Is this Carbon Fiber Guitar a step TOO FAR?
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
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The touch screen didn't surprise me that much since I'm used to seeing Matt Bellamy of Muse use it, although for a different thing (Kaoss Pad, Mason Guitar MB-1). It would be actually super cool hearing you play Matt's guitar lsince I recall from one of your videos that you really enjoyed Muse at one point. Nevertheless, these Lava guitars seem so interesting to play and get song ideas quick and they sound pretty good :)
I don't think you could classify kaoss pad as touch screen. For once, it's not functional as a screen. It's a one-way interface, really.
It can be a tremendous tool for practicing and experimentation, I kinda dig it.
0:56 Nice case! It looks like something I want to cuddle! 😌
That docking station is like something from “The Jetsons”. 😆
Hi Mary. On the theme of carbon fibre, I recently bought an Emerald Virtuo. This Irish company have been making carbon fibre acoustics for a while, but the Virtuo is a full on electric/acoustic hybrid. It is fully hollow (and very light), with a body deeper than an electric but not as deep as a conventional acoustic. It has an electric style bridge tailpiece, and two coil splittable humbuckers, and plays and sounds like a full electric. It also has piezos, with a switch to select acoustic, electric, or blended, out through a TRS jack that can be split into two mono jacks. I run this cable into a modeller, and through separate channels so that I can emulate a full electric rig for the magnetic pickups and an acoustic path for the piezos. Because it is not full depth the unamplified acoustic sound is not loud (think archtop) but the amplified acoustic sound is very good. There are none of the usual compromises of electro-acoustic or semi-acoustic. When appropriately amplified, it is an electric guitar, or an acoustic guitar, or both, with the flick of a switch. Just to make things really silly, the GraphTec Ghost piezos have a separate13 pin Roland GK output (not MIDI as frequently stated) that can be put through a compatible synth (e.g. Boss SY-1000 or Roland GR-55) to emulate a vast range of instruments. A very impressive and convincing pipe organ was demonstrated by Justin Johnson in his RUclips demo/review. I am very pleased with mine. I used to be constantly swapping around between acoustics, Strats, Les Paul, etc all day. The Virtuo can do pretty much anything, and I don't feel the need to pick up different guitars all the time.
Cool, I did that 20 yrs ago using RMC piezos with Roland VG8. I installed it on multiple guitars and got great results!
Mary, I think you described it best as an "iPhone guitar". For me, I would probably spend more time playing with the gadgets than actually playing the guitar but I can see it's appeal. But the best part of this video were your expressions as you opened it up and then discovered all the bells and whistles! Thanks for sharing!
When she adjusted the volume it looked a lot like android, I bet it's nothing more than a modified version of Android running on that guitar, the sad truth is that if it is indeed android the guitar will probably be only get support for a few years like is typically case for Android phones, it definitely is a cool idea and I bet it's a fun guitar too, I wish they offered it in more shapes like om, 000 and maybe a jumbo, also the headtock look a little bit odd for my taste, but that is probably what they were going for making it somewhat futuristic looking.
Seems like this is a great learning tool. I always find myself balancing my phone on my knee to read some tabs or watch a video etc...
Interesting concept. Nice execution. It would take a little getting used to for me, but it seems well thought out. Props to Yamaha for starting this with the Transacoustic. Nice video Mary!
So I successfully changed out the internal speaker and now it sounds amazing.
Why did u. Hange out speaker?
Change out
Interesting. Also says something for the stodginess of typical solid body players that the company built an acoustic guitar with this technology. The prices seem reasonable for what you get. It's not entirely clear, but it looks like the charging dock is $129 US extra. it would be nice if it was offered at a discount if purchased with the guitar.
It does its job for what the guitars offer, for me it's sensory overload having so much contained in an instrument.
I was waiting for this video !!!!
One thing Mary,, just becuse one can invent it, does not mean it's a good thing :) but I guess it has it's place somwhere
I don't mind cool apps on a guitar, even a touch screen. But I draw the line when the guitar demands a password of me!
You look so happy!! Are you doing good?
not a Martin but i think we are going to share a lot of fun
I want the space grey version but they are so expensive.
What a nice voice you have!
Your face when the guitar "plays music" to you lol.
