Sonor Giant Step Single Pedal - Drummer's Review

[@isaacunkefer1856]

Well I just picked one up in great shape for 80 bucks. Excited to test it out!

[@johnbertasius2612]

I was falling in love until I heard the price. Lovely pedal though.

[@Lauen]

Nice video! Would be cool to see more than just the footboard target plate being moved, to get a visual representation of what Matt is talking about.

[@michaelbuckley3272]

Mega pedal! I've played a Pearl Eliminator for almost 20 years and I really took a lot of time looking for a new pedal. I tested some extensively. Pearl Eli redline, Tama IC, Sonor Perfect Balance, DW 5000 and 9000... didn't even have the Giant Step on the screen, but I stumbled across it in a drum shop. I haven't had such a "quality", smooth-running pedal that's perfect for me under my foot. It is perfectly worked and literally sticks to the foot. Runs absolutely linear and predictable! I tested it extensively especially against the DW 9000 and the sonor was the clear winner for me. I was most disappointed with the processing and quality of the Iron Cobra and the Perfect balance. The quality of the Pearl Eliminator is much better than Tama or Perfect Balance. With the Giant Step I found my pedal for the next 20 years!

[@urosjovanovic3142]

Ummm, what's wrong with the quality of IC? I know people who have played them for more than 15 years now, without any issues whatsoever. Sonor Giant Step is a wonderful pedal indeed, but very expensive. If found discounted, I would recommend it. As for your tests, all the pedals you mentioned are shortboard pedals, and Giant Step has a bit longer footboard. I would recommend trying Tama Speed Cobra instead of Iron Cobra. I tried both Giant Step and Speed Cobra and found the latter to be a better pedal for me. It's somewhat easier to control and a bit more powerful. Not to mention the price difference. Of course, other people could have different preferences.

[@rpmoore04]

Great video, but I have to ask - why you do not do side by side comparison videos with drum hardware such as pedals. For example The Sonor Giant Step pedals in comparison to The DW Manufacturing pedals?

[@boldstardex]

nice video, I hope you could also do a review on a yamaha rydeen kit

[@apsestasis]

yeah, that hoop docking station is fine as long as you gig with your own kit. If you're using a backline kit like most people do it becomes a huge pain in the ass

[@robsco1249]

Please review Sonor 4000 double pedal. They looks like the 672.

[@weeschwee]

The docking station doesn't really look like it's solving any problems. It also seems to pull the drum towards it rather than snugging up to the drum.

[@larrytate1657]

No and if gets lost at a show when you got your three band mate buddy’s helping you breakdown fast as possible to clear way for the next band and you’re screwed and need to buy a new one, I’m sure it’s easy to buy just a docking station and I’m sure Sonor only charges like 50 bucks for it. Not. If you can even find one it’s prob 200 bucks. Not worth it. Pass on this one.

[@krusher74]

@@larrytate1657 you could just google instead on making stuff up, they are easy to get and 62euro or $69.

[@isaacunkefer1856]

@@larrytate1657 it is attached to the hoop at all times… that’s the point

[@spence0nasty]

The docking station is ridiculously stupid. Makes this pedal unusable to anyone who regularly uses backline kits. I'd buy this pedal in a heartbeat if it didn't have such a stupid proprietary hoop clamp.

[@Yimello]

Never understood why these things are so ridiculously expensive. It's as if sonor doesn't want anyone to buy it.

[@bdubzdrumz]

It’s because it’s not made in China.

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

@@bdubzdrumz it obviously is, though

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

@Rex R y'all got any more of them proofs? )

[@larrytate1657]

Yeah I love sonor drums but agree these pedals are over priced.

[@SchlagzeugAndreasRauch]

Nice work love it

[@mattchase2112]

7 likes and 5 views? That's badass

[@alexanderqbe]

If only I could find this pedal back in the day, not used or something, that would be my pedal of choice for shure Too bad that such instruments are too expensive for just checking and not easily available in Russia

[@andreasbreitwieser1449]

playing double pedals of all brands since 1985, i played the giant step also, but sold it after few months....... the reasons/critics: way to expensive for having just average mechanics, i would compare this pedals to the feel of a Dixon or Gibraltar pedal, in relation to the market leaders (dw, Pearl, Tama and Mapex......maybe the new Yamaha...). And also i struggle with the fact that you have to sit 1 inch/2 cm higher as usual because the heel base of the pedal is SOOO thick/high.........also the talking of "innovations" after 20 years is not absolutely up to date....... the docking station is nice but not the measurement of miracles.......

