Man, seriously, thank you SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! I’ve been diving deep through the internet to figure out how to hook up a couple of Spark amps and could only find 2 videos, and only this one showed me what I needed to se. Again, thanks man!
I would love to see Positive Grid come up with like a Spark Pro that's pretty much the Spark amp but designed to be used like an amp head. So the Spark Amp with all the outputs needed and a bit more wattage.
Now that’s a greatest idea, I think . If Positive Grid were to come out with a Pro for live performances amp , then I think it might just blow all the other amp out of the way 🤗🙏🏽… Already one would experiment on how to use the avails spark products in pro live rig situations ….
You point out the biggest flaw in the Spark, no output jack. Thanks for solving the issue. I took mine apart and installed a line out. I got tired of having to convince the sound guy to mike my 'pee pee little' amp when I got a tone I really liked.
@@ubermac85 I agree with you Scott. Positive Grid don't want people buying a practise amp that will kill sales of their pro gear. I'd love to see Rocket Rose's mod.
@@Jonathan-L yes usually amp manufacturers do not put line outs on smaller amps so pros have to pony up for the line out but in this case what pro cab are they offering as an upgrade? It would make sense if there was a spark 80 or something with a line out but we have nothing.
Gotta love that transistor technology, man! Apparently it works really well for amplification, and digital signal processing(effects). I think transistors don’t get enough love from guitarists.
This is the answer to my prayers. I have so many tones that I love with amp match. This is literally insane. You save me dude. This is it. I can now use my children of bodom tones live. You did it. I'm honestly blown away. I am dude....... I love you!!!
You just might be a genius! This worked great with my Dr Z cabinet in a live jam situation. First time playing the Spark out of the house. Thanks for the awesome tip!
@@guitar_goes_brrrr8237 I’ve never tried a pre amp with this 44 Magnum but have used my pedals with it and it works good. I’ve only tried the Spark with the 44 Magnum like he shows in the video and it works great
On another note, Positive Grid just came out with their own powered cab, called the CAB, which of course, plays well with all the Spark amps. That should bring in new customers, as well as keeping their existing Spark amp owners happy too, in case they want to go bigger.
So following Rickord's tutorial, tried this with a Spark Mini. Used a Mooer Baby bomb 30 watt micro amp ($110 Amazon), piped the Mini thorough a Mesa 4x12 V30 and was OVERWHELMED!! Absolutely kicks $%$%$#$. Really loud but not a lot of noise and maintains tone really well. You can use the pedal amp volume control and the Spark volume basically as two separate masters, with your guitar volume on the side. Also tried this with a little Marshall Code 25 and worked just as well. Cheers!!
Awesome to hear!!! I was just contemplating buying the mooer 30 but didn't know If it would be enough. But reading this now, ITS ON!!! Thanks for the info
I'm fairly sure you need to use a 1/8 stereo to summing with resistors 1/4" mono cable or eventually that cute little spark amp wont spark. While most stereo summing cable just short the Left and Right output conductors, the use of resistors to prevent the signals from back-feeding into each other. This prevents it from being distortion or noise issues, as well as preventing damage to your output device.
As the headphone out is stereo you don't make it clear that the plug into the power amp is mono. You either need to combine the stereo signal or you will only be getting half the sounds. This may not seem an issue if you are using a single rig in the Spark but they expand the modulation and echo/reverb to make to sound seem bigger and wider so you could well be loosing elements of the sound in only using half the signal path.
You could run 2 of the 44 mags and a custom stereo cable that would send the output from the headphone jack to two separate 44 mags and use your cab in stereo. Just an idea but it should be an easy fix for this if you wanted to get the most out of the sound. Now you will have to balance the power of each 44 mag at this point and would not be as convenient in a gig situation but running a volume pedal wah combo in front of the spark could also solve this issue. Though at that point you have really got intricate in all of this.
It's a wrong way to go about it the headphone output is full range the guitar cabinet is not full range these signals are not compatible if you wanna make your spark go louder you need a full range flat response cabinet it's called the FRFR cabinet
@@chrishill9707 If you were using the Spark to play music I would agree with you. However, as the Spark for guitar it will be emulating a guitar cabinet and therfore the predominant frequencies will be those present in a guitar cabinet. Years ago I would use my guitar cabinets for playing music. The bass, cymbals and vocals might not have stood out but the guitars sounded great.
Now that the Spark 2 has line outs, I believe one could go from the Spark 2 to the 44 Magnum (or the smaller 5mm version in my case) to the speaker cabinet.
IF you ran the SPARK right into the cabinet with that cable, would it harm the SPARK? I mean, instead of using it as a PRE-AMP, what about using it as the AMP. Not to fill a concert hall but for jamming. Can it work as a 40 watt head on its own?
Just sold my Marshall 2203 Master Lead and ordered my Spark 40 last night! As I lay in bed last night I got to thinking that some additional speakers would really be nice, so here I am. Oh, I see you have a Charvel model 6; I have a Charvel / Jackson Model 6!
Couple things with this setup. The volume control is terrible from the 44 magnum. The knob is basically just cracked from off, and that is too loud! Then when you use the great interactive feature of the Spark, playing with a song, the song is played with zero bass! It sounds very thin and tinny. I just tried this yesterday and could not figure anyway around these two issues. Does anyone know a way of correcting this? I’m using a Marshall 4x12, thanks!
You didn't say Why you need to run it into the power amp first and not strait from the spark into the cabinet.. if I connect the spark to my combo amp do I still need to have the power amp.
Lots of comments about stereo and mono etc. does it really matter that the spark is stereo and the output is being converted to mono? The spark is so small that any stereo you get out of it is practically mono anyway.
