Drummer community & drum marketplace
The first vintage & Custom Drum Magazine, since 1988
Canopus Drums has been very innovative in new designs of instruments, hardware and parts. Now their newest offering is a much needed improvement on an old classic- the CIM-20 baseball bat internal muffler. It is an exact copy of the baseball bat but with new features. Not So Modern Drummer carries all Canopus products.
Read moreI was prized when Ringo picked up the sticks and started playing the kit. I was standing a few feet in front of him with an astonished look on my face. He began playing the beginning of Come Together and Ringo laughed when he saw me smiling and said “You caught that.” to which I said “Yes I did.” The last time Ringo played that kit as a Beatle was 51 years and nine months ago, truly a magical and historical moment.
Read more"I've heard a throw off referred to as a strainer? Why? Ahem.....from one who has spent way too much time studying and being baffled the antiquities of membranophones..... In my opinion, a strainer and a throw off are two different terms describing two different things, but are used interchangeably to describe the throw off mechanism.
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Custom Drum of the Month
My latest build commissioned by Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend) . It's a handmade Woods Custom 13" x 8"- 16 ply birch shell with walnut interior. The reinforcement rings are 8 ply birch with a birds eye maple veneer ply.
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John Bonham’s Ludwig Vistalite Black & White Candy Stripe swirl drum kit used during his time with Led Zeppelin was originally given to music critic Chris Welch by Bonzo himself. It is one of the only kits outside of the Bonham estate.
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This is one of those reviews that is easy to write because the product is so simple that it either works or it doesn't. It either does what the manufacturer says it does or it doesn't. This one works! CUSH pads are an alternative to the felts you use on your cymbal stand. They are made of a proprietary elastomer material, and are designed to allow the cymbals to ring longer and truer without muffling the sound or overtones. They don't collapse or take shape and always return to the original shape.
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Famous Drums' "2x4" Custom Snare Drum
The Art of snare drum building is thriving. There were 22 drum badges from the largest manufacturers, established independent builders, and the builders new to the scene. The art and science of custom drum building has become big business over the past few years so there was some stiff competition.
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The results of the 2014 Snare Drum Olympics are posted at www.snaredrumolympics.com along with corresponding videos, info and click-to-buy links for select snare drums entered in the event.
The Snare Drum Olympics event was started by Not So Modern Drummer founder John Aldridge in 1998 as “basically an excuse to get a bunch of really cool drums into one room at the same time.” It has evolved into an international showcase for some of the best snare drums in the world. It is a huge publicity event that has been heavily promoted by the drum manufacturers, the major drum magazines, and online drum sites and forums. YouTube. Facebook, Twitter and other social media have added another big layer of publicity over the past couple of years. The new SnareDrumOlympics.com website was recently launched this year. Each drum has its own page with videos, info and an optional click-to-buy link.
The 2014 judges were Jim Riley, drummer for Rascal Flatts, Ben Sesar, drummer for Brad Paisley, Keio Stroud drummer for Big and Rich, Beth Gottlieb, percussionist for the Gary Sinise and Lt. Dan Band, and Scott Radock, pro NYC drummer. The judging was held at Jim Riley’s Drum Dojo in Nashville TN on October 16.
The snare drums were categorized by shell composition and judged in two events; objective/blind and subjective/hands on. The results are reported as the top three scores in each shell category in each event, as the top three accumulative scores of the two events, and as the top three scores of all the drums. Also reported are the results from the public judging at the 2014 Nashville Drum Show this past September.
Brands participating this year were:
David Lee Drums Chicago Drum Infinity Drumworks DTS Custom Snare Drums Taye Drums Hayward Custom Drums Hogchain Custom Drums Klemm Drums Rasch Drums Guru Drums Holloman Custom Drums Artisan Drum Works Swindoll Custom Drums Goodman Drum Company Castle Drum Company Laudo Drums Outlaw Drums Gretsch Drums Pearl Drums Eccentric Systems Drums Bello Drums Furcinitti Custom Drums RotodruM
For more information, visit www.snaredrumolympics.com.
Thanks to all of you who attended and/or exhibited at the Nashville Drum Show in September. For those of you who missed it we have a great pictorial article with photos from Rick Malkin and Bob Campbell. The show was a great success. There were three times as many exhibitor and vendor booths as the prior show and double the attendance. We hit a tipping point with the show this year and I think we may have to move to a hotel/convention center next year. Also, the drum industry gave a lot of credence to the event this year with many unveilings of new products including Gretsch’s new made in the USA Broadkaster kit that was introduced by Fred Gretsch and the guy who builds the Gretsch drums, Paul Cooper. Mothertone/Sleishman’s inverted bass drum set was demonstrated by Roy Wooten along with the Wooten Brothers Band.
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But what about all the vintage and rare drums that have been modified with extra holes, unoriginal parts etc.? What about those red headed bastard stepchildren?
It is my theory that they will become more and more desirable as the herd is thinned over the coming decades. What made me realize this was one particular seller at the Chicago Drum Show who asked me if there were going to be a lot of “hipsters” at my Nashville Drum Show. He said that in Austin, where there are hundreds and hundreds of working drummers in that busy music scene, they are buying “player" vintage kits and snares, not the collector level drums. They are buying them for the sound, not the collectability. It made me realize just how much the vintage drum world has grown and how the less than perfect old drums need to be preserved too.