Hmm. Gimmicky is how I feel about it, too. It's a good start, but I think the future is in the ability to add only the effects and beats you want or create, and to swap the touch screen if it gets damaged or glitchy. I will say that I like the built-in tuner and looper, but most of the effects would never, ever be used because they're kind of quirky or awful, lol. Is this why you kept the Lava Me 2?
I LOVE these!!!! Is it possible to plug these into a DAW to record in "normal means"?
Hey Mary quick question, will you be selling one of this model?
Is it louder than wood?
The only thing that is really important about a guitar is what comes out of the soundhole. As long as it is playable, the sound is the thing that is most important. Carbon fiber means you don't have to worry about hot, cold, and humidity. One thing is certain....guitarists will always argue about tone wood.
Instead of adding weird gadgets, they should work on the tunning stability. This guitar are famous for that.
Wait, the drums and bass are coming out of that thing?
Awesome!!!
Do you prefer the Lava Me 2 or 3?
I love the lava me guitars but the pro has been out of stock for a life time
That's cool
Not for me, but thanks for the review and peek.
How much?
Yes! But does it djent?
Too much, just to put some more price to the instrument that I don't want. So maybe a version without the smartphone included for me would be more for me.
I've had the guitar for about two months. I bought it myself, so I wasn't as biased as some reviewers that were given guitars. If you're interested here's my pros & Cons:
Pros:
Guitar does sound great. it is a decent electric/acoustic, but really shines in being able to get on board effects without amplification
The guitar has nice finish & feel, however I'm used to playing a well set-up Taylor 614 so the action is just a smidge high for my taste. I may shave the bridge a bit eventually.
FX are great. Playing un-amped they add a good flavor. Forget about the distortion setting unless you're running through an amp.
Case is nice and solid and protects the guitar well. More on the case below.
Charger cradles the guitar snuggly and automatically charges the guitar. It's USB-C and doesn't come with a charger, so you may need an adapter for the cable.
Other than that, most reviews give a far better report on the capabilities of the instrument, so check them out like I did.
Cons. These are things no reviewer seems to be addressing:
My lava has a nice blue metallic finish. Looks very cool. While the guitar is made of carbon fiber, I'm not sure how well the finish will hold up. I'm pretty careful with all my guitars and most I've owned for decades and they still look almost showroom. My lava has a couple of minor scratches already that I have no idea where they came from.
ELECTRONICS. The touch screen is very sensitive and at the same time has a bit more of a lag than you would be used to on a smart phone. Most notable is the absence of any home button. You'll have to page back to get there. Additionally, due to the rounded shape, I have a tendency to lean over the body when I'm sitting and playing and my chest triggers the screen. I can tell when that happens, because the most annoying loud click accompanies any changes. If you're playing out, be prepared to settle on a set sound or template for the whole song. Shifting to another one is not as easy as hitting a button on a pedal.
I mentioned my chest activating the touch screen. Usually that would not be a problem. What is a problem is the Lava uses a nice machined strap peg THAT DOESN'T FIT ANY STRAP. If you like any kind of strap lock, forget about using it. Dimensionally the strap pegs are larger than the throat of any standard peg. I would have bought the Lava strap, but they have been out of stock. I use d'Addario straps with locking ends and it would take major modifications. So I broke down and bought a ice leather strap which I now have to ream out the hole to make it fit. I'm not sure if you could even swap out the stap pegs as they have no screw and I'm not ready to twist them off and create another problem.
CASE: It's amazing that you can drop a thousand bucks on a guitar and have to pay extra for a proprietary case, but hey, I'm made of money so I went for it. Case fits very well and is form fitting. It doesn't leave room for a strap (If I finally get one to fit) The case has nice padded shoulder pads, and looks like the type that a Japanese school girl would have. I personally don't care to strap a guitar on my back unless I'm trail hiking. The straps do not come off so love them or live with them. The case has a nice soft handle, but is nowhere near the center of balance and like a Gibson SG, suffers from severe neck dive. Seriously walk with this case for twenty steps and you'll opt for the school girl straps.
MOST DISSAPOINTING FEATURE: Support, period. Guitar came with no instructions other than to turn it on. The web site is absolutely no help. As I mentioned, being intrigued by the novelty of the guitar, I had to rely on reviewers, most of which were given the guitar. I do wonder what will happen when the rechargable battery goes south, or worse the electonic module. As far as I can see there's no parts support on the website.
