Sonor Drums — Metal Drummers Who Use Sonor | MetalForge
Which metal drummers use Sonor drums? See every pro in MetalForge's database who endorses or plays Sonor gear — kit specs and prices.
About Sonor
Sonor has been building drums in Germany since 1875, making it one of the oldest percussion manufacturers still operating today. Best known for its modular SQ2 custom-drum system and premium beech-shell construction, Sonor has built a loyal following among metal drummers who want a distinct, cutting tone alongside the more common Japanese and American options.
Why Metal Drummers Choose Sonor:
- SQ2 Drum System – Fully modular, customizable shells built to order
- Signature Snares – Purpose-built models for artists like Tomas Haake and Nicko McBrain
- German Engineering – Precision manufacturing with a 150-year pedigree
- Distinct Tone – Beech and maple shell options offer a different sonic signature than the Japanese/American norm
Metal Applications:
Sonor's snares in particular have found a home in extreme and progressive metal, prized for their focused attack and durability under blast-beat abuse. Tomas Haake's bronze-shell signature snare and Nicko McBrain's namesake model are both built to survive relentless touring.
Sonor History
Sonor's story begins in 1875, when 28-year-old wood turner and tanner Johannes Link opened a small workshop in Weißenfels an der Saale, Germany, producing military-style marching drums and drumheads.
The business grew quickly: by the turn of the century Link employed a staff of 53, and in 1907 the company registered the SONOR trademark with the Imperial Patent Office in Munich. Link's son Otto joined the family firm in 1906, and by 1925 Sonor had grown to 145 employees, among the largest drum makers of its kind.
In the early 20th century Sonor pioneered the modern screw-thread drum-construction system and the metal-shell snare drum, innovations that shaped drum hardware design well beyond its own catalog.
World War II forced the Link family to flee Weißenfels when it fell under Soviet-controlled East Germany, leaving behind their original factory and machinery. In 1946, Otto Link and his son Horst rebuilt the company in Bad Berleburg, West Germany, where Sonor remains headquartered today.
Rebuilt Sonor built its reputation over the following decades on premium beech-shell construction and the modular SQ2 custom-drum system, and its snare drums in particular became a favorite of touring metal drummers who wanted a distinct, cutting shell tone alongside the more common Tama and Pearl options.
Sonor Milestones
- 1875: Johannes Link opens a workshop producing marching drums and drumheads in Weißenfels an der Saale, Germany.
- 1907: The SONOR trademark is registered at the Imperial Patent Office in Munich.
- 1925: Sonor grows to 145 employees, becoming one of the largest drum manufacturers of its kind.
- 1946: Otto Link and his son Horst rebuild the company in Bad Berleburg, West Germany, after fleeing Soviet-controlled East Germany.
Sonor in Metal
Sonor's snares have become a fixture on extreme and progressive metal rosters through signature models: Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) plays a Sonor signature bronze-shell snare, and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) has his own namesake Sonor signature snare. Other metal drummers on the verified roster, including Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem), have used Sonor's modular SQ2 Heavy Beech snares for their focused, cutting attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Sonor drums do metal drummers use?
Metal drummers on Sonor typically use the modular SQ2 system for their kits, alongside signature snares like Tomas Haake's bronze-shell model and Nicko McBrain's namesake snare.
Is Sonor good for metal?
Yes. Sonor's beech and maple shells offer a distinct, cutting tone that stands apart from the more common Japanese and American drum brands, and its snares are built to survive the abuse of blast-beat drumming.
What snare does Tomas Haake play?
Tomas Haake of Meshuggah plays a Sonor signature bronze-shell snare drum, built to his own specifications.