One issue its FRFR and has speaker emulation. You should just use a TRS mod to bypass internal speaker and use the spark internal amp to external and use full range speaker (20 to 20)
This video made me realize that I could use the power amp in on my katana, via the spark headphone jack. Got an adapter for my cable, and it works great. It's really nice to hear it through a proper speaker
@@Mrjleyba Same as what you see in the video. You just plug the aux cable into the input of the Fender Mustang. Just make sure all the mods are turned off and the channel on clean. The best would be to plug it into the effects loop if the amp has one.
Hypothetical question: let’s say I have a brand new 140 Watt Marshall cabinet and I plug in my spark with the power amp and connect it to the cabinet and I turned it up all almost all the way for a 500 + person gig. Would I be getting almost 140 watts of my spark amp or would I just be getting the extra 40 watts with the power amp? I would love to connect it to a Marshall cabinet but I have no idea if The spark amp Would allow it to reach up to 140 watts. I’m in a band and I’m just getting to start Gigging. If this doesn’t work, do you have any suggestions for a loud cabinet that isn’t $1000+ and that will hook up with the spark with a power amp?
Well good question but even if you didn’t pull 140 watts you’d still be fine in front of a crowd of 500+ because there’s no way you could perform in front of a crowd that size without mic’ing your cabinet. Your amp will be mic’d through the PA and the live sound should push the decibels you may not be able to push.
Hi, is there a special care with the cable to be used between the spark headphone output and the PA44 ? Because after doing that the headphone output is out of order.
When i tried to do that i got a ticking sound in the background use a summing cable also tried connecting to the return on a joyo amp same thing any advice?
I don’t think that’s gonna work because the cab doesn’t have a power source to draw from. Using the Spark’s power amp to amplify a cabinet alone with out something to power the cab wouldn’t work. Now it would be different if you ran the Spark directly to an active powered speaker because it already has a built in amp.
Thanks, but my problem is no sound both from a Spark 40 , even songs from smartphone connected via BT and from guitar cable connected to SP40 ,pls help
About the cable you are recommending; is it an 1/8" mono or stereo end? I got the Spark 40 after signing up on the pre-sale list. I love it, it's a great practice amp. And, I've already signed up on the pre-sale list of the Spark CAB 140 watt! My only pet peeve is that they didn't use a 1/4" stereo headphone output. Other than that, it's wonderful. You could probably hook up a Quad Cortex via the same method to a guitar speaker cab, right? Thanks
Haven't you tried the headphone output to the effects return on a tube amp? That bypasses the preamp tubes so it does the same thing as that mini 44 magnum amp pedal does. I run all my modeling pedals into the effects return of my amp.
I KNOW I'M LATE BUT: It doesn't work with my spark 40 and a normal amp in the return... Just beeping and loud rythmic clicking noises as soon as i swtch it on...
In that case I would run it through the main input but turn off all the internal effects like reverb, chorus or any other onboard effect that will over layer what you already have preset on the Spark.
What would be a good cheap or cheaper alternative for the power amp? That specific pedal is going for around $250. I just dropped a crap load on my Spark Pearl and I'd like to not spend another crap load to get the sound out of my cabinet. Sonos there like a $40 power amp that would work but not be your choice?
Technically you can pretty much use any amp for the most part. I chose something like the 44 magnum because it was just a straight signal with no preamp simply to avoid compromising the tones from the Spark’s preamp. If you have an existing amp that has a send and return you could probably run the Spark into the return output of the your other amp’s effects loop. That’s similar to what the 44 Magnum is in this case.
The cable I’m using from the Spark to the 44 Magnum is a mono cable. If you are using an amp head with an effects loop for the Spark, you’ll want to run it to the return input.
@@Yu54m18 yes you put it into the fx loop power amp input. this bypasses your preamp. also protects your preamp which only expects a guitar signal. the fx input (power amp in) expects a hotter signal more like what your headphone is putting out. all adjustments to volume and tone will be done from the spark at that point. regards.
This didn't work for me. I have a stereo 3.5, out of the headphone jack going to a mono 1/4 into my effects return on my Blackstar HT club effects loop..any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong?
@@AslanRising sounds like you're doing it right. make sure you have the output volume up on the spark. this should bypass your blackstar preamp controls all together.
When running out of the Magnum pedal, to cabinet Do you have to use a speaker cable? Somebody told me that you would use an instrument cable instead in this case, when using it with the spark, going to the cabinet!
When you plug the 44 Magnum to a speaker cabinet you use a speaker cable NOT an instrument cable. Remember this is an amplifier…a power amp with no preamp so you have to treat it like a regular amp head other wise you may damage it by running an instrument cable. The place you can run an instrument cable is from the input of the power amp to your guitar or pedalboard or an external preamp.
@@RickordProductions ok great! Thank you so much for yr reply, I really appreciate yr input on that! I will use a Speaker cable. From Magnum pedal to the cabinet, Just as u were mentioning! Thank you!🙏🙏🙏
Is there a y other reason it won't work u plug the guitar into the spark amp right this is driving me crazy bought a cab and a celestion 16 ohm speaker and I even tried the 8 ohm speaker it came with a d just crackle
I was concerned about using a standard stereo to mono cable, and found this thread on the Positive Grid Forum. The summing cable costs more than a standard stereo to mono cable, but it's a very small amount for the added protection from potential risk to the Spark amp. So I sprang for it. forum.positivegrid.com/topic/3605/line-out Edit: I believe the summing cable has the same effect as when you mount two stereo jacks on the back of a 4x12 cab, they have to be mounted on a non-conductive surface. If they're mounted on a conductive surface it could screw one or both channels of your amp.
You sir are correct. I wouldn't use the set up in this video for too long without a true summings cable. Just a regular cable can damage the device. It's been knows to ruin phones, ipods multifx processors. And sometimes it does nothing. Not a gamble id be willing to take. Spend the extra $40 and use a proper summing cable with resistors and rock on. Cheers.