CONCLUSION:With all this, I bought the guitar for the FX novelty and more importantly for the Carbon Fiber construction. I bought it so that I could have a guitar I could leave out in my studio and grab as I needed to practice or work out asome inspiration. My studio is in my basement and although it's dry, the winter requires me to fill a 5 gallon humidifier to keep optimum moisture levels. So it's a guitar that is not subject to temperature and humidity. That said,I'll keep it for what I intended. I doubt it will ever play out unless it's a barbeque or around a camp fire.
It's a neat idea. My main concern would be the same issue with things like refrigerators with touch screens. Tech obsolescence is an issue, so what do you do when the device powering the touchscreen isn't able to handle updates anymore? That said, it's absolutely a neat concept for a self-contained unit.
Well i suppose it's the same thing as how car main displays are like. They don't usually detoriate that bad, they're usually kinda crappy from the get go though. They don't have the same function of a smart mobile device, maybe that's why, and if that's the case i would think this is a similar case.
Someone will figure out how to load an alternate OS on it, or point the current system to a different server. Highly unlikely that it would ever fall into obsolescence, but perhaps unsupported by the original manufacturer.
IMO if the basic construction is solid (as an acoustic), sound is good, then you don't really need the added electronics, right? Seems more for making practice fun, not for replacing Martins
Play the guitar instead of playing with it? 🤷
That's one of the reasons I want my guitar to focus on aspects of being a guitar and providing versatility within a general set of parameters. One current example are some of the new Ibanez guitars with a 5-way selector switch and alt switch, providing 9-10 pickup configurations to provide different tonal characteristics.
Other than active pickups, I really don't want active electronics in my guitar that will become obsolete; in this case, the company should provide future upgrades through software or updating the touchscreen or internal module to allow existing guitars to be easily upgraded as technology changes and improves, instead of having to replace the entire guitar.
I keep my guitars for a long time, and a few of my tube amps; and I change some of my effects more frequently as I find new and interesting options. A few weeks ago I finally retired my Source Audio Soundblox Pro Multiwave Distortion that's been on my board for at least 8+ years with a Source Audio UltraWave. I plan to upgrade my Boss GT-100 to a GT-1000 as well, and also added a SY-1000 to retire my GT-1 + SY-300. I still keep my old gear, as I may find a use for it again in the future; my old G-System comes out of retirement every few years for awhile...
I think it's fun and cool but it seems a bit too expensive for the target customer, over a grand seems too expensive for the hobbyist and too gimmicky for the semi-pro and pro. That being said I love these startups that are pushing the technology envelope with music and tech!
I agree with everything John said. An advanced/pro guitar player would rather go for a Martin or the likes, and most begginer/intermediate players are not willing to make such an investment. Even if you add up the costs of a better guitar and a better pedalboard, it is not worth it.
I still think it might find its niche, like buskers or live performers who want an all-in-one solution with a twist. However, I doubt this product is made for the masses
@@ECoRubik I think it’s more of a busker guitar, because you don’t need to bring all of your pedals and amps to busk
@@InAtlasAtLast But it doesn't offer any real advantages over the ME 2, which is $300 cheaper and a way better busker guitar. John summed it up best when he said "too gimmicky". If you like this guitar, then save your money and buy the ME 2 version of it.
@@SergeantExtreme good point
So if you remove all the tech gimmicks, is this a good GUITAR? Noticed you didn't talk about tuning stability, fret work, action, the fit and finish of the guitar itself, its tone, or any of the things that make a guitar... a guitar. Sorry, it's just that every single review I've seen of these looks like an ad, everyone got theirs free from the company, and I just want to see someone talk about this guitar completely unbiased and honest. And the guitar itself is definitely important. I'm impressed by the tech features, but if I'm paying $1500+ for a guitar that feels no better than the beat up old cheap Yamaha I got for free, all the tech in the world is meaningless.
Well said!
I’ve played one and it’s PLEK set up so intonation is rich and it sounds like a 1000 buck guitar. I love it and will be buying one
Ain't no $1,500 guitar, very affordable.....
I’m tending to agree with you. Of more interest to me is how it plays and sounds “unplugged “.. it’s cool but when the gizmos stop working or you don’t have WiFi or Bluetooth, it’s a good travel guitar.
