The ION system

Interchangeable drum heads

The jewel in the crown of our cajons, our interchangeable drum heads come in five models: Cuban, Kenyan, Guinean, Turkish and Peruvian and allow you transform your cajon into a percussion instrument like no other. Explore the myriad possibilities provided by different combination of drum heads and bring your drumming to the next level.

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 Guinean

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 Kenyan

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 Cuban

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 Turkish

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 Peruvian

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8-point tuning system

The ions feature eight tuning points which allow them to be precisely adjusted and ensure that the skin does not lose tension while playing. To tune them and/or fit them all you need is the Allen key that is included.

ION sound boxes

Every ion is an instrument in its own right and, as such, it has its own sound box. Featuring curved sound boards, these boxes were designed around the principle of the Fibonacci sequence and produce an impressively loud, clear, and accurate tone. These boxes isolate and differentiate the different types of sounds, eliminating feedback and producing clean, well-defined tones which allow the subtleties in your playing to shine through. In addition to this, the unique design of the sound boxes provides added compression for the cajon itself, further amplifying and directing the sound of the faceplate and the strings.

Ergonomic, rounded courners

When playing on the upper part of the cajon, the corners should allow for the anatomy of the player’s hand and its movement. Any professional player will tell you that sharp edges will impair your playing and affect your technique, your speed, and your timing, and in some cases can even result in injuries to your hand or wrist. For this reason, all of our cajons feature rounded corners and edges to provide added comfort, prevent injuries, and allow you all the freedom you need to express yourself.

2 x tuneable string system

All the cajons are built with string sensitivity technology. Each one includes two tunable strings on each side (four strings in total). All of them can be tuned through the base of the cajon using the included Allen key. This system makes them highly customizable and allows you to find your very own sound.

Bass output enhancer

This additional ring of wood extends the pathway of the soundwave, thus amplifying the output. It has been positioned to ensure that the full range of both high-end tones (produced by striking the upper parts of the faceplate) and low-end tones (produced by striking the centre of the faceplate) sound clear and even.

Bass output enhancer

This additional ring of wood extends the pathway of the soundwave, thus amplifying the output. It has been positioned to ensure that the full range of both high-end tones (produced by striking the upper parts of the faceplate) and low-end tones (produced by striking the centre of the faceplate) sound clear and even.

High-quality faceplates

The high-quality hardwood faceplates were designed in collaboration with professional percussionists to achieve the best possible sound and responsiveness. Depending on the model of cajon, the faceplates are made with birch, louro, chen-chen, bariole, vavona or walnut & oak roots, with each providing its own unique acoustic properties.

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Laser personalization

All of the cajons can be personalised with your name, your own design or logo, or any custom graphics.

info@ionpercussion.com

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 Guinean

This West African country is a hotbed of music, and home to the world-renowned “Les Ballets Africains” which has showcased some of Africa’s finest drummers over the past three quarters of a century. Central to Guinean music is the djembe, which can be made from cowskin or goatskin. Our Guinean drum head is a tribute to the latter, producing a rounder tone than a bleached goatskin drum head (such as the Cuban). As is typically thicker than bleached goatskin, it can also be played far more vigorously, and is recommended both for its distinct frequency response and for its robustness.

Kenyan

Inspired by the “mshondo” – a tall, slender drum played by the Giriama tribe which produces a lovely, rounded tone. Our interpretation of this tribal drum is made from unshaven goat skin to produce a lower frequency response. As such, it contrasts beautifully with the other drum heads in our range and allows for the option of a very satisfying counterpoint to both the cajon and the other drum heads when playing. In terms of its aesthetic and its sound, every +íon player will want the
Kenyan in their collection.

Cuban

Inspired by the sounds of Afro-Cuban percussion, the Cuban drum head produces a sound similar to that of a bongo or conga. Made from goatskin, it is 100% natural and is treated and cured by hand. Because this is a natural product, no two pieces are the same. This means that every skin will inherently have its own unique characteristics which can be seen in the subtle but visible differences in thickness and variations in colour. We recommend applying vegetable fat in order to maintain its flexibility and improve its durability. It is this flexibility that allows the player to experiment with different frequencies and to adjust the drum head to suit individual tastes and playing styles.

 Turkish

Rooted in the sounds of Turkish percussion, this drum head features a skin made from synthetic material in either a blue or green finish.This material is widely used in professional-level instruments these days due to the fact that it is unaffected by climatic conditions such as humidity, which results in a loss of tension.

This type of skin is very lightweight by nature and must be protected against sharp objects and unintended impacts. However, the thinness of the Turkish drum head is also its greatest advantage as it boasts exceptional responsiveness and sound projection, producing full and robust mid-range tones and strong, bright high end. For this reason, it lends itself well to a playing style known as the “Turkish technique”, although it can be played in numerous different ways.

Peruvian

This drum head is a nod to the Peruvian origins of the cajon, which came into being when African slaves used upturned wooden crates and containers to mimic drums. It´s made from natural birch wood or limba wood allowing the Peruvian drum head to be matched with the faceplate of your cajon to ensure a harmonious sound. 

The Peruvian produces an impressively crisp “pop” when slapped. This drum head is extremely sensitive and responds outstandingly even with the lightest of touches.

Remember, this íon is the most sensitive in our range and a light touch is enough to produce an exceptional response from the Peruvian. An excessive force is not recomended.

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