# Sonor Drums — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Sonor is a German percussion manufacturer founded in 1875 in Weißenfels an der Saale, one of the oldest drum companies in the world still operating today. Rebuilt in Bad Berleburg, West Germany after World War II, Sonor is known for its modular SQ2 custom-drum system and premium beech-shell construction, and its signature snares have found a home in extreme and progressive metal.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Sonor

- Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) — Sonor Tomas Haake Signature 14x6.5" & Artist Series Bronze (signature snare)
- Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) — Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" (signature snare)
- Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) — Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature 12x5" & 14x5.25" (signature snare)
- Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) — Sonor SQ2 14x5.5" Maple snare
- Frost (Satyricon) — Sonor SQ2 14x6" Maple snare
- Martin Axenrot (Opeth) — Sonor SQ2 14x5.75" Maple snare
- Morgan Ågren (Devin Townsend Project, Mats/Morgan Band) — Sonor Designer 14x5.5" Maple snare

## Key Sonor Product Lines for Metal

- SQ2 Drum System — fully modular, made-to-order shells across a wide range of finishes and hardware configurations
- Signature snare series — purpose-built models for artists including Tomas Haake, Nicko McBrain, and Gavin Harrison
- Designer series — maple shell snares offering a focused, cutting attack
- Beech-shell construction — Sonor's traditional shell material, offering a distinct tone alongside the more common maple/birch of Japanese and American brands

## FAQ

Q: What snare does Tomas Haake play?
A: Tomas Haake of Meshuggah plays a Sonor signature bronze-shell snare drum (14x6.5"), built to his own specifications.

Q: What snare does Nicko McBrain play?
A: Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays a Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature snare, 14x6.5".

Q: Is Sonor good for metal drumming?
A: Yes. Sonor's beech and maple shells offer a distinct, cutting tone, and its snares — especially the signature models built for Tomas Haake, Nicko McBrain, and Gavin Harrison — are built to survive the abuse of blast-beat and high-volume metal drumming.

Q: What is the Sonor SQ2 system?
A: The SQ2 is Sonor's modular, made-to-order drum system, letting drummers configure shell material, size, and hardware to their own specifications. It's used by extreme and progressive metal drummers including Hellhammer (Mayhem), Frost (Satyricon), and Martin Axenrot (Opeth).

Q: How old is Sonor?
A: Sonor was founded in 1875 by Johannes Link in Weißenfels an der Saale, Germany, making it one of the oldest percussion manufacturers in the world still in operation.

## History

Founded **1875** in Weißenfels an der Saale, Germany, by Johannes Link.

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.

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.

**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.

**Metal era:** Sonor's snares have become a fixture on extreme and progressive metal rosters through signature models: Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) each play a namesake Sonor signature snare. Other metal drummers, including Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (Mayhem) and Frost (Satyricon), have used Sonor's modular SQ2 maple snares.

**Source:** [Sonor — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonor)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*