I totally agree. I also haven't yet found an actual review of the guitar.
And my main question is also for how long does the battery work?
Because if it goes out quickly and it's "just" a carbon fiber guitar an actual review is even more important.
And what about all that electronics, the carbon fiber seems great because it's more durable and does better in harsh environments that would affect a normal guitar, but with all that technology on it I'm no sure if I would be comfortable in bringing this guitar, for example, on a beach.
Looks like I'm in the unpopular minority, but I hate everything about these. I gladly accept innovation: LAG has wood guitars which have many of the same electronic features, without the cliché "space age" design which will age like a 💩. Carbon fiber guitars can sound anywhere between acceptable and amazing (e.g., McPherson and Rain Song), but these guitars have awful tone. This is a gimmick, but if the company can sell them -- more power to them.
I was actually surprised how well they sounded. Better than a lot of wood guitars at the same price point. I’m really tempted to get one as a travel guitar
Seems a bit to gimmicky. The price will probably reflect the added iphone as well.
I bought a Lava Me 2 primarily based upon your review. I couldn’t possibly be happier. It is an incredible guitar and produces such a rich (and loud) sound unplugged. The delay feature is the best and produces a gorgeous wall of sound. ❤️🙏🎸
Love guitar generally, hate the technology. Can’t trust a touchscreen when trying to perform. Don’t want another thing to have to keep charged.
I wouldn't consider this a performance instrument - more like a training, exploring and/or composing tool, me thinks :-)
After 40+ years of playing, I have dozens and dozens of guitars, and I love this. Seems like a well-executed next step. Like anything with an OS and hardware supporting it, one marvels at when the upgrade cycles lead to obsolescence, but the heck with it. Looks worth a shot at a little bit of self-contained fun.
In 2 years when the electronics and OS fail, it will be as useful as a PS2. If you just get a normal guitar, 50 years later it will be still usable.
@@carlmcgregor2707 Ha, I'm closing on on having 50 year-old guitars I bought NEW. Plenty of those. The tech just intrigues me... After all, things that bring joy are worth a fling. To me. :-)
I can only imagine how faster wold learning be for a begginer in full use of this guitar.
@@carlmcgregor2707 - In 2 years (or in 50 years for that matter) this will still be an acoustic guitar like the other Lava Me models, no? :)
@@carlmcgregor2707lmaoo its still can use it without the all these electronic features. And if the battery dies you can replace it by sending it to them. Also, their past guitars seem to last pretty long without any issues. And end of the day if it bring happiness to you even for 2 years i’m fine spending that money for it 🙂
At $1300 for the big one, I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised by the pricing. Strangely absent from this guitar review is how it actually works as a guitar. How does it play? Is the action any good? How’s the intonation? How is the balance across the fretboard? What’s the neck shape? Fret dressing? If it’s a quality instrument, that’s a really great value.
This was not a review, but an advertisement. She clearly informed about it in the beginning of the video.
I thought I would hate the sound of the guitar, but I can't lie it actually sounds great. I might get one myself.
@@Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living ngl I think it's priced reasonably given that it's the only instrument that fills the niche that it has, especially if you take into account how much it would cost to buy pedals and everything, seems like a great busking/practice/travel guitar!. It's defo not for everyone, and I can't say it's for me atm either, but I have spent over a grand on my guitars so I can see how they priced it as it is.
Looks like they spent a lot of time thinking everything through. Well, maybe not the headstock.
I think it's great! I'm very interested in high tech guitars. Will it play a shuffle? How about a 12/8 groove? These are things that I've found lacking in other high tech guitar add ons. But even if it won't do those, it still seems pretty awesome. Thanks for the demo.
It's a pretty cool idea. Carbon fibre is a neat way to go, especially for an acoustic as it's not weather dependent. The big one for me would be, how long you get from a single charge, and the lifetime of the battery.
Lava Me sounds/looks like "Wash me" in Spanish. Like you'd write in the dust on someone's car.
That looks like a whole lot of fun.... My question is, won't that charging base make it just a tad harder to travel with this guitar?
I have a related question, does it have a regular cable port for charging? And if so, what type? (USB, USB C, etc.)
@@johnpearson5000 at the top of Mary's description is a link to lava site with some info on this guitar. says it has usb-c port & battery has playtime of appx 9hrs so guessing don't need base since that's sold separately. couldn't find loop time limit
It comes with a cable charger. USB-C
I guess people thought the first electric guitar had gone too far.
