PARADISSO MODEL

The star model of the Mario Cortés catalogue is born following years of research. As the Málaga-born craftsman explains, "in the end I discovered that Finnish birch is the ideal wood for the box drum, while I went on testing different string systems to see how the high, medium and low notes came out … and we managed to produce a reasonable sound matching what flamenco artists wanted". That is how the 'Paradisso' model appeared, "in which all the wood is birch, with a head of 4mm-thick plies". Also responsible for this box drum's good sound is "a quadruple internal system of strings for the high notes, with tiny bells leaving a slight resonance of these tones, joined by a lower string with very special tuning so that when a low note is played it doesn't sink, nor does it die out, but rather a small resonance of a lingering low note remains".

More information and orders: Paradisso Model 1 | Paradisso Model 2

¡¡NEW!! EXOTIC MODEL

This new model developed in 2004, is the result of the search for a most impressive sound with a brilliant snare sound.

This cajon is tunable, the sound can be adjusted to the needs of the musician.

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UNIVERSE MODEL

The balance between high and low notes is perfected in the 'Universe' model, "which is completely made of birch". Mario Cortés explains that "the depth of this box drum is three centimeters greater than that of the 'Paradisso' to hold the low notes better". The head is also peculiar: "It is 3mm thick made of very special birch which is manufactured for making airplane models. It is a very expensive head, but it is very good, very sensitive; it sounds just by blowing on it". As far as the internal system, the artisan elaborates that "we put in a quadruple system of strings fitted onto two titanium pegboxes; that is, it can be tuned, tautened or loosened so that it has more or fewer high notes". Although you only have to bow to the evidence on stages, Mario Cortés points out that "the 'Universe' is a box drum that is 'in' right now. Along with the 'Paradisso', it is the one used most by professionals".

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JAZZ MODEL

After trying several types of wood, including oak, Mario Cortés hit the nail on the head with Brazilian mukali wood. With this material, "we manufacture the 'Jazz' model, which is a semi-professional box drum with quite good sound".

More information and orders: Jazz Model 3 | Jazz Model 4

SOUL MODEL

Made for beginner percussionists, Mario Cortés started to "manufacture the 'Soul' model from okoume, which sounds quite good because we always make the head with 4mm Brazilian mukali wood".

More information and orders: shop@flamenco-world.com

KING 3 MODEL

Patented inventions such as the 'King 3' box drum have come out of Mario Cortés' innovative workshop. The craftsman explains that "it's a box drum with three heads made in one piece, whose sides are 4mm mukali heads, both with the sound hole in front". The advantage of this instrument is the amplification, since "you can plug mouse microphones into the side jacks, while the basic box drum in the middle carries the sound out the back for its own microphone". The box drum is therefore "split in such a way that three different sounds can be made independently, setting up three lines, three microphones and not having them mix with each other". This instrument, also made with a birch head, "is perfectly tuned". Mario Cortés admits that the manufacture of the 'King 3' "is quite complicated because the dimension of each of the sides has to sound different, one like a quinto and the other like a conga". The effort by the workshop's team has been rewarded "with good results".

More information and orders: shop@flamenco-world.com