Is the carbon-fiber Lava U the most technologically advanced ukulele ever?
New uke sports mini preamp system, FreeBoost technology for playing onboard effects without plugging into an amp
We spend a lot of time here writing about new and cool electric guitars, but let's take a minute to check out Lava Music's impressive and unusual Lava U, a preamp-equipped carbon fiber ukulele.
The Lava U sports a one-piece body constructed of the company’s AirSonic carbon fiber, a low-density, high stiffness material that Lava touts as “highly resistant against extreme changing of temperature and humidity.”
Other unique features on the Lava U include a BreathNet Bionic structure soundboard, L2 mini preamp system that offers reverb, delay and chorus, and FreeBoost technology, which uses the back of the instrument as a speaker and allows for playing with effects without plugging into an amp.
The ukulele comes in six sparkle pearl powder matte finishes (red, pink, purple, black, blue and gold), as well as with an incredible cool-looking Space Case.
The Lava U is available in 23- and 26-inch versions, starting at $299.
For more information, head to Lava Music.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
Guitar Center just dropped a 15% off coupon for Cyber Monday – and it’s valid on thousands of guitars, pedals, amps and accessories – including one of our favorite signature models, a fire-breathing EVH lunchbox head, and that Hello Kitty strap you wanted
“I used to sit in the back seat of the rental car while I was on my radio tour at 16 writing songs”: Taylor Swift learned to play guitar on this acoustic – now you or a loved one can too, with $100 off her pint-sized Taylor signature for Cyber Monday
I’ve been reporting on Cyber Monday guitar pedal deals for 7 years – and I’ve never seen discounts like these