Positive Grid Spark Cab (Game Changing FRFR?)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ส.ค. 2024
- Positive Grid have just released the Spark Cab, which when paired with a Spark Amp, Mini, or Go, could be a real game changing FRFR cab. It has some interesting connections, 140 watts, and it's fairly affordable. Let's check it out.
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I’ve got a Spark 40, a guitar player I work with uses it to record in my studio into Cubase 13 with an Apollo X4, works, sounds great. We get the basic sound from the headphone out and go from there with effects, tone etc. we’re both really happy with it. No hiss issues.
It works great. Sounds great. The "hiss" is nothing more than barely perceptible white noise when not playing guitar. Great piece of equipment for not much money.
@@user-os3ko9fw3c not the one I got. I was shit
10:51 thats all the review i need
Tempted to buy this. Those complaining about noise - I did have noise issues with the Spark 40 but have to say that Positive Grid’s customer support was top notch.
Had one and returned it. It had a very loud wind noise without anything plugged in. The hiss mentioned by others is maybe the same thing, but it definitely sounded more in the mid frequency range than a higher range hiss, but it was LOUD and very annoying, to the extent it couldn't be left on. I have loads of amps and cabs and powered FRFR PA speakers, and none of those have this noise issue. I contacted Positive Grid and they said there's no issue despite me explaining my long experience as a giging muso. So folks, I'd avoid until Positive Grid silence the hiss/wind/roar when it's idling!
Great work Elmo as I was keen to hear what these were like ; think ill stick to my Laney FRFR112 or just going through the PA at any studio/gig im at!
I think the hissing is the way the noise gate is configured in the specific preset you're using. Some default presets have the noise gate off, and others have it on but at various settings.
Nope. It’s a noisy piece of crap. I returned it
Easy. I see a video from Elmo, I click LIKE 🎉🎉🎉
Cheers :)
I have no issues with your talking in your videos, because that is why you try out gear; to report your reactions and opinions about the gear you are reviewing. I feel the sincerity of your comments and although I play a slightly different style of guitar from you, I find that by doing the maths in my head I'm able to arrive at how your tastes and opinions relate to mine... so please don't change your format or approach,because you are a known quantity to me and I value your presentations as they are. I'm sure you won't adapt your videos for the many varied opinions of your viewers anyway, so no problems there... nothing to see.. moving right along. I've been watching your stuff for abiut 3-4 years now and it's important to me that you continue to do things the way you feel is best. I also appreciate the msny times you've replied or responded to my comments so far. Don't change anything, Elmo, we love you just the way you are.( not that I think you would anyway)! All the best for 2024, and I'm only sorry I can't afford to fund your patreon etc.👍
No worries on the Patreon front. I totally understand. And thank you for the kind words :)
Looks like there was an employee that should've been connecting the wires that wasn't and QC never picked up on it, so many were likely sent out before noticing. Happens to all manufacturers.
As soon as i read the title, i just knew that chances are there would be issues with another member of
the "Spark" range of gear.
I gave up trying to get a decent sound out of the original spark amp, so it was no surprise that this cab
had issues from the start.
I have all the heads and cabinets that i need, and since i put the spark amp out it's misery i will stick with
what i have.
Hope you are keeping safe and well Elmo.🙂👍💗
You're clearly doing something wrong, my spark 40 gets any tone i want out of it. You haven't tried the EQ pedal on the spark? It made it 10x better
I am not doing anything wrong, after nearly 50 years of repairing consumer electronics
and playing guitars i think i know what to do when trying to get a decent sound out of any amp.
The Spark along with Fenders GT40 are bad amps mainly due to the poor speakers and electronics
designed by people that like a bass heavy "Hi-Fi" type of sound.
Thankfully i didfn't pay for the Spark, my friend gave it to me to try and get a decent sound from it
without fitting new speakers and doing mods to reduce it's bass heavy sound it was never going to be
any good.
Junk is the only word i can think of to describe the Spark 40.@@vitobratta_WL
@@Barbarapape That's what im telling you, you mention the bass heavy sound, and I told you it has to be lowered in the EQ pedal,
in the EQ, low end all the way down, then the bass on the amps EQ actually does something. You have to experiment with the amp. for $200 you wont get any better amp that has all these effects and amps
The fact that you have to use an EQ pedal just to reduce the bass heavy sound confirms my opinion
that the design of these amps is poor, and clearly never played before been released.
I don't want to waste hours trying every setting available just to get a decent sound out of an amp.