[@krusher74]

This a different version of the concept, but i have a docking station on my 1974 sonor champion pedal. So they are not new to this "inovation"

[@krusher74]

I have seen people in hostage randsom videos speak and look happier than this!

[@larrytate1657]

Somebody stole his docking station before a big show once. So he’s rly upset when discussing and he tried to play it off but you caught it. Lol

[@jonathanbormann5077]

I like that docking system. I have a Taye and it's clamp is crap. The pedal itself is decent, but the clamp...arrrgggghhhh

[@davidsalyers7311]

Nice.. Thanks

[@larrytate1657]

I love sonor drums, I own their Prolite series kit, but this pedals are way overpriced. Tama iron cobra is the pedal.

[@Nugtroen]

but the price is too expensive for this basic kind of pedal

[@SmangItDrums]

This is easily one of the worst pedals on the market, especially for that kind of money. In operation, it's not bad (in fact, it's quite linear and dynamic) but the mechanics & adjustments really don't separate it that much from the competition. Other than the footplate target adjustment, there's nothing to recommend it. Add to that, the docking station looks great for studio guys, but if you're a gigging drummer that works around house kits (or even multiple kits of your own) then you must take extra care not to lose it or your pedal becomes useless. I've seen some people state that it's easy to get a replacement for about $70 but here in the US it's considered a special order item with a 1-2 month wait. Add to that the price to feature ratio and the fact that most of the adjustments necessitate using the special drum key that comes with it (another major annoyance; Tama's Iron & Speed Cobra are very similar), and this just isn't worth the money.

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

I mean.. The docking system looks dumb, sorry, the footboard will surely resist slide motion, adjustments are all pretty basic. Find better? Hold my beer: DW 9 ( costs less btw) and 5 even, Tama Dyna/Speed/Cobra (Speedcobra is more than x2 times less, that's rediculous!) , Yamaha flagships look more promising and are not as much, too .. man. Also, I can't recall a single time I saw these pedals being used by anyone including Sonor endorsers, and I can see why )) Sorry, a hard pass for me for sure

[@Savantjazzcollective]

German made, so your paying for the wages, precision crafting, superior alloys, ball bearings & pivot points. DW's are good but too heavy and lack subtlety in my opinion. The asian brands have their pedals made in China/taiwan with lesser quality so the price reflects the quality and lower wages... The new Yamaha does look great though but is some what a premium price too... The sonor is certainly a pedal for a lifetime.

[@andreasbreitwieser1449]

@@Savantjazzcollective not yet German made, it's made in China, there is no hardware producing anymore in Bad Berleburg (maybe lugs, I'm not sure), don't forget that Sonor and Mapex belong to the same concern........and btw, the first double pedal ever made was a Sonor, really heavy duty made like you said (the Sonor Signature), and it was the only double pedal in my career where the chain key broke while a gig.......please forget that "made in Germany" is a real benchmark of quality anymore, all the asian brands like Pearl, Mapex and Tama, and especially Yamaha have the same quality standards, believe me........

[@Savantjazzcollective]

@@andreasbreitwieser1449 sonor and mapex share a taiwan factory for cheap kits, not high end kits. Concerning the pedal origin, I have not a seen a 'made in China' logo on them personally.

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

@@Savantjazzcollective these are not machine cut from aluminium, like Trick or CK, these are .. basic Sonor pedals with some odd looking features, that's the point. Oh, and if they were made in Germany, I bet they would scream it out the loudest they could.

[@Savantjazzcollective]

@@dmitryshkolnik5233 I believe you have it backwards. The other pedals were generated from this pedal. It's been around since 2004 or so... the foot board has been machined after being cast I assume.