My personal experience with the Positive Grid Spark 40 and the new CAB.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ม.ค. 2024
- With all the deals they offered over the holidays, I went ahead and purchased the Positive Grid Spark 40 amp, and the brand new 140 watt speaker CAB. I wanted to share my honest thoughts, talk about my experience so far, and my future plans for them. If you're considering buying either of them, hopefully this will help you decide. If not, I sincerly hope you enjoy my discussion on both - I really just like to talk about guitar stuff. If that sounds like you too, I mention a few other items you might find interesting. :)
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All the negative comments are such a downer, can’t people just appreciate a man and his thoughts? I’m sure there are plenty of demos, this guy took the time to talk about how he feels about it and gets slack for it. Mini edit spark just announced a new pedal that you can store presets on and connect your tuner pedal with it.
Thanks so much for the kind feedback. Yeah, I saw they also just announced a new 150 watt amp called “Live”. As I said to another commenter, I just might have waited for that to come out instead of buying the S-40 & CAB had I known they were gonna do that. Oh well. I wonder if that new 6 switch pedal will have the same issue with it not working while you’re not in the app itself. Thanks again!
@@johnathanschaaf8731 I listen more to people who are talking patience, honest, personally meaning with maybe 5000 Viewers then overhyped guys talking blablabla for the money and one million views. I prefer always personally meaning and experience, it helps little bit to decide, but in the end its my Decide what i am pay or not and i can`t blame it on you. THX for your opinion and sorry my broken english, austrian german is my first language. P.S. Very informativ Greetings and stay solid.
There is a eq pedal in the modulation pedal options where you can dial out the bass. Give it a try.
Thanks for the video, good stuff. I’m new to the PG world.
Thanks for your opinions on these products.
I've had the 40 since it first came out, then I got the Mini around 7 months ago and finally got the Cab about a month ago.
So I actually appreciated just listening to your opinions rather than sound tests (I've watched dozens of reviews with sound/tone tests).
One thing I wanted to point out is, on my Samsung phone, the Spark app stays "active" on my screen as long as I'm using it i.e. it doesn't time out and dim my screen into sleep mode.
I can't remember if there's a setting for that in the app itself, or in my phone settings (I suspect it's an app option).
So you should be able to get around that issue you're having with your foot switch.
Interesting video. I always like to see what gear other guitarists use.
Thank you! Me too, always a fascinating subject. :)
Nice, no marketing, just an honest review from a real user....keep up the good work.
Thank you for posting this. Very helpful specially talking about the pedal. You aren't wrong with this possibly being the future of guitar amplification. There are many professional touring bands (metallic) that have started using modeling amps for ease of use and consistent sound from venue to venue.
I have just started exploring this amp as well. In the app, it does have the option to connect more the one PosGrid product per device. Just curious, but how much did the whole setup up cost you (just all the PosGrid stuff)?
Thanks so much for your kind comment. I got the amp for $229 (including the free bag) - was a deal they were running at Christmas time. The CAB was $269 on a pre-order deal. That said, I just (today) found out about a new amp they are coming out with called “Spark Live”. It’s a combo amp that is 150watt - like the Spark 40 and CAB combined. If I had known they were gonna do that, I might have just waited for that one. It’s a pre-order deal now and ships in April.
Thanks for your honesty and your thorough reasoning mate. I am still considering one of these. The access to the massive amount of effects and amp types is intriguing to me, but like you said, the threat of them one day pulling support for the amp is concerning… it’s between this and an Orange Crush or Orange Rocker for me. I love technology, but I’m always wary of it when it comes to guitars because I think practical effects are more expensive, but are at least dependable
Im looking at the cab and the orange crush as well. Which one did you go with?
Solid unbiased info.. you made sense on the Fender’i modeling amp “abandoned” quit updating that being said I am still considering the new Boss Katana Artist or the New Spark live for giging that has cab connected as both are doubling down on giving consumers confidence they won’t “abandon” updates but you definitely made a point on “so tied to the iPhone” makes me nervous too.. a strong case to go w Boss Katana as more vids on getting a good sound with amp nob tweaks with zero software/app and great sound with app
My final thoughts…
Stir all that up, for me more of a dice roll on which company is more likely to go out of business and has more revenue history/length of being in business
Boss Katana
Guys feel free to weigh in..
Nice review, and I agree that the 40 is a little bassey but not too bad or a deal breaker after some tweaks for me too. I use the Spark's app. EQ and Boost pedals to kill my mud, and I was curious what was your thoughts on those Spark app pedals? I really like them and are just wondering what you think about them since you are using an analog EQ. I totally agree with you on that Airstep spk Xsonic pedal too. I can't live without mine. Thank You Sir, Steve.
