1ply Beech Snare Drum

Beech has been used in drum construction for a long time. While it may not be a visually outstanding wood it has its own unique qualities which make it a desirable shell material. Its structure is dense yet elastic. In a single ply drum shell this combination means that even a very sensitive stroke is able to resonate clearly and a very strong stroke can still have a controlled sound. This is a particularly responsive drum -with a penetrating sound, a bright tone and superior snare response.

What is 1ply Series?

When we look back on the history of snare drums we see a transition of crafting techniques. From hollowed one piece shell, to 1 ply shell, to plywood shell with reinforcement, plywood shell without reinforcement, and then block shell construction. Though this transition was in the pursuit of efficiency, each method of construction has resulted in a different sound.

Through Canopus’ research into the various combinations of materials, number of plies, and reinforcement we have continued to introduce a variety of new drums.

With the Zelkova snare drum Canopus has presented the ultimate sound for a one piece, hollowed shell. The notable characteristics of a 1-ply shell are a deep sound and pure tone. It has been a new challenge for Canopus to take advantage of these qualities and create new instruments displaying the diverse sound character of different wood materials.