Meinl Percussion Jam Cajon Box Drum with Snare and Bass Tone for Acoustic Music — Made in Europe — Baltic Birch Wood, Play wi

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 2,438 ratings

Price: 79.99

Last update: 01-11-2025


About this item

LEARN TO PLAY IN MINUTES: this cajon (box drum) is a perfect instrument for getting the confidence to play percussion with no experience; just sit down on it and tap with your hands to produce bass and snare drum sounds
WHY IT MATTERS: a lot of fun musical adventures don't require time-consuming practice on a complicated instrument; with the Meinl Jam Cajon, you can play acoustic shows, jam with friends or family, teach students about rhythm, or play with worship teams
BE SMART: we craft this cajon in Europe from 100% Baltic birch wood, which also used in high-end drum sets for players serious about sound; made with NO cheap, glued-on, plasticky laminates that only look like wood
HAS SNARES: inside the cajon are two sets of fixed steel snare wires that give you a crisp tone for more range of sound; they're fixed into position for the best response
OF NOTE: a 4" port is cut into the back of the cajon for air to escape as you play, producing a richer tone; it also lets your beats project more and is a great microphone spot if needed
LOOKING UNDERNEATH: four silicone feet keep the cajon stable on any surface (wood, laminate, carpet, brick, concrete); these feet protect the cajon while eliminating vibrations to preserve its crystal-clear sound
BY THE NUMBERS: measures 10.25" W x 15" H x 10.25" D and weighs 6 lbs; its compact size is easily portable without shortchanging sound quality, and it's made to last with a solid frame that supports adults and children
THE TAKEAWAY: this is a solid, European made compact cajon that has punchy bass and crisp snare; play anywhere from acoustic shows to outdoor jams to a dorm room; great for all skill levels

Product information


Top reviews from the United States

Todd
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice workmanship
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
Great cajon for the price. Made well. Sounds good.
Kyle Waldner
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun addition to music room
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
Really sounds good with an acoustic guitar. It has a nice, loud, sound for the price and is easy to play. Good and sturdy to sit on. The snare can add a layer creativity to a simple instrument.
Daniel Wigley
5.0 out of 5 stars It's like Yoda. It's small, but it's powerful.
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
So, this thing is pretty great. I just bought it for fun, because I've played with cajons (cajones? cajoni?) before and they're a ton of fun, even for people like me who are a far-cry from what you'd call a "competent" percussionist. This cajon is no exception. It has great sound; the snare, bass, and rim shots all have distinct, quality tones. The volume of this thing is impressive. I've used it outdoors, and even a firm-but-gentle tap is enough to accompany an unplugged acoustic guitar or piano.

Now, this thing is pretty small. It's quite a bit smaller than many of the other cajons that I've seen. That's okay with me, though, because I'm smaller than most other humans I've seen. But you should know the dimensions of this thing before you purchase it.

If the dimensions of this cajon don't immediately scare you away, you should snag it. It's totally worth the price tag.
Kaylin Goldstein
4.0 out of 5 stars A basic, decent quality Cajon
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2018
One of my favorite places to play drums is on the dash of our car with the music blasting. I was a drummer in high school and have a decent drum kit at home, but I thought it would be good to get something more portable and easier to play. Something that would reproduce the pleasure of playing on the car dash.

A while back, I played a quality Cajon - not sure what brand or model - that was part of an interactive museum exhibit and thought, aha, this is what I want!

I finally got this Meinl JC50LBNT Cajon after doing a fair amount of research online, and a bit at our local drum shop.

Meinl is a German manufacturer, mentioned often (along with Schlagwerk) as a quality European Cajon manufacturer in the reviews I've seen. I tried a few American made Cajons and wasn't really overwhelmed with the sound or feel of the budget models I was looking at, so I took a risk and ordered this Meinl "Jam" Cajon.

The Meinl JC50LBNT is a bit smaller (10.25x10.25x15 inches) than the usual Cajons (for e.g. the BC1NTWR which is 15x15x23 inches), so it's more portable - though you are more hunched over while sitting on it to play. It is a non-adjustable "snare" type of Cajon (see photo of the inside) as opposed to "wire" models that use two coiled wires instead of snares to achieve the crisp snare sound. The snare separation between striking the top vs the center of the Cajon is decent, but not as good as some "wire" models I tried. It's decently loud, but not excessively so. Made in Europe with Baltic wood, it certainly feels like a nice, well-made instrument.