There really is no virtual cabinet with the spark. The virtual amp kits within the app give you the amp head and stomp pedals of your choice. Once you plug in the cable to the headphone output it bypasses the actual speaker in the Spark and the sound will come out to whatever source you plug the auxilary cable to.
This is great, of course. I think PG needs to get their selt together, and create a product with a touch screen, so we don't need our phones, or a set up like this (as innovating and effective as it is!)..... with the processors out there now, PG needs to move forward. GREAT VIDEO, by the way :)
Unfortunately no because the Spark doesn’t have a line out. Once you tether the Spark through another amp source it needs to be run from the headphone jack which then results in canceling out the sound output from the Sparks built in speaker cabinet and the sound will now come out of the amp you’re connecting it to.
Hi men, i have a question about the cable, What type of cable is connected. From the Spark 40 cabinet to the Magnum 44 pedal, is it balanced or unbalanced? Or how to order it?...thank for your info
Im getting a digital whirring noise out of the headphone Jack that comes out of the speaker I'm going into - Im just trying to run straight into a desk using a stereo headphone to RCA lead. It also happens when I run a mono lead to an amp. How do i lose that noise? 🤔
This is a typical (earth - loop bollocks ) that annoyed me for a while. Your spark amp ships with 2 wall plug cables ( 3 pin and 2 pin ) by using the 3 pin you're likely to hear these earth loop noises ( wired ) try switching to the 2 pin wall plug - I did this and the noise vanished , clean out put now. Let me know if it worked.
@@mleahy555 yeah!! That worked. Mine only came with the 3 pin but after i sent it back for repair for crackling noises they returned it with a two pin. I hadn't been tempted to try again. But I just did and it worked. Cheers.
Tried this with a Spark mini into a 15W EHX Howitzer. I hardly got any volume unless both amps were turned up full and gain on the EHX. Sound quality was terrible. It turns out there is a setting to switch the headphone output from stereo to mono. That made all the difference in getting it to work. However, tones still don't sound quite the same as through Spark's internal speakers and my volume is still nowhere near what the EHX can push through my 2x12 cabinet. BTW, Spark does have a footswitch available now in 2022. Now that I've figured out this much, it's something I may consider down the road. As it is, I don't quite see this replacing my more traditional pedalboard and amp.
Hi, nice video, so basically I can connect a cab of any brand to a Spark and enjoy the sound customization possibilities offered by the Positive Grid?Does the Spark Mini and Go also allow this?
Absolutely. As long as the Spark as some kind of line output like even a headphone jack it can be done as long as the cab is plugged into a power source. If you used a powered speaker you wouldn’t need an external power amp like the 44 Magnum. You can just run the Spark directly to the speaker or through a PA mixer.
@@MascarasMil if you’re gonna plug the Spark to an EVH combo you’d have to plug it into one of the inputs. Best to put it in the effects loop rather than the main in just to avoid the preamp but that’s matter of preference. No need for the 44 magnum if you go that route.
The power amp is what is able to amplify what is coming out of the Spark through the headphone jack. The Spark amp doesn’t have a line output. Even if it does have a line out and even without the 44 Magnum power amp you would need some kind of power amplification, like maybe coming from a half stack head unit or anything that draws a line signal to output through the cabinet speaker.
Doesn't combining a stereo signal create too much voltage for the amp input? There should be 2 - 1k resistors to limit the voltage. You could blow the input stage on some amps!
Combining the l and r will average the voltage (not add). Which will be fine if the output is the same on both channels, however if there is a stereo effect such that l differs from r a high current will flow from one to the other. Thats why resistors are used in a summing cable to safely average the voltage. The 44 input will be high resistance (much higher than the 8 ohms expected)so little current will flow from the headpone amp
gREAT vIDEO rICK, Could I offer suggestions for future videos? 1) Have the MIC Closer to you to improve tone quality. When you speak sound like you're in a cave. 2) during the first half of the amp you sort of jump around a lot and look like you have to go to the bathroom. Aside from that you explain things very well, and you have a clear and articulate voice... GOOD JOB!!
What if I don't want to use an Electro Harmonix power amp? What if I want to use the power amp in the Spark and just open up the speaker cabinet or the amp and install a quarter inch phone jack? What if I want to use the Spark amp, power amp to drive a 4 x 12 cab?
That's a good question. I don't think that may work considering you still need some kind of external power source to drive the sound out of a speaker cab but if you want to install something in the Spark, then I would suggest putting a quarter inch speaker output like you would find on amp heads and some combo amps.
Oh yeah I did. I had mentioned that I tried this already and it worked great, but looks like I had multiple posts here. Not sure why but that was 3 years ago so who know. s haha.
Sorry dude, you didn't specify if you were using a guitar or bass cab, it just looked like a bass cab. I might have to try this method to connect it to my speaker cab, thanks for the tip man!
My question would be, is the 44 magnum amplifier substantially more powerful than the internal spark amplifier? Wattage is a bad way to measure power output, and it really has more to do with current, but if the spark amplifier actually puts out the same amount of power as the magnum then wouldn’t it be cheaper to just drill a hole in the back panel of the spark and mount a quarter inch output jack with a toggle switch to switch between external and internal speakers? this may cost around $25 or so and take around 15 minutes of work and then you would basically be able to use the spark amplifier like a mini head. You would be limited to 4 ohm cabinets and you would probably want to stick to around the same relative power handling capabilities as the original speakers in order to retain reliability, but I think I may just give this a try. Worst thing that could happen is I end up with a useless output jack mounted in the back of my spark LOL.
