Sela SE-IC1

The Sela Iconic Ziricote SE-IC1 is a professional cajon with a modular design that allows you to combine the sounds of multiple percussion instruments. This cajon from the Sela Iconic Edition stands out thanks to two interchangeable side striking surfaces, also known as “íons.” In addition to the traditional cajon sound, these provide you with additional percussion sounds inspired by various musical cultures. The Iconic Ziricote comes standard with a Cuban “ion” and a Turkish “ion,” while three other versions are available separately. With the Ziricote striking surface, four individually tunable strings, and an ergonomically shaped birch body, this cajon offers extensive possibilities for percussionists who want to get more out of a single instrument.

A modular cajon system with three instruments in one
What makes the Sela Iconic Ziricote unique is its modular design. Whereas a traditional cajon is primarily played on the front striking surface, the Iconic features two additional playing surfaces on the side panels. These interchangeable drumheads are called “íons” by Sela and each has its own tonal character. This allows you to combine the deep bass and snare sounds of a cajon with the sounds of other percussion instruments. You can play rhythms on the Ziricote striking surface and complement them with accents on the íons on the sides. This allows you to create more complex percussion patterns without having to place multiple instruments side by side. The included Cuban and Turkish íons each have a different construction and tonal response. Additionally, you can swap out the íons for other versions, allowing the cajon to be adapted to different musical styles and playing techniques.

Cuban ion with natural goatskin
The Sela Iconic Ziricote comes standard with a Cuban ion, inspired by traditional Afro-Cuban percussion. This side striking surface features a handmade drumhead made of 100% natural goatskin. Due to the natural properties of the material, each head has its own unique texture, thickness, and color. The Cuban íon adds an organic percussive sound to the cajon and offers additional possibilities for rhythms inspired by Cuban and Latin American music. The natural head responds to different playing techniques, allowing you to vary the dynamics and timbre. Sela recommends treating the goatskin with vegetable oil. This helps keep the material supple and allows you to further adjust the sound response to your personal playing style.

Turkish íon with synthetic playing surface
In addition to the Cuban íon, the Sela Iconic comes with a Turkish íon. This playing surface is inspired by Turkish percussion instruments and features a thin synthetic head available in blue or green. The synthetic material is less sensitive to moisture and changing climatic conditions than natural drumheads. Thanks to its thin head, the Turkish íon responds immediately to the strike and delivers strong sound projection with powerful midrange tones and clear high frequencies. These characteristics make the Turkish íon suitable for fast rhythms, detailed percussive accents, and traditional Turkish playing techniques. Due to its light and thin construction, it is important to protect the head from sharp objects.

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Three additional íons available separately
The modular system of the Sela Iconic Ziricote can be further expanded with three optional íons. In addition to the included Cuban and Turkish versions, Peruvian, Kenyan, and Guinean íons are also available. Each of these playing surfaces has its own tonal characteristics and offers additional possibilities for various percussion techniques. By replacing an “ion,” you can change the tonal character of the cajon’s side without having to purchase a completely new instrument. The interchangeable íons make the Sela Iconic an attractive option for percussionists who blend different musical styles, want to discover new sounds, or need multiple percussion instruments during a performance.

Ziricote striking surface with adjustable snare system
The front strikingsurface of the Sela Iconic SE-IC1 is made of Ziricote, a type of wood known for its striking dark grain and high-contrast pattern. This gives each cajon a distinctive look. Behind the striking surface is a snare system with four individually tunable snares. This allows you to tailor the snare response to your desired sound. From subtle snare accents to a clearly audible, sharp response: the tuning determines how the instrument responds to different playing techniques. The combination of the Ziricote striking surface, the adjustable snare wires, and the birch wood body delivers a well-defined bass and a clear snare sound. This preserves the traditional cajon function, while the additional side striking surfaces add new percussive sounds.

Internal sound chambers and enhanced bass response
To bring out the best in the sound of the interchangeable íons, Sela has equipped the Iconic with separate internal sound chambers. These amplify the sound from the side striking surfaces and ensure that the various percussion sounds are clearly audible. In addition, the cajon features a specially designed sound hole that enhances bass response. This gives the instrument a deep, powerful bass that blends well with the snare accents from the front striking surface and the complementary sounds of the íons. The snare sound and the íon sounds are individually adjustable. This allows you to determine the tonal balance between the different playing surfaces and customize the instrument to your playing technique and musical preferences.

Ergonomic Birch Wood Body The Sela Iconic Ziricote features an ergonomically shaped birch wood body. The design is engineered to make the various playing surfaces easily accessible, so you can effortlessly switch between the front striking surface and the side strings while playing. With a height of approximately 49 cm, a width of 30 cm, and a depth of 33 cm, the Iconic offers a comfortable playing height and ample space for various playing techniques. The non-slip rubber feet ensure that the cajon remains stable and in place while playing. Despite its extensive modular system, the cajon weighs approximately 5.3 kg. This makes the instrument suitable for use during rehearsals, studio recordings, and live performances.

More Percussion Sounds from a Single Instrument
With the Iconic Edition, Sela introduces a new take on the traditional cajon concept. By combining a cajon with two interchangeable side striking surfaces, the result is an instrument that brings together multiple percussion functions. This makes the Sela Iconic Ziricote an attractive option for percussionists who want to play a variety of sounds while using a compact setup. Whether you’re accompanying acoustic music, playing Latin rhythms, or experimenting with percussion from different cultures, the interchangeable panels and individually adjustable strings allow you to create your own sound combinations. The Ziricote model stands out within the Iconic series thanks to its distinctive playing surface and the combination of natural and synthetic percussion heads.

Sela SE-IC1 features:

• Iconic Edition Ziricote modular cajon
• three percussion instruments combined into one cajon
• modular system with interchangeable side striking surfaces (ions)
• main striking surface made of Ziricote
• Two íons included as standard: Cuban and Turkish
• Cuban ion with a handmade head made of 100% natural goatskin
• Turkish ion with a thin synthetic head in blue or green
• Turkish ion with immediate response, powerful midrange, and bright highs
• Cuban ion inspired by Afro-Cuban percussion
• Turkish ion inspired by traditional Turkish percussion
• Three optional ions available separately: Peruvian, Kenyan, and Guinean
• Internal sound chambers to amplify the íon sounds
• Specially designed sound hole for enhanced bass response
• Snare system with four individually tunable snare wires
• Individually adjustable snare and íon sounds
• Ergonomically shaped birch wood body
• Deep bass and well-defined snare sound
• non-slip rubber feet
• Suitable for acoustic music, Latin, world music, and experimental percussion
• Dimensions (H x W x D): approx. 49 x 30 x 33 cm
• weight: approx. 5.3 kg