even if they were cut in half from the batter to resonant side.

Optimum Shell Measurement (O.S.M.)

Our OSM shell construction (Optimum Shell Measurement) utilizes slightly undersized shell diameters to give the drum head the space to float freely, allowing unrestricted contact between the bearing edge and the drum head.

TuneSafe

Right in tune, 100% of the time with a patented system that prevents tension rods from loosening, giving maximum tuning stability, even under extreme environments.

Sound Sustainer

Anatomy of a sound sustainer

Sound Sustainers offer an integrated insulation/mounting solution. Made of heavy duty composite Rubber that originated in the automotive industry, the insulation layer has a unique hexagon structure. It is combined with a metal prism clamp for extra firm grip. Sound Sustainers were prototyped using advanced Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology. It is a high end 3D printing process that allows to integrate complex geometries within the construction components straight away. Due to its integrated design, Sound Sustainers need minimal footprint for maximum sound enhancement.

And the sound goes on

The new Sound Sustainer technology enables complete isolation between the metal mount and the wooden shell. This guarantees a particularly long lasting and clean decaying sustain.

As a next step we wanted to find a drum mounting solution that would affect the resonance and sustain of a drum as little as possible while having a small footprint and great stability. Inspiration came from the automotive industry where vibration-control technology is used for engine mounting systems among others. What we developed was a unique concept of mounting toms and floor toms that integrates rubber insulation within the mount to avoid any shell-to-mount contact. Scientific research shows the considerable improvement in extended sustain compared to traditional mounting methods.