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N.B. Awaiting the new Lava Studio 1.7 software update. Why so important? “LAVA STUDIO is now an entirely open tone platform.Load your own NAM amp models or IR cabinet files, find 25,000+ boutique tones on TONE3000, and shape your ultimate rig with an expanded 10-slot effects chain.”
What is “Neural Amp Modeling?” Neural Amp Modeler is an open-source project that uses deep learning to create models of guitar amplifiers and pedals with state-of-the-art accuracy. Usually, it’s part of a plugin used in a DAW like Logic Studio, played at home, for recordings.
But transforming the Lava Studio amp into an open source, non-proprietary repository for anything and everything NAM? OPEN TONE PLATFORM + NAM amp models + IR cabinet files. I.e, this Practically anything you can now imagine.
Lava Studio is a Chinese/Hong Kong based amp that was just released last year and is quickly stepping up the plate and immediately making up for lost time.
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06-10-2026 03:14 PM
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Sorry, I have no idea why the pic is horizontal and not vertical.
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More digital junk. No thanks. If you are happy that's all that matters but I don't think this changed the rules of the amp game at all.
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Deluxe Reverb example. (Yes, this is a rock-oriented setting).
Fender Deluxe Reverb (A2) NAM Profiles by @sdatkinson
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Wut?
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Never mind, it’s clearly not for you all here. . Just plug into the Polytone.
Originally Posted by Litterick
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Ha! Originally Posted by Navdeep_Singh
There is a lot of modern amp technology in between the Polytone era amps and the Digital amps of today.
Glad you like the Lava digital amp and your 8 string guitars. Neither would work for me, but I don't want a Gibson ES-150 with a Field coil speaker equipped Gibson amp either.
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only if i can add a touch screen Originally Posted by Navdeep_Singh
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A link to the discussion to the NAMs used in DAWs. Are Neural DSP plugins THE game changer?
This is the first time you can directly download NAMs to an actual amp directly and not have to work through your computer-DAW. As far as I know.
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We're about to see a flood. Neural Amp Model (NAM) is an open source capture capability that has generated tens of thousands of rig captures to download. Free. Literally any amp you can think of. And the tech is very accurate. However, since I use pedals, I haven't used it. Problem is NAM version 1 (NAM A1) requires a lot processing power. That's why you tend to see it on DAW's and a few boutique pedals that can handle its native format.
But that has changed.
We now have NAM A2. Still open source. But designed from the ground up to run on a platform with less processing capability. Therefore, we're going to be seeing a lot of it. Even on sub-$100 pedals. Accuracy in testing has been as good or better than anything else. That includes Tonex, Quad Cortex, et al. It's new but given an open source community offering instant acceptance, we can expect to see a lot of it. NuX, Headrush, and others already announced we can expect fully capable devices at lower price points in the weeks ahead. Within months we should see all sorts of interesting things. I don't know how the non-open source capture and model companies are going to compete.
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Originally Posted by Navdeep_Singh
There are those that will never replace the 8 track in the Chevy. The one with the 'You can have my 68 Fender when you pry it.. etc' bumper sticker. But that's far from all of us. I think most here believe that you choose a new tech not because it's new, but because it's a better tool for making music.
It appears that NAM is going to win this race. Looking forward to the products we're seeing now and what we'll see in the coming months. Though I need a different sort of FRFR setup, would like to play the Lava Studio. Thanks for your post.
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The Lava Studio is perfect as a practice amp and you directly record multiple tracks on it. It has a built in mini DAW. But not loud enough for performance in a larger room. Originally Posted by Spook410
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I viewed the Lava Music website. The Lava Studio technology seems impressive, and if I were starting over with studio equipment I might be interested, but I can't envision any use cases (for me) that I can't already cover fairly easily with Logic and other plugins, apps and equipment I already have and know. I'm not convinced it's a game-changer, but I am looking forward to seeing how it evolves.
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The amp is pretty cool, an excellent practice amp. I also use it to watch YouTube (very few commercials on this, compared to regular YouTube on other devices). By itself, not a game changer. With the advent of NAMs? Makes it well worth the while. Also has Apple Music app so you can stream music. A good stand alone home solution for multiple tasks. Not recommended as a performance amp. Not enough power and loudness. Originally Posted by MarkL
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For performance with a small footprint, I would use my Benson by Milkman pedal amp with small Buscarino cab. WORKS perfectly, easy to lug and sounds great.
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I disagree. It's not geared towards excellence in tone, it's geared towards getting decent tone for cheap and making it convenient to do so. I reject that on premise because I would rather lug "ol' '69" than plug into a throwaway device. Plus when I'm dead my wife can cover some funeral costs by selling a vintage, collectible amp instead of a disposable piece of crap. Originally Posted by Spook410
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I've been eyeing the Lava amp as another practice option, watching it for improving software maturity. Having a background of 45 years in software, it's appealing and interesting just for being what it is. It's certainly a thoroughly-integrated technical solution that wouldn't come out of the traditional guitar amplifier vendors. Fender should make a deal for a licensed version.
