5 Best Cajon Pedals for Every Budget
Posted in Cajons | Last Updated on October 11, 2019
In the last few years, drum companies have designed many diverse accessories to bring the drum set closer to the cajon in terms of playability and sound. The invention that turned this whole game around is the cajon pedal, which allows drummers to free a hand in case they need to use a shaker, tambourine, or more drums, and in some cases, it’s even used for replacing a bass drum!
Here we have the list of the best cajon pedals available for expanding the possibilities of your acoustic drumming.
Latin Percussion LP1500 Cajon Pedal
When a cajon is struck, it offers no rebound, which automatically translates into a different feel. LP kept this in mind when working on their cajon pedal, and came up with a smart design to make this change as comfortable as possible.
This model features a cable that goes straight to the pedal’s cam, allowing it to have a super quick response. This makes consecutive notes and double strokes easier to play. It also has an adjustable spring tension, just like a regular bass drum pedal.
The beater is quite long, rather than round, and it’s extra padded to give a similar sound to the one you’d get with the palm of your hand.
On one hand, the cable is coated and flexible, but it lacks protection near the beater cam, causing it to break in many cases. This is an inconvenience, especially for touring drummers since gear wears out faster when packing/unpacking. And finding a replacement for that part is hard.
Hopefully, LP will find a solution because this model gave high hopes to many acoustic drummers, and the problem is only about durability, but the sound and comfort are outstanding.
Pros:
- Swift action.
- Noiseless.
Cons:
- The cable is very exposed to damage.
You might be interested in reading our guide on the best cajon drums on the market.
Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon Pedal with Mount
Gibraltar is one of the finest hardware manufacturers with a super-wide catalog, and of course, they have their own version of the cajon pedal, featuring many mechanisms to fit any drummer. For example, the height of the pedalboard is easily adjustable, and there’s one spring on each pedal for adjusting how much resistance you want on both sides.
A separate mount is needed for keeping the slave pedal and the cajon together, but that’s not completely bad if we consider that this pedal also allows you to attach it to a bass drum, and that opens many set-up possibilities for your drum kit!
Even though the cable is a bit more resistant than in the LP model, it tends to break when being set at some specific angles. But if you are cautious when packing/unpacking and take some time watching videos on how to position the cable, you won’t have to worry about it breaking.
With this product, you can be sure that you’ll get resistant materials that are well assembled. Just pay attention to the cable, and you’ll definitely enjoy adding this to your cajon.
Pros:
- The direct drive system is very quiet.
- Super adjustable settings.
- Attachable to regular bass drums.
Cons:
- Beater doesn’t give much of a deeper sound.
- The cable needs to be handled carefully.
Meinl Percussion TMSTCP Direct Drive Cajon Pedal
A fragile cable may be a deal-breaker for you, but don’t give up on cajon pedals yet! There are other options like this next one by Meinl. It doesn’t look like a conventional pedal, but it’s an absolutely reliable product.
Instead of having two components joined together by a cable, Meinl chose to replace the pedalboard with a bar at the player’s right side, which is not very movable, but it won’t be necessary. And since the whole mechanism is shorter, there is no delay between the foot movement and the response of the beater.
Another strong point here is stability. Even if it’s not attached to the cajon, the structure is heavy enough to keep it from bouncing, and it has Velcro underneath it for sticking to the floor.
The only thing to consider is the tiny screws that might fall off, so I’d recommend tightening or even gluing them. The design is quite simple but effective, and the whole thing is made of metal, so it certainly won’t break. And the beater will give an excellent and low sound.
Pros:
- Good sound.
- Strong materials.
Cons:
- Doesn’t break down.
- Some metal pieces fall off.
- The clamp doesn’t work for small cajons.
ChromaCast CC-CPDL Cajon Pedal
ChromaCast offers two cajon pedals: one with a direct drive that works essentially as a kick pedal with an inverted board, and another one with a cable. Despite the usual problems with cables (which seem inevitable), we chose this model because it’s more complete than the direct drive version, and can be played right out of the box.
Lots of people are afraid of breaking their cable (on different models), which would render their pedal useless. The CC-CPDL is better protected than most products, so if you’re careful when playing and packing, you’ll be okay. Fortunately, this one comes with an extra cable, so you’re covered for a long time.
One of the very few flaws found here is the length of the bar of the beater, which could be shorter in order to avoid having to set it so high, because you’d have less space to play with your hands. This won’t be an issue if you have a big cajon, or a shorter beater to replace this one. Still, the sound it gives is pretty good, and the design is very similar to the Meinl cajon pedal.
This is a great budget choice, ideal for drummers who look for flexible placement and intend to use it on occasional acoustic gigs.
Pros:
- Good stability.
- Cable has better protection than other models.
Cons:
- Cajon attachment gets loose.
- The beater is too long.
Drum Workshop, Inc. Pedal Mount (DWCP5000CJ)
DW is often known for being much more expensive than other brands but undoubtedly offers high quality. This product is not the exception; let’s take a more in-depth look.
This is a compact design that takes the parts of a bass drum pedal and re-accommodates them for saving space, but without sacrificing quality. The pivot drive right under the pedalboard eliminates the risk of getting that annoying squeak that often comes with chain drive pedals, and also requires less room. And it doesn’t need an attachment system, only a rubber plate that stays in its place due to the weight of sitting on the cajon.
This model is based on the famous 5000 kick pedal, which is wonderful for many drummers, but before purchasing it, keep in mind that the bearing hinge doesn’t suit everyone’s taste. Another detail that might cause discomfort is the lack of floor spikes and Velcro, so the pedal will move on some surfaces unless you glue the Velcro under it.
In summary, the DW cajon pedal is a very functional device with a solid build, and will surely allow you to play comfortably.
Pros:
- Super portable
- Allows playing fast.
Cons:
-
- Pedal moves.
- The beater is not resistant.
Advice for using your cajon as a bass drum
- If your cajon has got strings or snares, you might want to put tape on them in order to get a sound that doesn’t resemble a snare drum.
- Get a soft beater that won’t damage the wood. This also helps to achieve a deeper sound.
- For live performances or recording sessions, make sure to get a microphone that won’t get overloaded with low sounds. You may also need a separate microphone on the front for the high frequencies, but the priority is definitely the mic on the back.
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