# Sonor SQ2 Drummers — Which Metal Drummers Use the Sonor SQ2? > MetalForge's guide to professional metal drummers who play the Sonor SQ2 drum kit. > Last updated: 2026-06-25 The Sonor SQ2 (System Qualité 2) is a German-crafted, fully modular premium drum series built in Bad Berleburg. Players select wood type (Heavy Maple, Heavy Birch, Heavy Beech, or Vintage Maple), ply count, shell diameter, and hardware finish individually — making every SQ2 a bespoke instrument. In extreme and progressive metal, the SQ2's projection, tone clarity, and physical weight under heavy hitting make it a favourite of technically demanding drummers. --- ## Pro Metal Drummers Who Use the Sonor SQ2 ### Tomas Haake — Meshuggah **Band & Era:** Meshuggah, 2002–present **Configuration:** Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech — 24"×18" Bass Drums ×2, 10"×8", 12"×9", 14"×12", 16"×16", 18"×16" Toms **Notes:** Tomas Haake has been a Sonor SQ2 endorser for over two decades, and his relationship with the brand helped cement the SQ2's reputation in extreme metal circles. Haake's double bass setup uses two separate single pedals (Tama Speed Cobra) rather than a conventional double pedal, granting each foot complete independence for the polyrhythmic patterns that define Meshuggah's djent sound. The SQ2's Heavy Beech shells — selected for their dense, focused low-end — handle the 32nd-note "Bleed" kick pattern without resonance buildup washing out clarity. His signature Sonor snare (14"×6.5") adds crack atop the massive kick sound. Haake also uses a Porter & Davies BC2 vibrating throne to monitor kick pulses tactilely during live performance. See the full profile → [metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake](https://metalforge.io/drummers/tomas-haake) ### Gene Hoglan — Testament / Dethklok **Band & Era:** Testament / Dethklok, 2007–2014 **Configuration:** Sonor SQ2 Heavy Maple — 22"×18" Bass Drum, 10"×8", 12"×9", 14"×12", 16"×14" Toms **Notes:** Gene Hoglan — nicknamed "The Atomic Clock" for his metronomic precision — used Sonor SQ2 Heavy Maple shells during his prolific mid-career period with Testament and as the drummer behind the animated band Dethklok. Hoglan's setup philosophy centres on clarity and projection to cut through dense extreme metal arrangements, and the SQ2 Heavy Maple's tight, punchy character suits that goal. His relatively compact configuration keeps tom spacing minimal, consistent with his philosophy that groove and feel are more important than quantity of drums. See the full profile → [metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummers/gene-hoglan) --- ## About the Sonor SQ2 First introduced in the 2000s as the premium tier of Sonor's modular custom program, the SQ2 allows musicians to configure every element of the drum before it leaves the factory. In practice for metal drummers, the most popular spec choices are: - **Wood:** Heavy Beech (dense, focused, loud) favoured in extreme metal; Heavy Maple (warmer, broader) for progressive/technical styles - **Shell depth:** Deeper shells for more volume and projection on stage - **Bearing edges:** CNC-cut for consistency across every shell - **Hoops:** Magnesium cast (heavy) or steel for heavier rimshot response - **Price range:** Custom order, approximately €4,000–€8,000+ depending on spec and tom count The SQ2's fully customisable nature means no two SQ2 kits are identical — a selling point for professional endorsers who need a kit built precisely to their physical and sonic requirements. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Which metal drummers use the Sonor SQ2?** A: Tomas Haake of Meshuggah is the most prominent Sonor SQ2 endorser in metal, using the kit since 2002. Gene Hoglan (Testament, Dethklok) also played SQ2 drums during his mid-career period. Both are known for their technical precision and the SQ2's ability to remain clear and controlled under extreme playing conditions. **Q: Why does Tomas Haake use two single pedals instead of a double pedal with his Sonor SQ2?** A: Haake uses two separate Tama Speed Cobra single bass drum pedals — one per foot — to achieve complete independence between his feet. A conventional double pedal physically links both beaters to a single cam mechanism, which can subtly limit how differently each foot can articulate. Two separate pedals let Haake play polyrhythmic kick patterns that would be impossible or impractical on a linked double pedal. This is a defining element of the Meshuggah drum sound. **Q: What wood does Tomas Haake use for his Sonor SQ2?** A: Haake uses the Heavy Beech option — one of the densest and loudest shell woods available in the SQ2 programme. Beech shells produce a focused, punchy low-mid response with fast decay, which keeps his double bass patterns clear even at the extreme tempos Meshuggah plays. Heavy Maple (Gene Hoglan's choice) is warmer and slightly less dense, better suited to broader tonal applications. **Q: How long did it take Tomas Haake to learn the "Bleed" kick pattern?** A: Haake has stated in interviews that the 32nd-note kick pattern in "Bleed" (from the 2008 album obZen) took approximately six months of daily practice before he could perform it consistently live. The pattern requires extraordinary foot speed and endurance, and the SQ2's responsive bass drum heads (Remo) help communicate subtle articulation even at maximum velocity. **Q: Where can I buy the Sonor SQ2?** A: The Sonor SQ2 is ordered through authorised Sonor dealers as a custom configuration — lead times vary. In Europe, Sonor's home market, major retailers like Thomann and session stock SQ2 kits. See the [Sonor brand page at metalforge.io/gear/sonor](https://metalforge.io/gear/sonor) for more information. --- [Full Sonor SQ2 drummers page → metalforge.io/gear/sonor/sq2/drummers-using](https://metalforge.io/gear/sonor/sq2/drummers-using) *Source: [MetalForge Gear Guides](https://metalforge.io/gear)*