There is no need to do this with other amps, a Peavey Bandit or Boss Cube can run rings around these
Spark amps.@@vitobratta_WL
@@Barbarapape sparks sound like shit
Its a good day when Elmo does a new video 😊
I have a spark 40. It’s good as a practice amp. It’s not great, but I got mine cheap, and it’s convenient for my purposes. It’s fine for goofing around.
My 2 cents as an FM9 owner:
If you're just playing at home, a wedge style FRFR works great for always projecting sound directly at you. I use an ElectroVoice PXM-12mp and it's been great
I see the advantage it you don't already own an amp/cab, but the people who are buying this stuff thinking you're getting something better than the amp they already own, are going to be disappointed. I mean, a guitar amplifier is specifically designed for playing through it with a guitar.
@@castleanthrax1833 my FM9 was specifically designed to play a guitar through.... 😐 ...
@@castleanthrax1833 also, i played 20+ years on tube amps/ pedals. I sold ALL of my amps and pedals almost 3 years ago to go digital/modeler/frfr, and ill never look back. Its glorious getting killer tones at speaking volume 🤷🏻♂️
@@AmericanNationalist852
Yes, I know what they are. ✌️
@AmericanNationalist852
I wasn't knocking modelling gear, and I think Fractal Audio makes some of the best there is.
Here is the other good use for the Spark Cab. If you got a Spark or mini as a beginner (like I did) and played for a year are starting to get to the point you can play some songs and are wanting something different then when its time to upgrade from the Spark amp you do not have to buy a new cab you can go get a amp head or something like the quad cortex, the ToneX etc and you dont have to buy a cab or if you want to start off with one of those this is a good priced cab. Thats why I got one. I know in the next year I am going to be looking to get off the Spark eco system into something a little more advanced prolly ToneX where I can play with different amp and cabs and use Amplitude for some effects or still put real pedals into the chain and experiment that way or maybe by the time I am ready for that Positive Grid will come out with a ToneX / Quad Cortex type more advanced thing to plug into their other software and maybe I would stay with the positive grid eco system then who knows.
Had the headrush 112 frfr and it sounded great but was just physically too big for my rehearsal space so i went with the headrush 8. I don't thinknthe spark sounds as good. Thanks for the vid Elmo! Hope you're well.
10:40 - Sounds like you just switched on a Roger Mayer Octavia pedal! Nice.
Using the spark controller is kinda convenient and inconvenient at the same time. It has a delay when changing channels. The spark is fun for practicing, but I would never gig with it.
Thanks for the review Elmo 🎉🙏✌️❤️🎵🎶🎼
DUDE!!!! Nice jams! Amp sounds good enough but gotta go tube to hit the killer sound. IMO. + pedals of course.
I have one and it’s going be for sale the hiss is normal as per Customer service. Not happy
5:56 Nice tone.
John Mayer through and through
IN my experience with my daughter's Sparc, the only good tone it makes is the "Glassy" setting for playing single coils. It might be the most digital-sounding amp I've ever heard and I owned Line6's back in the 90s.
It does Malmsteen tones extremely well for the price
It's a terrible amp.
😂😂😂😂
First thing I noticed was what is up with the grill cloth???
Me too!
Cab sounded ok on Quad Cortex, not so great on Spark. It was clear to me from the beginning that Positive Grid beta tests out to the public each new Spark hardware before it's really ready for public consumption. This completely unhooked cable in the Cab is the silliest mistake I've heard of yet. But all the beta mistakes have kept me from diving into the Spark ecosystem. I like my Bias FX2/Amp series on a PC, but I also have a little Quilter Superblock UK 20W with both cab sim DI and 8ohm speaker out so I'm looking at various cabs that might work.
Great insight! ... I'm sure they will fix this issue and the issue of hum or white noise coming from the powered cab, or practically no one will buy it in the future. However for those who bought and have that noise issue, can one use the internal good noise gate pedal to eliminate that? ... Love your channel and videos.
what could else could it have done to make it a gamechanger in your opinion?
You mentioned good price, good sound, good connectivity, looks good. that's a good list!
I run my Spark 40 ( brilliant) in to Headrush FRFR 8 2000w. Now thats a different level.
Great vid! Thanks for checking this out 😀👍
I'll stick with a PA monitor for now. It's only the Fender FRFR that looks interesting to me, then I remind myself - I went ampless for a reason 💪😅
Is there anything up with the grill cloth on the Spark Cab? Maybe just how the camera picked it up, but it looks like it's sagging in a couple of spots 🤔
Hi Steve, perhaps that grill cloth has not been glued on?
