@DarrelBraun Once again love your channel!!! Now - Question.........Were you featured in an ad on Google Playstore for one of those goofy apps that change people's faces and put their heads in crazy places? Earlier I opened up a video here on TH-cam and this ad popped up and was your face/head on a green cartoon alien walking and dancing. "D" around.
My question to you Darell I know you are a very straight up guy You know from way back all guitarist rock stars had not money to buy a expensive guitar Eddy van put humbucker in and Jimmy Hendricks flipped his because it was wrong guitar Most of us can pull a guitar apart and and put it back and fix issuesⁿ Would you use this guitar I know you would not So why are you recommending this
I’m sorry, but like many TH-camrs, Darrell really needs to educate himself about carbon fiber the same way people learn about tonewoods. He clearly doesn’t know anything about it and is speaking like this is a super durable guitar. My problem is, the Lava 3 (and other similar guitars - Enya, Rainsong, etc.) are not actually using bonifide carbon fiber. They are composite made of powdered carbon fiber that is mixed into resin. They really are not much lighter than many wood guitars and definitely not more durable. These composite guitars can get damaged with very little effort. Repairs for this type of composite are more difficult (and sometimes impossible) than wood for a variety of reasons. Take a look at the Agufish channel to see what happened to the Lava 3 he received. It was clearly damaged in shipping and smashed to bits no differently than a wood guitar could have been. The damage to Agufish’s Lava 3 should prove to you that these guitars are not the real deal carbon fiber and are not more durable than wood. The only benefit of this type of composite is that it won’t be affected by temperature changes that lead to warping, fret sprout, and other issues in wood. True carbon fiber is made of a woven material. Unidirectional, is stronger than the aforementioned composite material, but it also is not the best for building guitars because it can get damaged easily if it falls or takes a hit in the opposite direction of the weave. Journey is the only guitar I’ve seen using unidirectional CF. Its soundboard is made of unidirectional CF while the back and sides and powdered composite like the Lava. The best carbon fiber for building guitars is bidirectional, meaning the weave goes in two directions (usually vertical and horizontal). This is the same kind of CF used to build airplanes and for aerospace applications. It is virtually indestructible. If you look at the KLOS Guitars’ channel, they ran a 4x4 truck over their travel sized hybrid guitar (bidirectional CF body with a wood neck that has two CF stiffening rods), smacked it with a hammer, took it into a pool, used it as a baseball bat, etc. In all cases, the guitars were fully playable afterwards. If they hybrid models faired well, imagine how strong their models with the CF necks would have performed. If you’re looking for an indestructible guitar, your best bet is buying one whose body is made from a bidirectional CF with a wood neck that has CF stiffening rods or a fully CF neck. It really bothers me as a guitar player and consumer that many TH-camrs are getting these guitar samples and speaking about them without being educated about the different types of CF and composite. I’m not saying that composite guitars like the Lava are bad. Many people are very happy with theirs. However, these are not durable enough for gigging, households with rowdy children and pets, traveling and backpacking, etc. These brands and TH-camrs are also not making it apparent how the installed technology can get repaired or tech support when issues inevitably arise. They also don’t make it understood that guitars with hardware installed will become obsolete after a few years just like our phones and computers. At some point, the hardware will not be able to be upgraded and support new features. Or when the battery can’t be recharged anymore because it’s past the number of maximum recharge cycles. Is the person going to have to just ditch the guitar and buy a new one at that point? Will there be a way to service and upgrade the tech these guitars? The companies could build the guitars in such a way that users could buy upgrade kits to swap the electronics and batteries on their own, but sadly, this design choice has never been figured into a single one of these smart guitars. So people need to understand that this guitar could end up not working at any given point in time - for tech issues, when the hardware is eventually unable to support new software features, if the company goes out of business and the software bricks, etc. I’d personally recommend using external tech until companies make clear and easy ways to service and upgrade the hardware in these instruments locally, by mail, AND by the customer themselves. In regards to the tone, we rarely if everyone see demos of smart guitars like Lava, Enya, etc. without the effects enabled. The problem is that these smart guitars’ acoustic tone quality without the effects enabled just doesn’t compare guitars made of bidirectional CF. For people who don’t use effects at all or prefer using their own pedals/amps/preamps, I would not suggest buying composite guitars made of powdered CF and resin. Journey guitars with their unidirectional CF soundboards sound a lot nicer in comparison, but again, they don’t have the high quality tones that fully bidirectional CF guitars produce . . . and you need to consider whether the lack of durability is an issue for your needs. The only brands I know of making bidirectional is KLOS, Emerald, and McPherson (I’ve seen individual builders selling them too). KLOS is the most affordable of these brands - depending on the model, you can get a KLOS for about the same price as a Lava 3 brand new, and the more expensive models’ prices are considerably reduced with a sale or b stock (with extremely minor cosmetic flaws) when purchased directly from the KLOS website. Sometime you can buy second hand KLOS’ on Reverb that are in amazing shape. The tone is incredible, the quality is outstanding, and the luthiers at KLOS are happy to customize every guitar purchased directly from their shop. They are available at dealers, some music shops, on Amazon, and on Reverb. I know a lot about KLOS and carbon fiber guitars because I have done extensive reading on CF and have owned a full sized KLOS Hybrid Deluxe since 2018 that was gifted to me by my mom. It is my only guitar. I cannot speak more highly of its durability, tone, ease of playing and neck comfort, little to no maintenance, etc. The online reviews on their site, Amazon, Reverb, etc. also speak for themselves. Oh, they also have LIFETIME warranty - how many guitar brands offer that? I am not trying to make a sales pitch here, but for people looking into CF guitars, I have felt it’s important to share my personal experience and educate others who see my posts being that a lot of misinformation or lack of info altogether is provided by TH-camrs making these videos. It is a bit disappointing. Also, it’s odd that not a single TH-camr has provided clear specs and info on the guitars made by Lava, Enya, Rainsong, etc. in the same manner as any other guitar. There are also no specs and details of materials being used on the manufacturer’s own websites, which is a bit shady and concerns me that people will buy one of these guitars and find out the hard way that it’s not suitable for their needs. We don’t know anything about the scale length, neck profile, the nut/bridge materials, fretboard material, they don’t confirm the type of CF being used (btw, don’t assume a brand is using bidirectional CF by looks alone if they don’t specifically confirm it. Some brands use veneers that look like a CF weave on top of their soundboard/body made of powdered CF + resin), whether they have pickup systems and the type (or would be able to have one installed if it has the smart tech), among other details guitarists need to know before making a sound purchase. Even if the brands don’t provide the info, why aren’t the TH-camrs featuring these guitars trying to get specifics from the brands and/or reporting anything they can measure/ascertain from the guitar once it’s in their hands? I just feel like due diligence is lacking in the case of these “Carbon Fiber” guitars that technically are not the real deal CF. I worry that there will be many people who will drop up to $1300 on these guitars with spectacular advertising campaigns that lack important details. I worry about both new and experienced guitarists who believe they are buying a tank of a guitar with self-imagined features/specs . . . and will then be sorely disappointed and out a lot of money when the guitar is not their preferred scale length, won’t work with their amps, broke when their kid knocked it over or when it took a hit while traveling, etc. Even if the companies aren’t being upfront, it’s disappointing that TH-camrs aren’t educated about CF and making all these other unknowns and potential problems apparent. The guitars may look nice at first glance and are probably lots of fun . . . but I don’t think the cost justifies what you’re getting in the end. For about the same or a little more money as these kitschy guitars, you may as well get a serious instrument like a KLOS that is built like a tank and won’t have all the above issues.
