I looked on their website for specifications. I was specifically looking for nut width. I couldn't find anything about nut width or string spacing or scale length. Those are normally published specs.
These are actually fantastic, I think over time as more manufacturing competition is stirred up these will be as good as the most popular tonewoods. Right now they sound like the lows and highs of Rosewood mixed with the mid compression of Australian Blackwood
Own Lava Me Pro (daughter primary user) and I'd say overall this is a good honest review. I have a few counters, starting with the price point that is pretty incredible as a budget carbon fiber although I purchased used for 50% off so I'm not feeling much price pain. But the normal retail (street $1300 seems fair as this is high quality - more as if Apple made a guitar). Maybe I need to check carbon guitar pricing but only until recently are budget options available. Typically by the time you like the guitar it's $3 to 5K USD for most. This is no $4k carbon guitar but it looks much more expensive than the price. It's not a woody sound but it's a very nice sound. I'm also not getting a loud white noise when plugged in to amp. I have heard about this complain, and I need to do more testing. Plugged in, I like the effects (not the best but great for travel use, and not hauling pedals, and lots of times there is no time for such set-ups). You go to an open mic and it's common courtesy to just plug in. No one wants a watch a 5 minute set-up before you play. The internal guitar speaker for effects when played acoustically are just not that loud; I'd go as far to say ineffective - plugged in they kinda shine B-, C+. My guitar might have a speaker problem as most seem louder viewing on-line reviews. However effects work fine with plugged in amp or PA. The unique overall sound of guitar is B+ and some would rate higher myself included. It's a bit unique sound that is enjoyable. The internal microphone is great for anyone drumming their sound board. Not all carbon fibers constructions are the same and this is no $5K Emerald or RainSong. But the sound board is something special (called Air Carbon Fiber. honeycomb, and no skimping here, it's nice, and no use of word composite e.g. plastic). The back ovation-like body is more plastic but still uses Carbon called AirSonic Carbon Fiber Composite (Composite implies plastic, I'll admit, but it's durable and sounds nice, Ovation had a curved body for improved sound, and so does Lava, and the guitar will slip around when sitting just like an Ovation. Ovation was the live go to guitar in the 70s but there seems to be the haters today. There are fixes - wool pad, skate board tape. The weird placement of sound hole is also all about improving the overall sound and better transmission of vibrations on the sound board (the placement will be noticed, and there will be people wanting to know WTF is going on). Hey, you have a nice conversation starter. I'd prefer a more traditional placement but with Lava Me, it's all about innovation & sound, and they don't care about the rules, and had no problem taking from Ovation. I'm guessing patents are over. Pretty light weight coming in at 5 pounds, and once in tune, it stays in tune. It’s a nice guitar for outdoors/festival high humidity rainy conditions - think of it as a full size travel guitar. Its got a place in your Arsenal, sounds great, but not replacing a high-end wood guitar, or any wood guitar's beauty. This guitar shipped from a Pawn shop in LA, half was across US, and it was in tune when it arrived. I can understand since no truss rod the initial set up has a high action (you cannot add height to the saddle, so they start high). I'm told bluegrass and some players like the action high. Not having a Tress Rod does not seem to be a disadvantage as it does not move with 2 carbon internal rods, and an aluminum internal housing. You don't need to make adjustments with something that does not move as it does not have a problem of a traditional wood guitar that moves (just my opinion and wood rules for guitars). But with any professional guitar set-up you can adjust the action, and have them replace or sand down the saddle to get the action where you want it. This action adjustment is discussed in the owners manual for users to adjust: 1) Loosen the strings and remove saddle. 2) Replace the saddle or prepare 800-grit sandpaper, grasp the top of saddle and use the sandpaper to gently polish the bottom side. Adjust the saddle height to achieve the desired action. No risk here, to adjust the saddle or replace it - Standard manufacturer game-plan from factory is high action , and you need to adjust to your taste. Although, I had a professional setup. Just charge your battery, and you're good to go if playing out. But I agree long term batteries fail, and will eventually need to be replaced. That is the downside probably 10 years out as the LR Baggs electronics is pretty much a black box. I could see a day if it breaks where you would completely replace with a new pickup system. And factory repairs are pretty iffy if you need to ship to China. But in general pretty sure there is a long lifecycle and feel better that LR Baggs was involved in design. I'm confident the battery can be replaced, but it does not look easy, nor are details covered in manual. I just know my phone battery fails so this is a concern. The battery does look to be housed in a separate compartment and I do see a clip thing. I'm not going to try to figure out in full until battery failure, or I read where someone else replaced. It’s nice to have a carbon fiber option at these lower price points. It's not a perfect guitar but I think a a great value and good fit for someone who needs something pretty indestructible that can withstand adverse conditions (Festival Travel Guitar). Leave in the trunk of your car to secure with no worry or concern of a temperature melt down. And you are carrying all day at say a festival, the backpack and weight are manageable. Carrying around a heavier wood guitar or worrying about theft is not a fun way to spend a day outdoors.
I was visiting guitar center and they had the Pro for 700 dollars for a gently used one. I bought mine for 900 unopened brand new from a private party. I couldn't bring myself to order it without having a chance to touch it and play it. I would hate the thought of having to send it back to China.
I totally agree with your rundown of pretty much everything about this guitar. JP’s hysterics about ruining the tonality of the individual strings if he adjusted the action is one of the most Batshit crazy things I’ve ever listened to. For me, my experience with the chorus was that it was practically inaudible. But plugged in. It sounded amazing and I like it almost as much as the delay now. My unplugged in delay always sounded loud enough. I was find it’s worth writing LAVA for tips. They were with fixed what was troubling me. I loved everything about this post. By the way after I wrote this I took my guitar into guitar center to have the action adjusted.. it was done in an hour and a half. There was nothing special that had to be done it has a very ordinary floating saddle you pull it out, mark it and sand it. I had it lower to 25 on the lower East side and 2.0 on the high e and it's terrific. No buzzing. All the strings hold their tune just fine.