That would work. Some people have modified the spark amp by installing a line out or even a speaker out but I didn’t have that feature so I used the 44 magnum as a line out plus running the amp power to push more of the signal from the Spark rather than use the Spark itself. The Spark is 40W and the 44 Magnum is 44W hence the name. For the record I’ve never used this method with a live band or at a show. This was just a demonstration to answer that ongoing question at the time
I see a lot of comments about the headphone out. Think of the headphone out as a line out. To adjust the signal turn the volume for the headphones to around noon to 2 o'clock max. Also the spark by itself is really bass sounding does that go away with the external cab?
I have a Peavey 6505 MH and I'm mesa 2 × 12 cab and I also have the spark 40 if I buy the 1/4 to 1/8 cable how do I get my spark pluged into my 2 x 12 without having that Magnum pedal that you have
You would run the cable from the headphone output on the Spark to the Peavy’s input but I would recommend running it to the return input of the FX Loop just to bypass the preamp rather than the front of the amp. Either way will work. The FX loop has a straight signal line.
Yes but keep in mind that a headphone jack is powered. It's not 40 watts but you will probably want to keep the master volume very low to avoid damaging your other amp. A headphone jack will definitely have more power coming from it than a line straight from your guitar. Headphone jacks are speaker outputs. It's risky plugging them into a line level input.
Man, seriously, thank you SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! I’ve been diving deep through the internet to figure out how to hook up a couple of Spark amps and could only find 2 videos, and only this one showed me what I needed to se. Again, thanks man!
I would love to see Positive Grid come up with like a Spark Pro that's pretty much the Spark amp but designed to be used like an amp head. So the Spark Amp with all the outputs needed and a bit more wattage.
Total agreed- love my mini. If I could get them functionality on stage would be my go to
Positive grid head is literally that but it's $1000
Now that’s a greatest idea, I think . If Positive Grid were to come out with a Pro for live performances amp , then I think it might just blow all the other amp out of the way 🤗🙏🏽… Already one would experiment on how to use the avails spark products in pro live rig situations ….
@@clydebermingham121 they have one, positive grid head or rack bud
Excuse my stupidity, but what's the difference between an amp, & cabinet?
You point out the biggest flaw in the Spark, no output jack. Thanks for solving the issue. I took mine apart and installed a line out. I got tired of having to convince the sound guy to mike my 'pee pee little' amp when I got a tone I really liked.
It's not really a flaw. The Spark is designed as a practice amp, not a stage amp. I would say it's more of a design oversight. ;D
@@ubermac85 I agree with you Scott. Positive Grid don't want people buying a practise amp that will kill sales of their pro gear. I'd love to see Rocket Rose's mod.
Would be great to see a video about installing a line out. With the line out, do you mute the Spark, or does it still stay active?
@@Jonathan-L yes usually amp manufacturers do not put line outs on smaller amps so pros have to pony up for the line out but in this case what pro cab are they offering as an upgrade? It would make sense if there was a spark 80 or something with a line out but we have nothing.
I just use the headphone out to the aux in of my amp. Sounds legit on a 12” speaker
Gotta love that transistor technology, man! Apparently it works really well for amplification, and digital signal processing(effects). I think transistors don’t get enough love from guitarists.
This is the answer to my prayers. I have so many tones that I love with amp match. This is literally insane. You save me dude. This is it. I can now use my children of bodom tones live. You did it. I'm honestly blown away. I am dude....... I love you!!!
Did you ever get this setup and if you did how does it sound?
You just might be a genius! This worked great with my Dr Z cabinet in a live jam situation. First time playing the Spark out of the house. Thanks for the awesome tip!
Any time...That’s awesome! 🤘🏼
So can i just run any pre amp like a Seymour duncan power stage and a regular 8 ohm guitar cab?
@@guitar_goes_brrrr8237 I’ve never tried a pre amp with this 44 Magnum but have used my pedals with it and it works good. I’ve only tried the Spark with the 44 Magnum like he shows in the video and it works great
On another note, Positive Grid just came out with their own powered cab, called the CAB, which of course, plays well with all the Spark amps. That should bring in new customers, as well as keeping their existing Spark amp owners happy too, in case they want to go bigger.
The music is too loud. No worries but I couldn’t finish because it’s maddening
So following Rickord's tutorial, tried this with a Spark Mini. Used a Mooer Baby bomb 30 watt micro amp ($110 Amazon), piped the Mini thorough a Mesa 4x12 V30 and was OVERWHELMED!! Absolutely kicks $%$%$#$. Really loud but not a lot of noise and maintains tone really well. You can use the pedal amp volume control and the Spark volume basically as two separate masters, with your guitar volume on the side.
Also tried this with a little Marshall Code 25 and worked just as well.
Cheers!!
Awesome to hear!!! I was just contemplating buying the mooer 30 but didn't know If it would be enough. But reading this now, ITS ON!!! Thanks for the info
You sound quite knowledgeable do you know if a MXR micro amp would work?
My Roland KC-350 amp has stereo RCA inputs for "Aux In", I ran the Spark headphone cable to those RCA inputs, works really great!.
AWESOME BRO !!! Just got a spark yesterday and i got vox cabs ...and it's an oh yeah moment!!!
I'm fairly sure you need to use a 1/8 stereo to summing with resistors 1/4" mono cable or eventually that cute little spark amp wont spark. While most stereo summing cable just short the Left and Right output conductors, the use of resistors to prevent the signals from back-feeding into each other. This prevents it from being distortion or noise issues, as well as preventing damage to your output device.
Digging the Skid Row riffage! Great vid! About to try this using the the effects return on my amp!
Just wondering if anyone knows if a electro Harmonix 5mm power amp pedal would work?
It will work. You just won’t get as much power as the 44 Magnum but it will still work.