Built in redundancy. I have a Yamaha 345 G I bought in 1979. It still plays. This thing will have packed up in less than ten years. How old is your oldest smartphone? Less than 10 years I'd wager...
like modern cars, all these digital screens will eventually go bad with no replacements. I appreciate the conveniences but long term it's a fail. The screen on my 2017 car already looks dated and acting up. Thats the problem with too much technology, it just won't last
Yep. I got a call from the shop selling these, after checking it out online. He offered me a price below retail, shipped. I declined for that very reason. I like nice, well made guitars, not gimmicks. This will soon become slow, get scratched up and look like a first gen iPhone does today. The problem is not just the tech itself, but the usefulness of the guitar, and company support when the screen becomes old and slow with new updates. I get a strong Apple vibe from Lava, and I can see them introducing new stuff every year, with heavy marketing(like this video). They'll find ways to phase out the previous models, and then you're left with a guitar that looked cool a few years ago. That nice satin finish will get smoothed over and have that old semi gloss look, the screen will be hazey and scratched, if it's not cracked or broken. The repair bill will be more than the cost of a new one. It's also not very durable, apparently. Agufish had his arrived with the front caved in, yet the cardboard box was intact. I've worked with a lot of carbon fiber, and even thin sheets are strong as hell. It takes forever, longer than hardened steel, to cut through. That showed me the guitar had so internal bracing structure. It's just a .old of cheap carbon fibre. Buy a proper guitar and amp, or if you want some effects get a digital practice amp, and you'll have something that will always be useful.
Interesting instrument. I had a LavaMe2 for a while. Liked the FX, and not having to deal with issues with weather and/or humidit. The sound was OK, but since it was all carbon fiber, nothing was adjustable, and the bridge was slightly off - enough that intonation was never satisfactory. Tech support from Lava was nonexistent. I'd be skeptical based on that prior experience. I also think JOATEON's comment is spot-on - will replacement screens, software, batteries be available in a decade? History suggests the answer is "no."
I love the idea of this guitar, but I’m concerned about the longevity. In 10 years from now if the battery stops charging or the screen stops working, is the guitar still going to be what you want it to be? A nice wood acoustic can last decades.
Ten years? You’re too generous! Most batteries stop charging within 5 years depending on the number of charge lifecycles and the type of battery. I’m sorry, but like many TH-camrs, Darrell really needs to educate himself about carbon fiber the same way people learn about tonewoods. He clearly doesn’t know anything about it and is speaking like this is a super durable guitar. My problem is, the Lava 3 (and other similar guitars - Enya, Rainsong, etc.) are not actually using bonifide carbon fiber. They are composite made of powdered carbon fiber that is mixed into resin. They really are not much lighter than many wood guitars and definitely not more durable. These composite guitars can get damaged with very little effort. Repairs for this type of composite are more difficult (and sometimes impossible) than wood for a variety of reasons. Take a look at the Agufish channel to see what happened to the Lava 3 he received. It was clearly damaged in shipping and smashed to bits no differently than a wood guitar could have been. The damage to Agufish’s Lava 3 should prove to you that these guitars are not the real deal carbon fiber and are not more durable than wood. The only benefit of this type of composite is that it won’t be affected by temperature changes that lead to warping, fret sprout, and other issues in wood. True carbon fiber is made of a woven material. Unidirectional, is stronger than the aforementioned composite material, but it also is not the best for building guitars because it can get damaged easily if it falls or takes a hit in the opposite direction of the weave. Journey is the only guitar I’ve seen using unidirectional CF. Its soundboard is made of unidirectional CF while the back and sides and powdered composite like the Lava. The best carbon fiber for building guitars is bidirectional, meaning the weave goes in two directions (usually vertical and horizontal). This is the same kind of CF used to build airplanes and for aerospace applications. It is virtually indestructible. If you look at the KLOS Guitars’ channel, they ran a 4x4 truck over their travel sized hybrid guitar (bidirectional CF body with a wood neck that has two CF stiffening rods), smacked it with a hammer, took it into a pool, used it as a baseball bat, etc. In all cases, the guitars were fully playable afterwards. If they hybrid models faired well, imagine how strong their models with the CF necks would have performed. If you’re looking for an indestructible guitar, your best bet is buying one whose body is made from a bidirectional CF with a wood neck that has CF stiffening rods or a fully CF neck. It really bothers me as a guitar player and consumer that many TH-camrs are getting these guitar samples and speaking about them without being educated about the different types of CF and composite. I’m not saying that composite guitars like the Lava are bad. Many people are very happy with theirs. However, these are not durable enough for gigging, households with rowdy children and pets, traveling and backpacking, etc. These brands and TH-camrs are also not making it apparent how the installed technology can get repaired or tech support when issues inevitably arise. They also don’t make it understood that guitars with hardware installed will become obsolete after a few years just like our phones and computers. At some point, the hardware will not be able to be upgraded and support new features. Or when the battery can’t be recharged anymore because it’s past the number of maximum recharge cycles. Is the person going to have to just ditch the guitar and buy a new one at that point? Will there be a way to service and upgrade the tech these guitars? The companies could build the guitars in such a way that users could buy upgrade kits to swap the electronics and batteries on their own, but sadly, this design choice has never been figured into a single one of these smart guitars. So people need to understand that this guitar could end up not working at any given point in time - for tech issues, when the hardware is eventually unable to support new software features, if the company goes out of business and the software bricks, etc. I’d personally recommend using external tech until companies make clear and easy ways to service and upgrade the hardware in these instruments locally, by mail, AND by the customer themselves. In regards to the tone, we rarely if everyone see demos of smart guitars like Lava, Enya, etc. without the effects enabled. The problem is that these smart guitars’ acoustic tone quality without the effects enabled just doesn’t compare guitars made of bidirectional CF. For people who don’t use effects at all or prefer using their own pedals/amps/preamps, I would not suggest buying composite guitars made of powdered CF and resin. Journey guitars with their unidirectional CF soundboards sound a lot nicer in comparison, but again, they don’t have the high quality tones that fully bidirectional CF guitars produce . . . and you need to consider whether the lack of durability is an issue for your needs. The only brands I know of making bidirectional is KLOS, Emerald, and McPherson (I’ve seen individual builders selling them too). KLOS is the most affordable of these brands - depending on the model, you can get a KLOS for about the same price as a Lava 3 brand new, and the more expensive models’ prices are considerably reduced with a sale or b stock (with extremely minor cosmetic flaws) when purchased directly from the KLOS website. Sometime you can buy second hand KLOS’ on Reverb that are in amazing shape. The tone is incredible, the quality is outstanding, and the luthiers at KLOS are happy to customize every guitar purchased directly from their shop. They are available at dealers, some music shops, on Amazon, and on Reverb. I know a lot about KLOS and carbon fiber guitars because I have done extensive reading on CF and have owned a full sized KLOS Hybrid Deluxe since 2018 that was gifted to me by my mom. It is my only guitar. I cannot speak more highly of its durability, tone, ease of playing and neck comfort, little to no maintenance, etc. The online reviews on their site, Amazon, Reverb, etc. also speak for themselves. Oh, they also have LIFETIME warranty - how many guitar brands offer that? I am not trying to make a sales pitch here, but for people looking into CF guitars, I have felt it’s important to share my personal experience and educate others who see my posts being that a lot of misinformation or lack of info altogether is provided by TH-camrs making these videos. It is a bit disappointing. Also, it’s odd that not a single TH-camr has provided clear specs and info on the guitars made by Lava, Enya, Rainsong, etc. in the same manner as any other guitar. There are also no specs and details of materials being used on the manufacturer’s own websites, which is a bit shady and concerns me that people will buy one of these guitars and find out the hard way that it’s not suitable for their needs. We don’t know anything about the scale length, neck profile, the nut/bridge materials, fretboard material, they don’t confirm the type of CF being used (btw, don’t assume a brand is using bidirectional CF by looks alone if they don’t specifically confirm it. Some brands use veneers that look like a CF weave on top of their soundboard/body made of powdered CF + resin), whether they have pickup systems and the type (or would be able to have one installed if it has the smart tech), among other details guitarists need to know before making a sound purchase. Even if the brands don’t provide the info, why aren’t the TH-camrs featuring these guitars trying to get specifics from the brands and/or reporting anything they can measure/ascertain from the guitar once it’s in their hands? I just feel like due diligence is lacking in the case of these “Carbon Fiber” guitars that technically are not the real deal CF. I worry that there will be many people who will drop up to $1300 on these guitars with spectacular advertising campaigns that lack important details. I worry about both new and experienced guitarists who believe they are buying a tank of a guitar with self-imagined features/specs . . . and will then be sorely disappointed and out a lot of money when the guitar is not their preferred scale length, won’t work with their amps, broke when their kid knocked it over or when it took a hit while traveling, etc. Even if the companies aren’t being upfront, it’s disappointing that TH-camrs aren’t educated about CF and making all these other unknowns and potential problems apparent. The guitars may look nice at first glance and are probably lots of fun . . . but I don’t think the cost justifies what you’re getting in the end. For about the same or a little more money as these kitschy guitars, you may as well get a serious instrument like a KLOS that is built like a tank and won’t have all the above issues.
