How to build a strings cajon

[venpresath]

What's the song in this song?

[ozlotem]

וואלה חיפשתי איך בונים קחון ופתאום אני רואה שהסרטון המוביל מישראל :)

כבוד !

ראית לא הסברת איך, איפה ואיזה מיתרים חיברת... זה החלק החשוב ! תיבת עץ זה לא בעיה לבנות...

[Blayros]

would love some more details and pictures of the string attachment.....

[FoxandthePound]

amazing, any chance you sell these?

[JRVulpis]

2x ( 1/2 inch plywood) 13 inches by 19 inches (sides) one with 4 inch diameter in center of the board

1x (1/2 inch plywood) 12 inch by 19 inch (backside)

2x (1/2 inch plywood) 13 inch by 13 inch(top and bottom)

Front side- 1 piece of 1/8 inch 3 plyes plywood (Fiber direction is vertical) 13 inch by 20 inch

WOOD GLUE

heres the amount and measurements for your shopping list. working on it tomorrow!

[jackandjill318]

hey idandos, i seen one of these boxes' with a fiber glass front pannel, do you in your expertise know what type of fiber glass would be used? and/or what thickness?

PLEASE RESPOND!

Thanks.. lol

[xoguitargirlox]

could you maybe explain it a little better? like how do i put the strings in and what are they attached to? or maybe you could just make me one and I can pay you less than guitar center... lol

[TomCei]

DUmb question, but as I just found out about this instrument i've got to ask. What exactly do the strings do? Are they to give it a snare sound? I am thinking about adding an instrument like this to my acoustic gigs, but don't feel like spending 150-200 dollars for something I can have my brother make me.

[Wankeysweater]

@TomCei snare sound

[loveofanorchestra]

sounds nice

what's the song called?

and does it care which wood you take?

[alamakmatila]

good job.... priceless... thumb up for u...

[corrda1993]

I built one a while ago as a present for a friend. It turned out great. The only difference is I used snare wires instead of guitar strings.

[festagio]

Hi there, how long does it roughly take to make one?

[sambowman7]

How did you build the frame?

[fingerman100]

hey, it's very nice..!! im planning to follow it but could you post some more info about the way you attach the strings??

[egbertplug]

You people with your cajons are very silly people. The whole idea is dumb. Well built flat-style cardboard boxes played on your lap sound far bettter. And they're free. They're already made -- just go get one. Spiff it up a little, tape the edges, cut a hole in the underside if you want, add some snare wires -- and you don't have to be silly anymore. HA !! The laff's on you !!

[skimkid13]

@egbertplug and ull look ghettttoooo. haha

[Qwinkly3]

@egbertplug "You person" who categorizes an entire group of people by one idea have just shown yourself to both rude and an idiot. In addition, you have shown yourself to know very little about the nuances of intonation as a musical concept. There is no way any form of cardboard will give the same range and depth of resonances as a wooden box. Duh....that's why no one makes guitars of the stuff.

[devdesmusic]

@egbertplug

no, the laughs on you for thinking that every single person who is spanish built the cajon and no, this sounds much better

[egbertplug]

I use the cardboard box my Viewsonic 24" computer monitor came in. I play it on my lap bongo-style, it sounds a lot better than this thing of yours and it's free. It's lightweight, has a plastic handle for easy carrying around. I put my tambourines and maracas inside when I carry them to a gig. I cover it with MacTac to look nice. I haven't added a snare wire yet but will. I place a tambourine on it while I play it on my knees, the sound is incredible. 100 X better sound than yours.

[Qwinkly3]

Are you playing one with strings and bells just like you showed how to make? I don't hear any snare/strings sound, nor any bells jingling. And, when stringing, do your strings actually touch the front board or a teeny bit away? And the bells - touching?

What type of bells are they? Is it important to have a certain type or quality?

[bassmidget]

Can you also use a snare as the strings?

[idandos]

@bassmidget

i've built one this way, and and turned out really good, I'd give it a go!

It will also save you some time and effort, since tuning the strings to sound good requires some work and experience.

Good luck, and when your done , don't forget to share!.

[bassmidget]

@idandos I have 3~6 months to make this in my Wood shop class so I should have plenty of time, Thanks!!!