@@RickordProductions Would it be worth it and usable with an 8ohm 4x12 cabinet?
@@adrianrandis 44 Magnum with a 4x12 would be best. Not so much with the 5mm power amp.
Ah thanks are there any other cheaper alternatives?
As the headphone out is stereo you don't make it clear that the plug into the power amp is mono. You either need to combine the stereo signal or you will only be getting half the sounds. This may not seem an issue if you are using a single rig in the Spark but they expand the modulation and echo/reverb to make to sound seem bigger and wider so you could well be loosing elements of the sound in only using half the signal path.
You could run 2 of the 44 mags and a custom stereo cable that would send the output from the headphone jack to two separate 44 mags and use your cab in stereo. Just an idea but it should be an easy fix for this if you wanted to get the most out of the sound. Now you will have to balance the power of each 44 mag at this point and would not be as convenient in a gig situation but running a volume pedal wah combo in front of the spark could also solve this issue. Though at that point you have really got intricate in all of this.
It's a wrong way to go about it the headphone output is full range the guitar cabinet is not full range these signals are not compatible if you wanna make your spark go louder you need a full range flat response cabinet it's called the FRFR cabinet
@@chrishill9707 If you were using the Spark to play music I would agree with you. However, as the Spark for guitar it will be emulating a guitar cabinet and therfore the predominant frequencies will be those present in a guitar cabinet. Years ago I would use my guitar cabinets for playing music. The bass, cymbals and vocals might not have stood out but the guitars sounded great.
Now that the Spark 2 has line outs, I believe one could go from the Spark 2 to the 44 Magnum (or the smaller 5mm version in my case) to the speaker cabinet.
IF you ran the SPARK right into the cabinet with that cable, would it harm the SPARK? I mean, instead of using it as a PRE-AMP, what about using it as the AMP. Not to fill a concert hall but for jamming. Can it work as a 40 watt head on its own?
hmm makes me think if ya had a left right channel split on that headphone jack you could run it to two seperate cabs and get stereo right?
Just sold my Marshall 2203 Master Lead and ordered my Spark 40 last night! As I lay in bed last night I got to thinking that some additional speakers would really be nice, so here I am. Oh, I see you have a Charvel model 6; I have a Charvel / Jackson Model 6!
is there any concern needed for like specific wattage or ohmage of the cab, like are there any worries that i could potentially damage my speaker ?
That was my concern as well.
Couple things with this setup.
The volume control is terrible from the 44 magnum. The knob is basically just cracked from off, and that is too loud!
Then when you use the great interactive feature of the Spark, playing with a song, the song is played with zero bass! It sounds very thin and tinny.
I just tried this yesterday and could not figure anyway around these two issues.
Does anyone know a way of correcting this?
I’m using a Marshall 4x12, thanks!
You didn't say Why you need to run it into the power amp first and not strait from the spark into the cabinet.. if I connect the spark to my combo amp do I still need to have the power amp.
Where are you setting the volume knob on the spark amp?
Lots of comments about stereo and mono etc. does it really matter that the spark is stereo and the output is being converted to mono? The spark is so small that any stereo you get out of it is practically mono anyway.
One issue its FRFR and has speaker emulation. You should just use a TRS mod to bypass internal speaker and use the spark internal amp to external and use full range speaker (20 to 20)
This video made me realize that I could use the power amp in on my katana, via the spark headphone jack. Got an adapter for my cable, and it works great. It's really nice to hear it through a proper speaker
So all you need is the cable to connect the spark to a katana?
Can you please show us how you would connect the Spark to another amplifier like my Fender Mustang GTX50?
@@Mrjleyba Same as what you see in the video. You just plug the aux cable into the input of the Fender Mustang. Just make sure all the mods are turned off and the channel on clean. The best would be to plug it into the effects loop if the amp has one.
Great job brother!! This thing is the Swiss army knife of the guitar world!
Do you just use a different cord and plug it into output on the spark amp and the plug that cord into your guitar
Doesn't the headphone already have a cab sim applied to it?
Hypothetical question: let’s say I have a brand new 140 Watt Marshall cabinet and I plug in my spark with the power amp and connect it to the cabinet and I turned it up all almost all the way for a 500 + person gig. Would I be getting almost 140 watts of my spark amp or would I just be getting the extra 40 watts with the power amp? I would love to connect it to a Marshall cabinet but I have no idea if The spark amp Would allow it to reach up to 140 watts. I’m in a band and I’m just getting to start Gigging. If this doesn’t work, do you have any suggestions for a loud cabinet that isn’t $1000+ and that will hook up with the spark with a power amp?
I’m not a really techy guy but there are gonna be some things that I need to learn
???
Well good question but even if you didn’t pull 140 watts you’d still be fine in front of a crowd of 500+ because there’s no way you could perform in front of a crowd that size without mic’ing your cabinet. Your amp will be mic’d through the PA and the live sound should push the decibels you may not be able to push.
Nope, the amp only outputs 40 watts no matter how many watts your cabinet is.
Hi, is there a special care with the cable to be used between the spark headphone output and the PA44 ? Because after doing that the headphone output is out of order.
When i tried to do that i got a ticking sound in the background use a summing cable also tried connecting to the return on a joyo amp same thing any advice?
What would happen if you bypass the 44 magnum and went straight from the spark to the cabinet??
I don’t think that’s gonna work because the cab doesn’t have a power source to draw from. Using the Spark’s power amp to amplify a cabinet alone with out something to power the cab wouldn’t work. Now it would be different if you ran the Spark directly to an active powered speaker because it already has a built in amp.
Nice job. Just got the Spark. Working thru it and learning its limitations.
Thanks, but my problem is no sound both from a Spark 40 , even songs from smartphone connected via BT and from guitar cable connected to SP40 ,pls help
Would it work the same for positive grid Mini of 10w? ...or the positive grid Go of 5w?