Can it dispense Jack Daniels.
I mean, that integrated iPhone deserves to be burned in the depths of Hell. :D Not least because the average lifetime of a mobile device is 3 to 5 years, whereas a guitar is expected to have a lifespan of about 30, 40 years. We'll see how this copes when the lithium battery inevitably dies, or when the electronics start failing as they're not meant to have such a lifespan... Is it designed to at least pass through the pickup's signal? I also wonder what they're trying to achieve that isn't done better in a Yamaha TransAcoustic or in a LAG HyVibe. If a 5-year obsolescence is factored in, then why bother with the seemingly indestructible carbon fibre?
(I know you can't comment on any of this because of your sponsorship, but... food for thought.)
I thought it sounded terrible. Mary's voice covered it up in the songs but the actual guitar sounded tinny and thin and the playback was dreadful. If this was $200 gimmic then maybe. But for a $1000 guitar give me a decent quality traditional instrument any day of the week.
Just gonna give some consumer feedback, I'm just gonna go out and say it. I'm a simple guy, I don't want an I-tar or it's egg holder. I'll just stick to my good old fender which will last me the next 60 years if I treat it right, before I give it off to the next generation when I kick the bucket.
Technological advances in the world of guitar are a logical development. But man, are those guitars ugly! It feels more like a gimick, a toy, rather than a serious instrument. And that Apple likeness was just the cherry on top of the pile of shit that I feel this guitar is. In other words, it's definitely not for me, this is just a subjective opinion, regardless of how good objectively the guitar might be, and regardless of how others might feel about it.
You can tell that this wasn't designed by a proper luthier. This might be the most hideous guitar I've ever seen. It looks like a soapbox, and that headstock like a chunk of soap that belongs in it. Just a shapeless blob. No character to it whatsoever.
But is it waterproof? JK.. but that could have been it’s niche for outside use. Like others, I’m of two minds about it. I get the high style aesthetic of the guitar and it’s charging stand, but hopefully you can just plug it in to usb C. It’s most serious liability is life-cycle obsolescence of its marquee electronics, which I doubt are modular, user-service replaceable “parts”. Intriguing, cold tone sound though. Afterthought: maybe it’s just really a static living room art piece, visually enjoyable, but not intended to ever see a luthiers hands adjusting its intonation, or appear at a beach bonfire party, etc, etc.
I'm loving my Lava Me 3! Didnt expect to be at the top of hits! never expected to be in a Mary Spender video! At 3:27
Great, an I-guitar. Will I need to upgrade every 2 years or it's no longer compatible with my fingers??? Lol
Ok so they made a disposable guitar ... this rubs me so many wrong ways. An instrument should last decades, this guitar will be dead in 3 years tops because of the battery you won't be able to change.
Once the gimmick of the effects and built in smart phone wears off, you have a guitar that sounds like its made from plastic.
Way cool. I want to hear what Rick Beato and Keith Williams think about it. I would love to see Rick play around with it.
Looks super cool in concept, but this guitar does everything I don't want a guitar to do. I don't want my instrument connected to the internet, sending me push notifications and trending videos. I prefer my instruments to be tools to disconnect from the outside world.
This solves everything! Because what I always wanted from my $3000+ acoustic is for it to need to be ACTIVATED and also to have a flanger 🥴🥴🥴 hard pass. Nothing it does seems to actually make a strong case over a regular acoustic that sounds a hell of a lot better without a crusty 3 inch android tablet
Guitar is $1,000. It also has basic reverb and chorus effects that you use in your other videos.
It’s to the point now that a touch screen is actually cheaper than adding switches, sliders, potentiometers etc etc. Expect to see more of it.
drummer goes: „1,2,3,4“ - guitarist: „whats the password?“
... and in two, or latest three years, it's electronic trash. I never buy some guitar like this.
Mary did you prefer the 36 over the 38? Do they have a different sound and feel?
The “show up to a party with an acoustic guitar guy” just became even more annoying 😂
Just waiting to see if Mary gets another invite to marry their dad.........
Basically the Apple of guitars. Thanks, I'll pass
What would sell me would be if the thing changed its own strings. 🤣
Hopefully it's more reliable than apple products.