Read moreI was reading some posts online & George mentioned that you folks found a lacquer that was hard enough to topcoat cymbals. Could you tell me what that lacquer is or can I buy some from you folks for my Paiste Signature Series fast crash? - Stan
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"The Ludwig engineering group used the silver hand scribed badges whenever they were prototyping a new design, or were interested in tracking a particular drum. I personally saw an all aluminum Acrolyte set which used the silver hand scribed badges which never made it to the production line and was never offered for sale. It had an Acrolyte snare with a silver hand scribed badge.
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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
Ludwig 1923 Ludwig Original All Metal Separate Tension Drum - No. 4 - 5" x 15"
Theatre Concert model
Two piece brass shell with soldered second flange bearing edge
Original throw off replaced
8-lug 15" model
Not shown in any of the Ludwig catalogs
From the George Lawrence collection
Model: Ludwig LM400 Supraphonic 5x14 snare drumYear: 1963 to present
Description: Current model is U.S. made and has a spun aluminum seamless shell with chrome plating, imperial lugs, and a P85 throw off.
Prices as of 12/01/2013: Current Retail Price: NEW $695 (MAP $459) Excellent Condition Used (High Price): $300 Good Condition Used (Median Price): $200 Fair Condition Used (Low Price): $100
Opinions and debate about these average values are welcome in the comments section below, and values will change according to review of evidence present. Also welcome are comments about identifying features and timeline.
History and Identification :
The Ludwig Supra Phonic snare drum is one of the most popular snare drums of all time. It was used extensively on records by rock and jazz drummers of the fifties, sixties and seventies. Who knows how many hundreds of thousands of them were made over six decades? The SupraPhonic was introduced as the Super Ludwig in 1958 and was available in 5" depth only. The "Supra", as it was nicknamed, went through many major and minor changes over the years. The early chrome over brass shells and brass hoops are more desirable and rarer than the later chrome over aluminum shell drums and steel hoops. The chromed brass and chromed aluminum shells are hard to distinguish between and lots of fuss is made by collectors over how to tell the difference. The timeline of the changes below will help you date your drum. The only true 100% guaranteed way to tell if it's a brass shell underneath the chrome is to take one of the lugs or the strainer off the drum and remove a tiny bit of the chrome from the lug hole with a small file. If the brass shows through - bingo! If it's a darker grey color it's aluminum. Also if the chrome is flaking off the drum, it's an aluminum shell. Aluminum does not like to be chromed. Why are the brass ones so desirable? -The rarity and the superior tone.
The 1958 - 1963 chrome over brass and clear lacquer over brass shell Super Ludwigs range in price from $600 to $1000. Most aluminum and steel models correspond to the pricing above. A new or used Supraphonic of any stripe is a drum worth owning.
Super Ludwig and Supraphonic Timeline
1958: WFL badge (very rare), WFL P83 throw off, narrow crimped snare beds, brass shell has two folds- one flange downward from the bearing edge and a second fold back toward the shell, different from the aluminum shell which does not have the second fold. These drums are the best sounding of all the Supras because of the extra flange in the edge.
1958 - 1959: Ludwig Keystone brass and blue "transition" badge
1958 - 1960: Two piece brass shell w vertical weld seam, crimped narrow snare beds
1960 - 1963: Brass keystone badge w no serial number & etched characters. 6.5" depth model LM402 added, imperial lugs redesigned to be more hollow thus lighter
1961: Lacquered brass shell discontinued, a few shells were made out of steel, the one piece spun aluminum shell with one flange is introduced. The aluminum shells are lighter in weight and higher in pitch than the brass shells. Super Sensitive Supraphonic is introduced, snare beds widened to 8", round knob muffler replaced by the P-4067 "baseball bat" muffler w red felt. The felt was changed to white in 1964
1963: Name changed from Super Ludwig 400 to Supra-Phonic 400, serial numbers began to be stamped on badges in late 1963 - 4 digits - in '64 five digits - and in '65 six digits, Lug screws changed from hex head screws and washers to flat head screws w small bell washers.
1964: Brass hoops were changed to steel, felt on baseball bat muffler changed to white felt
1968: Baseball bat muffler replaced by 1" knob muffler, P83 strainer replaced with P85, shell material changed to a different non ferrous aluminum alloy; these shells are stamped AG on the inside
1969: First Blue and Olive parallelogram badges w no serial numbers, a few Supras were made without badges during this transition
1970: Lud-a-loy stickers added to inside of shell, a few Supraphonic 400 snares are made with brass shells and can be identified by the letters B or BR stamped by the muffler, and by modified shorter blue and olive badges.
1977: Strainer and butt height changed from 1/2" to 7/8"
1980: P85 12 strainer holes for gut snares changed to just two holes for wire snare strings
1984: P85 two hole model replaced by one slot P85 model
1988: Monroe badge replaces old Keystone badge
1994: New options offered on a Supraphonic 400: tube lugs, hammered shells, brass shells and bronze shells
There are exceptions to all of these variations and changes. Ludwig experimented a lot with different components, especially during the early sixties. One can find drums with the wrong shell, badges, lugs, and other parts that were factory originals due to shortages, old stock, custom builds for artists, etc., so these identifying factors are not written in stone, but it is a fairly reliable guide.
I am not the world’s foremost authority on vintage drums but I know enough to get me in trouble and I know there are guys and gals who know more than I do! Please, if you have differing information and opinions, I would love to hear from you in the comments below, but please be civil about it.
Thanks, George Lawrence - who wishes now that he hadn't sold his 1963 COB Supra.
Made in Japan
Luan plywood shell with maple reinforcing rings
Recovered in peacock satin flame wrap by Sam Bacco -three point reproduction strainer
Original Slingerland type hoops, Gretsch type lugs
Ultra cool Telestar badge
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