About the cable you are recommending; is it an 1/8" mono or stereo end? I got the Spark 40 after signing up on the pre-sale list. I love it, it's a great practice amp. And, I've already signed up on the pre-sale list of the Spark CAB 140 watt!
My only pet peeve is that they didn't use a 1/4" stereo headphone output. Other than that, it's wonderful.
You could probably hook up a Quad Cortex via the same method to a guitar speaker cab, right? Thanks
Someone finally figured it out niceee!
Haven't you tried the headphone output to the effects return on a tube amp? That bypasses the preamp tubes so it does the same thing as that mini 44 magnum amp pedal does. I run all my modeling pedals into the effects return of my amp.
Thanks really interesting, but wich power has to be the External Speaker Cabinet?
Could I connect out the headphone jack to my fender blues amp input? Or would I need the adapter pre amp?
I hooked it up and I get just crackle out of my cab what's wrong can it be the magnum44 or what?
I KNOW I'M LATE BUT:
It doesn't work with my spark 40 and a normal amp in the return...
Just beeping and loud rythmic clicking noises as soon as i swtch it on...
In that case I would run it through the main input but turn off all the internal effects like reverb, chorus or any other onboard effect that will over layer what you already have preset on the Spark.
Have you tried going from the cab to building speakers, If not I would really like to know if it will work
The Spark needs a foot switch. I have a Helix which I love. How does the Spark compare in terms of tone, not features?
got my set up exactly like you have it set up but . ever know and then when I down load a tone it does not like that pacific tones
What would be a good cheap or cheaper alternative for the power amp? That specific pedal is going for around $250. I just dropped a crap load on my Spark Pearl and I'd like to not spend another crap load to get the sound out of my cabinet. Sonos there like a $40 power amp that would work but not be your choice?
Technically you can pretty much use any amp for the most part. I chose something like the 44 magnum because it was just a straight signal with no preamp simply to avoid compromising the tones from the Spark’s preamp. If you have an existing amp that has a send and return you could probably run the Spark into the return output of the your other amp’s effects loop. That’s similar to what the 44 Magnum is in this case.
can i use it with studio monitors
I'm afraid the new power damage the external speaker which has to stand the output power . What do you think?
Can you explain to me why the pedal power amp is necessary? can you not just plug the spark right into the bigger amp?
The pedal isn’t necessary if the speaker you’re plugging into already has a built in power amp.
@@RickordProductions So if i were to plug into a big speaker that isn't necessarily made for guitars would it work? or would i need the pedal?
Should I run a stereo or mono cable . Also is it a speaker cable or instrument cable . I am running to the return on a amp head effects loop
The cable I’m using from the Spark to the 44 Magnum is a mono cable. If you are using an amp head with an effects loop for the Spark, you’ll want to run it to the return input.
can i use my spark40 as guitar power amp only ? thinking of getting the Friedman IRX as the Spark40 pre-amp.
Is the cable that's coming from the pedal output to the cabinet input a guitar cable or a speaker cable?
Speaker cable
i run a spark using a stereo 1/8 inch to 1/4 mono jack into an old peavey tube amp. works great
Humm.. So I can use my Blackstar Tube amp instead of this and a cab? Would I run it to the effects loop input?
@@Yu54m18 yes you put it into the fx loop power amp input. this bypasses your preamp. also protects your preamp which only expects a guitar signal. the fx input (power amp in) expects a hotter signal more like what your headphone is putting out. all adjustments to volume and tone will be done from the spark at that point. regards.
Thanks John, with your help, I'm starting to get it.
This didn't work for me. I have a stereo 3.5, out of the headphone jack going to a mono 1/4 into my effects return on my Blackstar HT club effects loop..any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong?
@@AslanRising sounds like you're doing it right. make sure you have the output volume up on the spark. this should bypass your blackstar preamp controls all together.
When running out of the Magnum pedal, to cabinet
Do you have to use a speaker cable?
Somebody told me that you would use an instrument cable instead in this case, when using it with the spark, going to the cabinet!
When you plug the 44 Magnum to a speaker cabinet you use a speaker cable NOT an instrument cable. Remember this is an amplifier…a power amp with no preamp so you have to treat it like a regular amp head other wise you may damage it by running an instrument cable. The place you can run an instrument cable is from the input of the power amp to your guitar or pedalboard or an external preamp.
@@RickordProductions ok great!
Thank you so much for yr reply,
I really appreciate yr input on that!
I will use a Speaker cable. From Magnum pedal to the cabinet,
Just as u were mentioning!
Thank you!🙏🙏🙏
Would this work through the effects loop on an amp head so you can bypass the pre-amp by going through the front?
I believe so. The 44 Magnum runs a straight clean signal like the effects loop.
Is there a y other reason it won't work u plug the guitar into the spark amp right this is driving me crazy bought a cab and a celestion 16 ohm speaker and I even tried the 8 ohm speaker it came with a d just crackle
Did you remember to buy the Magnum 44?
i have read a lot about summing cables being required does doesn't need a summing cable?
No just the cable I mentioned in the video.
I was concerned about using a standard stereo to mono cable, and found this thread on the Positive Grid Forum. The summing cable costs more than a standard stereo to mono cable, but it's a very small amount for the added protection from potential risk to the Spark amp. So I sprang for it.
forum.positivegrid.com/topic/3605/line-out
Edit: I believe the summing cable has the same effect as when you mount two stereo jacks on the back of a 4x12 cab, they have to be mounted on a non-conductive surface. If they're mounted on a conductive surface it could screw one or both channels of your amp.