I live in a tropical environment and the opposite is true. A wood guitar will fall apart in a couple years. I would choose a carbon fiber guitar because it would last longer.
Isn’t it counterintuitive if you are looking for a simple phaser or reverb effect that you have to browse through tons of fantasy named effects to find out the right one? Is there also a distortion effect that sounds like AC/DC? We don’t know… sorry to say this was a very superficial review, not the usual DBG in depth quality.
I can see the points that the others are making but I would(if I could even come close to affording one) would just treat it as another great addition to the instrument family, guitars are guitars and technology is technology . Question? Can we down load additional effects and can it be used as a midi controller?
How is it producing these preset effects? 🤔 Does it have some kind of internal speaker, or are these effects just like petal presets that play through an amp or audio output?
Hello Darrell. So basicly, the concept isn not bad, but this integration with in-built soundchoices are not good, because on video we didn't know, can we changing the effects in these pre sounds options, or can we used normally and adding some cool effect from the pedalboard for example. My afraid to the software updates, how many times get the update,and it is not good when update comes before you walking on the stage playing a gig. My opinion, when seperate them, maybe better options.
Good video, I wondered about the Lava Me 3 for a while but just couldn't pull the trigger. I would much rather have external effects. I ended up ordering an Emerald X7 with the Ghost piezo and K&K set up with a mono/stereo output.
Hi Darrell, what would be your recommendation for an electro-coustic, in the $300 (all in) price range here in the Philippines, Southeast Asia. I can source through different online retailers, so if you give me a couple models that you have personally reviewed, that would be AWESOME.
It sounds fun, it just doesn’t sound great. Stability is nice, but I’d rather my Tayler GS Mini for travel and if I need an app, I have my phone. Are onboard effects really needed for an acoustic like guitar; I guess for inspiration in song writing. Give me a guitar that can record and write the tab while I’m noodling to capture my thoughts; now that would be something.
So is the only difference between Lava Me 3 and Lava Blue the construction material? I.e. carbon fibre vs HPL? All the other smart features exist in the same shape on both models?
I think the smart phone is the greatest invention that humanity has made. That being said, all the "smart" features that are being pushed onto other products now (like TVs, cars, and so on), just further add to the complete experience and enjoyment (for me at least). So having all these bells and whistles on the guitar to me sounds pretty awesome at the moment. I know some people wouldn't care for them, but you know how many times I've used my Tonewood Amp, after playing with it for the first two weeks? Zero. And i Had it for 3 years now. Just the thought of installing the magnet, charging batteries, changing batteries, has become so repulsive to me. Having everything already pre-installed (with even more features) is definitely a thing I would go for. P.S. LavaMusic please send me a Lava Me 3, thank you
I found all the effects over the top. Showing off what weird things it can do, but none of them usable while playing a song. Can you edit or create your own presets?
@@mizmo21 I destroyed my shoulder and arm and it didn’t heal right and I still have a torn Labrum ligament. I have had a year of PT and it hurts like a mfr. I have two 12 in radius guitars.
@@jeekyboi9564 I destroyed my shoulder and arm and it is done healing after a year of PT. Torn Labrum. Hurts bad. I am still trying to play it though. A 12 string acoustic and an Epiphone LesPaul Special.
@@jeekyboi9564 The way that my shoulder and arm healed I still have a torn ligament that keeps my shoulder in the socket and even though I still have really strong muscles around my shoulder and arm the pain of that torn ligament when you tweak it sets me on fire. And my hand, wrist and forearm go numb. And they hurt at the same time. I can’t seem to do anything on a 12 in radius but roll my thumb and forefinger to take the pressure off, but trying to barre is really hard and to finger notes individually is like my hands have never been on a fretboard. I have a 12 and 6 string and both are set up really well tuned down a half step on the 6 string electric and a whole step on the 12 string acoustic that has a wide nut 1.895.
I have a Spark amp, this guitar combined with that amp you would have so many combinations it would boggle the mind. love the guitars, but one improvement is a must for me as a guitar player, they have to make a single cut version of this or lead playing up high on the neck is impossible.
As always, your vids are awesome and informative. Well done for catering to the tech heads. However, for me, to techy. I suppose I am old and a bit more traditional. Carbon fiber is cool and I have no issue with different build materials, but I like all my peripherals on the outside 💜💜💜 Sarah
These are crazy instruments and it looks like a lot of fun. The price puts it well out of reach for me but even if it wasn't... I just don't like the sound of them. I've heard a few demos of Lava guitars and, well, the sound is just sub-par. I suppose it would be a good choice for the touring musician who needs a stable guitar and just wants to add a bit of zing-zing to their show. Still, I appreciate tech and am always up for an interesting review of something new and cool.
My son saved his money and bought a blue lava touch. He spent $650 of his own money, a lot for a 15 year old. He received the guitar on Saturday, unboxed, set up and started playing it around 3:30pm...worked perfect. We ate dinner and when he returned to play the guitar later that evening (9:00pm) the screen was glitching. A few minutes later the screen became unresponsive. The site provides no help or troubleshooting. We reset the guitar, used a different charging cable. Different charging block. We did a hard reset of the system. No results. The company has no resources to help during the weekend or during US east coast hours so we had to wait until Monday morning until messages were responded to. Nothing of real help aside from wanting pictures and video of showing what's going on, or lack thereof. So to summarize, my son has had this guitar for almost a full three days and has only played it for maybe 90 minutes before the entire touchscreen became useless.
I generally like the idea of guitars made of materials other than rare, expensive wood species. And as an acoustic instrument, this is definitely a good alternative because it’s not going to deteriorate like any organic material would. But unless the on-board electronics are completely changeable, they will become obsolete in a flash. I can plug my 1953 Telecaster into the most advanced amp and pedals on the planet. This sounds good but I would rather just get an acoustic/electric without the touch screen and speakers.
Awefully brave of lava to come out with this instrument when the guitar community is the most conservative community I’ve ever known of hahah. Honestly props to lava, without pushing the envelope innovation is impssible
You're damn right. Remember when Gibson bought out a Les Paul in 2015 with a 1mm wider neck and everyone was LIVID? It's like - cool calm down. Maybe just don't buy THAT one ?
@@songwriterjj6022 it's not nice mate, regardless of not seeing the headstock while playing it would put me off buying it. A squared off headstock would look better. I look at headstock while I play sj200 and my Martin d45. Could you imagine a sj200, or d45 with a rounded off headstock. Yuk. Do you think it looks good? Or could they have designed something a bit more pleasing to the eyes. It's bad enough that it's carbon fiber guitar. Looks a bit of fun though. Best wishes Dean 🇬🇧
I was doing something else, watching with one eye till I saw the fret work. It looked good!! Usually the first thing I have to do with a new guitar is level/crown/polish, this one, not so much. That's a big compliment from me!! LOL It's not going to replace my good guitars, but looks like something fun to play with. Best thing also is they don't want unreasonable $$ for it! ~$1100 for a carbon guitar, I may have to try it!! 8) JMHO's --gary
@@dannymccoy1783 I thought they just come out and haven't had a chance to be owned long term yet maybe I'm wrong thou i still like it thou, I'll have your one if you don't like it or don't want it anymore LOL thanks for the advice, thou
What everyone wants to know is what will happen when the touch screen/electronics die. Will there be a fix or will it become an expensive and regrettable mistake. I think that LAVA should be transparent and answer this lingering question.
