Amplifier Advice For Cajon Player In The Band

[keithb7]

Hi folks. I have been playing acoustic and mandolin in a 4 pc band acoustic band. The guitar/mandolin, bass and vocals are amplified lightly. The drummer plays a cajon. He's interested in getting some type of portable amplifier for mic-ing up his box. I was thinking maybe a keyboard amp with an XLR input? Put a mic in the bottom of the Cajon and run it into the amp? I was researching on-line a bit. The Roland KC series seems pretty nice. Would this be adequate?

We are not quite interested in a PA system at this time. We're light and portable with 2 Fishman Loudbox Mini amps for instruments and vocals. Bass player has a nice small amp too. Its sounding pretty good and the volume is super nice on the ears. Smaller gigs are likely in the future. Anything bigger, a house PA can take over.

The Roland KC-150 is 65W. I was thinking this should be enough power?
Roland KC-80 50W may be adequate even.

Advice appreciated. Thanks, Keith

 

[BottyGuy]

Hi folks. I have been playing acoustic and mandolin in a 4 pc band acoustic band. The guitar/mandolin, bass and vocals are amplified lightly. The drummer plays a cajon. He's interested in getting some type of portable amplifier for mic-ing up his box. I was thinking maybe a keyboard amp with an XLR input? Put a mic in the bottom of the Cajon and run it into the amp? I was researching on-line a bit. The Roland KC series seems pretty nice. Would this be adequate?

We are not quite interested in a PA system at this time. We're light and portable with 2 Fishman Loudbox Mini amps for instruments and vocals. Bass player has a nice small amp too. Its sounding pretty good and the volume is super nice on the ears. Smaller gigs are likely in the future. Anything bigger, a house PA can take over.

The Roland KC-150 is 65W. I was thinking this should be enough power?
Roland KC-80 50W may be adequate even.

Advice appreciated. Thanks, Keith

 

[kbold]

Run the mic'd cajon into one of the Loudbox's (if there's a spare input).
If not, a small mixer will be cheaper and more versatile than buying another amp

 

[bettyseldest]

What is it with cajon players, I run a small festival where a half dozen have performed over the years and none of them have known how they want their instrument amplified or what type of microphone to use. I have had a decent result using both the kick drum and snare drum mikes from a Studiospares drum kit set running them through the PA. In my view the best results have come using a professional quality tie clip mike, as used by TV companies, clipped to the edge of the soundhole.

For your purposes a small keyboard or bass combo will probably fit the bill, try out the bass players amp and anything else you can lay your hands on to see what work.

Interested to know what others have found works best.

 

[Pineears]

I’d go with a Behringer B112D, $250. It has 2 mic or line inputs and Bluetooth input, or adding their 2 wireless mics $150 you have 2 mics plus the 2 mic or line inputs and Bluetooth. 1000 Watts. The big plus is it’s a genuine piece of a full sized PA system if you go that way.

I’d recommend the Roland EC-10 Cajon. Check it out.

 

[Anita Bonghit]

I recently bought a Kustom Personal Pa and it is just what you need. They are less than $100 and have a 50 watt output. I bought 2 and linked them together. Each has 2 1/4" jacks and 2 xlrs and a mini jack for any other device you want to add. The speakers are the size of a loaf of bread and sound amazing, get them on stands and they look and sound great. We have a 5 piece group and it handles all our vocals with no problem. So for $200 I have one of the best PA's I ever owned. It won't rock Madison Square Garden but it will work for 99% of the gigs we do.

 

[jvin248]

.

Juzzie Smith might have a solution (check his channel), this was my first introduction to him, seems like the cajon is amplified along with the tambourine:




I'd try a stick-on acoustic guitar pickup and plug it in to an amp (test with and without a pre-amp)

.

 

[Pineears]

Roland EC-10 Cajon. No micing, no amplifier required. Way more versatile sound selection. The acoustic guitars are have electric pickups why not the cajon.

 

[teletimetx]

seems like there are several options - but amplifying your drummer is a slippery slope...

I've done a weekly gig with a cajon player, two guitars playing fully amplified electrics, and the cajon player has not felt the need to amplify. We're playing in a not quite medium sized venue, with a full PA. Other drummers have elected to mic and go through the PA. Just a word of caution.

1) Your loudbox mini's have an aux input on the back, yes?But is that where you are running your mics already? You could run both mics to a mixer first, then into one amp, then you could mic the cajon and run that to the other loudbox; cost = one mixer + one microphone, if you don't already have one that works. ck your SPL capabilities on the mic you choose.