You don't have to live with the action that high. My understanding is many guitars ship with the action set high. Because it's like a haircut you can take you can easily cut hair off but you can't easily put it back on. J.P was being hysterical about being afraid to adjust the saddle. I just took mine into guitar center and he dropped it down to 25 on the Low E and 2.0 on the high E. He wanted to bring it down even more to a 2.3. But I erred on the side of caution. Anyway I only had to leave it at guitar center for an hour and a half and he handed it back to me all sparkly and lowered and it plays just great. I don't know where the hell JP was coming from saying he figured attempting to adjust the saddle wood best with the atonality of the individual strings. That just sounds like flat out nonsense. How does that happen? This isn't a Takemine. It's just a normal floating saddle. There are no electronics attached to the saddle.
Hi J.P Cormier from Australia here! Just saw your other review on the Klos Carbon Fibre guitar which you gave a wonderful review and your Thumbs Up for it. You've mentioned you will be reviewing this other LAVA model. Just wondering if by the time I'm posting this you'd have already review it and your thoughts which of these two brands you'd pick? I really like the Klos you're reviewed. Thanks mate!
Hi just subscribed. I'm 57 just picked up a guitar 🎸 for first time . I have trouble with transissions because of old hands . I wished I picked up a guitar years ago . Can you give me any advice on how to improve transissions between chords . Or is it just practice practice and muscle memory . Love your passionate and enthusiasm. Brilliant
I’m thinking the LR Baggs components like the mic and pickup are different from the other onboard stuff. I can’t see LR Baggs putting out such crappy effects lol
LR Baggs is the maker and creator of the pickup and effects. That's his business. The effects aren't crappy. They are excellent. He didn't care for the reverb was his thing. If he doesn't like the reverb, when its plugged in, he can just use his favorite reverb pedal. What makes it cool is you can add effects unplugged which is just pure fun. Someone with experience learns where to put the dials so it doesn't "take off". I appreciate his honest opinion but I also thinks he's being overly scary about shaving the saddle to bring down the action. The Takemine has wires on the saddle so they provide spacers to remove to lower the action. From what I heard Lava has an ordinary saddle. Basically single piece of plastic or graphite you can shave. A saddle is not a musical instrument. If you know what you are doing or hire a pro there is no way this guitar is going to turn into an unlistenable brick. Worst case you order a replacement saddle from Lava.
It kinda looks like something that fell out of the cabin of an Airplane with a guitar neck. It would be worth having in a collection to reflect back upon. Have you seen/played an Emerald guitar? They’re made in Ireland. Per watching their video - I like their Balor Bass strung with D’Addario Chromes. Thanks! ✌️😎🌞🎻🎸🪕
I have lag hi vibe still love it had it a while now looper effects metronome great unplugged but effects plugged in not great but I'd definitely recommend the hivibe
When you can crawl under the low E strings and coming out the other side and say Howdie,the action is way high. Klos seems to be different animal. This sounds shaaajt 😂
Anyone looking for a guitar with “built-in” effects, forget this Lava Me, forget the Lag HyVibe - get yourself a Yamaha TransAcoustic. You can thank me later. Peace. 🐰💙🇺🇸🎸🎶🤝✌️
Greatt Honest review, It has the cool factor and it did not sound bad the first you played acoustically The fact you can plug it in to recharge it, what happens when the charger stops working, throw it away? Bad points out way the good! Thats all I got!
The pick up is a custom by LR Baggs on this model. A professional level name that is found on premium branded guitars and the choice of pro musicians around the world. Baggs pickups are about sound quality first he also demands reliability. The battery unit us just a simple plastic shell that holds the two contacts. Usually all you will have to do it replace easily replaceable lithium battery which costs only about three or four dollars. The battery is exactly the same lithium battery as used in high end flashlights and many guitar pickups. There are no sophisticated chips to blow out. Just needs the two internal wires and literally any wall charger with a USBC adapter. Lava doesn't even provide a charger. just a cord to plug any USB charger you have lying around the house. (I don't work for LAVA or LR Baggs) So if it goes out go grab another from your desk drawer.
Great review. I am in the process of purchasing a higher end guitar after about 45 years of knock offs and foreign buit name brands. You and a friend of mine have convinced me to steer away from Martin, if only because of cost, and my son has a Taylor that plays like butter, so rich. Carbon fiber intrigues me though. My question is about strings. What do you prefer to use on acoustic?
I appreciate your video because I LOVE me a great reverb…it almost seems like blue lava is a overall better alternative between practice/performance guitar
It’s just another “device”. Don’t trust the battery either. Eventually it will die down like all computer batteries. Hope it can be replaced. Sounds nice unplugged though.
I find the guitar became a lot more fun when plugged in. The Chorus was nearly non existent in pure acoustic mode. But I am now enjoying it as much as the delay. Plugging in adds the internal mic which allows rhythm tapping.
I was at Guitar Center and they had the silver model for half retail gently used. There are no "old" Lave Me pros because they are still only a couple years on the market. I'd have no problem buying a used one at that price assuming it was in like new condition. I think he's being overly scary about adjusting the saddle to bring down the action. Its a tiny adjustment that isn't going to affect the sound. Any pro shop could do it properly. On another channel someone lowered their LavaMe 2 action themselves without any issues.
