Meinl Percussion TCAJ1BK Compact Rubber Wood Travel Cajon, Black

I play drums and thought I might expand my set playing to hand drums as I have always liked them, and I have younger children that might enjoy them as well. I purchased this lap cajon and the meinl bongo cajons (still in transit) as a way to introduce myself to hand percussion. My thinking on getting this travel cajon was that I need something to start on that: didn't take up lots of room & that wouldn't cost a lot in the event I wasn't into it. I opened the box and just as pictures and videos I watch showed, there was this thin black looking box, approximately 12" squared. there is a foam pad underneath that makes it not slip or if you place it on a hard surface would not damage said surface. on the top end of the cajon is a sound port for projection. Its surprisingly load for a small thing, though I would imagnine you really couldn't be heard in anything large like a drum circle or more than accoustic music. I think maybe the purpose is more for practicing than anything Speaking of the sound, like I said I watched videos of it, which spurred the purchase, though what I am hearing live and what I heard on the videos are quite different. This may be because of the nature of the micing but there is a noticeable twang with it, something I was not hearing on video. This could just be how cajons sound as I have never heard one in person or just how this one sounds, but it was not exactly what I was expecting. After playing around with it for a while, that twang sort of got absorbed kind of like sympathetic buzz does in drumset playing and wasn't too noticeable. Because it is quite thin, maybe only 1 inch thick it cannot get that low thud a traditional cajon can, but one is sort of there by striking the center. I was also playing it with brushes and it actually sounds fairly good with those and you get less of the twangy overtone by striking with brushes on it. So overall I think this product is pretty good for what it is, something a person can take around with them and practice or in a low volume setting, play with others. Oh and while its not available on amazon there is a carrying bag available for it too that you can probably find at many online music stores.

It's beautiful and fun to play. Just it doesn't give you the same bounce like a percussion drum.

I personally like portable instruments - things I can take with me anywhere like Ukuleles and Bongo drums. I always wanted to get a Cajon but most Cajons are practically pieces of furniture - which is fine - but I want something that is more portable. In contrast, the Travel Cajon is quite portable. In fact, when I took it out of the box and looked at it I realized I had just paid $40 for a plastic box. HOWEVER: It is light, pretty sturdy and very fun to play. It would be wrong to say that it sounds as good as a full size cajon, because it doesn't. I found the snare to be a little annoying at first as it is a little on the "rattley" side, but after a while a got the feel of the instrument and found I could use the rattle to my advantage. It is quite fun to play.

I like the concept of this product and it works for me. I didn't expect much of bass and it's fine. Only issue is snare. When I received my travel cajon, the sound is very weird. I unscrewed, opened the box, and re-installed its snare. Now sounds better than before, but still fat worse than real cajons.

Product, price, seller & transaction worked out great. I've enjoyed playing with this around the house, on travels, and in the park with the kids. Its travel size is that of a computer laptop. It's durable, light, good sound/tone, not too loud, good with brushes, practicing finger technique, and all around portable fun for cajon players. Travel case recommended. Would recommend product & seller!

Portable percussion wonder that allows anyone to keep the beat and have fun. Experiment with various finger and palm techniques for endless variations of rythm and delight.

Ugh, no matter where you tap, it sounds exactly the same. Hopeless.

Not bad for practice sing whilst away. Takes some time to play on horizontal as opposed to Cajon on vertical face. No way to adjust snare.