Thanks so much for your comment! As for the EQ and boost pedals - I have experimented with them & making presets that feature them (mostly in practice settings). For playing live though, I like having the option to reduce base, tweak mids & highs on the fly with the push of a foot petal button (that way I’m not using up a preset on the 4-button switcher either, which ultimately leaves me with more options in a live setting). Also, I believe with the EQ petal in the app, you have to sacrifice another effect you may have wanted to use like chorus, etc. Anyway, thanks again for watching & for the great comment.
Thanks for the review. I have a question. I have the Spark 40 and I was thinking about buying the cab. The cab has a line out that can be ran into a PA. Do you know for sure that if you do that whether or not you will still have sound coming out of the cab so it can be used as an on stage monitor? Have you ran the cab into a PA yet? Thanks
Hi there , have the spark 40 into the cab. I like the tone of the spark40 much better then through the cab. It’s good and loud but there is something that didn’t go through to my ears. I wonder if I would mic the spark40 into the cab if I would get closer to hear what comes out of the spark40
Does your Spark CAB hiss and or have constant wind noises even when not playing and also when you are playing? Mine does. It is so bad that I was pushed off of my church praise team band because of it. Someone in one of the FB Spark groups said the Positive Grid gave them a replacement. But I kind of wondering if I could get the Spark Live by returning the CAB & paying the difference to Positive Grid. But then there still seems to be issues with the Spark Live. I wish Positive Grid would fix their issues before selling their products/gear.
I too have the AirStep SPK controller and am using it on the experimental mode.
Naw, the tone cloud settings are stored on the phone. There is no way to sync two phones through the app. Show stopper, no! Why use separate phones for each amp? Why not just use one for both so you always have your chosen tones available? Use the knobs or use the app, trying to use both is frustrating. Change a knob, the app will sync to the knob. Change an app, there are not motors in the knobs so those won't sync. Once you get the major tones you like, save them to the amp and you no longer need the app for day to day use. To be honest, most people find a few tones they like and use them over and over. The option is there to change them, but it is simple to set up the ones you use most. Most people make the mistake of, "Wow, I have a million possible tone settings, I want them all to be available simply and work the way I want them to work," it just isn't cost effective to design that. The same problems exist in every modeling amp, it's just the design of the amps. Pedals are not real practical as the looper and equalizer needs to be on the output side of the FX circuits. I know we can't have everything and this is a practice amp, but an effects loop on the amp would be nice. Spark "deals" tend to be the norm prices a month or two after release. Mini+cab is a great combo. Great sound, takes away the knob sync issue. About $50 less.
Thanks so much for your comment & well thought out feedback - always appreciate the input of other users. You make some very valid points. Some of my criticisms of the amp were just my observations after using it for a bit - obviously, none Id consider “deal breakers”. I’m ultimately very happy with it so far (and addressed that too) I also agree about how there’s an initial “honeymoon” phase where you try out almost every tone, setting, etc - but then settle on your chosen few and hardly deviate from that later on. That’s what I did too with my Fender Mustang. Totally deleted most of the “presets” - made my own & use those primarily. As for why I use 2 devices… it’s kind of hard to explain and probably only makes sense to me - it has to do with how I use them both separately. The mini is my main practice amp. I still feel like those tones you download & save should somehow be linked to your user ID & not only stored on the device. That way, if you ever had to wipe your phone for some reason, or reinstall the app, or got a new phone… at least a record of those downloads should be stored elsewhere - making it easier to get back to your setup in those events. Just my thoughts though. Thanks again!
You can alter the bass with the eq pedal .
I m for one totally agree with you i can use a bit more BASS sound on my posi amp..SO....it was a BIG disappointment for me i both that amp for the HEAVY BASE sound welll NOT MINE may be i got a defective one..
👍
I found that when I plugged the Spark 40 into the cabinet that it made my sound tinny; it didn't reflect the sound that I get from the Spark 40 on its own. This is very disappointing. I had to turn down the treble settings both on the amp and guitar. I love the concept of the cab for the Spark 40, but not replicating the sound accurately.
Aw man - bummer you’ve had that experience. I found mine to be a pretty good extension to what I had coming out of just the Spark 40 by itself. I think maybe they tried to fix that “bassiness” issue with the original Spark with the CAB, I do notice the sound being a bit cleaner in that regard, but overall, I’m very happy with the sound I’m getting from the combined set. I hope you’re able to figure stuff out and get a workable tone you’re happy with out if it.