@@jimarbella8178 it will play just like any other acoustic with the power off wouldn't need to cut a sound hole. I have the lava me 2 and it sounds just like any other acoustic guitar not turned on.
Does anyone else feel the strings (I believe they are Elixir’s) hurt your fingers out so damn much? I’m no expert, but no beginner either. But man the fingertips burn too much. Anybody else feel the same and maybe can help me find a solution? Much love and respect.
Hi Darrell, I had the same one exactly the gold one but with out the touch screen, this one is really cool. Thank you Darrell for your excellent channel and gear reviews really appreciated. 👍👍👏👏
Great vid as usual but Ive got to be honest: this really doesn’t have the nicest of sounds at all. The only tech I’m desperate for is Evertune’s acoustic bridge!!!
Smartphones actually do something productive. In fact there are tons of apps you can plug your guitar into your phone and get incredible sounds from… which would be a much better investment than this.
From experience, the body is too slippery - it slides right off your lap, and it's unbalanced when using the strap. Having said that, it's a really fun guitar that is so portable - and there's so much to keep going back to it for. Definitely not perfect - and not as tough as you'd think - mine got a crash from being dropped.
This is the guitar equivalent of a mid-priced Casio keyboard at Costco in the 1990's. After you're done goofing off with all the weird sounds you can make, you get bored and move on.
That fretwork actually looks like it's got some sharp corners/edges. And almost looks as if its not flush with the neck. 1:14 which would make the fretwork horrible and not as this paid reviewer calls it "good"
Yeah. Wow ... Wait ... But I am left-handed. (I asked already about a year ago. Yesterday I asked LAVA Music again) LAVA Music answered today: "Dear customer, Thank you so much for contacting us. We are not selling a left-handed guitar yet, but we have already provided this requirement to our technical research and development department. The requirement are already conducting in future products. Please stay tuned. Thank you for your support to LAVA MUSIC. Best regards, LAVA MUSIC" Still hoping :-)
A while back, you had another carbon fiber guitar on your show that was JUST a guitar. I liked that one a lot better. All the bell's and whistle's don't make this better, in fact, it sounds a bit cheesy to me. A great sounding acoustic like a Taylor doesn't have to rely on all the gimmicks. Sorry, I prefer a more natural and pure sounding acoustic.
Exactly right. I was offered one of these when they first came out and passed. It's just a toy that'll look dated and lose functions as it gets older and the screen gets s ratchet up and cracked. Plus new updates will make kids always want the new version. Just like iPhone.
To be fair, these aren’t gimmicks. If these features were on your favorite guitar, you would appreciate it. Who wouldn’t want built in effects and the ability to loop on their favorite guitar?
@@hello_Blake_Alan Some of these effects sound too gimmicky for me. I already own enough effect's anyway. It can be useful, but not as a replacement for standard effects. It works something like a smart phone. Mine is a year old and already breaking. You're entitled to like whatever you want but I will pass. 43 year's ago when I started playing, just buying a good instrument and learning to play was stressed more than relying on gadgets.
@@hello_Blake_Alan I wouldn't. I'd want one on my amp. Too many features take away from the actual quality of the guitar. The greatest players ever didn't have to rely on this stuff. It's a gimmick aimed at beginners that don't know any better. A serious player wouldn't want an effects loop because the one on here is cheap. A beginner might find some fun it it, but will soon realize they actually need to learn to play to sound good.
@@RByrne your comment is all over the place. “A serious player wouldn’t want an effects loop because the one on here is cheap.” Don’t you mean~ a serious player ‘would’ want an effects loop ‘but’ the one on here is cheap.” And too many features doesn’t affect the quality of the guitar. You can have both. Serious players use these kind of features all the time. Now, it’s on the guitar. Is it amazing? Not just yet, but the first guitar ever made was most likely a piece of garbage and now it’s one of the most popular instruments known to man. These aren’t gimmicks, this is musical innovation in its initial stage.
Seems like a fun idea at first, I'm sure - just like any new phone. New gadgets. But what will happen when anything fails about it? Is it serviceable? It'd better be, because thát will be a very expensive piece of junk otherwise. In comparison: I can pick up any of my guitars any day of the week - no need to charge them, they are immediately playable, even though over half of them are at least 40 years old. Where's this thing going to be in 40 years time? Or even 10? And it looks like an overused lolly, especially in the colours currently available 🤣🤣🤣
Love me a Carbon Fiber Guitar!
It's amazing what companies come up with to take their instruments to the next level! Enjoy!
Very cool, but I'm sure it's out of my price range unfortunately 😕
@DarrelBraun Once again love your channel!!! Now - Question.........Were you featured in an ad on Google Playstore for one of those goofy apps that change people's faces and put their heads in crazy places? Earlier I opened up a video here on TH-cam and this ad popped up and was your face/head on a green cartoon alien walking and dancing. "D" around.
My question to you Darell
I know you are a very straight up guy
You know from way back all guitarist rock stars had not money to buy a expensive guitar
Eddy van put humbucker in and
Jimmy Hendricks flipped his because it was wrong guitar
Most of us can pull a guitar apart and and put it back and fix issuesⁿ
Would you use this guitar
I know you would not
So why are you recommending this
I’m sorry, but like many TH-camrs, Darrell really needs to educate himself about carbon fiber the same way people learn about tonewoods. He clearly doesn’t know anything about it and is speaking like this is a super durable guitar.
My problem is, the Lava 3 (and other similar guitars - Enya, Rainsong, etc.) are not actually using bonifide carbon fiber. They are composite made of powdered carbon fiber that is mixed into resin. They really are not much lighter than many wood guitars and definitely not more durable. These composite guitars can get damaged with very little effort. Repairs for this type of composite are more difficult (and sometimes impossible) than wood for a variety of reasons. Take a look at the Agufish channel to see what happened to the Lava 3 he received. It was clearly damaged in shipping and smashed to bits no differently than a wood guitar could have been. The damage to Agufish’s Lava 3 should prove to you that these guitars are not the real deal carbon fiber and are not more durable than wood. The only benefit of this type of composite is that it won’t be affected by temperature changes that lead to warping, fret sprout, and other issues in wood.
True carbon fiber is made of a woven material. Unidirectional, is stronger than the aforementioned composite material, but it also is not the best for building guitars because it can get damaged easily if it falls or takes a hit in the opposite direction of the weave. Journey is the only guitar I’ve seen using unidirectional CF. Its soundboard is made of unidirectional CF while the back and sides and powdered composite like the Lava.
The best carbon fiber for building guitars is bidirectional, meaning the weave goes in two directions (usually vertical and horizontal). This is the same kind of CF used to build airplanes and for aerospace applications. It is virtually indestructible. If you look at the KLOS Guitars’ channel, they ran a 4x4 truck over their travel sized hybrid guitar (bidirectional CF body with a wood neck that has two CF stiffening rods), smacked it with a hammer, took it into a pool, used it as a baseball bat, etc. In all cases, the guitars were fully playable afterwards. If they hybrid models faired well, imagine how strong their models with the CF necks would have performed. If you’re looking for an indestructible guitar, your best bet is buying one whose body is made from a bidirectional CF with a wood neck that has CF stiffening rods or a fully CF neck.
It really bothers me as a guitar player and consumer that many TH-camrs are getting these guitar samples and speaking about them without being educated about the different types of CF and composite. I’m not saying that composite guitars like the Lava are bad. Many people are very happy with theirs. However, these are not durable enough for gigging, households with rowdy children and pets, traveling and backpacking, etc.