No way. Not for me. Log in to play my fuckn guitar? Forget about it.
Is she getting a free guitar so she can give good reviews how do we trust her opinion
Thanks Mary. From a playability standpoint, which do you prefer, the 36" or 38"?
Gimmicky. Sorry. I like the idea of a carbon fibre guitar, but adding an iPhone to it is a bridge/step too far IMO. I feel it's something you'd use for the first couple of weeks of owning something like this, and then not.
How does it sound amplified? Does the accompaniment come out the jack and can it be mixed in guitar for live amplified performance?
Those may be the very first smart guitars I've ever seen.
You look like a kid in a candy shop, opening up the packages.
Brilliant video, Mary! Thanks for posting 🙂.
Careful that you don't get your guitar hacked! 🙂
Nice review, Mary. The "3" models look great, and I like both carbon fiber and the tech that's been incorporated, some of which might actually be useful. I also like the small size(s). That said, I hope Lava has fixed their quality control issues. I bought a LavaMe2 based on what I heard and saw online. Sound was much better than I expected, and it was very light (always a plus for me). The effects were OK - not "knock my socks off," but useful and noticeable. Alas, the case had no room at all for any accessories (capo, strap, tuner) - a triumph of design over practicality. Maybe the new case addresses that, but I can't tell from your video. Strap buttons were not the standard size, making strap installation unnecessarily awkward and difficult. Most annoying of all, because the guitar was entirely carbon fiber, with molded, built-in bridge, it wasn't at all adjustable, and the intonation, at least on mine, was off by enough to be noticeable and distracting. Lava wouldn't help because I'd bought it as a "mint" but used instrument from somewhere other than Lava. I kept it a few months, played it frequently, hoping that some magic would fix the intonation, and when that didn't happen, I sold it on consignment through a local guitar shop. I have no plans to buy another one.
Perhaps the lack of intonation adjustability gives away this category of guitar’s real zeitgeist: it’s really a living room art piece to stimulate conversation and convey status.. more than an instrument to be played and loved over time.(?)
@Ray Schoch - After seeing Mary's original video on the Lava Me 2 - as well as videos from several other youtubers - and after having owned several other carbon fiber guitars (McPherson Touring, McPherson Sable, Composite Acoustics Cargo, and Journey Overhead), I decided to take a chance on the Lava Me 2. I had to do a bit of setup on mine to make it play the way I like, but once I filed the nut slots to a comfortable action, as well as filing down the underside of the bridge saddle, I actually quite like it. It's a great little couch guitar, and the reverb is a really nice addition. It doesn't sound as good acoustically as my McPherson Touring, but the McPherson is much more expensive and doesn't have reverb, so they serve different functions. Ultimately, I left my first Lava Me 2 at my home in Cabo San Lucas, and bought a 2nd one for my primary home in L.A. I'm sorry to hear the intonation was off on yours. Mine are both intonated well. While the bridge itself is not adjustable, the saddle is removable and replaceable, so in theory you could play with the intonation a little bit by fitting a new saddle with different offsets, but you don't have much width to work with, so the intonation isn't going to change by much no matter what you do. Like Mary Spender, I also received an email introducing the new touchscreen model, and immediately ordered one. To be honest, I'm quite disappointed. The effects suck on this one. As well, I find the touchscreen experience takes away from the immediacy and enjoyment of actually playing the guitar. I haven't spent a ton of time with it yet (and virtually no time on the app), but so far, I'm very underwhelmed. As for the cases, the first one looks cool, but has cheap zippers (the zipper "pulls" break or come loose) and no storage, as you mention. As well, the handle/strap is in an awkward spot, so the balance is off. While the case for the new model is better in that it has an accessories compartment under the neck and another, larger pocket for ipad, sheet music, etc on the inside of the top of the case (think standard front-of-case pocket, but on the inside, and with no closure mechanism - simply a slot, similar to a tablet compartment in a backpack), it still has the cheap zippers and the handle/strap is still in the wrong spot. Both versions of the case do a good job of protecting the guitar, without too much weight or bulk. My comments above refer to the larger 38" version of the touchscreen model.
