J.Leiva - Medina Vintage Lacquered

The J. Leiva Medina Vintage Lacquered follows on from the Medina model, with a reworked approach that is evident in both the look and the overall design of the instrument. The vintage finish already gives the instrument a stronger visual identity, but it's the way it reacts in the hands that really makes this Cajon stand out.

The structure is based on a multi-layered Russian birch frame, designed to provide a stable and consistent base over time. The 3mm laminated Russian birch head provides a fine, fairly direct response, which helps to maintain a clear reading of the playing, even in the more nuanced passages. You get the feeling that the whole thing has been designed to remain legible, without blurring the attack.

Inside, the D.T.S. string system with four vertically positioned guitar strings can be adjusted from the outside, without tools. In practical terms, this means you can quickly adapt the character of the sound to suit the context, whether it's a drier or more open style of playing.

The overall work on the body aims to limit over-invasive resonances and maintain a balance between bass and clearer sounds. The result is fairly responsive, with a dynamic range that follows the variations in the strike, making it just as usable for relaxed playing as in more intense situations.