These brands and TH-camrs are also not making it apparent how the installed technology can get repaired or tech support when issues inevitably arise. They also don’t make it understood that guitars with hardware installed will become obsolete after a few years just like our phones and computers. At some point, the hardware will not be able to be upgraded and support new features. Or when the battery can’t be recharged anymore because it’s past the number of maximum recharge cycles. Is the person going to have to just ditch the guitar and buy a new one at that point? Will there be a way to service and upgrade the tech these guitars? The companies could build the guitars in such a way that users could buy upgrade kits to swap the electronics and batteries on their own, but sadly, this design choice has never been figured into a single one of these smart guitars. So people need to understand that this guitar could end up not working at any given point in time - for tech issues, when the hardware is eventually unable to support new software features, if the company goes out of business and the software bricks, etc. I’d personally recommend using external tech until companies make clear and easy ways to service and upgrade the hardware in these instruments locally, by mail, AND by the customer themselves.
In regards to the tone, we rarely if everyone see demos of smart guitars like Lava, Enya, etc. without the effects enabled. The problem is that these smart guitars’ acoustic tone quality without the effects enabled just doesn’t compare guitars made of bidirectional CF. For people who don’t use effects at all or prefer using their own pedals/amps/preamps, I would not suggest buying composite guitars made of powdered CF and resin. Journey guitars with their unidirectional CF soundboards sound a lot nicer in comparison, but again, they don’t have the high quality tones that fully bidirectional CF guitars produce . . . and you need to consider whether the lack of durability is an issue for your needs.
The only brands I know of making bidirectional is KLOS, Emerald, and McPherson (I’ve seen individual builders selling them too). KLOS is the most affordable of these brands - depending on the model, you can get a KLOS for about the same price as a Lava 3 brand new, and the more expensive models’ prices are considerably reduced with a sale or b stock (with extremely minor cosmetic flaws) when purchased directly from the KLOS website. Sometime you can buy second hand KLOS’ on Reverb that are in amazing shape. The tone is incredible, the quality is outstanding, and the luthiers at KLOS are happy to customize every guitar purchased directly from their shop. They are available at dealers, some music shops, on Amazon, and on Reverb. I know a lot about KLOS and carbon fiber guitars because I have done extensive reading on CF and have owned a full sized KLOS Hybrid Deluxe since 2018 that was gifted to me by my mom. It is my only guitar. I cannot speak more highly of its durability, tone, ease of playing and neck comfort, little to no maintenance, etc. The online reviews on their site, Amazon, Reverb, etc. also speak for themselves. Oh, they also have LIFETIME warranty - how many guitar brands offer that?
I am not trying to make a sales pitch here, but for people looking into CF guitars, I have felt it’s important to share my personal experience and educate others who see my posts being that a lot of misinformation or lack of info altogether is provided by TH-camrs making these videos. It is a bit disappointing.
Also, it’s odd that not a single TH-camr has provided clear specs and info on the guitars made by Lava, Enya, Rainsong, etc. in the same manner as any other guitar. There are also no specs and details of materials being used on the manufacturer’s own websites, which is a bit shady and concerns me that people will buy one of these guitars and find out the hard way that it’s not suitable for their needs. We don’t know anything about the scale length, neck profile, the nut/bridge materials, fretboard material, they don’t confirm the type of CF being used (btw, don’t assume a brand is using bidirectional CF by looks alone if they don’t specifically confirm it. Some brands use veneers that look like a CF weave on top of their soundboard/body made of powdered CF + resin), whether they have pickup systems and the type (or would be able to have one installed if it has the smart tech), among other details guitarists need to know before making a sound purchase. Even if the brands don’t provide the info, why aren’t the TH-camrs featuring these guitars trying to get specifics from the brands and/or reporting anything they can measure/ascertain from the guitar once it’s in their hands?
I just feel like due diligence is lacking in the case of these “Carbon Fiber” guitars that technically are not the real deal CF. I worry that there will be many people who will drop up to $1300 on these guitars with spectacular advertising campaigns that lack important details. I worry about both new and experienced guitarists who believe they are buying a tank of a guitar with self-imagined features/specs . . . and will then be sorely disappointed and out a lot of money when the guitar is not their preferred scale length, won’t work with their amps, broke when their kid knocked it over or when it took a hit while traveling, etc. Even if the companies aren’t being upfront, it’s disappointing that TH-camrs aren’t educated about CF and making all these other unknowns and potential problems apparent. The guitars may look nice at first glance and are probably lots of fun . . . but I don’t think the cost justifies what you’re getting in the end. For about the same or a little more money as these kitschy guitars, you may as well get a serious instrument like a KLOS that is built like a tank and won’t have all the above issues.
@@MashaT22 100% on this post. Thank you for taking the time to write this. It’s much appreciated and a good launching point for my education. Be well.
my subscription feed is like 90% lava reviews right now
Dave a reply on my comment said the exact same thing what did you get? What was the prize?
@@guitarpro882 it's not real. Don't contact them, it's just a scam
@@RByrne I never contact anyone that I don't know anyway lol
Built in redundancy. I have a Yamaha 345 G I bought in 1979. It still plays. This thing will have packed up in less than ten years. How old is your oldest smartphone? Less than 10 years I'd wager...
Absolutely you are correct 110%
like modern cars, all these digital screens will eventually go bad with no replacements. I appreciate the conveniences but long term it's a fail. The screen on my 2017 car already looks dated and acting up. Thats the problem with too much technology, it just won't last
Bingo!
Completely true. And durable… well… we will see. But sure not fixable like traditional guitars.
Yep. I got a call from the shop selling these, after checking it out online. He offered me a price below retail, shipped. I declined for that very reason.
I like nice, well made guitars, not gimmicks. This will soon become slow, get scratched up and look like a first gen iPhone does today. The problem is not just the tech itself, but the usefulness of the guitar, and company support when the screen becomes old and slow with new updates.
I get a strong Apple vibe from Lava, and I can see them introducing new stuff every year, with heavy marketing(like this video). They'll find ways to phase out the previous models, and then you're left with a guitar that looked cool a few years ago. That nice satin finish will get smoothed over and have that old semi gloss look, the screen will be hazey and scratched, if it's not cracked or broken. The repair bill will be more than the cost of a new one.
It's also not very durable, apparently. Agufish had his arrived with the front caved in, yet the cardboard box was intact. I've worked with a lot of carbon fiber, and even thin sheets are strong as hell. It takes forever, longer than hardened steel, to cut through. That showed me the guitar had so internal bracing structure. It's just a .old of cheap carbon fibre.
Buy a proper guitar and amp, or if you want some effects get a digital practice amp, and you'll have something that will always be useful.
it's actually easy to replace screens in phones and iPads and laptops.. if you can get the parts
Yep!
Interesting instrument. I had a LavaMe2 for a while. Liked the FX, and not having to deal with issues with weather and/or humidit. The sound was OK, but since it was all carbon fiber, nothing was adjustable, and the bridge was slightly off - enough that intonation was never satisfactory. Tech support from Lava was nonexistent. I'd be skeptical based on that prior experience. I also think JOATEON's comment is spot-on - will replacement screens, software, batteries be available in a decade? History suggests the answer is "no."
Thanks for the reality check. I was seriously considering this.
Stutter Star sounds INCREDIBLE. I got goosebumps when you played it.
I love the idea of this guitar, but I’m concerned about the longevity. In 10 years from now if the battery stops charging or the screen stops working, is the guitar still going to be what you want it to be? A nice wood acoustic can last decades.
Well, great point, but this isn't meant to replace wood guitars, it's just another cool innovation. Just my 2 cents. Cheers, pal. 😎🍻
Ten years? You’re too generous! Most batteries stop charging within 5 years depending on the number of charge lifecycles and the type of battery.
I’m sorry, but like many TH-camrs, Darrell really needs to educate himself about carbon fiber the same way people learn about tonewoods. He clearly doesn’t know anything about it and is speaking like this is a super durable guitar.
