Drum Stats
Famous Drum Company
5.5" x 14"
"2x4" snare drum - block shell construction made from spruce two by four lumber
Joe Partridge, drumsmith
#1 built for the George Lawrence collection
NSMD Company Engraved Black Beauty Snare
Drum Stats
NSMD logo and Slingerland pattern engraved by John Aldridge
Black chrome over brass seamed 6.5" x 14" shell
Aztec Gold color hardware
The Flagship of the the line - available only from NSMD for $1,300
Winner of several Snare Drum Olympics contests and has been compared to the sound of vintage Ludwig and Slingerland Black Beauties.
Canopus Zelkova Snare Drum
Before I get into the meat of this review, let me say that I was already very familiar with the Zelkova snare drums, having played a few over the years. I knew what to expect with this particular review drum. I have a predisposed bias to this drum so I apologize in advance for gushing.
The Shell
Zelkova Shell
The Zelkova is a unique snare drum cut from a hollowed section of a 200 year old Japanese Zelkova tree stump. This wood is also called Japanese elm or redwood. Using the traditional techniques of making the barrel shaped Japanese Taiko drums, Canopus achieves the resonant and sonorous sound of the Taiko. The barrel shape is designed to be stronger than other barrel shaped stave drums which have traditionally prone to cracking. Its unique thickness and structure of the shell disperses the tension forces equally. The shell is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. The bearing edge is extremely sharp. The shell is seasoned for three years and the drum is dried in a specially designed wood drier to reduce the moisture content down to nine percent. This drying procedure also contributes to minimize the shrinkage and cracking of the drum shell. The snare beds are fairly shallow. The craftsmanship that goes into the shell is immediately obvious.
The Sound
Fat, warm, solid, thick, sweet, rich, sharp, strong, throaty, resonant, with a lot of body. It is a unique sound that I have never heard from another snare drum of any kind. It does not sound like maple. It has its own distinctive tonal qualities which can not really be compared to other woods. powerful love spell
Aesthetics
Zelkova Hardware
The gorgeous brown Zelkova wood is lacquered to bring out the appealing grain pattern. The eight tube lugs are brass with a round center brass stud. The hoops are chrome die casts.
The hardware is kept to a minimum: eight small and simple, yet somehow expensive looking, solid brass lugs, each of them attached to the shell with just one screw. The reason for eight lugs as opposed to ten is to lower the overall mass of the hardware and to allow larger sections of the shell vibrate freely, unimpeded by the lugs and screws. The revolving height adjustable tubular lug has a mechanism which enables height adjustments at the interval of plus or minus 2mm by turning its center pole. The die cast rims keep the drum perfectly in tune even with extended playing times. The snare mechanism is a simple P85 type that works well, and the snare wires are Canopus.
If you are worried about tuning with just eight lugs, don't be: the die cast rims keep the snare perfectly in tune, as I can attest, having played it for about half a year now. The leather washers under each tuning screw also help keep the heads in tune. Those washers are actually a Canopus product that can be bought separately, called "Bolt Tight". The air hole is simply that; a hole cut in the drum with no grommet, in keeping with Canopus's philosophy of minimal hardware and contact.
Testing
When I play this drum, it feels different than other drums. It feels like the shape of the shell produces more "give" in the head, which is very pleasing. The sound has a lot of character - lots of bottom but with crisp highs at the same time. And the bottom does not disappear with high tunings. The tuning range is very wide. The snare sensitivity is perfect - very even all the way across the head. The drum is very responsive and does not choke when played loudly. I was not hesitant about digging into it. The rim shots and rim clicks are very crisp while maintaining the warm, fat shell sound - not unlike a triple flanged hoop feel. Most drums with die cast hoops have a drastically sharper rim sound. The Zelkova rim sounds are more organic, even with the die cast hoops.
Conclusion
One of the best snare drums money can buy. A definite "10". I wish I owned one but I need another snare drum like I need a hole in my head. It is a very versatile drum that does not bring attention to itself in a recording mix. It's just……………right. Let's hope that the Canopus Drum Company has a long history with this holy grail drum. You can hear very accurate sound samples of the 5x14, 6.5x14 and the 8x14 models at the website.
