Your Cajon Isn’t Just a Drum, It’s a Sound Palette
If you thought a cajon only had one or two tones, the T-Top Cajon by AV Box will surprise you. Built with performance insight and ergonomic design, the T-Top offers a dynamic snare surface divided into 6 primary snare tone zones, plus 4 expressive finger placement tones, all enhanced by your choice of premium veneer top.
The 6 Snare Zones: Location Shapes Sound
The T-Top Cajon snare face is handcrafted with 6 distinct tonal zones, starting from the center and moving outward. Each one gives you a new “voice” on your drum:
- Deep Zone – Located at the center. Fat and low-pitched, with subtle snare rattle.
- Body Zone – Just outside the center. Warm and rounded, with a gentle tonal lift.
- Core Zone – The mid-range area. Balanced and punchy—your “main” snare zone.
- Sharp Zone – Upper mid-edge. Bright and articulate with tight snare wire presence.
- Edge Zone – Close to the corners. Quick, snappy accents with minimal low-end.
- Crack Zone – Right on the edges. Loud, cutting and dry—great for rimshot-like attacks.
These zones act like a built-in EQ. Learning where they are (and how to use them) gives you the freedom to create grooves with texture, dynamics, and attitude.
The 4 Finger Contact Tones: Touch Transforms Tone
Where you strike matters – but how you strike makes all the difference.
Each strike using different finger surface depth brings out another tone from the same zone. Here’s how we break it down:
- Deep – Full finger surface with some palm. Bold, full-bodied, and thick.
- Warm – Most of the finger surface. Rounded, smooth, and relaxed in tone.
- Tight – Just the first half of your fingers. Precise, focused, and midrange-forward.
- Sharp – Fingertips only. Crisp, snappy, and high-pitched.
Combine zones with finger contact and you’ve got a full tonal language at your fingertips – literally.
The Veneer Personality: Tone You Can See and Feel
Once your technique and zone awareness are dialed in, the final layer of tone comes from your veneer top—the surface wood that gives the drum both its identity and sound character.
Every AV Box T-Top comes in one of these veneer finishes:
- Walnut – Balanced, warm, clear
- Rosewood – Rich, resonant, deep
- White Oak – Robust, strong, full-bodied
- Cherry – Bright, sweet, clear
- Mahogany – Earthy, mellow, bold
Each veneer responds slightly differently to finger strikes, offering a final polish to your snare sound. Think of it as the “flavor” added to your groove.
🎥Learn to Master Your Tones (T-Top Course Coming Soon!)
Our T-Top Cajon Online Course (launching soon) includes detailed visual guides, color-coded tone maps, and hands-on lessons from Andries Visser himself, showing you how to tap into every layer of expression on your instrument.
You’ll learn:
- Where to strike for specific tones
- Which techniques work best
- Rudiments & Fundamentals
- How to build grooves using zone combinations
- Play-along tracks to practice dynamics and precision
- And so much more !!!
Don’t Own a T-Top Yet?
The best part? Every T-Top is handmade in South Africa and tuned for performance.
✔ Choose your preferred veneer
✔ Add an optional built-in mic
✔ Get a custom black carry bag
✔ All for just R3895 (combo pricing also available)
Shop now
Your Groove. Your Map. Your Cajon.
The AV Box T-Top Cajon isn’t just a percussion tool—it’s a responsive, ergonomic, sonic experience. When you learn the map of its tonal zones, master your striking technique, and match it with a veneer that feels right for you, you unlock a completely new level of rhythmic expression.
It’s precision. It’s passion. It’s the groove your hands have been waiting for.