I plug my Spark 40 from the headphones into my Poweramp in my Boss Katana mkii, no bassy, only sounding like i want to hear.
I think it was a missed opportunity by Positive Grid to not put an effects loop in the Cab, with internal line-to-instrument back-to-line conversion. Amongst other things, it would have made using a looper pedal with Spark infinitely better. You can externally go line out from the Spark > reamp box > looper pedal > DI Box > Cab, but that is obviously much more clumsy.
Xsonic has a looper pedal (called ULooper) working perfectly with Spark. No change in the tone if preset is changed.
Are you bummed you didn’t know about the Spark Live before you got this? Spark live is a little smaller, louder all in one unit and more
Funny you mention this… I just did a quick follow up vid discussing that very fact. In short - I was a bit conflicted when I heard that announcement, I wish I was able to compare the 2 before buying this set up - but ultimately, I’ve even pretty happy with the Spark 40 and CAB so far. Had I never heard about the LIVE, I’d be totally cool with it. But yeah - bummer timing. Lol
@@johnathanschaaf8731 Cool. I have the Spark Mini and Spark Go. Love both.
The mini has a fuller sound but the go is cool to strap to the guitar strap and tool around house and outdoors. Being a singer, guitarist and harmonica player as well I’m a bit excited about the Live. I’ll have to sell some gear 1st though. Seams so versatile too. Could use for portable PA for family reunions, parties and more.
I’m wanting that new Spark Control X too. Have you tried the Control X yet?
I am disappointed that they withheld the Spark Live. Positive Grid should have let us know about the Spark Live because many of us are singers and guitar players and being able to add a battery pack to the Spark Live means that you can do driveway concerts, park concerts and/or street concerts. You can also play with a few more musicians too. But I need to see how the Spark Live is going review wise before I spend money on another Positive Grid piece of gear as I and too many others got burned with the hiss and wind sounds coming out of the Spark CAB.
Wow
First thing I don't like is the solid feeling, all metal switch that is used on many high end guitar amplifiers. The second thing I don't like is, i bought a virtual amp that is essentially a computer program and it comes with a power supply like I have for my computer. Don't worry guys if your keeping score he's going to say at least one more crazy thing before he hits the 10 minute mark. This video is not going to be an exhaustive review, there will be no tones in this short non-exhaustive... holy crap over 36 minute review. Buddy get it together, plan a bit beforehand, maybe write up an outline to stay on track. Good luck, see you next year on your next video.
Still like my Mustang. Fender Fuse, what the actual **ck Fender? 😡
Return it.
blah blah blah
Are you kidding me ? Do nothing but talk ?😂
Sorry for my late response - I did a second vid after having it for a while and included sound demos. Check that out if you’d like. Thanks for the comment
Nobody wants to listen to talking about gear with no demo.
Thanks for your feedback. As I said in the vid, there are already tons of vids on TH-cam demo-ing the sounds of the Spark 40. I wanted to talk about my personal experience with it. Plus adding demos would have makde this even longer. I plan to post more vids & shorts with playing and demoing aspects of it soon. Again, thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great day.
Sounds awesome... waste of time
Thanks for stopping by. Sorry you feel that way. I stated very early in the vid why I chose not to do a sound demo in this one. Your feedback is appreciated tho, and I hope you have a great day.
No, no guitar in your hand producing sound in 36 mins not watching.
Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate your honesty. Was planning to do some demo/sound stuff in upcoming vids/shorts.
Not like you could hear any difference from this amp to any other amp over a youtube video lol
@@BigolBoyd Really, from my home studio via Audiobox, Nvidia, two 12in monitors and such?
You can't and that's on you, those here for a serious demo can.
@@BigolBoyd Thanks! Yeah, that thought occurred to me too. For one, there are already a ton of TH-cam vids on the positive grid stuff - the sound demo thing has been done for sure. But also how much woud that actually help listening through an iPhone anyway - you can’t tell how much louder the set up is with the CAB, etc. Thars why I chose to keep this one simple and talk specifics ablut my experience with it. Thanks again. :)
@@johnathanschaaf8731 yeah of course, youtube compresses the file, so you wouldn’t even tell the difference. When it comes to equipment you really just have to play on it to see if you like it. Great vid👍
Forty something man surrounded by star war toys and wearing a SW tee shirt is a sure sign to take everything he says with a very small grain of salt.