[craptardmonkeydog]

nice vid dude, but the strings arent set up well, theyre sposed to touch the striking plate so it sounds "crispier" .urs kinda sound like Congo drums

[MadInstrumental]

Absolutely amazing, I'm going to have to make me one of those!

[berrusensei1404]

hey idandos, really appreciate ur vid showing how to make a cajon! i did it followed ur steps! and it works! :D

[idandos]

@berrusensei1404 Thanks for telling me, it makes it worth the time.

BTW, I saw your video, and i think you should use twice as much screws in the front. so the playing board holds tight.

Anyway nicely done!!

[litlejonas]

nice vid, but the cajon is peruvian, not mexican, so... the antonio banderas song is kinda odd lol

[borntodance1988]

I just wanted to know how much would you charge to make a cajon for my group.

Thanks

[bishopdante]

good beats! the man can play for sure. Flamalicious hehe

[MegaSupercam]

sounds pretty cool!

I'm building my third one now, wanting to put a snare on mine>

Great Job!

[uruguayo210]

What type of plywood did you use?

[TeamElohim]

Nice job! What's the band that is playing in the video?

[MyselfX30]

@TeamElohim Gypsy Kings

[TeamElohim]

@MyselfX30 Thank you... song name?

[joemarnunez]

could someone make me a cajon....

[killercrabman]

hard to hear the snare, sounded more like congas...but still cool sound and pro job on the gluey bit...i would never have the patience.

[josipml5]

at 1:37: how are the guitar tuner set up? do they even hold the strings? can strings be randomly set up or is your way the only right way? what is that thing in the middle of the strings, some kind of rattle? generally what are the tuners for and how did you put them there? thanks

[idandos]

For the strings I recommend to watch this video: "cajon flamenco 2" search for it, its in Spanish but , you can still figure out what his doing.

The strings stretchers is something I found useful, and its the most complicated part, you may want to include it or you may find a better solution.

Good Luck!

[TheMrBoggy]

@idandos

I watched this "cajon flamenco 2" you mentioned but I still don't fully understand some things. What are string stretchers supposed do do? How tight are srings, and what is that thing you hooked up in a middle?

Please explain this to me, I am really struggling with it.

[idandos]

@TheMrBoggy

I don't know the "correct" way to do this. I tried the string stretchers, and found there difficult to assemble and to use.

Try improvising some simple device from a screw that will do the job.

Perhaps the string to loop on to a screw, while turning it tightens the strings.

You may want to use a snare drum net instead of the strings, it will also require some improvisation, but may produce quite a good sound with less effort.

The things in the middle? bells?

Good luck Boggy!!

[gustthor]

El cajón es peruano,y se duió a causa de la prohibición a los esclavos de traer sus instrumentos, entonces tocaban con lo q´tenían a mano y como estaban en barcos pesqueros encontraron cajones de pescado, canastas y demás. Luego se llegó a lo q´es hoy el cajón. Y después la deformación de las cuerdas y el mal llamado cajón flamenco.Ah, traten de aportar en vez de agredir...

[idandos]

hey there, notice in the first 15 seconds i've put the instructions, containing the thickness of the wood (read carefully!), generally i used plywood from the local carpenter.

[dwdrummer66]

love the bass, well done

[ranunculus83]

@dwdrummer66 Do you now what part of cajone give bass like this ? string or only box ?

[latengocomouna]

Pa ... que lo sepa todo el mundo el cajon es Peruano.

[puchalaka]

@latengocomouna

No senior, es origen africano! =)

Se hizo popular en Peru aun asi el cajon es originario de el este de Africa.

[MrPermex]

ke tristeza ke cuando alguen es ignorante vete a africa aver si encuentras a alguien tokando cajon o in vestiga en el pasado de algun pais africano, pero eres como las personas ke como no pueden ganar tratan de desviar la verdad pobre tarado y te lo escribe un afrodescendiente peruano

[FabriziaPires]

Bueno , por supuesto la poco cordial respuesta revela quien es el verdadero ignorante ! También , estás justamente "ignorando" que los inventores del cajóns fueran los esclavos africanos al tiempo del Perú colonial . Apesar de la importancia del cajón en  la cultura peruana seria más justo y correcto considerarlo un instrumento afro-peruano . .