My problem is, the Lava 3 (and other similar guitars - Enya, Rainsong, etc.) are not actually using bonifide carbon fiber. They are composite made of powdered carbon fiber that is mixed into resin. They really are not much lighter than many wood guitars and definitely not more durable. These composite guitars can get damaged with very little effort. Repairs for this type of composite are more difficult (and sometimes impossible) than wood for a variety of reasons. Take a look at the Agufish channel to see what happened to the Lava 3 he received. It was clearly damaged in shipping and smashed to bits no differently than a wood guitar could have been. The damage to Agufish’s Lava 3 should prove to you that these guitars are not the real deal carbon fiber and are not more durable than wood. The only benefit of this type of composite is that it won’t be affected by temperature changes that lead to warping, fret sprout, and other issues in wood.
True carbon fiber is made of a woven material. Unidirectional, is stronger than the aforementioned composite material, but it also is not the best for building guitars because it can get damaged easily if it falls or takes a hit in the opposite direction of the weave. Journey is the only guitar I’ve seen using unidirectional CF. Its soundboard is made of unidirectional CF while the back and sides and powdered composite like the Lava.
The best carbon fiber for building guitars is bidirectional, meaning the weave goes in two directions (usually vertical and horizontal). This is the same kind of CF used to build airplanes and for aerospace applications. It is virtually indestructible. If you look at the KLOS Guitars’ channel, they ran a 4x4 truck over their travel sized hybrid guitar (bidirectional CF body with a wood neck that has two CF stiffening rods), smacked it with a hammer, took it into a pool, used it as a baseball bat, etc. In all cases, the guitars were fully playable afterwards. If they hybrid models faired well, imagine how strong their models with the CF necks would have performed. If you’re looking for an indestructible guitar, your best bet is buying one whose body is made from a bidirectional CF with a wood neck that has CF stiffening rods or a fully CF neck.
It really bothers me as a guitar player and consumer that many TH-camrs are getting these guitar samples and speaking about them without being educated about the different types of CF and composite. I’m not saying that composite guitars like the Lava are bad. Many people are very happy with theirs. However, these are not durable enough for gigging, households with rowdy children and pets, traveling and backpacking, etc.
These brands and TH-camrs are also not making it apparent how the installed technology can get repaired or tech support when issues inevitably arise. They also don’t make it understood that guitars with hardware installed will become obsolete after a few years just like our phones and computers. At some point, the hardware will not be able to be upgraded and support new features. Or when the battery can’t be recharged anymore because it’s past the number of maximum recharge cycles. Is the person going to have to just ditch the guitar and buy a new one at that point? Will there be a way to service and upgrade the tech these guitars? The companies could build the guitars in such a way that users could buy upgrade kits to swap the electronics and batteries on their own, but sadly, this design choice has never been figured into a single one of these smart guitars. So people need to understand that this guitar could end up not working at any given point in time - for tech issues, when the hardware is eventually unable to support new software features, if the company goes out of business and the software bricks, etc. I’d personally recommend using external tech until companies make clear and easy ways to service and upgrade the hardware in these instruments locally, by mail, AND by the customer themselves.
In regards to the tone, we rarely if everyone see demos of smart guitars like Lava, Enya, etc. without the effects enabled. The problem is that these smart guitars’ acoustic tone quality without the effects enabled just doesn’t compare guitars made of bidirectional CF. For people who don’t use effects at all or prefer using their own pedals/amps/preamps, I would not suggest buying composite guitars made of powdered CF and resin. Journey guitars with their unidirectional CF soundboards sound a lot nicer in comparison, but again, they don’t have the high quality tones that fully bidirectional CF guitars produce . . . and you need to consider whether the lack of durability is an issue for your needs.
The only brands I know of making bidirectional is KLOS, Emerald, and McPherson (I’ve seen individual builders selling them too). KLOS is the most affordable of these brands - depending on the model, you can get a KLOS for about the same price as a Lava 3 brand new, and the more expensive models’ prices are considerably reduced with a sale or b stock (with extremely minor cosmetic flaws) when purchased directly from the KLOS website. Sometime you can buy second hand KLOS’ on Reverb that are in amazing shape. The tone is incredible, the quality is outstanding, and the luthiers at KLOS are happy to customize every guitar purchased directly from their shop. They are available at dealers, some music shops, on Amazon, and on Reverb. I know a lot about KLOS and carbon fiber guitars because I have done extensive reading on CF and have owned a full sized KLOS Hybrid Deluxe since 2018 that was gifted to me by my mom. It is my only guitar. I cannot speak more highly of its durability, tone, ease of playing and neck comfort, little to no maintenance, etc. The online reviews on their site, Amazon, Reverb, etc. also speak for themselves. Oh, they also have LIFETIME warranty - how many guitar brands offer that?
I am not trying to make a sales pitch here, but for people looking into CF guitars, I have felt it’s important to share my personal experience and educate others who see my posts being that a lot of misinformation or lack of info altogether is provided by TH-camrs making these videos. It is a bit disappointing.
Also, it’s odd that not a single TH-camr has provided clear specs and info on the guitars made by Lava, Enya, Rainsong, etc. in the same manner as any other guitar. There are also no specs and details of materials being used on the manufacturer’s own websites, which is a bit shady and concerns me that people will buy one of these guitars and find out the hard way that it’s not suitable for their needs. We don’t know anything about the scale length, neck profile, the nut/bridge materials, fretboard material, they don’t confirm the type of CF being used (btw, don’t assume a brand is using bidirectional CF by looks alone if they don’t specifically confirm it. Some brands use veneers that look like a CF weave on top of their soundboard/body made of powdered CF + resin), whether they have pickup systems and the type (or would be able to have one installed if it has the smart tech), among other details guitarists need to know before making a sound purchase. Even if the brands don’t provide the info, why aren’t the TH-camrs featuring these guitars trying to get specifics from the brands and/or reporting anything they can measure/ascertain from the guitar once it’s in their hands?
I just feel like due diligence is lacking in the case of these “Carbon Fiber” guitars that technically are not the real deal CF. I worry that there will be many people who will drop up to $1300 on these guitars with spectacular advertising campaigns that lack important details. I worry about both new and experienced guitarists who believe they are buying a tank of a guitar with self-imagined features/specs . . . and will then be sorely disappointed and out a lot of money when the guitar is not their preferred scale length, won’t work with their amps, broke when their kid knocked it over or when it took a hit while traveling, etc. Even if the companies aren’t being upfront, it’s disappointing that TH-camrs aren’t educated about CF and making all these other unknowns and potential problems apparent. The guitars may look nice at first glance and are probably lots of fun . . . but I don’t think the cost justifies what you’re getting in the end. For about the same or a little more money as these kitschy guitars, you may as well get a serious instrument like a KLOS that is built like a tank and won’t have all the above issues.
@@MashaT22 I don’t think you explained yourself properly….
I live in a tropical environment and the opposite is true. A wood guitar will fall apart in a couple years. I would choose a carbon fiber guitar because it would last longer.
@@Nomad-cd2my lol
So fun to watch you and your channel… awesome guitar!! 😊
Isn’t it counterintuitive if you are looking for a simple phaser or reverb effect that you have to browse through tons of fantasy named effects to find out the right one? Is there also a distortion effect that sounds like AC/DC? We don’t know… sorry to say this was a very superficial review, not the usual DBG in depth quality.
Is it worth choosing the Lava 3 over the base model as a beginner guitarist? Thank you.
I just got one! I’m stoked and I hope it helps me learn how to play easier. Plus, there’s so many things you can do with this!
Interesting guitar. Seems like the guitar version of a Spark amp. Will be curious to see if these catch on.
That’s really cool. Sounds really good. AmazIng what they can do now.
Brilliant, a guitar with a built-in toaster, I absolutely need it 👌😄
I thought the Lava 2 was a gimmick, but here we have an even more expensive version with even more gimmicks.
Boomer Gibson apologist spotted
I can see the points that the others are making but I would(if I could even come close to affording one) would just treat it as another great addition to the instrument family, guitars are guitars and technology is technology . Question? Can we down load additional effects and can it be used as a midi controller?
