Meinl Bass Cajon with Foot Pedal and Ebony Frontplate

The Meinl Bass Cajon with Foot Pedal and Ebony Frontplate is slightly larger than the standard Meinl cajons. Its larger size combined with its resonating Siam oak body create diverse, rich sounds with increased projection. From deep bass sounds to slaps to cutting high overtones, this cajon is well-equipped for a wide variety of uses. Born from an Afro-Cuban tradition, the Meinl Bass Cajon is entirely handmade. Its attached foot pedal easily adjusts the rattle of the snares attached to the frontplate by internal wires. The snares presence can be increased for flamenco music or completely turned off when not needed. Typically, cajons are played by sitting atop the padded seat of the instrument and striking the frontplate with your bare hand. Some drummers interchange a cajon for their drum throne and add its percussive flavor to the rest of their set. The sounds can also be manipulated by using brushes or rods or by sliding your foot along the cajons frontplate. The Meinl Bass Cajon is wonderful for unplugged acoustic performances or for quieter music. It is designed to play the full range of flamenco, Afro-Cuban, and world music. History In 19th century Peru, slaves were not allowed to have African drums so they began making music on the wooden crates used for shipping. Out of the sounds of these crates, the cajon was born. Now a trademark of Peruvian culture, it has found its way into songs like the œvals criollo or œcreole waltz. The cajon branched out from traditional Peruvian music to flamenco thanks to the flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. The Spanish embassy to Peru threw a party in Paco de Lucias honor at which a traditional Peruvian band performed. De Lucia was so taken with the bands use of the cajon. He even asked the percussionist, Ruben Danta, to play traditional flamenco rhythms on the cajon. Typically, the rhythms in flamenco would be produced by slapping the guitar. The cajon opened up a whole new world of possibility. Paco de Lucia brought the cajon to Spain and before long it was a standard component of flamenco music. Its short, staccato sounds integrated wonderfully with the palmas (hand claps) and footwork of flamenco. Since its spread to Spain, the cajon has continued to make its mark throughout the world. The cajon is now known worldwide and is integrated into a great variety of musical styles.