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  #1  
Old 07-18-2021, 11:37 PM
tdq tdq is offline
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Default Mary Spender Lava update

I don't have a Lava but thought some here might be interested.

Mary Spender reviewed one a while back - here is an update.




The original review:

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  #2  
Old 07-19-2021, 11:16 AM
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TDQ;

Thanks for bringing this to the forum. The Lava has received a lot of attention here and mixed reviews. I think it is interesting and that it sounds pretty good.
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Old 07-22-2021, 09:19 AM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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I think they could sell a lot more of these if they made them look more like a guitar instead of a toy.

Seems like a lot of effort expended to make them look "un-guitar-like".
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Old 08-20-2021, 03:39 PM
xxtwighlight xxtwighlight is offline
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Originally Posted by Rudy4 View Post
I think they could sell a lot more of these if they made them look more like a guitar instead of a toy.

Seems like a lot of effort expended to make them look "un-guitar-like".
I agree.
This is the problem with many carbon fiber guitars I see.
Too pointy, too toy-ish looking, or terrible names.
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Old 08-20-2021, 03:47 PM
xxtwighlight xxtwighlight is offline
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I agree.
This is the problem with many carbon fiber guitars I see.
Too pointy, too toy-ish looking, or terrible names.
Oh, and too expensive$$$!!!
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  #6  
Old 09-02-2021, 02:17 PM
phydaux phydaux is offline
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Oh, and too expensive$$$!!!
This. I deeply want a Rainsong, but if I'm going to spend $3k on a guitar then sorry but I'm getting a D-18.

One of these manufacturers could sell carbon fiber guitars hand-over-fist if they made a simple, traditional-looking, full size acoustic-electric in the $1250-$1500 range. No built-in effects processors, just an affordable acoustic-electric guitar.
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Old 09-02-2021, 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
This. I deeply want a Rainsong, but if I'm going to spend $3k on a guitar then sorry but I'm getting a D-18.

One of these manufacturers could sell carbon fiber guitars hand-over-fist if they made a simple, traditional-looking, full size acoustic-electric in the $1250-$1500 range. No built-in effects processors, just an affordable acoustic-electric guitar.
Isn't that a bit like saying, "Martin could sell guitars hand over fist if they would sell their D18 for $1250 - $1500"??

RainSong's wood veneer top guitars look to me like RainSong made a Martin... and there is a market for that.

While I've never found a Martin that I bonded with, you can buy a D-18 for $2499 pretty much everywhere. Look, I just saved you $500! Buy 5 more Martins, and you'll save enough to pay for that RainSong!

Yes, I'm joking. Some folks seem to think carbon fiber guitars are kicked out like a Play-Dough Fun Factory and should be less expensive "than wood" (and there are a LOT of wood price points out there). Making a carbon fiber guitar to the same quality as a D-18 is not inexpensive.

Come to Crazy Jim's Carbon Fiber Guitar Emporium - we sell 'em so cheap that we lose money on each sale... but, we make it up in the volume.

I know: back to my corner... I'm in a weird mood today.
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Old 09-02-2021, 03:17 PM
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Phydaux;

The Journey comes pretty close to what you describe.
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Old 09-02-2021, 03:38 PM
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David Eastwood David Eastwood is offline
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Originally Posted by xxtwighlight View Post
I agree.
This is the problem with many carbon fiber guitars I see.
Too pointy, too toy-ish looking, or terrible names.
I think this might be the first time I've ever seen 'terrible name' being used as a reason not to consider a guitar.
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Old 09-02-2021, 05:05 PM
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I think this might be the first time I've ever seen 'terrible name' being used as a reason not to consider a guitar.
That's funny! What about "too pointy"??



Can you believe that some people think acoustic guitar players are too traditional? I guess you can change the name of a guitar once it is yours. I'm thinking about calling mine Bob... 'cause that's what it does if you drop it in the water. Maybe Art - 'cause it looks good hanging on the wall.

I made a joke a while back about a new model of the Enya CF guitar, called "Face." Enya Face - get it? (crickets chirping)

A lot of the "2nd tier" carbon fiber guitars are made in China. No disrespect meant (well, maybe a little), but they don't seem to be real good with coming up with names that appeal to westerners. Some of you know I enjoy riding motorcycles and scooters. One of the major manufacturers of scooters is Kymco in Taiwan. They make good scooters. Some of their model names (Like, Bet & Win, X-citing, Grand Dink) leave me scratching my head.

