GSWJ - JP reviews the Lava Me Pro! 

I love this man. He got a 1400$ guitar to do a review and he actually did an unbiased review, a true honest man!

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!

Amazing! Beautiful sound. Guitar of the digital age

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.

Your bluegrass style of play helps to hear the tone of the instrument very clearly. Thank you for that!

Great review! I’d planned on buying one but I could never live with action that high.

Wow, acoustically it was actually not bad!

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.

Thank you for the review. I’ve been curious about these.

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

Very helpful and revealing - thank you! I’m getting the Lava Blue Original, instead.

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 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

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 bet this is the first time one of these has felt flatpicking.

Thanks for the review. Saved me 1100 dollars.

What kind of neck joint does it have?

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! ✌️😎🌞🎻🎸🪕

Did you ever review the other LAva?

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!

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!

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.

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?

Nice .getting it as travel guitar for its durability

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 😂

what's a geh-tire??

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. 🐰💙🇺🇸🎸🎶🤝✌️

Appreciate the review. Really want to play one and hear for myself!

Pretty nice acoustically , I’m glad I don’t need the other bits

I’m seeing online that these “things” are going for $1399 - Nah, I’ll pass. I’ll get a Yamaha instead.

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.👍🏻

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 want to like it...but it's tough after watching this demo. Thanks for saving me some cash.

Well...with that action it would be good for slide...

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

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’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

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.

if apple made a guitar but the second gen would have the efx tuned so its better

Interesting . . .

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

Maybe it would make a good slide guitar if the action can not be remedied.

You got a lemon, I have the same guitar, and I don't have these issues!

Takes like 800 years to break in and open up though...

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.

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....

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.

Giocattolo🤗

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?

It's alright for pretty bad.

And the adjustment or lack of it is its one major flaw and a massive no for me.

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.

So stoned lol

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.

Gumby and Pokey like it…lol

So the effects are kinda bad. They should have TC Electronics do them.

A little disappointed when plugged in

The string action is a deal breaker

it needs a filter.

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.

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.

Blech.

Ovation back , yuck 🤢

Sounds like a tin can with a neck on it. Well played though!

Where's the wood? Plastic..no thank you

It’s just too ugly!