Hope you are keeping safe and well.🙂👍💗
@@Barbarapape Fancy seeing you here! 👋😃 Yeah looks like that could be the case 👍 All good here thanks - hope you're good! 😃
I am fine thanks Steve, just trying to keep warm in this cold spell.
Re Positive Grid, they must use some dodgy factories in China, those connectors have a latch
and don't just fall off in shipping, as for the grill the are probably cutting costs by not glueing them on.@@stevecassidyguitar
Hey Steve, love your channel. I tried one of those Fender FRFR speakers (the 10 inch one I think) and though it was very honky as a monitor - had to adjust it via the onboard EQ and wasnt that amazed overall. The Laney FRFR1212 is my go to if I need a monitor or just sticking my multi-fx into the PA at the rehearsal/gig :)
@@Barbarapape I hear ya - It's a bit nippy here in Scotland too 🥶
Will need to wait and see if it's just this unit or others look the same 🤔
Thought I was going to hate this but actually it's got it's own sound rather than sounding like all the rest which is a big plus. Far too expensive for me when a second hand Marshall is so much cheaper but for those with money it's a choice I suppose. I guess the real test is if you could bring yourself to play as badly as me - then you would hear what it really sounds like 🙂.
I have this and a fender FR-12. I’d spend the extra for the fender. It’s 1000w and sounds great.
Yeah. The woofer in the spark is 10", and I was considering this one until I read a few of the comments saying how bad it is. The Fender FR12 is about twice the price (with the FR10 being about 20% less than the 12), I think I'll go with Fender. The extra wattage doesn't bother me, but the quality definitely does.
All these people complaining about hissing, do you plug your amp directly into the wall? Much of the power your city provides is dirty and filled with noise. I use a good quality power conditioner and have none of these issues at home, but if I plug it in a a buddy’s house I get all kinds of hiss and popping. Sometimes it’s not the gear it’s the setup.
Exactement man ! Le courant alternatif est pourri donc déjà il faut un redresseur de courant pour alimenter le matos ! ❤
The only issue ive had with positive grid is that their software pisses me off because you are unable to modify the signal chain.
That is a bit of a bummer.
@@MrPolevaulter it really is a bummer. I had high hopes for it. Not sure if ill stick with the spark system or move to something else.
My friend you could make a toaster shred...👍👍
As long as it works and the warranty is still intact wouldn't have an issue with their fix. I still haven't bought any Spark products, I looked pretty hard over xMas but picked a couple of SEs instead. Maybe I'm immune to them...🎸😂🎸
Thanks Elmo!
I have a pair of 112 head rush speakers and was thinking of selling them to get this ........but not sure on build quality and room sound if I'd be making a mistake
Next review will be of the new spark live. Maybe it will be better than buying the spark 40 with this cab.
Really hoping it's louder with no compromises.
Nifty stuff..
From Amazon I bought the Spark 40 amp - Tried it but didn't like it - sent it back for a refund . Too much computerization . 🎸🇨🇦
Glad to hear that Positive Grid has a good support team......🥊🥊
0:12 - It looks like the grill cloth is bubbling near the Spark logo? I'd return it just for that.
Mine came with bubbles also!🤔
Bad quality control. I spotted it right off the bat. I haven't gotten one yet or wondering if I should get one. I was one of the first in line for the Spark 40 and I have no issues with it. It's quite nice.@@georgelozon5700
Could you plug the Mini into the return of the FX loop on a valve amp ?
It is amazing with two notes opus and soldano astro. Btw mine is dead silent
That's interesting. I have a theory that it's the unbalanced inputs that's causing the hiss. Especially when the input has its own ground connection on the TRS output causing a ground loop. Are you connecting the Opus via XLR? Does it hiss when nothing is connected like others described (i.e. cables are physically unplugged)?
Hi Elmo
Maybe the cabinet would be louder if you were using the Spark 40 Watt head instead of the Spark Mini you have demoed it with.
After all more is more.
Just a thought.
Alex
I just rather buy a combo 50W -100W with an attenuator.
It's a noisy piece of crap!!!! Returned!!!
I almost bought this shizzle
...I "am not" a Spark fanboy...The mini sounds the best(..alone..)...The "big-one" sounds...."off"?...Pumping it thru a cab won't change that...If "I" purchased one, it would-be the little "pocket" one, for that "pocket" reason.......I would-rather have a Valeton GP-200 thu a FRFR cab...A great & affordable sound choice. IMO......Peace, my Brother...
Been a while Elmo! Love your downright honest opinions! Also...Not guitar or music related..I love long sleeve Jean shirts, and they are hard to find here in the US anymore. I do love yours and if you could send me a brand name or a link I would be very grateful!!! :) Regards, Scott
Thanks! Bought on Zalano (don't know if that exists in the US) ages ago.
