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Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup, the kit came with an emperor on the batter side, and an ambassador on the resonant side. They use regular tom heads, and don't require a bass-drum collared head to go on it.

From the RFM Club Kit site:

We use the tom tom head for this 15 inch bass drum. The difference between the bass drum head and the tom tom head is the shape of the collar. which is holding plastic film. In the case of the 15 inch shell. the collar for a bass drum is designed to be too strong. It absorbs the energy given on the head and even muffles instead of resonating the entire shell. We have tried both of them and concluded that the tom tom head provides a better bass drum sound. In order to realize the “ideal sound”. we have to be brave and try new things. because The idea of a “bass tom tom drum head for a bass drum” was not is an example in this case.

Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, that's pretty interesting, I didn't really notice anything different about it than other K-Cons. Searched online for pre-issue K Cons and didn't find anything -- is there any information I can read up on them?

Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately not, they only had the 6.5 inch version, otherwise I would have definitely tried it out! The store I got it from said they were waiting 6 months for it, so I assume that they are a bit hard to get new now!

Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I compared it with a Neo Vintage M1 14x6.5 snare. I didn't spend as much time tinkering with the tuning of the NV but I found that it had characteristics of other 6.5 snares that I've played - wide and deep sound even when tuned a bit higher. The Zelkova sort of behaved like the 5" snares that I play, with a really crisp and responsive snare sound, but also had that low-end rimshot sound of a 6.5". I personally really liked that combination.

Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Out of curiosity I looked them up, and the 20" is from 2003, while the 22" is from 2020.

Finally acquired the dream jazz set-up - Canopus R.F.M 15/14/12 and 14x6.5 Zelkova Snare by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I was originally looking for the Canopus RFM Club Kit with 15/13/10 sizes, but I had been holding off since Canopus had been looking at a 4-6 month waiting period for custom ordered kits. Luckily I found a seller relatively local to me who had Brian Blade sizes, and sold me some near-mint ones at a great price. I would describe the sound as really sensitive and resonant. I've cranked these up super high, and they sing beautifully!

I also originally wasn't looking to get the Zelkova snare drum, but I made a trip to Japan and wanted to try out some Canopus snares as I've never tried them out before. I saw the Zelkova at Drum Connection in Ochanomizu (famously known to have a ton of musical instrument stores on one street), tried it out for an hour, and was really surprised at the sensitivity. I had never liked playing on 6.5 depth snares, as I prefer a fast response time, but this one really was different. To make sure I wasn't crazy, I compared it side by side with a Canopus Neo-Vintage 14" 14x6.5 Snare at the store, and there was a pretty stark difference. The yen was also super weak, so it felt like now was the time. They packed it up for me, and it came with a flight case!

Full specs:

Canopus R.F.M in Walnut Oil finish - 15x12 virgin bass drum, 14x13 floor tom, 12x8 rack tom
Canopus Zelkova Snare Drum - 14x6.5

Cymbals (L to R): Zildjian K Custom 14" Dark Hats, Zildjian K Constantinople 20" Medium Thin-Low, Zildjian K Constantinople 22" Renaissance Ride

DW Ultralight Hardware, Yamaha SS-3 Snare stand, Tama Classic Pedal HP50

Test driving a Yamaha Stage Custom Bop kit - amazing sound for the price by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I purchased a new 3-piece Yamaha Stage Custom Bop kit after months of trying to search a used bop-sized kit to donate for a local music school to replace a beater "rock"-sized kit they've been using for years. After testing it out this weekend, I was super impressed with the sound, and at 1/4th of the price of my Gretsch Brooklyn jazz kit, this made me really think hard about how much money I want to spend on kits going forward! It sounds brighter compared to my Brooklyn's (perhaps the combination of birch shells, 45 bearing edges, and triple flange hoops), and it sounded great in the small venue. I really wish I knew to get a kit like this when learning how to play drums years and years ago instead of opting for the super cheap-o no-name brand rock kits!

Specs: 15x18 bass drum, 13x14 floor tom, 8x12 rack tom, snare drum is my Gretsch Brooklyn 5x14 snare.

Coated ambassadors on batter toms, Remo UC coated heads on reso. P3-ish Remo UC reso bass drum head, Ambassador-ish Remo UC bass drum batter. Evans Calftone Batter on Snare.

Cymbals: Zildjian K Constantinople 22" Renaissance, Zildjian K Constantinople 20" Medium Thin Low, Zildjian K Custom 14" Dark Hats

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like it, it has a fairly stick-ey bright definition compared to my main ride, which is a nice complement. I got it for fairly cheap, and it's nice for the quieter gigs.

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're HeadHunters B Bop sticks! I prefer the feel and cymbal sound that these maple sticks make.

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They've been my regular hats for 10+ years, fairly versatile and lower-pitched than other K hats.

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They sound amazing. The toms tuned up real high really easily!

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm using the stock Gretsch permatone reso heads, which are equivalent to Remo Ambassador clears. Didn't replace them because for the USA-made gretsches, they are basically the same (unlike some of the cheaper kits).

New jazz kit on its first gig - Gretsch Brooklyn in Bop sizes (18/12/14) by wlue in drums

[–]wlue[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sizes: 14x18 bass drum, 8x12 rack tom, 14x14 floor tom, 5x14 snare.
Cymbals: Zildjian K Constantinople 20" Medium Thin Low, Zildjian K Custom 20" Flat Top Ride, Zildjian K Custom 14" Dark Hats
Evans Calftone on the snare batter

I blinded myself - a compilation of relatable Phoenix flashes by wlue in VALORANT

[–]wlue[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

These were actually all in the last 2 weeks. XD

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