EricT43
Senior Member
Hi everyone! I've done some searching through the forum and haven't found a lot of discussion about the SQ1's. I recently ordered a kit (10/12/14/16/22 with the matching 6.5x14 snare) in GT Black and wanted to share some of my excitement while I wait for them to arrive.
For the past 5 years that I've been playing drums somewhat seriously, I've been playing a maple DW Collector's kit (8/10/12/14/16/22). I bought them on impulse after finding a SSC shell pack on clearance at a Guitar Center. I knew DW drums by reputation, and that a lot of my favorite players used them, but that was about the extent of my research. They are great drums, to be sure, and I like the hardware a lot, but I can't say I've ever been really thrilled by their sound. No complaints, just not grin-inducing.
Then a couple of years ago I started playing with a blues trio that did a lot of gigs at restaurant patios and cafes and such, and I wanted a smaller, more vintage-sounding kit for that gig. I once again stumbled on a good deal, this time for a demo Sonor Vintage Series kit (12/14/20). I was really blown away by these drums - the quality, the dynamic range, ease of tuning, and most of all the punchy, open sound and controlled resonance of those beech shells with rounded edges. I started to realize that I don't really like a drum to resonate forever like my DW's do.
Well, I don't do that blues gig anymore, and the vintage sound is not something I like for general playing - I'm a rock'n'roll guy at heart, and not always the classic variety. So I wanted to find a kit that had many of the same sonic properties that I like about the Sonor Vintage, but with a more modern, focused sound. Since I was already impressed as hell with Sonor, I started looking at beech SQ2 kits, but they are very expensive. I also feel that I am still searching for my personal sound, and decided to stick with off-the-shelf kits until I truly know what I want in terms of shell materials, finishes, and sizes. So, I started looking at SQ1's. The SQ1 are birch, not beech, so they don't sound exactly the same, but compared to maple, they have more of the attack, shorter decay, and punch that I'm looking for, but with 45-degree edges for a more contemporary sound.
I watched pretty much every YouTube video featuring SQ1's and read all the reviews. I've played other lower-end birch kits and was pretty happy with the sound. Luckily, a dealer in the next town had a kit in his shop, so we set it up and I was quite impressed. The bass drum is killer. The toms have even less sustain than the Vintage Series, at least to my ears they did. To be honest, I'm a little worried that they might not be resonant enough, but I decided to take a chance. It's hard to gage how a kit will perform after only hearing them in one setting. I calculated that by selling my Vintage Series kit, along with a handful of cymbals and snares that don't get much use, that I could pay for the SQ1 kit, and I got the green light from my wife.
A lot of retailers are pushing the Cruiser Blue color kits - I see them everywhere online. It's a pretty color, but I can see myself getting tired of it after a while. The red and green look very nice too, but they are strong color statements, and again, I feel like I might grow weary of them, so I decided to go with black. The matte black wrap with shiny chrome hardware has a tuxedo-like vibe to it, and I think it will look at home in any situation.
I'm should have the new drums by early next week, and will post some photos then. Thanks for letting me share!
For the past 5 years that I've been playing drums somewhat seriously, I've been playing a maple DW Collector's kit (8/10/12/14/16/22). I bought them on impulse after finding a SSC shell pack on clearance at a Guitar Center. I knew DW drums by reputation, and that a lot of my favorite players used them, but that was about the extent of my research. They are great drums, to be sure, and I like the hardware a lot, but I can't say I've ever been really thrilled by their sound. No complaints, just not grin-inducing.
Then a couple of years ago I started playing with a blues trio that did a lot of gigs at restaurant patios and cafes and such, and I wanted a smaller, more vintage-sounding kit for that gig. I once again stumbled on a good deal, this time for a demo Sonor Vintage Series kit (12/14/20). I was really blown away by these drums - the quality, the dynamic range, ease of tuning, and most of all the punchy, open sound and controlled resonance of those beech shells with rounded edges. I started to realize that I don't really like a drum to resonate forever like my DW's do.
Well, I don't do that blues gig anymore, and the vintage sound is not something I like for general playing - I'm a rock'n'roll guy at heart, and not always the classic variety. So I wanted to find a kit that had many of the same sonic properties that I like about the Sonor Vintage, but with a more modern, focused sound. Since I was already impressed as hell with Sonor, I started looking at beech SQ2 kits, but they are very expensive. I also feel that I am still searching for my personal sound, and decided to stick with off-the-shelf kits until I truly know what I want in terms of shell materials, finishes, and sizes. So, I started looking at SQ1's. The SQ1 are birch, not beech, so they don't sound exactly the same, but compared to maple, they have more of the attack, shorter decay, and punch that I'm looking for, but with 45-degree edges for a more contemporary sound.
I watched pretty much every YouTube video featuring SQ1's and read all the reviews. I've played other lower-end birch kits and was pretty happy with the sound. Luckily, a dealer in the next town had a kit in his shop, so we set it up and I was quite impressed. The bass drum is killer. The toms have even less sustain than the Vintage Series, at least to my ears they did. To be honest, I'm a little worried that they might not be resonant enough, but I decided to take a chance. It's hard to gage how a kit will perform after only hearing them in one setting. I calculated that by selling my Vintage Series kit, along with a handful of cymbals and snares that don't get much use, that I could pay for the SQ1 kit, and I got the green light from my wife.
A lot of retailers are pushing the Cruiser Blue color kits - I see them everywhere online. It's a pretty color, but I can see myself getting tired of it after a while. The red and green look very nice too, but they are strong color statements, and again, I feel like I might grow weary of them, so I decided to go with black. The matte black wrap with shiny chrome hardware has a tuxedo-like vibe to it, and I think it will look at home in any situation.
I'm should have the new drums by early next week, and will post some photos then. Thanks for letting me share!