@@MrPolevaulter Thanks for the info. I will start my quest today. 😉
What I really like about yours, and I haven't seen them before is the shape of the pocket flaps! Let me explain....The pocket flaps on my jean shirts are big and square. Which means both corners on each pocket alway curls up making them terrible to manage! This is why I like the cut of yours! :) And I couldn't find the 1st Denim shirt on Zalando. Thanks again! ;) -Scott
Social manufacturing. When customers have to finish the production process at their homes.
I wonder how it compares to the Fender Tonemaster FR-12
Considerably less wattage.
I'm thinking that perhaps the age of the guitar cab may have passed. Most venues - even small ones these days - have installed some kind of sound system which may in the end produce a better overall sound. Of course that involves permission from the venue to run your gear through it - and you need one of those guys on a mixer that says - 'testing 1-2'.
Aren’t they just PA speakers? I use a Syrincs cab and although I find it boxy sounding, it’s alright and not worse than many amps.
Basically, yes. PA speakers are FRFR.
@@castleanthrax1833 thanks. I was just trying to wade through all the hype and nonsense about a speaker in a box.
Elmo, where's your Spark 40? Are you getting the Spark 2?
Would love to see a head to head of the PG cab against the HR108.
th-cam.com/video/hXEhfDoSKts/w-d-xo.html I made a quick comparison, Very short and to the point
Can it be plugged into a 220v power source?.... I'd love to take it to the Philippines with me!!!😊🤘
Good video Elmo. I got one of these cabs just before Christmas and so far it’s been good. I’ve had a Spark amp for quite a while now and that’s what drew my attention. However, apart from adding to the ability of the Spark I’ve also got a Line 6 Firehawk which works well through it and I also got an electronic drum kit. The final clincher is the xlr out so I can run that straight to my interface for recording. If it was just for the Spark I wouldn’t have bothered, but factoring in its versatility made the difference for me.
I can get a powered PA speaker for lesa than $200 used. Whoch is what i did.
What powered PA did you use? Is the connecting cable difficult to find? Thx
@@gnydron Alto TX208. The cables are just XLR.
@@samizdat113 awesome! Appreciate it buddy
Can you play some ACDC
What do you make of all of the complaints about hiss.
Can't speak to other people's experiences.
Dude, can you put a looper between the spark and the cab?? Did you play around with it that way?
They make a pedal for that called the Airstep SPK.
@@justinmask1688 No, I don t want to hack a looper system with an ipad and 3rd party software. I asked if we could put a looper between the spark and the cab because if you put it between guitar and spark..every signal will be wet. It doesn t seem to be a popular solution though. I want to use my own looper which is simpler and easier to use as a looper than the Ipad solution that works for me until it doesn t.
Would love to know how this affects the manufacturer’s guarantee in this - generally you go near anything with a screwdriver and your guarantee evaporates. Users carrying out this kind of remedial work might not have any practical experience, so who would be liable if the user ended up trapping and chafing cables upon reassembly?
Very unprofessional of Positive Grid.
In any case, if you’re considering gigging with a Spark, wouldn’t you just run it through the PA?
Awesome.
Joku Thomannilla valitti palautteessaan liian äänekästä idlaushurinaa. Miten on?
Vähän se hurisi, muttei mielestäni erityisen pahasti.
will this be a good combination to the boss katana mk2 head 100W? any one have tried? thanks
so its like a music speaker that's trying to be a guitar cab??
FRFR speakers like this are designed for amp modelling systems.
You need to turn the amps to 10 in the app. Thus the difference with Quad Core.
I doubt the amps are set to max in the Quad Cortex. Just the quieter output of the spark amps.
Almost sounds a little bit muddy to me
You can use any frfr cab I use a headrush
Yes I have the Spark 40 in to the headrush FRFR8, 2000W ,That's a major step up from Spark cabs.
Is it possible to connect some backing track to it in some way and go to bask on the street?Any baterry to it?
Why is the cloth distorted?
As regards mini amps, the BlackStar Fly 3 Special Edition double amp combo sounds better than the Positive Grid Go Spark.
I think it's good for gigging but not so much for recording
Maybe it's how my ears hear things but nah, I would rather go with BOSS Katana 100 watt or even 50 watt ,
Me too because I already have a Katana.
Can you use the cab with other heads?
What is the volume set at on the amp????
Unsurprisingly the sound was better using the QC - I know that the point is about the cab but I thought it was interesting because I've watched a few demos of this with the spark and thought it generally sounded a bit dull and lifeless, lacking sparkle. Just my opinion.