Holland Drums' Muffin Top
Every time I go to a drum show, I’m always looking for something new and significant. In an art form that is so basic and primitive; the drum and the percussive arts in general, it’s really hard to surprise me. Over the last 150 years, we’ve seen incredible innovations and variations on the theme, leaving us with some very good instruments. So now we’re left with simple refinements, right? Not just yet! There’s always someone thinking a little left of center, and those are the guys I’m looking for. This year at the Chicago Drum Show, I found another one of……. those guys.
Enter, Holland Drums. If ever there was a percussion instrument that I didn’t know I needed 25 years ago…..this is one of them!
Scott Holland, of Holland Drums, has made a significant hybrid instrument that effectively crosses the lines between the snare drum and the hand drum. If you find yourself working with singer/song-writers or have the need to provide lower volumes and different timbres, this is a drum you should give serious consideration.
The “Muffin Top” drum sits on a regular snare drum stand and was originally meant to be played with your hands, with and without snares. But as with most good instruments, it allows you infinite possibilities. When backing up various artists over the years, the variety of music has generally allowed me to push the creativity of the situation because I don’t have a lot of rules and regulations when I come up with drum and percussion parts. That being said, the only rule I always keep is to “play for the song.” That rule has kept me busy creating different and unique set ups that fit each situation.
When using the Muffin-Top drum, I’ve found it to perform not only as a centerpoint piece, as does a snare drum on a drum set, but also as an auxiliary drum in a non traditional set up that is more percussion based. If need be, it can be switched out at a moment’s notice with a conventional snare drum for a little hand drumming. If a significant portion of your gig's set is on the quiet side, you can use this as your primary drum. I’ve found it’s also great with sticks and brushes, as well numerous other implements used to effect different textures.
This drum provides great sonic opportunities with and without the snares applied. Imagine being able to play a part with your hands on a snare drum without wracking your knuckles on the metal hoop, as you would with a conventional snare drum. Then, with a flick of the snare throw-off, playing something of a Latin nature, then switch it up again with a pair of brushes or sticks, without changing drums!
As part of a drum set, there is a whole world of new possibilities when combining this “hand-drum” with your feet. Kick, hat, cowbell, tambourine, or whatever else you can whack with a pedal, will offer continued pattern combinations and grooves that will definitely be something new for most single drummer set-ups. When added as part of a hand drum/percussion set-up, this drum fits in especially nice. With the snares off, it provides a “neutral” hand drum sound that isn’t quite a conga, nor a djembe sound. Add the snares and you have a nice soft snare sound, perfect for those times when it’s all about color.
When looking at the Muffin Top drum, it looks different from any other drum I’ve ever seen.
At its heart is a solid, 6” depth, stave construction shell made of bubinga wood, milled to a unique design to accommodate a Remo djembe head, which has a 2.5” drop. Solid walnut stave construction shells are also very popular. The batter side lugs, rods and claws are Remo as well, but, the black counter hoop is custom made locally.
On the bottom rests a standard, conventional 14” snare head. A gold-tone, triple flanged counter hoop and Adonis lugs nicely round out this model. This particular drum has “split style” Puresound snares, and a Trick throw off. I particularly like the very gradual snare bed that’s barely visible and doesn’t seem to make any negative impression on the head, which helps provide nice sensitivity.
Holland Drums utilizes different choices for different model combinations. Wood, snares, throw-offs, lugs, heads, gold-tone or chrome hoops, etc. are all optional. There is a 16” x 16” Cocktail Bass Drum available that will offer even more sonic opportunities for set-up combinations.
Being a custom shop, Holland Drums has successfully combined two completely different drums, from different parts of the world, with fantastic results. Thus opening the doors for optional sounds and playing combinations, which is really what we all want in our drum choices, and Scott Holland has certainly succeeded in doing so. I really do wish I had this drum 25 years ago!
From Lancaster County PA, Thoughts from the shop………. Brian Hill