2) I think @Pineears suggestion of the Roland EC-10 sounds like more bang for the buck than buying a keyboard or other amp for the cajon. Seems like your cajon player might like that solution, too. Less expense than the amps you have suggested.

3) If you're considering the cost of a keyboard amp, a PA would be a better way to go, IMO. Long term planning, not short term solve for problem that may not exist...just my 2 cents

 

[keithb7]

I met my Cajon player at a local music store today. We used a Cajon and a mic and demo'd 4 different keyboard amp options. A solid State with a 12" speaker had some nice tone. I talked him into just a rental for a month to give it a try.

I agree amplifying a drummer can be a slippery slope. We shall see what develops here. I have been in enough bands to know that I am not interested in buying or owning any more PA systems. The responsibility and investment is a P.I.T.A. This time I want to be the guy that just shows up with a guitar and a mic. This group of musicians is not serious. We're having fun. I am not interested in splitting the cost of a PA four ways either. If the cajon player wants to try a keyboard amp, and he's paying, no problem. If he gets too loud, well we can turn him down. I have had no luck accomplishing this feat with any acoustic drummer behind a full kit in any other band I have ever played in.

I already own 2 PA systems and they stay home. The guys in this band won't be seeing me drag them out either as I start to disassemble and sell them piece by piece. My contribution to this music group is my Fishman amp, my vocal mic, acoustic guitar, mandolin and talent. The lower volume levels is fantastic. It will be interesting to see if the levels change with the Cajon players rental amp.

The EC-10 option sounds cool. There was nothing to try here locally but we'll keep that option open in the future. Thanks folks.

 

[String Tree]

You might consider putting a self powered speaker on a pole.
It should carry very well at Low Volume.

 

[teletimetx]

I met my Cajon player at a local music store today. We used a Cajon and a mic and demo'd 4 different keyboard amp options. A solid State with a 12" speaker had some nice tone. I talked him into just a rental for a month to give it a try.

I agree amplifying a drummer can be a slippery slope. We shall see what develops here. I have been in enough bands to know that I am not interested in buying or owning any more PA systems. The responsibility and investment is a P.I.T.A. This time I want to be the guy that just shows up with a guitar and a mic. This group of musicians is not serious. We're having fun. I am not interested in splitting the cost of a PA four ways either. If the cajon player wants to try a keyboard amp, and he's paying, no problem. If he gets too loud, well we can turn him down. I have had no luck accomplishing this feat with any acoustic drummer behind a full kit in any other band I have ever played in.

I already own 2 PA systems and they stay home. The guys in this band won't be seeing me drag them out either as I start to disassemble and sell them piece by piece. My contribution to this music group is my Fishman amp, my vocal mic, acoustic guitar, mandolin and talent. The lower volume levels is fantastic. It will be interesting to see if the levels change with the Cajon players rental amp.

The EC-10 option sounds cool. There was nothing to try here locally but we'll keep that option open in the future. Thanks folks.

...yeah, I get the business about a dragging around a PA; I've managed to dodge that bullet for the last 15 years at least. I've got some good and patient friends who own PA systems...

brings to mind the Robert Earl Keen song, where he relates the story of getting fired from his band, only they forgot that he owned the PA. Kind of builds a strong preference for doing gigs at venues that have the whole PA system in place...

Let us know how the story ends; enquiring minds, and all...

 

[keithb7]

Seen here, all our gear except mics. Easy peasy. Cajon sounded pretty good thru the keyboard amp. No bad. Not studio Pro excellent, but good. It’ll work fine. Pretty happy with this set up. 4 pc band. No PA. Everyone carries and sets up their own s@-t. Awesome.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Hi folks. I have been playing acoustic and mandolin in a 4 pc band acoustic band. The drummer's interested in getting some type of portable amplifier.

Drummers just always have to be loudest instrument on the stage. Even in an acoustic band in a small setting they will demand amplification. I don't know what you can do.

 

[PumpJockey]

We have a reasonably low volume band with a Bose LT-1. Our percussionist switches between cajon and congas so we mic her with an SM-58 and run her into the PA. Nothing fancier than that, but again, she plays several different instruments.

You can mic anything. https://ad.atdmt.com/s/go;adv=11272...MIxsTAq7LG2wIVEtbACh2WgAiQEAQYASABEgKzivD_BwE