@@RickMcCargar why are you saying lousy electronics? The LAVAMePro has a professional level pick up designed by LR Baggs? LR Baggs makes among the most desirable pick ups for acoustic guitars in music industry. These are not lousy electronics. His number one complaint of the two or three he has is that the action is that too high. This is remedied by removing the saddle, measuring the action at the 12th fret E string. Deciding what Action would be more suited to your playing style, drawing a straight line along the bottom edge of the saddle to accomplish that goal and removing that much material, Then just just put it back in the slot and then you have the action in the way you like it. From what place in logic or science comes the fear that shaving a fraction of a millimeter of the saddle is going to adversely affect the individual tonality of the strings? This is a $1400 price range. So I’m assuming the quality level is going to be pretty good in that price range.. what is wrong with the electronics in $1400 guitars today?🙂
@@AlitaBeyay did you hear the chorus, delay and reverb? They're awful I always set up my own guitars, including sanding the saddle to the appropriate height, so spare me the lecture
@@RickMcCargar No they’re not awful Rick. Do you own one of these or did you own one of these or are you judging it off this video. It’s not like you’ve ever heard this guitar in person . They don’t sell them in many US stores Guitar Center is only now starting to pick them up. You don’t have any credibility since you seem to believe that LR Baggs would make a shitty sounding pickup. JP said he liked the delay and chorus. He only said he didn’t like the reverb. I own this guitar so I know how it sounds a lot better than you do. Like any guitar or pedal your first experiences out of the box are not going to the ones where you find the sweet spot for the settings. This guitar’s company’s ambition is not to necessarily appeal to the same people that a Martin, Taylor Gibson or other classic guitar company that has its roots and country music. This is a specialty guitar with its own niche market. As far as I know, only Yamaha has a comparable guitar with effects settings that you can use unplugged. Second is the carbon fiber, which makes this an incredibly good travel/touring guitar. When I pick up this guitar, I never have tune it. I recently loaned it to my roommate. And when he returned, it was the first time I had to re-tune this guitar in a year. For most people that’s just going to mean you can bring it in your car with you. You can take it by the water. You can sit around a toasty campfire with your friends in the freezing cold and play and not have to worry about damaging your guitar. If you’re somebody traveling across the country, you were just in humid, Florida, now you’re going through Canada and the northern states you aren’t going to have any surprises when you bring it into a warm and toasty club after it’s been sitting in the back of your car while you were grabbing some fast food. This is a guitar for someone who in the 80s or 90s would’ve been excited about owning an Ovation. It’s not surprising I own this guitar, because I also owned an Ovation. Nobody really likes my first guitar which had mother of pearl inlay. But when I traded it for the Ovation everybody loved it. Frankly, this is a much better guitar by far than my Ovation. I totally get it if you don’t like the style. But if you’re judging this guitar based on how it sounds in JP’s video his is not the best or most useful review I’ve seen of this guitar. I’d recommend Mary Spenders take since she’s younger and more easy on the eyes and has much better production values than JP. She also ‘gets it.’ She had done many guitar reviews. But when she did the Lava Me 2 review her channel blew up. That review alone got 5 million views where she’s only had thousands in the past. There is a market for this guitar. But the Lava Me Pro the Lava Me 2 are merely predecessors to the Lava Me three. JP will be reviewing the model 3 guitar when he gets it. And I know he wants it because he intentionally didn’t burn his LAVA bridges. The Lava Me 3 has a built-in touchscreen with scores of effects. The ability to create loops and instantly accompany yourself. It has a built-in tuner and metronome. It gives you exercises to practice and ability to keep a record of your practicing. Gives you access to a community right on the guitar where you can get help with your guitar playing . It provides lessons including Ear training! This guitar, the Lava 3 is the realization of Lava’s mission. And that guitar is clearly not shooting for the Taylor Martin Gibson market. This is targeting the people that watch RUclips videos who are admiring the street performers, who set up their own drum kit, and MIDI, lay down a beat, lay down a rhythm, lay down a chord track and a backing melody. Wouldn’t it be fun if in practice or performing with friends pull out your guitar accompany yourself by sampling your own playing, then playing Le Grange or Hotel California along with a drum track with cymbals you just tapped out? That’s really the point having fun and doing something new with guitar that you’ve never been able before, without being plugged in.
Still havent worked the bugs out. Lava needs to give one to a touring musician to get feedback from road use and recording, then make improvements from that. Great unbiased review!
I reckon these companies pay JP to do reviews knowing that even if he has plenty of negative things to say about their product, he's still going to make it sound amazing when he plays it because he could make a shoe box with some elastic bands stretched across it sound amazing.
@@JS-it3dx I have one too. Fantastic guitar. I've had it for a year playing unplugged. I only plugged it in a couple weeks ago and it so much cooler plugged in. The chorus which was barely audible unplugged is now almost as fun as the delay. I was jealous of the Lava Me 3. But I purchased an Artiphone Orba, which is a fun cheap intuitive instrument which is letting me create my own back up beats like the LAVA Me 3. Not as cool as having the tuner and metronome built into the guitar. But I'm less envious.
I have an issue if the guitar is unplugged with the effects are left on volume turned up high enough the A string will create a feedback loop in about 5 to 10 minutes and it will ring pretty loud. You deal with it by turning the effects volume down. Its probably caused by the internal mix mic which can also be dialed down.
Good review, but this guitar has way too many things going against it. I appreciate you doing these on ALL guitars and being as honest and fair as you can. This is a definite specialty guitar that is going to be a tough sell for Lava Me. I have watched you long enough to know that this won't get much play time after the review. I wish the company the best. It did sound pretty reasonable on your initial Acoustic only demo. Peace!
I get the same impression from him. I think he's being way over the top scary about adjusting the saddle to lower the action. I am going to have my action lowered. LAVA has been very helpful with small problems I ran into. The always have been able to solve any problem I've written them about. I'm checking with them if I can get a replacement saddle if anything should go south with the adjustment. He's not subtle about his feeling the action is too high and about the "taking off issue". I think he doesn't want to burn any bridges because he wants the LavaMe 3
Honest review, I know several people looking at these that will show this video, as well as the Yamaha. Seems to me, and no offense to fans of this guitar, but seems money could be better spent. And personally, I play wood guitars
Most guitarists are very conservative they like wood so I cannot see an instrument like this one taking off and that problem with the volume going through the roof when using effects will turn people off. feedback issue isn't good either.. Also not being able to adjust the action is a problem too. Not for me.
I know what he's talking about but if you keep the effects volume down a bit it won't take off. Its probably caused by the secondary internal mic feature creating a feedback loop which you can dial off completely. Its mostly intended for adding tapping the soundboard to your repertoire. Although he feels it warms the sound.
I would use that guitar in the swimming pool... It waterproof except for the electronics... But I been thinking it would be cool to have a waterproof guitar to play around in the pool...lol... Kinda dumb but it would be fun.... I think this guitar would be ok for that.. It has a higher sound hole... No electronics would be. ideal or take them out and seal it up... There has gotta be a guy out there with the money and the humor to do it. . J.P. is in Canada so they probably don't even have swimming pools there unfortunately.. At least probably not in the backyard....