Generally, I'm quite pleased with how this Cajon sounds: it plays as well or better than the American Cajons I tried in the drum shop, and is cheaper, so it's definitely a recommended value option. I do have to underline, though, that this model, while good quality and value, is still one of Meinl's basic entry-level Cajons, and it doesn't quite reproduce the quality feel and crispness of the Cajon I played in the museum.
Customer image
Kaylin Goldstein
4.0 out of 5 stars A basic, decent quality Cajon
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2018
One of my favorite places to play drums is on the dash of our car with the music blasting. I was a drummer in high school and have a decent drum kit at home, but I thought it would be good to get something more portable and easier to play. Something that would reproduce the pleasure of playing on the car dash.

A while back, I played a quality Cajon - not sure what brand or model - that was part of an interactive museum exhibit and thought, aha, this is what I want!

I finally got this Meinl JC50LBNT Cajon after doing a fair amount of research online, and a bit at our local drum shop.

Meinl is a German manufacturer, mentioned often (along with Schlagwerk) as a quality European Cajon manufacturer in the reviews I've seen. I tried a few American made Cajons and wasn't really overwhelmed with the sound or feel of the budget models I was looking at, so I took a risk and ordered this Meinl "Jam" Cajon.

The Meinl JC50LBNT is a bit smaller (10.25x10.25x15 inches) than the usual Cajons (for e.g. the BC1NTWR which is 15x15x23 inches), so it's more portable - though you are more hunched over while sitting on it to play. It is a non-adjustable "snare" type of Cajon (see photo of the inside) as opposed to "wire" models that use two coiled wires instead of snares to achieve the crisp snare sound. The snare separation between striking the top vs the center of the Cajon is decent, but not as good as some "wire" models I tried. It's decently loud, but not excessively so. Made in Europe with Baltic wood, it certainly feels like a nice, well-made instrument.

Generally, I'm quite pleased with how this Cajon sounds: it plays as well or better than the American Cajons I tried in the drum shop, and is cheaper, so it's definitely a recommended value option. I do have to underline, though, that this model, while good quality and value, is still one of Meinl's basic entry-level Cajons, and it doesn't quite reproduce the quality feel and crispness of the Cajon I played in the museum.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
D. Seward
5.0 out of 5 stars A steal
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2016
This is a cool instrument. I have very little experience with cajon(es?) but wanted to give one a go, so I ordered this on a whim. For the price I don't think you could possibly go wrong. It has a medium-depth bass tone and a convincing snare. There's enough play on the surface where you can vary the tone a bit by moving your hand positions around. I live in an apartment and you can activate the snare while playing fairly quietly, but you can also really get some volume out of it by letting loose. You can also get a nice clacky sound from the side panels - I don't know what drum it would correspond with. Maybe a snare with the rattle disengaged.

My biggest concern is that the cajon itself is very lightweight. It holds my body weight but I'm only about 130 pounds. It would definitely hold a bigger person without breaking but I am also worried about bumping it against hard items and stuff because I don't think the wood would resist much damage. At 5'9" I am probably on the upper end of those who can sit on the box without feeling like they are doing some deep squatting. On the bright side, the lightness means it is very easy to carry without getting tired or feeling awkward (that's why it's a "jam" cajon, right?).

It's an attractive piece, too, and I would be perfectly happy displaying it / leaving it out in a room.

There aren't too many instruments that offer such a fantastic price-to-versatility ratio, so if you're waffling, just go ahead and enjoy this.
Adam Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to jam on with buddies
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
Great product, sounds good, fun to play
Norma
5.0 out of 5 stars Looks Great
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
Nice beat sound . Ordered for my drummer Grandson for his dorm. He loves it!
dexterity357
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for early and experienced drummers
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
For those looking at learning percussion, this is a great way for them to start using their hands and keeping a rhythm. For experienced drummers, this is an easy and portable box drum that has a nice tone to it. Great quality for the price!

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