Hello Elmo, A suggestion:
In terms of older gear but still affordable gear I would be very curious if you tried to use a regular stock Proco Rat as a a dirty boost like Nuno Bettencourt does- in front of your marshall- ( Gain @9 or so, Tone noon or so, Level @3 or so as a starting point)
I have been trying this through my tube amp and trying to find something to beat it - Nothing has yet !!IMost use this pedal like a fuzz and i think thats a mistake for getting the best out of it.
From the sounds i am getting with my P90 I think you might really dig this and be surprised at how well it hangs with the DOD and Strymon stuff👍🏻
Sounds horribly compressed.
Dozens of messages : be carefull Elmo , your identity is used , dozens , everything is deleted ....
WTF is going on ?
Onko tossa DI-liitäntä?
Jos ei näkyny videossa ni ei.
Yeah it’s a practice amp and should only be used as such. The tones are crap to use live
QC!
I didn't like mine. Ik had a nasty hiss and was bass heavy. I sent it back. I recommend the Harley Benton G112A-FR, cheaper and better.
Every other review I’ve seen of this can said that there is a noticeable hiss as well. That’s a bummer. Is that even with a virtual noise gate enabled? If so, that’s crazy that Positive Grid didn’t catch this and figure out how to fix the issue before shipping to customers.
Can you run it to front of house?
The cab has L/R XLR Outputs in the back that you can connect to a mixing board
So wat do you think? “Makes me want to quit guitar” jones? 😂😂😂
for almost the same there is the headrush frfr 12 or for 300 the headrush 8....what do you think of them compared to this one?
I haven't tried those, so can't really say.
th-cam.com/video/hXEhfDoSKts/w-d-xo.html I made a very short comparison
❤❤❤❤
So probably not loud enough to be heard by a metal drummer playing a blast beat at 175 BPM.
FFFFFFFF , at least , i hope it will be usefull and that you are already aware ....
Total cheap trash. Hated mine so and fuzzy . Makes a bunch of noise.
😀
Yikes.
My personal opinion is it’s for beginner musicians who want to get louder. No real musician is going to gig with this.
I've been following you for a couple of years. As a subscriber I wish you may think about compressing your vids down to 5-10 mins. Otherwise I feel is too much similar talking and starting to loose interest. Otherwise the channel is great, thanks
I listen to most YT videos at 1.25x or 1.5x speed and return back to normal speed for parts of the video I want to clearly hear. You may want to try this trick on videos you believe are too lengthy.
Why the videos are as long as they need to be, that's the problem these days people with the attention spans of gold fish😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It is absolutely a piece of garbage. I regret buying it because it makes so much noise when it's not being played through. The spark and the spark mini were great, but the cab is totally garbage.
Elmo. Pls stop to be so neutral. Everyone knows the cab is cr4p. And for the price of a cab plus spark i get a good sounding amp without hiss, without AC Hum, without special cables, with actual good software, with fx loop and so on.
PG looses their momentum. Instead of improving the app and the amps, they release mostly unusable products. Next thing is a spark with that cab integrated. They showed it on namm. Meanwhile no IR's in the app, no signal chain modification, no fx loop, no normal drum machine and looper, no real pedalboard......
PG goes the quick money gimmicky way. And i bet in 5 years the brand is gone. NUX does everything better and i dont even speak of the really good options like GTX or Katana or a Tube 15 with pedals.
The Spark plus cab combo isnt cheap. If this would go for 300 bucks, no problem, but its 600 plus. I can buy a GTX 100 for that. Or a Tube 15 with a decent flamma pedalboard.
Just being honest. That's what I thought.
@@MrPolevaulter you can tweak the awful "bassiness" of the spark with a sock in the basshole *lol* and a pre EQ (or u use the blue one in the app, but then no chorus etc.). But its still to much low end. Because its also for basses and you play the spark mostly alone, and then you prefer a bit more bassiness for fat sound. The cab instead is for bandroom, and then my bassist will kill me. AND: If you loose the cable to attach it....no cab anymore. And the cable is expensive when you need a new one. Its also rather thin. Not for live.
Don't waste your money with the cab.. go for the live... I sold my cab and the 40 immediately after I heard about the live... No remorse ... the cab is sh#&t
Spark cabs are shit I took mine back
Can you use a footswitch for looping and changing effects?
They make a specific pedal just for this. Called the Airstep SPK
Has anyone had trouble accessing presets on the Mini when plugged into the Cab? Maybe I am connecting it wrong?