Funny, but sadly true…I recently bought a RainSong that sounds truly great. BUT, it is a bit disappointing to know that it will never sound different / better than it does now…
To JP, You're being kind of silly about adjusting the action on this guitar. This guitar has both of floating saddle into floating nutt for easy and normal adjustment. I let the guy at guitar center do it for me. He wanted to take it to 2.3 and 2.0 I had him take it to 2.5 in 2.0. The guitar plays great now.. I am sure you are more than capable of adjusting the action according to the pro at guitar center there is nothing special about. If you can't screw up the tone. And frankly that comment wasn't helpful. It added unnecessary anxiety to doing something you do with any guitar electric or otherwise. Your approach to this is like it's some kind of piece of junk but this is a $1,400 guitar with an LR baggs pickup that is built to last. The battery is easily replaceable, with a simple casing that just has a positive and negative leads from the battery no special circuitry. The guitar doesn't ship with the charger. It just comes with the cord because you can plug it into the literally any external USB charger. The only charger that will fail is your own charger you already own and you just grab another one. You put a lot of scary voodoo in your review. You seem to like the delay and the chorus. When playing with free boost unplugged my criticism of chorus was it was nearly inaudible but I love it when it's plugged in. The real selling point of this guitar and the lava me three which you're about to review is you can play this guitar unplugged with effects. It's just supposed to make it more fun if you're saying in cold weather in front of a nice hot campfire with your friends and it's lightly misting your carbon fiber guitar is going to be playable without fear of damaging it. And if you're on tour in Canada into a club you don't have to let it get acclimated. And maybe tomorrow you're in Louisiana or Florida dealing with crazy humidity it could be a wise choice. Doesn't a guy like you who plays acoustic bring your own board of pedals? There's no question you're going to get Superior effects from a acoustic pedal by LR baggs but that's what you pay for.. I don't think it's trying to compete with the best of available pedals. It's trying to give you something that makes you want to pick up the guitar and practice. Or stand out because you have something unusual and interesting to offer. Anyway that's my 2 cents. I was the kind of guy who back in the late 80s or early 90s purchased an Ovation. And I think this is a much nicer stage guitar. I think that is the market for this guitar. Someone who in the past would have bought an Ovation. Anyway I look forward to review of the LAVA Me 3. As for the effects I'm not having any issues with the guitar taking off, however, if I have left the effects Volume up full or very high the A string Can start to ring in 5 or 10 minutes if left unattended.
I loooooooooove the USB-C rechargeable thing… what a no brainer, how in the world has no one done this yet? We’re still putting in disposable 9v batteries, like cavemen banging rocks together. And if you need a charge and you’re playing a gig, just play with it plugged in. No brainer.
@@williamnichols6253, Because it’s more convenient? Wouldn’t it be easier to just have several rechargeable batteries at the ready than to have to plug in your guitar? With a few rechargeable batteries you have no down time ever.
@@shawnglass108 No, it doesn't seem easier to me. I guess people are different. I never (ever) have down time on my MacBook or ipad or phone or any of these other things that I use to make my living, so I guess I just figure it wouldn't be a problem with a guitar. And to never have to have to think about a 9v battery taking a dump on me again (even if it were rechargeable)... that would be sweet.
@@williamnichols6253, Yeah. Obviously different strokes for different folks. I don’t want to ever have to put my guitar on a charger. I can have as many rechargeable batteries charged up and ready to go as I want. When I’m not playing my guitars they’re in their case. I wouldn’t have to worry about where to put my guitars just to charge them or to leave them out on a stand to charge them.
The sound it makes moving against your body is really poor. I suspect it would make recording this thing acoustically a challenge. Unless you really like the sound of block sanding a fiberglass boat.
I'll take wood please! I had an ovation balladeer and I got a big baby taylor for it! Keep the plastic bowl for potato salad, not guitar backs! 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮👎👎
@@alfsmith4936 I can handle aluminum can. Aluminum can be classy. How about a compromise at Carbon Fiber can? Truly staying in tune is one of those silent pleasures that when you do pick up your guitar knowing you aren't going to have to check to see if its in tune...it makes you feel secure. Like a classy girl who loves you she's never going to make you feel embarrassed in front of your friends.
Thanks for an honest review. When a video starts off with "they sent me this for review" it's always mostly positive and hard to trust. Good job!
Thanks so much for this review! Helped me understand this tech!
I love this man. He got a 1400$ guitar to do a review and he actually did an unbiased review, a true honest man!
I was waiting to see your other review of the lava guitar
I looked on their website for specifications. I was specifically looking for nut width. I couldn't find anything about nut width or string spacing or scale length. Those are normally published specs.
Amazing! Beautiful sound. Guitar of the digital age
Wow, acoustically it was actually not bad!
These are actually fantastic, I think over time as more manufacturing competition is stirred up these will be as good as the most popular tonewoods.
Right now they sound like the lows and highs of Rosewood mixed with the mid compression of Australian Blackwood
Your bluegrass style of play helps to hear the tone of the instrument very clearly. Thank you for that!