The NAM vector is really effective. I bought a Dimehead NAM pedal and sometimes I run it through a Hynotone CabScreamer 60 powering my Wavelength 10" cab with a Celestion Gold 10" Alnico speaker. I can power the Dimehead with a 9V rechargeable pedal source, and the Hynotone with an Anker 20K amp-hours Power Delivery battery, the latter two of which can velcro into the bottom of the cab. It's compact and effective and while I'm not a performer, I imagine the SPL possible would satisfy the needs of a moderate-room gig. It will go loud enough in my house to wake the neighbors or disturb the peace during daylight hours.
The Dimehead has a bunch of resident amps, and reverb and room settings along with empty slots for something like 29 additional NAM amps. Lots of NAM files can be easily had for free, as noted previously. I mostly use files for a Gibson EH-150 and EH-125 vintage amps. With a vintage-appropriate CC pickup on an archtop, it gets that sound. Even more so when I don't care about battery power and throw my Wavelength single-ended 6V6 Twenty Four head in place of the Hynotone. Endless fun. Even a Telecaster can sound like it's 1937 again.
Phil
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I'm interested to see how Dimehead reacts to NAM A2.
Hoping someone will build a very high quality pedal (I/O circuits, switches, upgraded case and screen, et al) with NAM sitting in the middle of it at a lower price point given the lower DSP requirements for A2.
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Now I'm confused. OP, you're telling us it "Changed the Rules of the Amp Game" but isn't a "game changer". I'm not sure how to reconcile those statements. Originally Posted by Navdeep_Singh
You point out that it's not ready for performance use. I'm not sure the world needs a $900 practice amp (even if it has some bells and whistles).
I'm all for technology when it improves on what's available. You seem to think this amp advances the ball - please let us know how.
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What do you think this “adding NAMs directly to the amp from the amp” discussion was about? That is a first, as far as I can tell. Without this feature, it would still be worth it, but marks a significant change in amp capability. The performance issue is it’s a desktop amp. You can record directly on the amp through the MIDI DAW, without mics. That’s also very significant. Originally Posted by MarkL
The other poster explained the importance of NAMs much better than I, so I would direct you to their post, above.
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Since I don't record music into computers at home I don't find any use for these sorts of gewgaws. When I record in my bandmate's home studio I just go straight from my pedalboard to the desk- he does all the work to get my tracks down and balanced against the other instruments. I personally find dealing with DAWs to be less enjoyable than a root canal, all the ones I have seen seem to have a user interface and operational concept designed by a computer programmer who once dated someone whose second cousin was a semi-pro musician. I have no desire to play into a computer and dick around with plugins and what have you, but I know others really enjoy that end of it and I am glad of that. Some of our folks here produce very impressive things to listen to.
For someone who is doing recording, however, I can see where having control at the amp and having those sounds in real time while playing would be useful and attractive- like a real amp. I watched the Anderton's video about the Lava Studio and the design clearly has some strengths- one of which is the touch screen that doesn't require being plugged into a laptop/tablet/phone to operate, which is a "finally" moment compared to the nonsensical tiny crude screens that most of these things have. Hello, digital modeler manufacturers? Palm Pilot called and they want their 1990s screens back. The interface alone will make this a leading product for those interested in such things.
In the Anderton's video, the live-in-the-room tone was seriously underwhelming to the point that it might well stop me from considering a purchase. But the stereo out into the video soundtrack was pretty darned good. I could see this as a direct-to-PA performance option for musicians needing a broad array of sounds with convenient control on stage at the touch of a screen, and then being able to go into the studio without having to make any setup changes. The engineer no longer has to cope with your dimed Twin in the studio...
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You know… You could just let them enjoy the gizmo. Originally Posted by DawgBone
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It used to be what worked for live performances,didn’t always translate to it working in the studio.
Nowadays with all of the technology available, it seems to be more crossover of gear that works well in both environments.
I always dreaded the incompetent sound guy or recording engineer with no musical ears in both situations.
To me it’s interesting that gear has evolved, but most music has become so dumbed down at the same time.
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Will this still make me sound like me? All my guitars and amps always sound like ME - I don't see a problem with that. Why would I want to sound like someone else? In 56 years, I've never lost a gig because I didn't sound like somebody else and I've gotten a lot of gigs because people call me to sound like me. I seem to be missing something but not sure what it is or how this gizmo would be of benefit.
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Well, I downloaded the Fender Princeton ‘65 NAM and it instantly sounded way better than any of the prior factory pre-sets designed by the amp maker. So, there’s that.
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