*Please note that as we are allowing test drives in-store, minor scratches or dents may occur.
*The image is for illustrative purposes only. Appearance and texture may vary depending on the individual item.
[Canopus boasts a unique sound that plywood cannot provide]
Canopus' flagship model, the hollow-body Zelkova snare drum, was the company's first original drum, and remains a product that is popular with drummers around the world.
This snare drum features a thick, impactful sound with excellent projection and a remarkably fast attack. It also boasts a wide tuning range unimaginable for a plywood snare drum. These are the main reasons why Zelkova snare drums are so popular with the world's top drummers.
When developing the Zelkova snare drum, which became Canopus' basic policy, we initially tried cutting the edges at a traditional 45-degree angle on both the inside and outside corners. However, the sound produced was far from what one would imagine from a solid wood snare drum; it lacked body resonance and was extremely unresponsive.
So we created various unique edge shapes, including 70 degrees, 60 degrees, and 30 degrees, and continued to improve them. Through these efforts, we perfected a completely new type of edge shape that combines maximum body resonance with sensitivity and a rich sound, while also achieving an unparalleled attack. This extremely sharp edge shape completely overturned previous theory.
What we learned in developing the Zelkova snare drum was that the edge shape that maximizes the shell's capabilities is determined by various factors, such as the body material, thickness, and whether it is solid or plywood, and that traditional edge shapes are not universal.
Many of the things we learned from this experience became the source of Canopus' fundamental policies thereafter, and determined our stance of completely questioning the currently accepted theories of drum manufacturing when we set out to develop drums and accessories.
Overcoming the cracking tendency of "hollowed-wood drums" The cylindrical drum shell shape of solid wood drums makes them extremely susceptible to cracking. To achieve this, we adopted a new manufacturing method to complete a snare drum with a completely solid wood shell. We also spent approximately three years drying the shells in a special dryer, bringing the moisture content down to 9%, successfully minimizing shrinkage and cracking of the shells.
●A rare "single-panel hollowed-out body"
For example, if you try striking a piece of plywood with a piece of solid wood like a clapper, anyone can see that the clapper will produce a better sound. In other words, the vibrating object must be made up of a single element, and this is important for bringing out a natural sound. So why are most drums made today made from plywood? The answer is because drums with hollowed-out solid wood bodies have the disadvantage of being very fragile due to their structure.
Plywood is made by gluing multiple pieces of wood together with a large amount of adhesive, making it several times stronger than single-ply wood. However, this inevitably comes at the expense of natural resonance.
Drum manufacturers around the world have tried various approaches to reconcile these opposing requirements of single element and strength, such as block construction, which is closer to a solid wood shell, or, as exemplified by Slingerland's Radio King snare, which uses a bent solid maple shell with internal reinforcement to maintain strength.
A hollowed-out single-piece body is ideal in terms of bringing out the natural sound of the wood, but deformation and cracking over time can become a production issue, and there are only a few manufacturers in the world that mass-produce them.
●Regarding the air holes on Zelkova snare drums: Zelkova snare drums do not have air vent fittings.
Zelkova snare drums have a special structure known as a "hollow shell." Zelkova is a natural material that constantly breathes and contracts depending on the temperature and humidity, trying to maintain itself in the best possible condition. If these activities are hindered, excess pressure will be placed on the shell itself, which could cause various problems. We have deliberately not included any metal fittings, even air vent fittings, in order to reduce the stress on the shell.
The through hole is only finished with oil, so you can also check the cross section of the Zelkova snare.
●Equipped with rotatable height-adjustable lugs The Zelkova snare drum, Canopus' flagship model, which has received overwhelming support since its release, now comes standard with tubular lugs that allow the lug height to be adjusted.
Zelkova snare drums are made from hollowed-out, solid-wood snare drums carved from zelkova trees approximately 200 years old. They undergo a three-year natural drying period, and a special dryer adjusts the moisture content to 9% before shipping. However, the wooden drum is constantly shrinking and expanding due to external humidity. High humidity increases the diameter of the drum, while low humidity decreases it. Conventional lugs have a swivel that receives the tension bolt, so contraction and expansion of the drum body is not a problem. However, Canopus Tube Lugs, with their solid structure that enhances the drum's vibration circulation efficiency, do not have this swivel. Therefore, if the drum body shrinks or expands, it can cause problems when attaching the tension bolt.
Vintage snare wire [CPSL-ZL14NP]
This snare wire brings out the potential of the snare drum and enables delicate expression of pianissimo.
●Bolt Tight: Bolt Tight is a leather washer that smooths out bolt movement, eliminating looseness, and also cuts out unpleasant overtones, making the sound thicker.
Die-cast hoop: Clearly defined, highly directional sound. Carefully selected zinc components, shape, and thickness create a beautiful sound.
●Strainer switch [CSA20S]
It has a built-in nylon nut that provides just the right amount of resistance to the tension adjustment dial, preventing the snare wire from loosening while playing.
Size: 14 x 6.5
Shell: Fully hollowed out solid wood (zelkova) 14mm
Finish: Ninja Black Lacquer Hoops: Die-cast / 8
Lugs: Solid brass tubes with rotatable height adjustment
Snare: Vintage snare wire (CPSL-ZL14NP)
Accessories: Aerial Case, tuning key