Own Lava Me Pro (daughter primary user) and I'd say overall this is a good honest review. I have a few counters, starting with the price point that is pretty incredible as a budget carbon fiber although I purchased used for 50% off so I'm not feeling much price pain. But the normal retail (street $1300 seems fair as this is high quality - more as if Apple made a guitar). Maybe I need to check carbon guitar pricing but only until recently are budget options available. Typically by the time you like the guitar it's $3 to 5K USD for most. This is no $4k carbon guitar but it looks much more expensive than the price. It's not a woody sound but it's a very nice sound. I'm also not getting a loud white noise when plugged in to amp. I have heard about this complain, and I need to do more testing. Plugged in, I like the effects (not the best but great for travel use, and not hauling pedals, and lots of times there is no time for such set-ups). You go to an open mic and it's common courtesy to just plug in. No one wants a watch a 5 minute set-up before you play. The internal guitar speaker for effects when played acoustically are just not that loud; I'd go as far to say ineffective - plugged in they kinda shine B-, C+. My guitar might have a speaker problem as most seem louder viewing on-line reviews. However effects work fine with plugged in amp or PA. The unique overall sound of guitar is B+ and some would rate higher myself included. It's a bit unique sound that is enjoyable. The internal microphone is great for anyone drumming their sound board. Not all carbon fibers constructions are the same and this is no $5K Emerald or RainSong. But the sound board is something special (called Air Carbon Fiber. honeycomb, and no skimping here, it's nice, and no use of word composite e.g. plastic). The back ovation-like body is more plastic but still uses Carbon called AirSonic Carbon Fiber Composite (Composite implies plastic, I'll admit, but it's durable and sounds nice, Ovation had a curved body for improved sound, and so does Lava, and the guitar will slip around when sitting just like an Ovation. Ovation was the live go to guitar in the 70s but there seems to be the haters today. There are fixes - wool pad, skate board tape. The weird placement of sound hole is also all about improving the overall sound and better transmission of vibrations on the sound board (the placement will be noticed, and there will be people wanting to know WTF is going on). Hey, you have a nice conversation starter. I'd prefer a more traditional placement but with Lava Me, it's all about innovation & sound, and they don't care about the rules, and had no problem taking from Ovation. I'm guessing patents are over. Pretty light weight coming in at 5 pounds, and once in tune, it stays in tune. It’s a nice guitar for outdoors/festival high humidity rainy conditions - think of it as a full size travel guitar. Its got a place in your Arsenal, sounds great, but not replacing a high-end wood guitar, or any wood guitar's beauty. This guitar shipped from a Pawn shop in LA, half was across US, and it was in tune when it arrived. I can understand since no truss rod the initial set up has a high action (you cannot add height to the saddle, so they start high). I'm told bluegrass and some players like the action high. Not having a Tress Rod does not seem to be a disadvantage as it does not move with 2 carbon internal rods, and an aluminum internal housing. You don't need to make adjustments with something that does not move as it does not have a problem of a traditional wood guitar that moves (just my opinion and wood rules for guitars). But with any professional guitar set-up you can adjust the action, and have them replace or sand down the saddle to get the action where you want it. This action adjustment is discussed in the owners manual for users to adjust: 1) Loosen the strings and remove saddle. 2) Replace the saddle or prepare 800-grit sandpaper, grasp the top of saddle and use the sandpaper to gently polish the bottom side. Adjust the saddle height to achieve the desired action. No risk here, to adjust the saddle or replace it - Standard manufacturer game-plan from factory is high action , and you need to adjust to your taste. Although, I had a professional setup. Just charge your battery, and you're good to go if playing out. But I agree long term batteries fail, and will eventually need to be replaced. That is the downside probably 10 years out as the LR Baggs electronics is pretty much a black box. I could see a day if it breaks where you would completely replace with a new pickup system. And factory repairs are pretty iffy if you need to ship to China. But in general pretty sure there is a long lifecycle and feel better that LR Baggs was involved in design. I'm confident the battery can be replaced, but it does not look easy, nor are details covered in manual. I just know my phone battery fails so this is a concern. The battery does look to be housed in a separate compartment and I do see a clip thing. I'm not going to try to figure out in full until battery failure, or I read where someone else replaced. It’s nice to have a carbon fiber option at these lower price points. It's not a perfect guitar but I think a a great value and good fit for someone who needs something pretty indestructible that can withstand adverse conditions (Festival Travel Guitar). Leave in the trunk of your car to secure with no worry or concern of a temperature melt down. And you are carrying all day at say a festival, the backpack and weight are manageable. Carrying around a heavier wood guitar or worrying about theft is not a fun way to spend a day outdoors.
I was visiting guitar center and they had the Pro for 700 dollars for a gently used one. I bought mine for 900 unopened brand new from a private party. I couldn't bring myself to order it without having a chance to touch it and play it. I would hate the thought of having to send it back to China.
I totally agree with your rundown of pretty much everything about this guitar. JP’s hysterics about ruining the tonality of the individual strings if he adjusted the action is one of the most Batshit crazy things I’ve ever listened to. For me, my experience with the chorus was that it was practically inaudible. But plugged in. It sounded amazing and I like it almost as much as the delay now. My unplugged in delay always sounded loud enough. I was find it’s worth writing LAVA for tips. They were with fixed what was troubling me. I loved everything about this post. By the way after I wrote this I took my guitar into guitar center to have the action adjusted.. it was done in an hour and a half. There was nothing special that had to be done it has a very ordinary floating saddle you pull it out, mark it and sand it. I had it lower to 25 on the lower East side and 2.0 on the high e and it's terrific. No buzzing. All the strings hold their tune just fine.
Lol 16:13, you loved this guitar thing so much you kept the vacuum noise in the background. Kind of neat idea, but no thanks on the lava me.
I bet this is the first time one of these has felt flatpicking.
Great review! I’d planned on buying one but I could never live with action that high.
You don't have to live with the action that high. My understanding is many guitars ship with the action set high. Because it's like a haircut you can take you can easily cut hair off but you can't easily put it back on. J.P was being hysterical about being afraid to adjust the saddle. I just took mine into guitar center and he dropped it down to 25 on the Low E and 2.0 on the high E. He wanted to bring it down even more to a 2.3. But I erred on the side of caution. Anyway I only had to leave it at guitar center for an hour and a half and he handed it back to me all sparkly and lowered and it plays just great. I don't know where the hell JP was coming from saying he figured attempting to adjust the saddle wood best with the atonality of the individual strings. That just sounds like flat out nonsense. How does that happen? This isn't a Takemine. It's just a normal floating saddle. There are no electronics attached to the saddle.
Hi J.P Cormier from Australia here! Just saw your other review on the Klos Carbon Fibre guitar which you gave a wonderful review and your Thumbs Up for it. You've mentioned you will be reviewing this other LAVA model. Just wondering if by the time I'm posting this you'd have already review it and your thoughts which of these two brands you'd pick? I really like the Klos you're reviewed. Thanks mate!
Klos is a WAY better guitar. The lava is just a toy to play music online. klos is a real road guitar designed for players.
Hi just subscribed. I'm 57 just picked up a guitar 🎸 for first time . I have trouble with transissions because of old hands . I wished I picked up a guitar years ago . Can you give me any advice on how to improve transissions between chords . Or is it just practice practice and muscle memory . Love your passionate and enthusiasm. Brilliant
Thank you for a really thorough & honset review. I loved the idea of one of these - I may buy the cheaper travel guitar LAVA do.
I’m thinking the LR Baggs components like the mic and pickup are different from the other onboard stuff. I can’t see LR Baggs putting out such crappy effects lol
LR Baggs is the maker and creator of the pickup and effects. That's his business. The effects aren't crappy. They are excellent. He didn't care for the reverb was his thing. If he doesn't like the reverb, when its plugged in, he can just use his favorite reverb pedal. What makes it cool is you can add effects unplugged which is just pure fun.
