Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords
  • 86000+ free music samples

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. News

The 10 best cajons in the world right now

By Rich Chamberlain
published 25 August 2015

Buyer with confidence with our buyer's guide

The 10 best cajons in the world right now

The 10 best cajons in the world right now

The resurgence of the cajon over the last few years has been as staggering as it has rapid. These unassuming wooden boxes are in actual fact crafted by master artisans and open up a world of opportunity for drummers.

Whether it be part of a dedicated percussion rig or as a handy tool for acoustic gigs, cajons are bigger than ever. That's why this month our team of expert reviewers turn their attention to the top best cajons in the world right now.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Tycoon Red Cherry Acyclic
£405

Tycoon Red Cherry Acyclic

This hybrid acrylic/black makah cajon from Bangkok-based Tycoon ticks the style and substance boxes. Beautifully designed and packed with power, it also sounds great when played with brushes. But it carries a price tag to match.

3 out of 5

Full review:Tycoon Red Cherry Acyclic

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Meinl Artisan
From £207

Meinl Artisan

Meinl's Artisan range continues to grow, with each addition to the line showing the excellent craftsmanship you would expect from this iconic brand. The birch-made Solea, Catinia and Seguiriya models are particularly tasty from this Spanish-made series thanks to their subtle tones.

3 out of 5

Full review: Meinl Artisan cajons

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
LP Widebody
£267

LP Widebody

The Widebody is crafted by Latin Percussion's skilled luthiers in Spain and delivers top quality, professional tones. At 46cm x 35cm x 30cm it is shorter but wider than your average cajon, hence the name.

4 out of 5

Full review: LP Widebody

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Lion Pro Active
£125

Lion Pro Active

Proudly flying the flag for Britain, Plymouth-based Lion Cajons have been doing some superb work under-the-radar in recent years. This plywood Pro-Active Bass cajon is a bit of a beast, coming in at 48cm tall, 30cm deep and 34cm and offers superb value for money.

4 out of 5

Full review: Lion Pro Active

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Natal Large
£99

Natal Large

An iconic name with a long, illustrious history in percussion, Natal knows what it's doing when it comes to cajons. Their Large cajon measures 36cm x 30cm x 48cm and delivers delicious deep tones for not a whole lotta cash. You can upgrade to the XL model for an extra tenner.

4 out of 5

Full review: Natal Large

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Pearl Jingle/Cube
From £191

Pearl Jingle/Cube

Not only do Pearl's Jungle and Cube cajons sound great and look funky but with price tags like these they have done our wallets a favour too. Both feature fibreglass surrounds and hardwood playing surfaces.

4 out of 5

Full review: Pearl Jingle and Cube cajons

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
PP PP142
£89.99

PP PP142

If you're looking to get into the cajon boom but you're on a budget, the PP142 would be a cracking choice. You will get a well-finished, sturdy instrument and a handy padded carry case. All with change from £90, not bad at all.

4 out of 5

Full review: PP142 cajon

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Duende Elite
£245

Duende Elite

The 48cm x 30cm x 31cm Duende Elite is a birch cajon that delivers in spades when it comes to volume and power. It's also a doddle to adjust its snare by hand thanks to its clever three-string mechanism. A great value instrument that usefully fills a gap in the market.

4 out of 5

Full review: Duende Elite

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Leiva Pro Omeya Bass
£375

Leiva Pro Omeya Bass

Made from phenolic plywood and Russian birch, the Omeya Bass Studio is a sophisticated, expensive cajon, thoughtfully designed and carefully assembled in quality materials. The higher tone adjustments are subtle, while the bass capabilities are undeniably impressive.

4 out of 5

Full review:Leiva Pro Omeya Bass

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
De Gregorio Siroco
£398

De Gregorio Siroco

The Siroco is the result of a collaboration on equal terms between Paulo De Gregorio's Barcelona-based company and J Leiva Percussion, and the results are stunning. Made from sonically sympathetic woods, the birch plywod/pine Siroco is incredibly portable and right at the top of the high-end bracket.

5 out of 5

Full review: De Gregorio Siroco

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain
Social Links Navigation

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

More about drums
Gretsch Renegade

Gretsch Drums launches new beginner-friendly Renegade Series drum kits

DW 14"x5" MFG True-Cast Snare

DW unveils limited edition 14”x5” DW MFG True-Cast Snare

Latest
Dave Grohl playing drums on Play live, 2018

Watch Dave Grohl unleash a 36-minute live version of his Play instrumental

See more latest ►
Most Popular
We tested 4 of the most popular online e-mastering services and compared them to a real mastering engineer. Here’s what happened

By Stuart Adams1 December 2023

How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"

By Noah Nichols1 December 2023

Alex Lifeson reveals signature LERXST amp line with MojoTone ahead of writing sessions with Geddy Lee

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

Zultan launches Heritage Flat Ride cymbals in two sizes

By Stuart Williams30 November 2023

Harley Benton's new N-150CE guitar might be the ideal excuse to add a resonator to your collection

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

"Right, we've had a break – this is it": Radiohead drummer says band are "coming around to that point" of getting back together

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

"This might not be such a good idea after all": A YouTuber tries to recreate classic $200 ReBirth software with $15,000 worth of original vintage Roland hardware

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

"To say its arrival was earth-shaking would be no exaggeration": why, 40 years on, the Yamaha DX7 was the most important release in synth history, even though it did "make your head dribble"

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

14 tips for producing better techno: "Automate the low-pass filter frequency to create a rhythmic pattern on your bassline"

By Sara Simms30 November 2023

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is here, and Taylor Swift has been crowned the top global artist of the year

By Ben Rogerson30 November 2023

The Pogues vocalist and songwriter Shane MacGowan has died, aged 65

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

  1. Line 6 Stormtrooper HX Stomp
    1
    The Line 6 HX Stomp is already the best-value multi-effects and amp modeller but with $100 off and a free $79 bag it's on a whole new level for Cyber Monday
  2. 2
    I've used the Yamaha HS5 monitors in my home studio for five years - and now they’re discounted for Cyber Monday
  3. 3
    How the hunt for a lost Moog in India unearthed a groundbreaking collection of '60s electronic music that was miles ahead of its time: "It blew everything wide open"
  4. 4
    How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"
  5. 5
    How to create drumless jam tracks or isolated drum tracks of your favourite songs for free
  1. Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig
    1
    Arturia’s AudioFuse 16Rig is the flexible, hardware-focused audio interface that you can use both in your studio and on stage
  2. 2
    Alex Lifeson reveals signature LERXST amp line with MojoTone ahead of writing sessions with Geddy Lee
  3. 3
    How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"
  4. 4
    “It covers my utilities bill”: German electronic musician Hainbach reveals how much his 1 million Spotify streams earned him in 2023
  5. 5
    Why does the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul cost $1,500?

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.