For guitars made in Asia, Journey is a great name. So, it can be done.
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Old 09-02-2021, 05:43 PM
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That's funny! What about "too pointy"??
True. I’m having a hard time coming up with any currently available CF guitar from any of the major makers which are even remotely ‘pointy’.

I suppose the Emerald headstock *might* qualify, but I’ve never been injured by any of mine, and the very similar PRS shape never inspires comment anywhere.

And as for ‘toy-ish’ - I’d really like an example.

Not being defensive here, really. I just have a very low tolerance for basic silliness.
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Old 09-02-2021, 06:53 PM
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Phydaux;

The Journey comes pretty close to what you describe.
Who makes the Journey?
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Old 09-02-2021, 06:59 PM
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Isn't that a bit like saying, "Martin could sell guitars hand over fist if they would sell their D18 for $1250 - $1500"??
Please don't be snarky and dismiss a legitimate question with a flippant answer.

OF COURSE Martin doesn't sell a D-18 for $1500. But they DO sell their Road series guitars for that, and I have a feeling you knew that just as well as I did.

So just like the Road series fills a niche in the Martin guitar line-up, there is a similar niche in the carbon fiber guitar line-up, and it's empty. A marketing-savvy executive could fill that hole and generate a lot of profit for his company.
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Old 09-02-2021, 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
, there is a similar niche in the carbon fiber guitar line-up, and it's empty. A marketing-savvy executive could fill that hole and generate a lot of profit for his company.
No, it is not empty. Look at Journey- their OF660 can be had for $1300 new, I paid significantly less for mine used. Some don't like the look, I do. I also love the look of a Gibson J-45 or Martin 000-18 and think they are more beautiful than my Journey but I wouldn't take them on a boat or to a campfire.

There are other sub $2K CF guitar companies too but I'm not impressed with them as much as I am with Journey's offerings. Just my opinion.

Horses for courses. I see you have a GS Mini. Here is a good video showing the differences/ similarities


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Old 09-02-2021, 07:51 PM
Captain Jim Captain Jim is offline
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Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
Please don't be snarky and dismiss a legitimate question with a flippant answer.

OF COURSE Martin doesn't sell a D-18 for $1500. But they DO sell their Road series guitars for that, and I have a feeling you knew that just as well as I did.

So just like the Road series fills a niche in the Martin guitar line-up, there is a similar niche in the carbon fiber guitar line-up, and it's empty. A marketing-savvy executive could fill that hole and generate a lot of profit for his company.
No snarky intent on my part. I'm not sure why this sub-forum tends to bring out opinions on how a manufacturer should run their business or price their product. The fact that they are still in business shows that their business model is working for them.

RainSong did make a lesser expensive line for a short time that bit into their more expensive sales. There is a reason they discontinued that line.

Unlike the huge wood manufacturers (Taylor and Martin), carbon fiber guitar production isn't easy or profitable to "ramp up" by producing a loss-leader; with the limited number of CF made, each sale counts. I've discussed the business aspects a time or twelve here, but basically, it isn't about marketing savvy, it is about understanding the nature of the niche market for carbon fiber guitars.

At the end of the business year, if a manufacturer is showing a 10% profit, they are well above average. If you could make one $3,000 guitar vs 2 $1,500 guitars, it doesn't take a marketing savvy executive to understand that you are doing twice as much work for the same or less net. Nothing snarky about that - it's business.

Taylor and Martin has sales that can support manufacturing outside the US, lesser finishes, lesser appointments, less expensive wood, and significantly less labor costs. But, I'm guessing you wouldn't be happy with a $1,500 D-18 made in Mexico with a lesser finish compared to that $2,499 version. The same applies to carbon fiber guitars: look at the finish and workmanship on an Emerald, RainSong, or McPherson... compared to a Journey (better than most of the Asian-made CF), Lava Me or Enya.

It isn't about making more of them cheaper, it is about maximizing the sales that the niche market will support. I like my carbon fiber guitars, and I understand why they are priced the way they are.
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