Someone with experience learns where to put the dials so it doesn't "take off". I appreciate his honest opinion but I also thinks he's being overly scary about shaving the saddle to bring down the action. The Takemine has wires on the saddle so they provide spacers to remove to lower the action. From what I heard Lava has an ordinary saddle. Basically single piece of plastic or graphite you can shave. A saddle is not a musical instrument. If you know what you are doing or hire a pro there is no way this guitar is going to turn into an unlistenable brick. Worst case you order a replacement saddle from Lava.
It kinda looks like something that fell out of the cabin of an Airplane with a guitar neck. It would be worth having in a collection to reflect back upon. Have you seen/played an Emerald guitar? They’re made in Ireland. Per watching their video - I like their Balor Bass strung with D’Addario Chromes. Thanks! ✌️😎🌞🎻🎸🪕
I have lag hi vibe still love it had it a while now looper effects metronome great unplugged but effects plugged in not great but I'd definitely recommend the hivibe
Thanks for the review. Saved me 1100 dollars.
What kind of neck joint does it have?
Did you ever review the other LAva?
Nice .getting it as travel guitar for its durability
I’m seeing online that these “things” are going for $1399 - Nah, I’ll pass. I’ll get a Yamaha instead.
ditto!
Yamaha what?
good for you, who asked tho
Absolutely a better idea
theres one for sale used for 200
i may grab ot
When you can crawl under the low E strings and coming out the other side and say Howdie,the action is way high. Klos seems to be different animal. This sounds shaaajt 😂
Anyone looking for a guitar with “built-in” effects, forget this Lava Me, forget the Lag HyVibe - get yourself a Yamaha TransAcoustic. You can thank me later.
Peace. 🐰💙🇺🇸🎸🎶🤝✌️
Thank you for the review. I’ve been curious about these.
Very helpful and revealing - thank you! I’m getting the Lava Blue Original, instead.
Greatt Honest review, It has the cool factor and it did not sound bad the first you played acoustically
The fact you can plug it in to recharge it, what happens when the charger stops working, throw it
away? Bad points out way the good! Thats all I got!
The pick up is a custom by LR Baggs on this model. A professional level name that is found on premium branded guitars and the choice of pro musicians around the world. Baggs pickups are about sound quality first he also demands reliability. The battery unit us just a simple plastic shell that holds the two contacts. Usually all you will have to do it replace easily replaceable lithium battery which costs only about three or four dollars. The battery is exactly the same lithium battery as used in high end flashlights and many guitar pickups. There are no sophisticated chips to blow out. Just needs the two internal wires and literally any wall charger with a USBC adapter. Lava doesn't even provide a charger. just a cord to plug any USB charger you have lying around the house. (I don't work for LAVA or LR Baggs) So if it goes out go grab another from your desk drawer.
what's a geh-tire??
Great review. I am in the process of purchasing a higher end guitar after about 45 years of knock offs and foreign buit name brands. You and a friend of mine have convinced me to steer away from Martin, if only because of cost, and my son has a Taylor that plays like butter, so rich. Carbon fiber intrigues me though. My question is about strings. What do you prefer to use on acoustic?
Well...with that action it would be good for slide...
So JP, the thumbs up is for you, not the guitar. I really appreciate your honest reviews. So the bottom line is, not for me. Thanks.👍🏻
Maybe it would make a good slide guitar if the action can not be remedied.
I want to see à LAVA ME 3, i thought it was that one. Thannks
Sounds better than it looks . Looks like a big toaster with a neck attached lol
I appreciate your video because I LOVE me a great reverb…it almost seems like blue lava is a overall better alternative between practice/performance guitar
It’s just another “device”. Don’t trust the battery either. Eventually it will die down like all computer batteries. Hope it can be replaced. Sounds nice unplugged though.
It’s strange my lave me pro is 1,9 mm higher on the e and 2,2 mm on the E at the 12th freet. Maybe your one is wrong
Pretty nice acoustically , I’m glad I don’t need the other bits
I find the guitar became a lot more fun when plugged in. The Chorus was nearly non existent in pure acoustic mode. But I am now enjoying it as much as the delay. Plugging in adds the internal mic which allows rhythm tapping.
I want to like it...but it's tough after watching this demo. Thanks for saving me some cash.
I was at Guitar Center and they had the silver model for half retail gently used. There are no "old" Lave Me pros because they are still only a couple years on the market. I'd have no problem buying a used one at that price assuming it was in like new condition. I think he's being overly scary about adjusting the saddle to bring down the action. Its a tiny adjustment that isn't going to affect the sound. Any pro shop could do it properly. On another channel someone lowered their LavaMe 2 action themselves without any issues.
@@AlitaBeyay It's not the saddle..it's the tone and the lousy electronics. This is not better than many all-solid guitars at the price range.
@@RickMcCargar why are you saying lousy electronics? The LAVAMePro has a professional level pick up designed by LR Baggs? LR Baggs makes among the most desirable pick ups for acoustic guitars in music industry. These are not lousy electronics.
His number one complaint of the two or three he has is that the action is that too high. This is remedied by removing the saddle, measuring the action at the 12th fret E string.
Deciding what Action would be more suited to your playing style, drawing a straight line along the bottom edge of the saddle to accomplish that goal and removing that much material,
Then just just put it back in the slot and then you have the action in the way you like it. From what place in logic or science comes the fear that shaving a fraction of a millimeter of the saddle is going to adversely affect the individual tonality of the strings?
This is a $1400 price range. So I’m assuming the quality level is going to be pretty good in that price range.. what is wrong with the electronics in $1400 guitars today?🙂
@@AlitaBeyay did you hear the chorus, delay and reverb? They're awful
I always set up my own guitars, including sanding the saddle to the appropriate height, so spare me the lecture
@@RickMcCargar No they’re not awful Rick. Do you own one of these or did you own one of these or are you judging it off this video. It’s not like you’ve ever heard this guitar in person . They don’t sell them in many US stores Guitar Center is only now starting to pick them up.