How is it producing these preset effects? 🤔 Does it have some kind of internal speaker, or are these effects just like petal presets that play through an amp or audio output?
Most of these smart guitars use the guitar’s own soundboard and sound hole to amplify the effects. There’s usually no internal speakers.
Hello Darrell. So basicly, the concept isn not bad, but this integration with in-built soundchoices are not good, because on video we didn't know, can we changing the effects in these pre sounds options, or can we used normally and adding some cool effect from the pedalboard for example. My afraid to the software updates, how many times get the update,and it is not good when update comes before you walking on the stage playing a gig. My opinion, when seperate them, maybe better options.
I would just buy a Yamaha Transacoustic Guitar or a regular acoustic guitar with tonewood amp or multi-fx pedal.
Good vid but have a question.........can you upload a backing track in mp3 format via the app? Their web site is not clear
That little screen seems to replace a bunch of foot pedals !!! Are there more tones on it for a more of a fuller tone. Like woody sound. I like it !!!
A futuristic looking instrument for sure. The urinal charging unit looks Vintage. ;-).
Thank you Darrell for your excellent content.
Lava Guitars are cool for sure. The Enya instruments are cool also.
Good video, I wondered about the Lava Me 3 for a while but just couldn't pull the trigger. I would much rather have external effects. I ended up ordering an Emerald X7 with the Ghost piezo and K&K set up with a mono/stereo output.
Hi Darrell, what would be your recommendation for an electro-coustic, in the $300 (all in) price range here in the Philippines, Southeast Asia. I can source through different online retailers, so if you give me a couple models that you have personally reviewed, that would be AWESOME.
It sounds fun, it just doesn’t sound great. Stability is nice, but I’d rather my Tayler GS Mini for travel and if I need an app, I have my phone. Are onboard effects really needed for an acoustic like guitar; I guess for inspiration in song writing. Give me a guitar that can record and write the tab while I’m noodling to capture my thoughts; now that would be something.
So is the only difference between Lava Me 3 and Lava Blue the construction material? I.e. carbon fibre vs HPL?
All the other smart features exist in the same shape on both models?
I think the smart phone is the greatest invention that humanity has made. That being said, all the "smart" features that are being pushed onto other products now (like TVs, cars, and so on), just further add to the complete experience and enjoyment (for me at least). So having all these bells and whistles on the guitar to me sounds pretty awesome at the moment. I know some people wouldn't care for them, but you know how many times I've used my Tonewood Amp, after playing with it for the first two weeks? Zero. And i Had it for 3 years now. Just the thought of installing the magnet, charging batteries, changing batteries, has become so repulsive to me. Having everything already pre-installed (with even more features) is definitely a thing I would go for.
P.S. LavaMusic please send me a Lava Me 3, thank you
what about if you have fret wear ? can you refret ? What is the fret made of?
My volume was super super low. You need a amp on the one I received. We’re you using a amp or mic to boost volume?
Did you turn the volume up inside the guitar
I found all the effects over the top. Showing off what weird things it can do, but none of them usable while playing a song.
Can you edit or create your own presets?
How many effects all together?
Great vid as always Darrell
Keep doing what you do
👍🏼😊
I want that guitar, not so cheap I guess?
they do one at £700, seems more like a toy to me, for the money there are hand built guitars that are just amazing in their own right
Beautiful and a lot of detail! What is the neck radius? I am having trouble with the 12 inch radius on mine.
Whats wrong with ur radius?
How do you go wrong with a 12🤣
@@mizmo21 I destroyed my shoulder and arm and it didn’t heal right and I still have a torn Labrum ligament. I have had a year of PT and it hurts like a mfr. I have two 12 in radius guitars.
@@jeekyboi9564 I destroyed my shoulder and arm and it is done healing after a year of PT. Torn Labrum. Hurts bad. I am still trying to play it though. A 12 string acoustic and an Epiphone LesPaul Special.
@@jeekyboi9564 The way that my shoulder and arm healed I still have a torn ligament that keeps my shoulder in the socket and even though I still have really strong muscles around my shoulder and arm the pain of that torn ligament when you tweak it sets me on fire. And my hand, wrist and forearm go numb. And they hurt at the same time. I can’t seem to do anything on a 12 in radius but roll my thumb and forefinger to take the pressure off, but trying to barre is really hard and to finger notes individually is like my hands have never been on a fretboard. I have a 12 and 6 string and both are set up really well tuned down a half step on the 6 string electric and a whole step on the 12 string acoustic that has a wide nut 1.895.
where do you find these things?? more arpegiators for guitar please.. good ones of course..
Can this guitar simulate a 12 string acoustic?
I have a Spark amp, this guitar combined with that amp you would have so many combinations it would boggle the mind. love the guitars, but one improvement is a must for me as a guitar player, they have to make a single cut version of this or lead playing up high on the neck is impossible.
As always, your vids are awesome and informative. Well done for catering to the tech heads. However, for me, to techy. I suppose I am old and a bit more traditional. Carbon fiber is cool and I have no issue with different build materials, but I like all my peripherals on the outside 💜💜💜 Sarah
Is there a way to adjust the action at the truss rod? I have seen reviews about the action being too high.
Is there a left handed guitar?
Are the effects tweakable or are they just preset?
These are crazy instruments and it looks like a lot of fun. The price puts it well out of reach for me but even if it wasn't... I just don't like the sound of them. I've heard a few demos of Lava guitars and, well, the sound is just sub-par. I suppose it would be a good choice for the touring musician who needs a stable guitar and just wants to add a bit of zing-zing to their show. Still, I appreciate tech and am always up for an interesting review of something new and cool.
My son saved his money and bought a blue lava touch. He spent $650 of his own money, a lot for a 15 year old. He received the guitar on Saturday, unboxed, set up and started playing it around 3:30pm...worked perfect. We ate dinner and when he returned to play the guitar later that evening (9:00pm) the screen was glitching. A few minutes later the screen became unresponsive. The site provides no help or troubleshooting. We reset the guitar, used a different charging cable. Different charging block. We did a hard reset of the system. No results. The company has no resources to help during the weekend or during US east coast hours so we had to wait until Monday morning until messages were responded to. Nothing of real help aside from wanting pictures and video of showing what's going on, or lack thereof. So to summarize, my son has had this guitar for almost a full three days and has only played it for maybe 90 minutes before the entire touchscreen became useless.
So when are getting the "air" guitar e-gloves 😁
What's the cost of one of these Guitars??
Can I connect a mic to it or does it have a mic for vocals?
Hey have you reviewed any Ashthorpe Guitars? It would be cool if you could look into them. Around $85-$90 either from their site or Amazon.
when it records does it only record the guitar or your voice aswell ?
I generally like the idea of guitars made of materials other than rare, expensive wood species. And as an acoustic instrument, this is definitely a good alternative because it’s not going to deteriorate like any organic material would. But unless the on-board electronics are completely changeable, they will become obsolete in a flash. I can plug my 1953 Telecaster into the most advanced amp and pedals on the planet. This sounds good but I would rather just get an acoustic/electric without the touch screen and speakers.
Short term they are great.Long term they are JUNK.
And better than wood guitars carbon fiber guitar doesn't warp, and stays in tune compared to wood guitars.
I have the two I hope to get a 3 some day.
Does it sound better than Enya X4 pro?
Awefully brave of lava to come out with this instrument when the guitar community is the most conservative community I’ve ever known of hahah. Honestly props to lava, without pushing the envelope innovation is impssible
What does conservatism have to do with a guitar😂
You're damn right. Remember when Gibson bought out a Les Paul in 2015 with a 1mm wider neck and everyone was LIVID? It's like - cool calm down. Maybe just don't buy THAT one ?
@@braxtonblomquist I'm using conservative in its literal sense not political sense
@@mynamethog1151 oohhhhhh lol
How does it sounds in an Amp??
Is this the 36 or 38 model?
The only thing I don't like, it's the shape of the rounded off headstock. Otherwise looks like a bit of fun. Dean 🇬🇧
How often do you look at your headstock when you're playing?
