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Sonor teardrop 4 ply? Last viewed: 2 hours ago

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Greetings! I was recently given what I have identified as a sonor teardrop, probably late '60s early '70s.. In VERY rough shape. Missing all reso skins, hoops and rods. Also missing bd Tom lug.

Found this forum during my researching of this kit, you guys are great!

I should also mention that I'm not a drummer... Yet!

So my question is about the ply of my drum shells. I apologize in advance if this has been addressed already, I couldn't get the search feature to work and haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere... But my kit is clearly 4 ply..not three or six... Could that be right? Am I just confused?

Posted on 12 years ago
#1
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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I need to see them, pic. please !i

Sonor bookmatched veneer to make sheets, then oven formed them into drums,...It`s very hard to count plies and find seams !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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I don`t ever remember seeing four ply Sonor anything, and of course, never a scarf joint !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#3
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Ok, I'll get some pics up soon. Thanks for the info!

Posted on 12 years ago
#4
Posted on 12 years ago
#5
Posted on 12 years ago
#6
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I forgot to mention that the pic of the ply is the mounted Tom, the floor Tom is the same, but in taking these pics I think the bass drum looks like five ply..

Posted on 12 years ago
#7
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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That`s late 60`s and should have date stamps inside. If they were sanded before, you wont find them. No serial numbers matter, Sonor kept no records on date`n products. Everything about old Sonor had to be figured out the hard way, mostly by member Henk !i (he`s the got-to teardrop guy)

Those are six ply and a bit mickey moused. The tom mount on the BD belongs to a double tom holder and the original one should be a internal boat mount like on the tom. There is a difference in thickness with the BD but not in plies. I have nine ply Phonics but can`t count most of the layers. I did however wipe a damp cloth on them and realised that you get a better indication of plies. Some you can see, some you can`t. Anything Seventies+ wont fit without drilling something !i (except threading)

The wrap is toast on the tom and BD. I can`t see the FT too well. If the FT is good, save it, wrap and all, and trade or get another to wrap if you decide to go that way. Drops are sought after !i

Except for the BD, everything else looks un-altered !i

The difference in colors is the blend of sapwood and heartwood. Sapwood will be the exterior ply if the drum get`s a wrap and heartwood will always be the interior. The one you show has two thick plies on the inside and outside, and four plies sandwiched in between them !i

Clear shots all around and inside each drum,..and you`ll get all the info you need. The hoops and T-rods are getting harder to find but do show up so be patient !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#8
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37
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Oh, an era correct snare will be a D-4 hundred series !i

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 12 years ago
#9
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Well thank you for all the info! To look at those shells, I could never have guessed they were six plies, but that's what all the research pointed too.

I'm torn on what to do with this kit. On the one hand, I recognize and respect the restoration approach. On the other, I think drums should be played!

I don't have the resources or patience for a true restoration. Though I did find a correct Tom mount on ebay, it's $80 is out of my budget.

The kit came with the double Tom type mount that at first I thought was just some spare parts until I saw others of the same era in use. It's missing all of its hardware, but I'm gonna try and fabricate my own for now.

That current Tom mount obviously came from the side of the bass drum , and will be put back in its proper spot, for use as a cowbell or splash mount.

The floor Tom is missing one bottom lug... I hope I can find one! But it is coated in mold on the inside... But I think I can save it.

I did find what may be a date stamp, but it's pretty much unreadable.

Posted on 12 years ago
#10
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