You don’t have any credibility since you seem to believe that LR Baggs would make a shitty sounding pickup. JP said he liked the delay and chorus. He only said he didn’t like the reverb. I own this guitar so I know how it sounds a lot better than you do. Like any guitar or pedal your first experiences out of the box are not going to the ones where you find the sweet spot for the settings.
This guitar’s company’s ambition is not to necessarily appeal to the same people that a Martin, Taylor Gibson or other classic guitar company that has its roots and country music.
This is a specialty guitar with its own niche market. As far as I know, only Yamaha has a comparable guitar with effects settings that you can use unplugged. Second is the carbon fiber, which makes this an incredibly good travel/touring guitar. When I pick up this guitar, I never have tune it. I recently loaned it to my roommate. And when he returned, it was the first time I had to re-tune this guitar in a year. For most people that’s just going to mean you can bring it in your car with you. You can take it by the water. You can sit around a toasty campfire with your friends in the freezing cold and play and not have to worry about damaging your guitar. If you’re somebody traveling across the country, you were just in humid, Florida, now you’re going through Canada and the northern states you aren’t going to have any surprises when you bring it into a warm and toasty club after it’s been sitting in the back of your car while you were grabbing some fast food.
This is a guitar for someone who in the 80s or 90s would’ve been excited about owning an Ovation. It’s not surprising I own this guitar, because I also owned an Ovation. Nobody really likes my first guitar which had mother of pearl inlay. But when I traded it for the Ovation everybody loved it. Frankly, this is a much better guitar by far than my Ovation. I totally get it if you don’t like the style. But if you’re judging this guitar based on how it sounds in JP’s video his is not the best or most useful review I’ve seen of this guitar. I’d recommend Mary Spenders take since she’s younger and more easy on the eyes and has much better production values than JP. She also ‘gets it.’ She had done many guitar reviews. But when she did the Lava Me 2 review her channel blew up. That review alone got 5 million views where she’s only had thousands in the past.
There is a market for this guitar. But the Lava Me Pro the Lava Me 2 are merely predecessors to the Lava Me three. JP will be reviewing the model 3 guitar when he gets it. And I know he wants it because he intentionally didn’t burn his LAVA bridges. The Lava Me 3 has a built-in touchscreen with scores of effects. The ability to create loops and instantly accompany yourself. It has a built-in tuner and metronome. It gives you exercises to practice and ability to keep a record of your practicing. Gives you access to a community right on the guitar where you can get help with your guitar playing . It provides lessons including Ear training! This guitar, the Lava 3 is the realization of Lava’s mission. And that guitar is clearly not shooting for the Taylor Martin Gibson market. This is targeting the people that watch RUclips videos who are admiring the street performers, who set up their own drum kit, and MIDI, lay down a beat, lay down a rhythm, lay down a chord track and a backing melody. Wouldn’t it be fun if in practice or performing with friends pull out your guitar accompany yourself by sampling your own playing, then playing Le Grange or Hotel California along with a drum track with cymbals you just tapped out? That’s really the point having fun and doing something new with guitar that you’ve never been able before, without being plugged in.
if apple made a guitar but the second gen would have the efx tuned so its better
Still havent worked the bugs out. Lava needs to give one to a touring musician to get feedback from road use and recording, then make improvements from that.
Great unbiased review!
Maybe but who is going to commit to taking it on the road?
@@DL-yc4pm They should give one to Taylor Notsoswift, because even she can see it clearly has issues, then theyll be forced to work the bugs out. 😆
@@therightisright8276 lol Taylor notsoswift, honestly never heard that before. It is sad they'd prob listen to her over JP.
I reckon these companies pay JP to do reviews knowing that even if he has plenty of negative things to say about their product, he's still going to make it sound amazing when he plays it because he could make a shoe box with some elastic bands stretched across it sound amazing.
I actually have one and it's honestly a fantastic guitar
@@JS-it3dx I have one too. Fantastic guitar. I've had it for a year playing unplugged. I only plugged it in a couple weeks ago and it so much cooler plugged in. The chorus which was barely audible unplugged is now almost as fun as the delay. I was jealous of the Lava Me 3. But I purchased an Artiphone Orba, which is a fun cheap intuitive instrument which is letting me create my own back up beats like the LAVA Me 3. Not as cool as having the tuner and metronome built into the guitar. But I'm less envious.
You got a lemon, I have the same guitar, and I don't have these issues!
I have an issue if the guitar is unplugged with the effects are left on volume turned up high enough the A string will create a feedback loop in about 5 to 10 minutes and it will ring pretty loud. You deal with it by turning the effects volume down. Its probably caused by the internal mix mic which can also be dialed down.
Appreciate the review. Really want to play one and hear for myself!
Guitar Center is going to be carrying them. They don't seem to be in stock yet. But I saw you could order one from their used shop for half price.
Good review, but this guitar has way too many things going against it. I appreciate you doing these on ALL guitars and being as honest and fair as you can. This is a definite specialty guitar that is going to be a tough sell for Lava Me. I have watched you long enough to know that this won't get much play time after the review. I wish the company the best. It did sound pretty reasonable on your initial Acoustic only demo. Peace!
I get the same impression from him. I think he's being way over the top scary about adjusting the saddle to lower the action. I am going to have my action lowered. LAVA has been very helpful with small problems I ran into. The always have been able to solve any problem I've written them about. I'm checking with them if I can get a replacement saddle if anything should go south with the adjustment. He's not subtle about his feeling the action is too high and about the "taking off issue". I think he doesn't want to burn any bridges because he wants the LavaMe 3
Honest review, I know several people looking at these that will show this video, as well as the Yamaha. Seems to me, and no offense to fans of this guitar, but seems money could be better spent. And personally, I play wood guitars
This model is old d..the new one is the touchscreen one..wow the action is so high..mine at 1.75..🤣
Most guitarists are very conservative they like wood so I cannot see an instrument like this one taking off and that problem with the volume going through the roof when using effects will turn people off. feedback issue isn't good either.. Also not being able to adjust the action is a problem too. Not for me.
I know what he's talking about but if you keep the effects volume down a bit it won't take off. Its probably caused by the secondary internal mic feature creating a feedback loop which you can dial off completely. Its mostly intended for adding tapping the soundboard to your repertoire. Although he feels it warms the sound.
