Sonny Emory Signature Snare

[Sean Conner]

I fell in love with this snare when we hosted a clinic with Sonny. Afterwards I had him sign it for me and here it is. It is his Yamaha SE Custom Model with a 14" x 5.5" Beech shell.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4292.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4294.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4296.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4297.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4304.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF4291.jpg

[thismercifulfate]

Wow, I bet that sounds great (all Yamaha sig snares do). Is that outer ply beech? It looks amazing!

[Sean Conner]

It's actually an 8-ply Beech shell. Has a very full and warm tone with an amazing amount of attack.

[Sean Conner]

Here are some pics from the clinic with it on our #10 Yamaha 50th Anniversary Washi Kit. And also one of Sonny and I with the snare after he signed it.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2516.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2543.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2576.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2586.jpg

[thismercifulfate]

It's actually an 8-ply Beech shell. Has a very full and warm tone with an amazing amount of attack.
That's sweet! I've been fortunate enough to have the chance to play a Yamaha Beech Custom kit. I really really liked it, and if the price had been a little more reasonable, I would have bought it. Too bad Yamaha stopped making Beech kits altogether :(

[Sean Conner]

Yeah, last I spoke to Sonny they were doing prototyped maple versions for him because Beech was just getting too expensive. So far he couldn't get it where he liked it. He was using it at his Drumset Camp in August and it was nice but nothing compared to the Beech version.

[broken_cymbal1]

That is friggin' awesome!!

[travisbarker]

That is VERY cool.

[Sean Conner]

Thanks guys. I can honestly say that it is a great snare. And in regards to Sonny, if you ever get the chance to attend one of his clinics or his Annual Drumset Camp that he has in August of each year, do not hesitate to attend it because you will not be disappointed. He's a really cool guy and it's amazing what you can learn and the ideas that you can get just by watching him.

[giantmink]

Dude, that is awesome. I am a Yamaha player myself and I would love to play that drum (and that kit!), let alone meet him and have him sign my drum.

[Sean Conner]

Thanks man. I work at a music store in North Florida. My boss was a Yamaha artist/teacher until he bought the stores. One of his main desires when he purchased the store was to order that kit. I was the only one to touch it and besides Sonny, the only person to have played it. I put it together, tuned it, cleaned it, transported it, set it up, sound checked it, etc. We've actually had bids at $25,000 for it because the artist that made them made I believe less than 20. They were supposed to build many more. But Sonny is probably one of the coolest and most talented drummers I have ever had the pleasure of hanging out and having dinner with, let alone having a true Signature snare from.

[giantmink]

That is crazy stuff. I thought they were supposed to make more kits than that too. Are you guys gonna' sell it or just hold on to it?

[Sean Conner]

We're going to hold onto it. That kit is his pride and joy so I don't see it going anywhere soon. It's definitely beautiful though. As I put it together I was looking it over. I even took the 10" tom under a magnifying glass to check out all of the details. After doing that I was surprised that the artist could do the number of kits that he did finish.

[Sean Conner]

Right side of Washi
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2518.jpg

A few of my other snares.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2362-1.jpg

[Bombita]

Here are some pics from the clinic with it on our #10 Yamaha 50th Anniversary Washi Kit. And also one of Sonny and I with the snare after he signed it.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/Twiggmeister/DSCF2586.jpg

dude, that's not Sonny... that's Eddie Murphy! :D


great snare btw... I just LOVE Yamaha.

[Sean Conner]

Haha! Yeah that's what we thought when he got there.

[Redbeard]

I used to have a Sonny Emory snare. As you'd expect it is beautiful and the quality is outstanding. I only played it a few times before I managed to sell it for a profit.;) But yeah it had a nice sound, different from my birch and maple snares.

[Sean Conner]

Yeah I don't see myself letting go of this if I can help it. Though I know it would turn up quite a nice bit of money.