Enya Inspire Review

Just when I thought Enya couldn’t possibly outdo the Nova Go Sonic, they went ahead and dropped the Enya Inspire — and honestly, it feels like they’re trying to redefine what a “modern electric guitar” is supposed to be.

If the Nova Go Sonic was their bold announcement that smart guitars were officially a thing, the Inspire is the part where they loudly follow it up with, “Yep, and we can do even better.”

In typical Enya fashion, they didn’t just take the Sonic, slap on a new color, and call it a day.

No.

They built a whole super-Strat powerhouse made of carbon fiber, added a 15-watt smart speaker, gave it 20 tones, added dual outputs, outfitted it with an H-S-S ceramic pickup configuration, threw in a 2-point tremolo, gave us 24 frets, and still kept the convenience of their preset system, wireless connectivity, and USB-C OTG recording.

This is the point where you realize that Enya just might be the future of guitars!

Specs at a Glance

• Body, neck, top, back, fretboard: Carbon fiber
• Pickup configuration: H-S-S (ceramic)
• Speaker: 15W active
• Connectivity: USB-C, 6.35mm, 3.5mm
• Tone options: 20 customizable via app
• Presets: Clean/Overdrive/Crunch/Lead
• Tremolo system: 2-point
• Speaker count: 1
• Weight: 6.6 pounds

It’s remarkably feature-packed for its size and material.

A Smart System That’s Actually Smart

The Nova Inspire carries a full smart audio system built directly into the guitar. We’re talking:

• A powerful 15W onboard speaker
• 20 distinct tones
• Full customization via the ENYA MUSIC App
• Standard outputs: 6.35mm instrument jack
• Silent practice: 3.5mm headphone out
• USB Type-C for charging + OTG recording

That last part is the one that really caught my attention.

OTG recording.
On a guitar.

Everything you play — including backing tracks through wireless audio — can be recorded straight into your mobile device through USB-C.

No interface.

No extra cables.

No extra devices.

For someone who’s always experimenting with pocket amps, MIDI controllers, and compact rigs (hello Nova Go Sonic, Sonicake Pocket Master, and M-Vave Chocolate Plus), this is the direction the future should be going.

The 15W Onboard Speaker – Small Body, Big Voice

If you loved the 10W speaker from the Nova Go Sonic, the Inspire basically levels it up with a 15-watt active speaker that’s loud enough for:

• Bedroom and living room practice
• Small outdoor jams
• Coffee shop sets
• Busking with a friend
• Quick “plug-and-play-less” gigs

You’re not going to replace a full live stage setup with this, of course, but for casual playing and small performances? It’s more than enough.

The wireless connectivity also means you can play your backing tracks through the same speaker — which makes practice incredibly easy and makes the Inspire feel like a self-contained performance station.

This is the kind of convenience that makes you want to play every day.

The HSS Pickup Set – Versatile and Ready for Anything

Here’s where things get interesting. The Inspire uses a ceramic HSS pickup configuration, different from the Sonic’s Alnico approach.

Why ceramic?

Because ceramic pickups are punchier, brighter, more aggressive, and extremely adaptable. They’re great for:

• Rock
• Fusion
• Blues
• Prog
• Modern genres that need clarity and attack

With the Inspire, I immediately got the sense that Enya wanted a guitar that could handle anything. And they made a clever move by adding a push-pull volume knob that switches the bridge pickup between series and parallel.

That gives you access to:

• Thick, full series tones
• Subtle, chimey, parallel tones for that Strat-like sparkle

This one feature expands the Inspire’s tonal range significantly. If you’re the type of player who likes covering multiple genres, this guitar is built for you.

The Strat Style Done the ENYA Way

This is Enya’s first actual super Strat model, and it shows. They didn’t just copy the design — they improved it.

What sets the Inspire apart:

• 24 frets for full-range exploration
• 2-point tremolo bridge for smooth vibrato
• Ultra-ergonomic carbon fiber body
• Carbon fiber neck and fretboard
• Zero fret for consistent action
• Round-end polished frets
• One-piece die-cast body for better resonance

Carbon fiber alone already makes this instrument different from anything in its price range. It’s resistant to weather, humidity, temperature changes — all the things traditional guitar wood hates.

And that’s a big deal here in the Philippines, where humidity swings can warp a neck overnight. With the Inspire, humidity isn’t a concern.

This guitar is built for the real world.

Onboard Presets + Dual Output = Convenience King

The Inspire includes four onboard presets accessible with a single button:

• Clean
• Overdrive
• Crunch
• Lead

You can customize all of them through the app, but the real magic is how flexible the outputs are.

1. Onboard Speaker

Perfect for practice, small jams, quick demos.

2. Standard 6.35mm Output

Plug into:

• Amps
• Pedals
• PA systems
• Interfaces

Instantly, the Inspire becomes a normal electric guitar with built-in effects.

This is extremely convenient for small gigs and busking. You don’t have to bring half a pedalboard to get the tone you need. The Inspire reduces gear clutter in a way that feels intentional, not gimmicky.

Enya Really Did It Again

The Enya Nova Inspire feels like the natural evolution of the smart guitar — not a gimmick, not a toy, but a fully functional electric guitar with modern features baked into its DNA.

It’s the kind of guitar that:

• Reduces your need for extra gear
• Encourages more frequent practice
• Works for beginners, intermediates, and pros
• Survives harsh climates
• Sounds great through its pickups or its smart system
• Fits perfectly in a portable musician’s setup

If the Nova Go Sonic was Enya proving smart guitars can be good, the Inspire is them proving smart guitars can stand on their own as a professional option.

And honestly?

I’m excited to see what they do next — because if this is their baseline now, the future of electric guitars is going to look very different.

Speaking of baseline… any plans of guitars that can pull off wicked basslines?

Yeah, I wonder when Enya will come up with a Bass Line!

Now that would be cool!