You sir are correct. I wouldn't use the set up in this video for too long without a true summings cable. Just a regular cable can damage the device. It's been knows to ruin phones, ipods multifx processors. And sometimes it does nothing. Not a gamble id be willing to take. Spend the extra $40 and use a proper summing cable with resistors and rock on.
Cheers.
I was thinking to add a OUT socket on the back of the spark so it doesn't need the headphone function
Damn thats possible? You think thats somthing an experienced luthier could mod?
@@kiezersosay49 should be n easy fix 😁👍🏻
What good would that do? Headphone output is already similar to line level.
do you turn off the virtual cabinet in the Spark application, before connecting to the real cabinet?
There really is no virtual cabinet with the spark. The virtual amp kits within the app give you the amp head and stomp pedals of your choice. Once you plug in the cable to the headphone output it bypasses the actual speaker in the Spark and the sound will come out to whatever source you plug the auxilary cable to.
@@RickordProductions thanks for the reply, I thought it was the same option as when using the Bias Amp 2 and the Bias Mini Guitar head
This is great, of course. I think PG needs to get their selt together, and create a product with a touch screen, so we don't need our phones, or a set up like this (as innovating and effective as it is!)..... with the processors out there now, PG needs to move forward. GREAT VIDEO, by the way :)
What if im using guitar DI? Like hughes and kettner redbox then im using its xlr out?
I have an older line 6 vetta. How can I hook up to it for a cabinet?
If you have a speaker out you can do that. If not, run an aux cable from the headphone output to the cabinet.
@@RickordProductions is there a number I can reach you at?
You can use the 3.5 mm headfone line output to a 1/4 inch into the powered head or bottom etc.
Hi, when I connect the earphone output of the Spark to the input of the Magnum 44, I have a huge buzz, it is difficult to use. No one has this?
Sounds like a ground issue with either your Spark or 44 Magnum. I didn’t experience this issue.
@@RickordProductions no, I checked everything for grounding and to be sure, I plugged each of the devices into different outlets.
Is there a way to keep the spark amp on and use another amp like a duo?
Unfortunately no because the Spark doesn’t have a line out. Once you tether the Spark through another amp source it needs to be run from the headphone jack which then results in canceling out the sound output from the Sparks built in speaker cabinet and the sound will now come out of the amp you’re connecting it to.
Hi men, i have a question about the cable, What type of cable is connected. From the Spark 40 cabinet to the Magnum 44 pedal, is it balanced or unbalanced? Or how to order it?...thank for your info
Im getting a digital whirring noise out of the headphone Jack that comes out of the speaker I'm going into - Im just trying to run straight into a desk using a stereo headphone to RCA lead. It also happens when I run a mono lead to an amp.
How do i lose that noise? 🤔
This is a typical (earth - loop bollocks ) that annoyed me for a while. Your spark amp ships with 2 wall plug cables ( 3 pin and 2 pin ) by using the 3 pin you're likely to hear these earth loop noises ( wired ) try switching to the 2 pin wall plug - I did this and the noise vanished , clean out put now. Let me know if it worked.
@@mleahy555 yeah!! That worked. Mine only came with the 3 pin but after i sent it back for repair for crackling noises they returned it with a two pin. I hadn't been tempted to try again. But I just did and it worked. Cheers.
do you know how to connect pedal switch to spark ? , is the only think that it left
Since you are using a real cab and not an FRFR speaker, are you... can you disable the impulse response in the spark
No. :)
Could I use it with a combo amp or do I need a cabinet, I have a 5150 combo that’s very loud and want to run my spark thru it.
I’m sure can use it with a combo amp but make sure find an input that bypasses the preamp.
Tried this with a Spark mini into a 15W EHX Howitzer. I hardly got any volume unless both amps were turned up full and gain on the EHX. Sound quality was terrible. It turns out there is a setting to switch the headphone output from stereo to mono. That made all the difference in getting it to work. However, tones still don't sound quite the same as through Spark's internal speakers and my volume is still nowhere near what the EHX can push through my 2x12 cabinet. BTW, Spark does have a footswitch available now in 2022. Now that I've figured out this much, it's something I may consider down the road. As it is, I don't quite see this replacing my more traditional pedalboard and amp.
Hi, nice video, so basically I can connect a cab of any brand to a Spark and enjoy the sound customization possibilities offered by the Positive Grid?Does the Spark Mini and Go also allow this?
Absolutely. As long as the Spark as some kind of line output like even a headphone jack it can be done as long as the cab is plugged into a power source. If you used a powered speaker you wouldn’t need an external power amp like the 44 Magnum. You can just run the Spark directly to the speaker or through a PA mixer.
This maybe a stupid question, but why can’t you just plug the spark straight into the cabinet without the power amp?
There’s no speaker out on the Spark. It’s not meant to be used as a head unit.
Thank you for this video! It was so helpful.. I love the Jazz music in the background. Who is that? 😁
Do you think I can plug the Spark directly into a EVH combo headphone jack. That should work without the 44 Mag, don't you think?
@@MascarasMil if you’re gonna plug the Spark to an EVH combo you’d have to plug it into one of the inputs. Best to put it in the effects loop rather than the main in just to avoid the preamp but that’s matter of preference. No need for the 44 magnum if you go that route.
Would this work with the less expensive Electro Harmonix 5MM Guitar Power Amp? I guess so - any disadvantages?
Yes it would. You probably can’t push as much power considering you’re using a 5W power amp though.
Can you do this without that power amp pedal.... what is the power amp adding in the connection
The power amp is what is able to amplify what is coming out of the Spark through the headphone jack. The Spark amp doesn’t have a line output. Even if it does have a line out and even without the 44 Magnum power amp you would need some kind of power amplification, like maybe coming from a half stack head unit or anything that draws a line signal to output through the cabinet speaker.
what do you think of the hotone loudster? would he do the job?
