Canopus Drums - Anyone know the history, lore, etc. of this company? Somewhat difficult to find information.

[aarono2690]

I found out about Canopus a couple months back. Prior to this, I have seen their logo on drum heads randomly when going to local shows. My ignorant assumption at the time was that they were a budget drum kit brand since I've never heard of them. Their website looks like a Geocities from the 90's and from what I could tell the only dealer in MN was a random drum shop up by the ND border so it's been difficult to learn more about the company. I assume there are more local dealers, but as I said their website isn't the best.

After a bit of reading on the company all I know is they tend to get a lot of praise from drummers and the second hand market for their drums is very tight. Does anyone have reliable information about the founding, their craftsmen, etc.?

 

[bjisteve]

they make great drums - period. Outstanding QC and build. Even their "budget" line - Yaibas - are excellent. RFMs are some of the best drums I've ever played. NV60-M1s are what Gretsch would be if they had Canopus' level of R&D and quality control. You can't go wrong with them,. There are 3 Canopus bop kits for sale here right now - very unusual - including an ash kit I'm selling. I'm in MN and there are no dealers anywhere close, so you're stuck with videos. But there are lots of them.

 

[Tarkus]

Origin of the name: 'Canopus' is a star, the second brightest after Sirius.

Well described on their webpage: Canopus

Great drums, of course. Personally I have only tested, not owned. But I own snare wires, which are great, too (if that counts).

 

[dsop]

I had a snare once. The shell was quite undersized, which I found surprising, as that is not mentioned anywhere on their site.

 

[pwc1141]

I recently acquired a Canopus 14 x 5 steel shell with brass lugs. I worried before it arrived that it would be way bright and have all kinds of overtones as I only had wood snares before. I was wrong. It tuned up with very minimal ring and is in fact quite dry sounding. In short, I can attest to their craftsmanship and have no idea what else can account for the difference from other metal snares drums I have played but not owned. One of the best drummers in S E Asia who lives here (an American) is the local dealer and I have heard his full double bass drum Canopus kit which is outstanding in tone. As a custom maker in Japan it ranks top. And here it very well regarded but more expensive than most other brands and thus limited in brand share here. My snare drum has the original Canopus snare wires but I swapped out the original Canopus batter head but kept it in case a buyer one day wants everything as it was...I have since cleaned up those lugs quite a bit ...

.

 

[drawtheline55]

Canopus = great drums and snares....that is all.

 

[Murat]

Canopus = great drums and snares....that is all.

...plus great snare wires, internal snare mufflers, light weight hardware...I have not met a Canopus product I did not like.

 

[drawtheline55]

...plus great snare wires, internal snare mufflers, light weight hardware...I have not met a Canopus product I did not like.

So true, great accessories too.

 

[5 Style]

I volunteer for a big jazz festival here in Portland, Oregon, the PDX Jazz Fest and the folks who put this thing on bought a house drum kit, which happens to be Canopus. It’s a really great looking and even more importantly great sounding kit and some of the very best drummers out there, from all over the world have played on it, made it sound great and have had zero complaints with it. If I was in the market for new kit and had the budget for something higher end, I would definitely be looking at the brand...

 

[pwc1141]

Adding to my earlier comments, this is the double bass drum kit I referred to belonging to a great drummer here who is the local Canopus dealer...I am uncertain about the kit model or the sizes ...

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[Redfern]

I’ve owned a Yaiba bop kit and it was by far the best made kit I’ve ever owned. Extreme build quality. Amazing tone and tune-ability. I completely regret selling it to this day. “I just had to have something vintage.” So dumb. I’ll buy another one day soon.

 

[aarono2690]

I’ve owned a Yaiba bop kit and it was by far the best made kit I’ve ever owned. Extreme build quality. Amazing tone and tune-ability. I completely regret selling it to this day. “I just had to have something vintage.” So dumb. I’ll buy another one day soon.

Any pics of your old Yaiba you can share?

 

[fitzsy]

all the lines are great. I’ve had RFMs and NV60M2s and since I’ve been craving that Gretsch thing I am now playing NV60M1s. All the drums I’ve had have been exceptional.

 

[ZiggyM]

Reading something last night allows me add a snippet of completely useless information.

The main thoroughfare in the city of Alexandria when Julius Caesar besieged it
in 47 BC was called Canopus Street.

Also I really like the drums as well.

 

[DrumGuy27]

like Shane at DCNH says, 7 out of 10 customers looking for a new snare walk out with a Canopus!

I've had or have 3 or 4. Their bronze 5.5", Ash/poplar 5.5" and looking for a new or mint 6.5" birch in rotten red or blue (for under $700?).

Canopus wires and snares I know from experience make you smile when you play them. Thats all.

 

[pwc1141]

like Shane at DCNH says, 7 out of 10 customers looking for a new snare walk out with a Canopus!

I've had or have 3 or 4. Their bronze 5.5", Ash/poplar 5.5" and looking for a new or mint 6.5" birch in rotten red or blue (for under $700?).

Canopus wires and snares I know from experience make you smile when you play them. Thats all.

My 14 x 5 steel Canopus must have been a bargain at approx. $230 including local shipping....

 

[DrumGuy27]

My 14 x 5 steel Canopus must have been a bargain at approx. $230 including local shipping....

bargain CITY indeed!

 

[Phantomlimb777]

I have an RFM kit and a 6.5 Zelkova, and it’s apparent that the company cares deeply about what they do.
They have the cleanest bearing edges I’ve ever seen. I never have to worry about anything while playing them. Never dealt with anything rattling, and I move the kit a lot.
Everything is designed to be simple, and make sense.
I also had a Yaiba kit, but I already had the RFM, and enjoyed playing it so much that I sold the Yaibas, and just gig the RFM.

I should note that I’ve owned a lot of drums, and these are the ones that have stuck.

 

[aarono2690]

I have an RFM kit and a 6.5 Zelkova, and it’s apparent that the company cares deeply about what they do.
They have the cleanest bearing edges I’ve ever seen. I never have to worry about anything while playing them. Never dealt with anything rattling, and I move the kit a lot.
Everything is designed to be simple, and make sense.
I also had a Yaiba kit, but I already had the RFM, and enjoyed playing it so much that I sold the Yaibas, and just gig the RFM.

I should note that I’ve owned a lot of drums, and these are the ones that have stuck. View attachment 614847 View attachment 614848 View attachment 614849 View attachment 614850 View attachment 614851

What are the main improvements on the RFM over the Yaiba?

 

[drummydummie]

I have an RFM kit and a 6.5 Zelkova, and it’s apparent that the company cares deeply about what they do.
They have the cleanest bearing edges I’ve ever seen. I never have to worry about anything while playing them. Never dealt with anything rattling, and I move the kit a lot.
Everything is designed to be simple, and make sense.
I also had a Yaiba kit, but I already had the RFM, and enjoyed playing it so much that I sold the Yaibas, and just gig the RFM.

I should note that I’ve owned a lot of drums, and these are the ones that have stuck. View attachment 614847 View attachment 614848 View attachment 614849 View attachment 614850 View attachment 614851

never seen toms mounted this way. i'm into it. beautiful kits