SONOR Gavin Harrison Protean 14" x 5.25" Signature Snare Drum
Developed in collaboration with Gavin Harrison, the SONOR Protean 14" x 5.25" Signature Snare Drum was designed around one central idea – versatility.
Gavin wanted a dependable everyday snare that could be quickly adapted to suit different musical situations. The result is the Protean: a German-made Signature Series snare combining a 6-ply, 6mm hand-selected birch shell with hybrid bearing edges, different batter and resonant hoops, specially designed snare wires and a selection of interchangeable dampening rings.
Finished in timeless Silky Black with chrome hardware and distinctive white underlays beneath the fittings, it's a snare packed with subtle details developed specifically around Gavin's requirements.
6-Ply German Birch Shell
The Protean is handcrafted in Germany using a 6-ply, 6mm Medium Birch shell made from hand-selected premium birch.
SONOR manufactures the shell using its CLTF (Cross Laminated Tension Free) process and Optimum Shell Measurement, combining premium shell construction with the familiar versatility of a 14" main snare.
Hybrid Bearing Edges & Hoops
One of the Protean's most distinctive features is its combination of vintage and modern construction.
The batter side uses a vintage-inspired rounded bearing edge, while the resonant side uses a modern 45° bearing edge.
SONOR continues this hybrid approach with the hoops. An S-Hoop is fitted to the batter side, while the resonant side uses a 2.3mm Power Hoop.
Rather than simply applying the same construction to both sides of the drum, the Protean combines different components selected specifically for their individual roles.
Straight 8 Snare Wires
Gavin Harrison also developed a series of unusual 8-strand snare-wire configurations for the Protean.
The standard fitted Straight 8 uses eight stainless-steel strands positioned centrally beneath the drum. This deliberately different approach to conventional high-strand-count snare wires forms an important part of the Protean concept.
Alternative EQ and Spacer wires are supplied with the Premium Edition.
Protean Dampening Rings & Tuning Keys
The Standard Edition includes three different dampening rings, allowing the response and amount of overtone control to be changed quickly without permanently altering the drum.
SONOR also includes two specially designed Protean tuning keys, developed around Gavin's own approach to changing heads and tuning.
Key Features
Gavin Harrison Signature Series snare drum
Protean design concept
14" x 5.25" dimensions
6-ply, 6mm hand-selected birch shell
Handcrafted in Germany
Silky / Matte Black lacquer finish
White hardware underlays
Rounded batter-side bearing edge
45° resonant-side bearing edge
S-Hoop on batter side
2.3mm Power Hoop on resonant side
SONOR Phonic double lugs
TuneSafe tuning system
Dual Glide snare strainer
Straight 8 snare wires
CLTF shell construction
Optimum Shell Measurement (OSM)
3 dampening rings included
2 Protean tuning keys included
Specifications
Brand: SONOR Series: Signature / Protean Artist: Gavin Harrison Model: SSD 14x5.25 GH SE SONOR SKU: 11177101 Edition: Standard Edition Size: 14" x 5.25" Shell Material: Birch Shell Construction: 6-Ply Medium Birch Shell Thickness: 6mm Finish: Matte / Silky Black Lacquer Batter Bearing Edge: Rounded Resonant Bearing Edge: 45° Batter Hoop: S-Hoop Resonant Hoop: 2.3mm Power Hoop Lugs: SONOR Phonic Double Lugs Lug Hole Spacing: 52mm Tuning System: TuneSafe Snare Throw-Off: Dual Glide Shell Manufacturing: CLTF / OSM Hardware Finish: Chrome Country of Manufacture: Germany Included Accessories: 3 Dampening Rings & 2 Protean Tuning Keys
FAQs
What does Protean mean?
The name Protean comes from Greek mythology and means versatile or diverse. SONOR and Gavin Harrison chose the name because the snare was designed as a versatile everyday instrument that could be adapted to different musical situations.
What is the Gavin Harrison Protean shell made from?
It uses a 6-ply, 6mm hand-selected birch shell, handcrafted in Germany using SONOR's CLTF and OSM manufacturing processes.
Why does the Protean use different bearing edges?
The batter side uses a vintage-inspired rounded bearing edge, while the resonant side uses a modern 45° edge. This hybrid construction was deliberately chosen as part of Gavin Harrison's Protean design.
What are the Straight 8 snare wires?
The standard Protean snare wires use just eight stainless-steel strands positioned centrally beneath the drum. Gavin also designed alternative EQ and Spacer configurations, which are supplied with the Premium Edition.
What's the difference between the 14x5.25 and 12x5 Gavin Harrison Protean snares?
Both share the core Protean concept, including 6-ply 6mm birch shells, hybrid bearing edges and hoops, TuneSafe and Dual Glide. The 14x5.25 provides conventional full-size main-snare dimensions, while the compact 12x5 offers a more focused alternative that also works brilliantly as a secondary snare.
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