Our Development Policy of CANOPUS Drums

Reproduction of recorded sound | Edge Shaping | Shell Construction | Finish | Lacquer Material

Determinant factors of drum sound are 1)shell construction, 2)shell material and 3)edge shaping. All drum manufactures in Japan and the World have been conducting their researches. CANOPUS is conducting it's research one step farther than others with the policy to gain the best possible potential the drums can offer.

Our drums for year 2000, and 2001 models have thin plywood shell with reinforcement hoops. We consider even drumhead as a part of shell and it should produce our drum sound with entire drum structure. Therefore, each part such as head, edge, body, finish, hardware and reinforcement should not hinder resonance to gain the best possible potential of the shell. Our total package theory considering interactions of all parts is just like monocock body for the car, designed to minimize the weight and maximize the speed.

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Reproduction of the recorded sound with Acoustic drum

Our ideal in drum manufacturing is to reproduce the recorded sound with acoustic drums. All drummers have experienced the sound of real drumset, which is very different from recorded sound.

In recording studio, many devises are used such as tape-muffling, ring-muffling, pillow muffling for a bass drum. In addition, an equalizer is used to supplement or reduce low and high pitched frequencies. Gate-reverb and limiter enable farther sound manipulation and this would be beyond the imagination of amateur drummers.

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Sound Control by Edge Shaping

In stead of tape muffling, we assigned the role to the edge shaping. This way, we can regain natural resonance of drum shell, which had been impaired by tape muffling. This enabled us to have clear sound with reasonable muffling of unwanted overtone.

As for a bass drum, our edge shaping enabled enough muting effect without additional muting and a hole on the head. This enabled us to have tight and fat sound with enough muffling of unwanted overtones.

Also, by reexamining the shell construction, we found that no equalizing is required to supplement the low and high pitched frequency levels, when the shell is used to its full potential.

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The Ideal Shell Construction Is Different
Depending On Drum Diameter And Shell Depth

At first, we have spend several years of research examining the 10 inch ( in diameter) tom tom. Out of
		more than 25 shells in 10 inch tom tom, we determined the ideal shell construction and edge shaping. However, we could not apply this construction relationship to other drums in different diameter and depth. We developed the methods of original enlargement.

		Therefore, CANOPUS drums have different ply-wood shell as well as different plywood reinforcement hoops and it's widths depending on different diameters. Our original theory enabled us to make any diameter of drum, which has ideal balance of natural enlargement of the original 10-inch tom tom.

		Since we could not enlarge all of hardware according to drum shell size to pull out the best possible potential, our edge shaping technique is called for to resolve this paradox.

The control of shell depth is another important factor. With these original techniques and theory, we are achieving what we believe to be the ideal drum sound. CANOPUS drum can offer only one depth per size, except special order, because ideal shell construction achieved in one size is not applicable in different size and depth.

At first, we introduced 15-inch bass drum Club Kit. Later, we introduced 18-inch bass drum Standard Kit, 20-inch bass drum Studio Kit and 22-inch bass drum Classic Kit. Our steps by step introductions are manifestation of our development policy.

We have spent a lot of time on each phase of these development projects.

Now, we are introducing Stadium Kit with 24-inch bass drum and Grand Kit with 26-inch bass drum together with 14-inch tom and 18 inch floor tom. We have conducted the same test to determine the shell construction to realize our ideal sound. Therefore, other than in special cases, we believe that our recommended size will meet almost all expectations of drummers in all music genres.

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Different Drum Sounds Depending On Finish

In principle, we need to accept certain sacrifice of looks and finish in order to have best possible sound. This is CANOPUS's fundamental policy in drum design. The belief that a lacquer finish can offer better sound than covering is wrong in our findings. CANOPUS has been manufacturing only covered models based on our conclusion. We found that by having covering, we can pull out different sound element in addition to reinforcement effect of shell, particularly in thin shells. We can find similar example in guitars. For example a Les-Paul guitar has maple on the top of body to have sharp response and mahogany in the main body to hold the sound.

In essence, we have 2 findings. Firstly, the finish of drums either in lacquer or covering, influences final drum sound considerably. Secondly, in order to pull out the best possible potential of the drum shell, we need to change the shell constructions and edge shaping depending on the finish.

Is covering equivalent to one ply of shell? Is lacquer layer equivalent to one ply of shell? Is oil layer equivalent to one ply of shell?

We have an actual example for illustration. CANOPUS is now introducing oil finish snare drums with thicker ply shells. Upon our introduction of oil finish shell, we tried oil finish on our existing 8-ply shell. This snare drum had rather poor response and sound was core-less, so to speak. We finally found that thicker plywood shell can offer better balanced sound in oil finish. It has more sharp attack and crispy sound with full resonance.

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Lacquer Material and It's Sound Effect on Sound

We are also spending a lot of time for lacquer material decision. Currently, generally accepted lacquer finish is polyurethane, UV, acrylic, nitro-cellulose materials and so on. We have conducted various experiments and concluded to use high purity nitro-cellulose lacquer for our snare drums, because it allows us to cover a wide sound range from low to high and pull out the best potential of the shell. Nitrocellulose is also used for vintage guitars. Its only shortfall is not durable enough over years. Also, compared to other materials, it takes longer time to dry up and takes a lot of care for mirror finish.

Because its surface is rather soft, it is not suitable for mass production. As a matter of fact, musical instruments with nitrocellulose are barely produced.

However, we dared to choose this lacquer, because we believe that our musical instruments are not mere goods to sell, but artworks.

CANOPUS has chosen the function of a musical instrument even though we sacrificed some appearance.

Our research of lacquered drums is not completed yet. We have not introduced lacquer finish drumsets this time. When we do, their sound will be as good or even better than that of covered drums. You will find that lacquer finish model will have different shell construction and edge shaping from covering models and oil finish models.

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