I would use that guitar in the swimming pool... It waterproof except for the electronics... But I been thinking it would be cool to have a waterproof guitar to play around in the pool...lol... Kinda dumb but it would be fun.... I think this guitar would be ok for that.. It has a higher sound hole... No electronics would be. ideal or take them out and seal it up... There has gotta be a guy out there with the money and the humor to do it. . J.P. is in Canada so they probably don't even have swimming pools there unfortunately.. At least probably not in the backyard....
For the pool you buy the the other cheapy carbon fiber. I can't recall the name but it also has a flame for a logo. Its just a pure accoustic.
Interesting . . .
When a guitar looks more like a spaceship then a tree the carpenter’s son in me just don’t fallow.
Aren’t all guitars completely “man-made”? If not, what else is making them?
He means the materials. Basically no wood. Still made by trees.
Takes like 800 years to break in and open up though...
Now that's funny! 🤪
Funny, but sadly true…I recently bought a RainSong that sounds truly great. BUT, it is a bit disappointing to know that it will never sound different / better than it does now…
To JP,
You're being kind of silly about adjusting the action on this guitar. This guitar has both of floating saddle into floating nutt for easy and normal adjustment. I let the guy at guitar center do it for me. He wanted to take it to 2.3 and 2.0 I had him take it to 2.5 in 2.0. The guitar plays great now.. I am sure you are more than capable of adjusting the action according to the pro at guitar center there is nothing special about. If you can't screw up the tone. And frankly that comment wasn't helpful. It added unnecessary anxiety to doing something you do with any guitar electric or otherwise. Your approach to this is like it's some kind of piece of junk but this is a $1,400 guitar with an LR baggs pickup that is built to last. The battery is easily replaceable, with a simple casing that just has a positive and negative leads from the battery no special circuitry. The guitar doesn't ship with the charger. It just comes with the cord because you can plug it into the literally any external USB charger. The only charger that will fail is your own charger you already own and you just grab another one. You put a lot of scary voodoo in your review.
You seem to like the delay and the chorus. When playing with free boost unplugged my criticism of chorus was it was nearly inaudible but I love it when it's plugged in. The real selling point of this guitar and the lava me three which you're about to review is you can play this guitar unplugged with effects. It's just supposed to make it more fun if you're saying in cold weather in front of a nice hot campfire with your friends and it's lightly misting your carbon fiber guitar is going to be playable without fear of damaging it.
And if you're on tour in Canada into a club you don't have to let it get acclimated. And maybe tomorrow you're in Louisiana or Florida dealing with crazy humidity it could be a wise choice.
Doesn't a guy like you who plays acoustic bring your own board of pedals? There's no question you're going to get Superior effects from a acoustic pedal by LR baggs but that's what you pay for.. I don't think it's trying to compete with the best of available pedals. It's trying to give you something that makes you want to pick up the guitar and practice. Or stand out because you have something unusual and interesting to offer. Anyway that's my 2 cents.
I was the kind of guy who back in the late 80s or early 90s purchased an Ovation. And I think this is a much nicer stage guitar. I think that is the market for this guitar. Someone who in the past would have bought an Ovation.
Anyway I look forward to review of the LAVA Me 3.
As for the effects I'm not having any issues with the guitar taking off, however, if I have left the effects Volume up full or very high the A string
Can start to ring in 5 or 10 minutes if left unattended.
I loooooooooove the USB-C rechargeable thing… what a no brainer, how in the world has no one done this yet? We’re still putting in disposable 9v batteries, like cavemen banging rocks together. And if you need a charge and you’re playing a gig, just play with it plugged in. No brainer.
You can use rechargeable 9v batteries and never have to recharge during a gig.
@@shawnglass108 I guess, but why would I want to deal with that?
@@williamnichols6253, Because it’s more convenient? Wouldn’t it be easier to just have several rechargeable batteries at the ready than to have to plug in your guitar? With a few rechargeable batteries you have no down time ever.
@@shawnglass108 No, it doesn't seem easier to me. I guess people are different. I never (ever) have down time on my MacBook or ipad or phone or any of these other things that I use to make my living, so I guess I just figure it wouldn't be a problem with a guitar. And to never have to have to think about a 9v battery taking a dump on me again (even if it were rechargeable)... that would be sweet.
@@williamnichols6253, Yeah. Obviously different strokes for different folks. I don’t want to ever have to put my guitar on a charger. I can have as many rechargeable batteries charged up and ready to go as I want. When I’m not playing my guitars they’re in their case. I wouldn’t have to worry about where to put my guitars just to charge them or to leave them out on a stand to charge them.
And the adjustment or lack of it is its one major flaw and a massive no for me.
The sound it makes moving against your body is really poor. I suspect it would make recording this thing acoustically a challenge. Unless you really like the sound of block sanding a fiberglass boat.
Giocattolo🤗
So stoned lol
So the effects are kinda bad. They should have TC Electronics do them.
It's alright for pretty bad.
Gumby and Pokey like it…lol
🤪 lol
Gumby plays a Strat, if I recall correctly.
it needs a filter.
A little disappointed when plugged in
The string action is a deal breaker
LR Baggs pick up always sounds artificial to me. I like Fishman pick up better
I'm pretty sure I'd pass on that guitar. Interesting video though. Thanks for posting.
Look like a paddle ;-)
Guitars are made of wood.
Knives are made of stone?
@@andriesscheper2022 MY POINT EXACTLY.
I'll take wood please! I had an ovation balladeer and I got a big baby taylor for it! Keep the plastic bowl for potato salad, not guitar backs! 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮👎👎
I will be giving that guitar a miss, I just don't like them.
Sounds like a tin can with a neck on it. Well played though!
It really doesn't.
@@AlitaBeyay Ok.. Maybe an aluminium can. Bet it stays in tune tho.
@@alfsmith4936 I can handle aluminum can. Aluminum can be classy. How about a compromise at Carbon Fiber can? Truly staying in tune is one of those silent pleasures that when you do pick up your guitar knowing you aren't going to have to check to see if its in tune...it makes you feel secure. Like a classy girl who loves you she's never going to make you feel embarrassed in front of your friends.
Where's the wood? Plastic..no thank you
Carbon Fiber to be specific...some graphite.
Blech.
Ovation back , yuck 🤢
It’s just too ugly!