@@JGlassy I have the Lava Me 2 (two of them actually - 1 at primary home and 1 at vacation home), and both have really good intonation. See my reply to Ray Schoch for more detail on my experiences, but the Lava Me 2 is a decent guitar for the money (if you have a need or use for what it does). Neither of mine has stimulated any conversation, however, and as for status (lol), that ain't happenin'. These are not high-end guitars by any stretch. Fun, yes, but impressive? Not really. I do play them and enjoy them, but I would stop short of saying I love them. I love many of my other guitars. I like the Lavas. The tone is okay, but unlike wooden guitars, it can never really change or improve. It is what it is, essentially. They're good/fun couch guitars, partly due to the effects, and partly due to the size and durability. Since I enjoyed the Lava Me 2, I took a chance on the new version 3 with touchscreen and found I don't like it as much. I may spend more time with it and it might yet grow on me, but I'd rather not have to work at liking a guitar. The "2" version is fairly immediate. You pick it up, turn on the reverb or whatever and play. The "3" version takes too much fiddling. Like a cell phone, you have to wait for it to boot up, then you have to swipe through and select various options before you can really even play the thing (unless of course you're just playing it acoustically with no effects, rhythms, loops, etc, in which case, why did you even buy this guitar, right?). I could see if you invest enough time in learning and using the system, it has some potential as a writing tool, but realistically it just feels like too much wasted time for me.
Thank you Mary for this in depth review and also for the excellent putting to the test.
One question: I suppose there is a lithium battery somewhere to power all this stuff. Is it replaceable by the user? Because, you know, lithium battery life is more or less 5 years, then they start dying. I have the lava me 2 (and I have to say that it is very good in many ways) but, with my great disappointment , I have discovered that the battery is not replaceable by the user.
If it was cheaper it would sell like hot cakes but @£1400 for the biggy top of range its a shame it a bit too much for a xmas pressy, luckily you keep us busy..thanks for all you do your stories, you honesty which is so popular & integral to those who love to see you here..
A guitar player with scissors, what could possibly go wrong ;-)
My first and lasting reaction is yuck. Not entirely sure why because I'm happy to have and use similar technology accessed through pedals or amps or DAWs. I just feel totally opposed to a touchscreen built into a guitar. Like the idea of a low weight carbon fibre Tele or LP.
Does the computer parts in it affect the sound any at
All?
The docking station looks like a urinal.
Amazing review! I’m definitely sold. I’m gonna wait for the Mary Spender signature model though. Great video!
But which size did you prefer? I ordered the 38” cause it’s comparable to my Martin 000CXE
Sorry - I'll go for your 1936 Epi.
A $1200 gimmick. Cool idea and I'm all about innovation but this will be obsolete in 6 months. Still really cool tho.
"It looks like an Apple product"
We're sending you two more.
Well played Mary. Well played.
I have the Blackbird carbon guitar - great instrument run and buy. Carbon aint half bad really. Great singing dear - the guitar is not as overtone rich as my carbon guitar.
You're too adorable Mary! Every company in the world should send you their products so you can unbox/review them and delight us with your wonderful creativity and sunshine personality. Keep on grooving sista!
Finally a guitar that most people can store in their bathrooms without it looking out of place. Just what we needed!
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 :-)
Fibers of carbon, fibers of wood... hmmm I've enjoyed my experiences with both Rainsongs (6- and 12-... sort of Kottke-esque, yes). They are soooo much better than the gosh-awful styrofoam-cup sound of Ovat___ blankety-blanks. I change strings on acoustics often but I still get the ringing, jingling sounds of phospher-bronzes 2-3 weeks versus my woodens. Odd, but I like that part.
It's all fun and games until you realise that thing costs over 4000 USD...
This is a travel guitar. NOTHING more. Compared to any good guitar it sounds pretty bad. Action and neck feel fine, intonation ok, nothing special. Don't buy unless you plan to travel or camp and you know you will never carry a fine instrument....and there you have it. Don't even consider comparing it to a fine instrument; you are exposing yourself as one who has never played a fine instrument. My 1991 Taylor 612 is glorious, this is meh. BUT.... I plan to travel and camp and mountain bike for days or weeks at a time....This will keep me playing on the road. At home, It will never be touched. This is a travel guitar, one you don't worry about in the car or the tent. End Of Story.
Brendon.....Skippy?? Did the CDPR devs make a guitar?? Is this the first Cyberpunk DLC....or maybe RSC (real space content- I just made this term up now)?? Pretty clever if it is.