Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones)

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones)

Hey,

Does anyone know exactly whats inside a cajón? I mean is it just an empty box, or is there something magical inside? Also, is it made from "tonewood" (ie. wood specifically selected for its sound properties) or just any old plywood. Just curious about them because I've never actually thought about it. If its fairly simple to make, I might try making one myself- can anyone recommend some plans?

I think having a cajón and attemting to learn to play it might also improve my compas, que no? Without having to worry about chords and fingerings, I could just bash out raw rhythms on the cajon until it clicks. Are there any good, simple cajón tuition resources out there?

Any help gratefully appreciated!

James

ps: do they always have to be made from wood, or can other materials be used?

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

_____________________________

¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 14:06:21

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

i am pretty shure thers guitar strings inside

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 14:36:58

Georg

Posts: 405
Joined: Feb. 5 2006
From: Germany

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I have built one myself in a workshop.

Inside are guitar strings, and some have little bells in it (though unimportant).

The cajon originally was played in Peru by poor harbour workers, who used boxes where cod was transported. Then someone found out that adding strings gives a good sound. The name cajon means box or even coffin.

When Paco came to Peru he liked it and used it for his songs. That's the short version of the history of the Perujan Cajon. There is also another one in Cuba without strings and the surface where you play on is on top.

I will probably build one again over the days of New Year's Eve.

Ah... I think we used solid spruce for it, but the front plate was birch.

Greets Georg

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 14:38:09

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Guitar strings, eh? thats interesting!

Thanks Georg, but please tell me more... how are the strings positioned inside the cajon? And how do the strings affect the sound of the instrument? Also, are there any plans/drawings available that I can work from?

Vielen Dank!

James

_____________________________

¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 15:43:48

Reece

Posts: 21
Joined: Oct. 31 2006

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

http://www.ocanartesania.com/V2/pdf/articulos/building_cajon.pdf

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 16:37:53

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

That was a sweet link.

Thank you.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 17:03:31

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

quote:

Whats inside cajónes?

A dead cat and a piece of half-eaten tortilla...

No, seriously though...a few years back, I had a go at building one.
I followed the advice for building materials and method of construction...but it sounded like sh*t.

I've never tried a "real" one to know what it should sound like, so I can't really tell if it's the cajón or the playing that's at fault.

cheers

Ron

_____________________________

A good guitar might be a good guitar
But it takes a woman to break your heart

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 17:05:26

sonikete

Posts: 735
Joined: Jan. 9 2004
From: Sweden

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

You could transport beer in them if you are travelling in a small car..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 17:07:58

Georg

Posts: 405
Joined: Feb. 5 2006
From: Germany

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I had a short look at the link:

I don't think that you will have a decent snare sound with the kind of string attachment which the pdf file shows. We also used another technique to tune the cajon.

Tunig a cajon? Yes the strings must have the right tension to have produce the right effect.

There must be somewhere a pdf file in the net that shows the way I tighten the strings.
Ah yes: http://www.musik-fromm.de/cajon.pdf

It's written in German, so if you have problems, feel free to ask.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 17:20:06

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Thanks man! My mother speaks Deutsche, so I'll get her to translate.

But can anyone advise me as to what sound I'm trying to acchieve with my cajon (in regard to tone, snare, etc). I've never really seen/heard one in real life other than at the odd concert. And even then, I tend to be so busy listening to the guitar parts and singing that I don't pay the cajon much attention...

Cheers,

Jb

_____________________________

¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 17:52:52

pablo requena

Posts: 18
Joined: Apr. 10 2006
From: From Malaga, Spain. Based in Sussex ,England.

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Hi James

I have a cajon in my shop in Lewes, you are very welcome to have a close look at it and try it out when you came down.

Pablo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 18:22:50

Guest

[Deleted] (in reply to JBASHORUN)

[Deleted by Admins]

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 18:35:56

Georg

Posts: 405
Joined: Feb. 5 2006
From: Germany

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Listen to this one:

http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=1788662100348933719&q=cajon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 13 2006 19:12:50

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

A dead cat and a piece of half-eaten tortilla...

OMFG! You made me snort Pepsi.

In supplement to GuxDiBux :

Caja = box

Cajon = 'big' box So what box is 'bigger' than a coffin?

'-on' is the opposite of a diminutive.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2006 3:13:44

el ted

Posts: 466
Joined: Nov. 13 2003

RE: Whats inside cajónes? (not cojones) (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I have fitted the springs from a snare drum to the inside of mine, works great. In Spain I have seen them empty, some even open backed. Some filled with baffles and rattles made from flattened coca-cola cans, and even little bells.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2006 8:05:37