@@songwriterjj6022 it's not nice mate, regardless of not seeing the headstock while playing it would put me off buying it. A squared off headstock would look better. I look at headstock while I play sj200 and my Martin d45. Could you imagine a sj200, or d45 with a rounded off headstock. Yuk.
Do you think it looks good? Or could they have designed something a bit more pleasing to the eyes.
It's bad enough that it's carbon fiber guitar. Looks a bit of fun though.
Best wishes Dean 🇬🇧
What do you do when the rechargeable battery doesn't charge anymore ??? it is inevitable
Was that the 36" or 38" model?
I was doing something else, watching with one eye till I saw the fret work. It looked good!! Usually the first thing I have to do with a new guitar is level/crown/polish, this one, not so much. That's a big compliment from me!! LOL It's not going to replace my good guitars, but looks like something fun to play with. Best thing also is they don't want unreasonable $$ for it! ~$1100 for a carbon guitar, I may have to try it!! 8) JMHO's --gary
Works just about what my AR-15 does. Cool.
Do you think these are good beginner guitar’s?? It looks so cool!
now I want one
...sorry i cant gig tonight, my guitar is updating!!! lol
this thing is cool!!!
How about a sitar effect?
Battery charge?
They should have included Bluetooth connection if you need to wear headphones lol
Really cool 😎🤘
i wish i could have one of these guitars
You will regret it in the long term...Their great in the beginning but long term ALL are JUNK.
@@dannymccoy1783 I thought they just come out and haven't had a chance to be owned long term yet maybe I'm wrong thou i still like it thou, I'll have your one if you don't like it or don't want it anymore LOL thanks for the advice, thou
What everyone wants to know is what will happen when the touch screen/electronics die. Will there be a fix or will it become an expensive and regrettable mistake. I think that LAVA should be transparent and answer this lingering question.
This and if the battery is user switchable when exhausted/broke.
Then you just cut a normal sound hole
@@jimarbella8178 it will play just like any other acoustic with the power off wouldn't need to cut a sound hole. I have the lava me 2 and it sounds just like any other acoustic guitar not turned on.
Incredible
Does anyone else feel the strings (I believe they are Elixir’s) hurt your fingers out so damn much?
I’m no expert, but no beginner either. But man the fingertips burn too much. Anybody else feel the same and maybe can help me find a solution?
Much love and respect.
Hi Darrell, I had the same one exactly the gold one but with out the touch screen, this one is really cool. Thank you Darrell for your excellent channel and gear reviews really appreciated. 👍👍👏👏
I love itttt
This one still has that awful shrill, tinny tone though. Give me a natural wood guitar any day!
Great vid as usual but Ive got to be honest: this really doesn’t have the nicest of sounds at all. The only tech I’m desperate for is Evertune’s acoustic bridge!!!
The OS looks identical to iOS
Looks like your cat got your hand!😄
Comparison video next between this and Blue Lava
Hard pass.
Big innovations but no sound! From Casio to Apple fun factor! But a good traveling guitar if U will find a plug in!
Wow crazy
How much in Indian rupees
Эта "гитара" выглядит ещё страшнее, чем гитара "Паркер"... Как бы хорошо она не играла! Человек со вкусом и в руки взять побрезгует.
Interesting. Like trying new things
This is like the smartphone of the guitar world lol
?
what is my prize?
Smartphones actually do something productive. In fact there are tons of apps you can plug your guitar into your phone and get incredible sounds from… which would be a much better investment than this.
@@BangBangBeefyMacNCheesy true
6:11 this sounds so satisfying idk why
commenting on my own comment before the spammer
could you not save $500 and buy an acoustic and a spark?
From experience, the body is too slippery - it slides right off your lap, and it's unbalanced when using the strap.
Having said that, it's a really fun guitar that is so portable - and there's so much to keep going back to it for.
Definitely not perfect - and not as tough as you'd think - mine got a crash from being dropped.
I'm wishing I would've waited before buying the Enya now.
The Enya sure is pretty though.
A very fun toy.. ..😀
Not for me. Old school here. Give me a guitar that's not from the Jetsons... and that's affordable.
Can you make a call on it ?
This is the guitar equivalent of a mid-priced Casio keyboard at Costco in the 1990's. After you're done goofing off with all the weird sounds you can make, you get bored and move on.
Cool gadget. Be nice to have around the house or on the beach but not for $650 that's insane money for a toy guitar.
That fretwork actually looks like it's got some sharp corners/edges. And almost looks as if its not flush with the neck. 1:14 which would make the fretwork horrible and not as this paid reviewer calls it "good"
I play guitar to get away from the tech over-saturated world we live in.
Meh. I'll stick with my Les Paul.
Lucky
Yeah this is just another gimmick.
Yeah. Wow ... Wait ... But I am left-handed. (I asked already about a year ago. Yesterday I asked LAVA Music again)
LAVA Music answered today: "Dear customer,
Thank you so much for contacting us. We are not selling a left-handed guitar yet, but we have already provided this requirement to our technical research and development department. The requirement are already conducting in future products. Please stay tuned.
Thank you for your support to LAVA MUSIC.
Best regards,
LAVA MUSIC"
Still hoping :-)
They have left hand ones now
@@dragonf1092 I have one since it was possible to buy it in Germany (thx to Thomann). I love it.
A while back, you had another carbon fiber guitar on your show that was JUST a guitar. I liked that one a lot better. All the bell's and whistle's don't make this better, in fact, it sounds a bit cheesy to me. A great sounding acoustic like a Taylor doesn't have to rely on all the gimmicks. Sorry, I prefer a more natural and pure sounding acoustic.
Exactly right. I was offered one of these when they first came out and passed. It's just a toy that'll look dated and lose functions as it gets older and the screen gets s ratchet up and cracked. Plus new updates will make kids always want the new version. Just like iPhone.
To be fair, these aren’t gimmicks. If these features were on your favorite guitar, you would appreciate it. Who wouldn’t want built in effects and the ability to loop on their favorite guitar?
@@hello_Blake_Alan Some of these effects sound too gimmicky for me. I already own enough effect's anyway. It can be useful, but not as a replacement for standard effects. It works something like a smart phone. Mine is a year old and already breaking. You're entitled to like whatever you want but I will pass. 43 year's ago when I started playing, just buying a good instrument and learning to play was stressed more than relying on gadgets.
@@hello_Blake_Alan I wouldn't. I'd want one on my amp. Too many features take away from the actual quality of the guitar. The greatest players ever didn't have to rely on this stuff. It's a gimmick aimed at beginners that don't know any better. A serious player wouldn't want an effects loop because the one on here is cheap. A beginner might find some fun it it, but will soon realize they actually need to learn to play to sound good.
@@RByrne your comment is all over the place. “A serious player wouldn’t want an effects loop because the one on here is cheap.” Don’t you mean~ a serious player ‘would’ want an effects loop ‘but’ the one on here is cheap.”
And too many features doesn’t affect the quality of the guitar. You can have both.
Serious players use these kind of features all the time. Now, it’s on the guitar. Is it amazing? Not just yet, but the first guitar ever made was most likely a piece of garbage and now it’s one of the most popular instruments known to man.
These aren’t gimmicks, this is musical innovation in its initial stage.
Are the necks carbon fiber also?
I don't care if when I strum it, the clouds part, a beam of light shines down from the heavens and angels descend in choir - it's just too damn ugly.
This company sure didn't skimp on TH-camr guitars lol.
Seems like a fun idea at first, I'm sure - just like any new phone. New gadgets.
But what will happen when anything fails about it? Is it serviceable?
It'd better be, because thát will be a very expensive piece of junk otherwise.
In comparison: I can pick up any of my guitars any day of the week - no need to charge them, they are immediately playable, even though over half of them are at least 40 years old.
Where's this thing going to be in 40 years time? Or even 10?
And it looks like an overused lolly, especially in the colours currently available 🤣🤣🤣