cuban son originated in eastern cuba in the late th century the musics defining characteristic was a pulsing or anticipated bass that falls between the downbeat leading to the creation of many bass instruments including the botija other instruments included a marímbula serrucho contrabajo and bajo other bass instruments were used according to the size of the musical arrangement or timbre of the bass instrument needed the marímbula for example was used mainly for smaller ensembles because it was not easily heard whereas the bajo an electrical bass could be easily projected and heard over many other instruments