[MrPermex]

lo peor de todo ke habiendo internet no investigan el origen o buscan un video ke sustente su verdad carajo son como el zorro ke no alcanzo las uvas y luego dice ke estan verdes!

[joellalonde]

hey man its nice but i have a question for you. what is the little ball on the third string

[groovenatato]

deep bass

[manitate]

have a nice sound ...but ... doesn't hear a good snare ....the high it's really high and the same for the bass ..... it's really diferent from others..

[mattdapaz]

cancione de la mariachi from los lobos

[awchupa]

what is the name of this song.

[ngishngosh]

hi...is there a reason why the hole is on the side.

cause i see many cajons with holes on the back

[Beatrix186]

i'm not sure either but it could be because the one with the hole on the back is a spanish cajon maybe this one is peruvian?? i think....i just know that there is a big issue about who invented the cajon first and that there is a difference between the two...

[brugge25]

Its a sound hole, used to project sound the same way an acoustic guitar cellos and violins use the same system only called F holes (the 2 matching f's on each side of the strings)

[colinp1337]

beautiful cajon, beautiful sound

just curious though, what is attached to the string running across the middle?

[bigtkettle]

sounds good

[FreedomBeats]

How much did it cost for the components?

[idandos]

around 50$

[DaggerFynn]

and how do you attache the strings? Is there something holding them underneath, for example, at the bottom of the cajon? or are they just rapped around the 3/4 inch wood frame?

[DaggerFynn]

what is the use of the two string tuners shown? I didn't see that they where attached to any strings?

[marcelobaxo]

The strings are facing the frontal tamp, or exists any space between the tamp and the strings?? Thanks a lot, friend!

[livefromal]

ok so one thing im not sure about that i have never seen explained by anyone is how the difference in sound is made i understand the center is your bass and the top slaps against the wood but is there a gap or something at the top? im just not sure how to build it so that when i hit the top it makes that sound. also i understand the string but i dont hear them like i do on a snare when people play. what sound difference does it make? it just seems to have the same sound it would without them.

[martinthere]

thisis bad ass whonthought you to play like this

[dmacosta1]

kool

[fsdrm12]

nice work, and nice grooves, thanks for that knowledge man.

[ofirharlev]

Got myself some good real wood stave plates (1.6cm thick) which I'm going to use for the bottom, top and sides. I also got carpenter's glue from a friend, which is a carpenter (not sure about the brand) and I think I'll use plywood panels for the front and the back (1cm thick).

What do you think about using bass guitar strings?

and what kind of screws did you use for the front panel? (because in the vid they seem to pop out a bit)

thanks

[idandos]

Hi, thanks for asking here

your wood choice sound good enough except the front playing panel, should be 1/8inch (0.3 cm) 3 plys plywood!!

i've heard that bass guitar strings could give an excellent result,.has for the screws you can use any, that have good grasp, i've found that the big flat headed ones do the work, but still uses small headed for places your hand strikes.

Cheers!

[ofirharlev]

ok, so i just finished cutting up my pieces with a jigsaw (pretty crooked, but I'm quite sure it'll work :P) and I'll glue 'em all together tomorrow. went a little crazy with my measures, turned out quite big so it'll probably be a bass Cajon :)

about the front panel...guess I'll have to find another =\.

[xrmbernie]

nice 1..

it's so malupet

[rodnisimo]

Good work,good playing. Muchas graciias

[gagbtr]

the only problem i have with this is, the strings part u cant really see the settings for the strings inside ... help cause its kind of confusing :S

[idandos]

For the strings I recomand to watch this video: "cajon flamenco 2" search for it, its in spanish but , you can still figure out what his doing.

[philreeper]

what are the dimensions for the frame???

[idandos]

The frame should by made of 3/4 inch in diameter ,any kind of hard wood will do, dont forget that you'll need to drill holes for the strings. make some drawing of the plan you should be able to find the measurments, in total, less then 2 meters long.

GOOD LUCK!

[idandos]

Thanks! If you need help or got questions post! i'll try to help.

Viva el cajon

[hdavid988]

wow, are you too cajon drummer and maker!!

good instrument

[bish789123]

Thank you, planning on making one. youre a great player as well

[Partical1312]

this is a great video!

You can really play!