Whether for meditative gong baths, subtle sound accents or creative sound experiments - a good gong driver brings new possibilities to your sound practice. With the Lava and Smooth Lava Edition, we offer you two high-quality models, both made with great care from sustainable natural caoutchouc : the ollihess Lava Edition and the Smooth Lava Edition.
In this article, you will find out the main differences between the two editions and what sound effect you can achieve with each model.
ollihess gong driver Lava Edition - our classic with a rough texture
The ollihess Lava Edition gong driver immediately catches the eye: It has a deep black and strikingly rough surface which, with the right technology, produces a particularly clear, squeak-free sound.
What are the advantages of the Lava Edition?
If you choose an ollihess gong driver from the Lava Edition, you get these benefits:
- Bright, overtone-rich tones - ideal for meditative passages
- Rough natural caoutchouc for more control when grating
- No squeaking, as the surface is sanded by hand
- The head is made entirely of vegan, durable natural caoutchouc
- Lightweight, flexible & unbreakable - comfortable to hold even during long sessions
- Available in four sizes: 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm
The Lava Edition is therefore perfect for gong players who are looking for clear and present sounds and want to work out fine overtones on their gong.
ollihess gong driver Smooth Lava Edition - for more softness and sensual sounds
With its extremely smooth surface made of soft natural caoutchouc , the Smooth Lava Edition enables even finer and more controlled rubbing. You get softly flowing sound sequences that are ideal for sound baths or deep meditative states.
What are the advantages of the Smooth Lava Edition?
The ollihess Smooth Lava Edition offers you the following advantages with its extremely soft roughened surface:
- Smooth, sensitive sound progression thanks to the delicately roughened surface
- Broad sound dynamics - from subtle to intense
- No squeaking, as the surface is sanded by hand
- The head is made entirely of vegan, durable natural caoutchouc
- Lightweight, flexible & unbreakable - comfortable to hold even during long sessions
- Available in four sizes: 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm
We recommend the ollihess gong driver Smooth Lava Edition for sound therapy, gong meditations or gentle sound baths - wherever soft impulses and flowing vibrations are required.
| Feature | Lava Edition | Smooth Lava Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Extremely rough, non-slip, hand-ground | Soft, delicately roughened, hand-polished |
| Sound character | Bright, rich in overtones, present | Flowing, sensual, soft |
| Recommended Application area |
Meditation, sound bath, sound therapy, sound journeys | Meditation, sound bath, sound therapy, sound journeys |
| Squeak | Squeak-free thanks to natural caoutchouc & texture | Squeak-free thanks to natural caoutchouc & texture |
| Material | natural caoutchouc (head), plastic handle | natural caoutchouc (head), plastic handle |
| Sizes (⌀ head) | 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm | 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm |
Durable & sustainable - promises we always keep
Our gong drivers impress with their high quality and durability - provided they are well cared for. The most important thing is to protect them from dust, UV radiation and moisture. Your friction mallet should always be stored in a dry place - ideally in the packaging we provide. You should also clean them regularly. For light soiling, you can simply wipe your friction mallet with a damp cloth. Hot water can be used to gently refresh the natural caoutchouc if it starts to harden. Take a look at our article on cleaning and caring for gong mallets for even more helpful tips.
Both editions are made in the head with sustainable natural caoutchouc and are 100% vegan. Production takes place under the highest quality standards in our family workshop in Germany - with a lot of manual work and quality control by Olli Hess and his sons themselves.
Which gong driver suits you better: Lava or Smooth Lava Edition?
Choose the ollihessLava Edition if you are looking for a gong driver for precise, clear overtones - ideal for structured sound work and concerts.
Choose the ollihess Smooth Lava Edition if you want to create very gentle, flowing sound sequences - perfect for meditative settings, sound baths and sensitive applications.
Do you have any questions? We will be happy to advise you personally on our gong drivers and gong mallets via WhatsApp. Simply click on the green icon at the bottom right of your browser window.