Would it be possible to do the same thing with the spark mini?
If it is has a headphone jack then yes.
Does the pedal make the sound distorted if you play clean?
No the 44 Magnum is just a straight signal. There's no preamp. It makes anything sound like it's supposed to sound except it's just louder.
Thanks for the idea. I followed your instructions but picked up a used a Mooer Baby Bomb 30 to save a few bucks and it works great. Plenty of volume.
Hi can you use the smaller Electro-Harmonix 5MM 2.5-watt Power Amp Pedal to do this as well
Got the setup and works great but can you share what volume and output settings you have on the spark? Thanks
The only volume I’m controlling is from 44 Magnum power amp. I’m using the Spark app to configure all my preamp and mod settings.
How to connect spark go to a cabinet
Doesn't combining a stereo signal create too much voltage for the amp input? There should be 2 - 1k resistors to limit the voltage. You could blow the input stage on some amps!
It won't damage the amp's input, but it may damage the stereo output (in this case, Spark's headphone output).
Combining the l and r will average the voltage (not add). Which will be fine if the output is the same on both channels, however if there is a stereo effect such that l differs from r a high current will flow from one to the other. Thats why resistors are used in a summing cable to safely average the voltage. The 44 input will be high resistance (much higher than the 8 ohms expected)so little current will flow from the headpone amp
The pedal should sort that out
gREAT vIDEO rICK, Could I offer suggestions for future videos? 1) Have the MIC Closer to you to improve tone quality. When you speak sound like you're in a cave. 2) during the first half of the amp you sort of jump around a lot and look like you have to go to the bathroom. Aside from that you explain things very well, and you have a clear and articulate voice... GOOD JOB!!
And get to the point!
What if I don't want to use an Electro Harmonix power amp? What if I want to use the power amp in the Spark and just open up the speaker cabinet or the amp and install a quarter inch phone jack?
What if I want to use the Spark amp, power amp to drive a 4 x 12 cab?
That's a good question. I don't think that may work considering you still need some kind of external power source to drive the sound out of a speaker cab but if you want to install something in the Spark, then I would suggest putting a quarter inch speaker output like you would find on amp heads and some combo amps.
Thanks for that totorial..
I run 1/8 Stereo into 2 1/4 Mono..into 2 aktive Hifi Studio speakers...uaah Sound pure
The headphone jack has a volume control on the Spark amp for music volume. Did you set that any particular way?
What a great idea. Never would have thought of this. I just might have to try this with my Spark and Magnum :)
Did you try it and if so how does it sound?
Oh yeah I did. I had mentioned that I tried this already and it worked great, but looks like I had multiple posts here. Not sure why but that was 3 years ago so who know. s haha.
Positive Grid actually used to make a powerful amp head with many of the same features as the Spark, not sure why they stopped :(
What happens if you olug directly into the cabinet?
Won’t work because it needs a power source. You can plug directly to a cabinet if it was a powered speaker.
@@RickordProductionsthank you so much for reply 🚀
Is that ampeg a bass cabinet? I'm wondering if this would work on my Guitar cabinet harley benton 2x12?
It’s a guitar cab however using a bass cabinet or even a bass amp with gain pedals will thicken the sound on a more intense level.
Sorry dude, you didn't specify if you were using a guitar or bass cab, it just looked like a bass cab. I might have to try this method to connect it to my speaker cab, thanks for the tip man!
Is the cable that’s going into the input ts or trs?
Of the pedal
My question would be, is the 44 magnum amplifier substantially more powerful than the internal spark amplifier? Wattage is a bad way to measure power output, and it really has more to do with current, but if the spark amplifier actually puts out the same amount of power as the magnum then wouldn’t it be cheaper to just drill a hole in the back panel of the spark and mount a quarter inch output jack with a toggle switch to switch between external and internal speakers? this may cost around $25 or so and take around 15 minutes of work and then you would basically be able to use the spark amplifier like a mini head. You would be limited to 4 ohm cabinets and you would probably want to stick to around the same relative power handling capabilities as the original speakers in order to retain reliability, but I think I may just give this a try. Worst thing that could happen is I end up with a useless output jack mounted in the back of my spark LOL.
That would work. Some people have modified the spark amp by installing a line out or even a speaker out but I didn’t have that feature so I used the 44 magnum as a line out plus running the amp power to push more of the signal from the Spark rather than use the Spark itself. The Spark is 40W and the 44 Magnum is 44W hence the name. For the record I’ve never used this method with a live band or at a show. This was just a demonstration to answer that ongoing question at the time
@@RickordProductions I’m legally blind as well, so I’m sorry if my comments are a little illiterate LOL voice text hates me
@@9th_note it’s all good 🤘🏼
I see a lot of comments about the headphone out. Think of the headphone out as a line out. To adjust the signal turn the volume for the headphones to around noon to 2 o'clock max. Also the spark by itself is really bass sounding does that go away with the external cab?
I have a Peavey 6505 MH and I'm mesa 2 × 12 cab and I also have the spark 40 if I buy the 1/4 to 1/8 cable how do I get my spark pluged into my 2 x 12 without having that Magnum pedal that you have
You would run the cable from the headphone output on the Spark to the Peavy’s input but I would recommend running it to the return input of the FX Loop just to bypass the preamp rather than the front of the amp. Either way will work. The FX loop has a straight signal line.
I'm guessing I could take that headphone cord and go into the effect loop of any amp, correct?
Yes but keep in mind that a headphone jack is powered. It's not 40 watts but you will probably want to keep the master volume very low to avoid damaging your other amp. A headphone jack will definitely have more power coming from it than a line straight from your guitar. Headphone jacks are speaker outputs. It's risky plugging them into a line level input.
How do think this would work through the Orange Terror Stamp?