The Spark Amp | What's it really like?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- I bought the Spark 40 Guitar practice amp to see what all the fuss is about, it does have a lot going for it but there are some downsides and whether or not i'll keep it remains to be seen.
Plenty of effects and famous song tones on the amp and Spark users get to upload their own tones to the cloud for others to enjoy, it is satisfying to be able to download the tine of the song you are working on or playing instantly! but you don't need me to tell you that! as there are thousands of Spark Amp users and plenty of videos on this little guitar practice amp.
Couple that with the backing feature where you play a few chords and it will create a backing track for you, as well as being a bluetooth speaker this little guitar amp really does have it all
Let me know what you think of the Spark 40 Amp below and thanks for watching - Derek
- FOLLOW ME: -
Instagram: / derekpaulguitar
It's cool that you're using a Squire, and not a super expensive Fender or Ibanez like some other channels. You're using a guitar that many beginners could be using when they practice with this amp.
Thank you! That why I chose that guitar and thanks for watching!
@@DerekPaulGuitar do you see them releasing a Spark 2 thats wireless?
@@Bronco2CjThey’ve just released a wireless adapter for this amp! Not quite the same but pretty cool nonetheless
I take delivery of my brand new Fender Squier guitar on Tuesday... All white, I can't wait, so excited. And after watching this video I think I'm going to go for one of these amps... They seem to have it all and I love digital effects that I can just dial in from my phone. 😊🎸
In every one of these videos I hear people say the same thing... "It's too Bassy." It ain't rocket science people! If it's too bassy, as the old saying goes "Put a sock in it!" Pop the grill off, and you'll find a hole about an inch wide in between the speakers. That's the Bass Port. Stuff a pair of socks or something similar in it. It can be some kind of cloth, foam, etc. The more you stuff in there, the less bassy it will get. _Just like every big speaker cabinet I've ever seen._
To me this whole spark debate is hilarious. The only people who complain about it are music snobs I understand you want perfection but at the end of the day music is a feeling and that's why you aren't the best musicians. Just use your ears can it make music sound great? Ok thats good enough.
Try rolling the volume off for wind cries may. One part of hendrix sound was rolled off volume into cranked fuzz face
Good tip! thanks
I've been using mine for about 4 months now and can honestly say it is easily by far the best practice amp I've ever used and I've had most of the popular brands. Was slightly heavy on the bass when I first plugged it in but very easily adjusted so can't see what the fuss is about the bass, surely it's better having a practice amp that has some bass and can be turned down than a thin sounding amp that has none and can't be turned up. Seems like a bit of a Marmite amp to me or maybe some people just like what they're used to.
Well that’s a very good point, I’d rather not have a thin sounding amp, and as I understand it the new firmware update has a great new eq to control it, cheers!
Try listening to it on bluetooth, while you can dial back down the bass using equalizer on the spark amp app, you cant actually turn that down, as a result most of the music sounds a bit dark, drowned in this very loosy floppy bass, its not too too bad but it sounds very odd this way, like its not supposed to sound this way sounds very artificial, i guess if youre listening to music like metal and rock and hard djent, it doesnt matter if the amplifier is dark, because those types of music already favour the already dark presence that the positive grid provides.
Now while i do agree that its better to have a small amp have huge ammounts of bass, rather then a small amp and have it sound thin, it would have been nice if we could have had equalizers for the music using it in bluetooth mode as i myself like to listen to a lot of orchestral pieces and the bass in my other speakers they sound tight, and cleaned up, this one sounds Airy and floppy, that may be because it has a ported sub right in between those 2 4 inch speakers and all my other speakers has this nice passive bass radiator which keep the bass nice and full and tight, but even then it should not fall this dark on the scale of things, dont get me wrong i love this little thing, when im playing i just turn the bass down to 1 or 0.5 and you get these bright chimey guitar sounds, sounds incredible but my problem lies with the fact that on bluetooth mode is still just as dark as a standard flat EQ setting
@Ernesto Chang Only music I have coming through it is a backing track or just a drum beat and it's absolutely fine. Remember this is a £200 practice amp for electric guitar, acoustic guitar and bass that you can have any effect you like on just by flicking through your phone. There are plenty other desktop amps out there that don't have any bass at all that sound empty, thin and hollow (more expensive yamaha th series comes to mind) if you prefer that. This amp suits my needs at home better than any other amp out there by a long way
@@DerekPaulGuitar You can just open the tolex and stuff some foam in the bass port to aleviate that bassiness. Noteworthy is the fact it sounds great through headphones so I wouldn't think it's anything else than the cab's construction and that bass port drowning our ears in lows. Doing digital eq won't sonically change the enclosure, but adding foam and maybe some pads on the inside will tone down that thickness.
@@andreilicherdopol4943 thanks for the tip! I’m sure people will find it useful
Is it too loud for the neighbours? Where I live, the walls are pretty thin, do you think I'll be able to get good tones at low volumes (without using headphones)?
It can be too loud for the neighbours if you want but it will dial back to bedroom levels and still get the tone you want
@@DerekPaulGuitar that answers my question thanks!
The bass on that thing drives me crazy... I don't get why they would release it like that.
It has an EQ now to combat it via a firmware update as I understand, but I hear you!
@@DerekPaulGuitar Yeah, and it works as advertised!
Thank you for the very easy-to-understand commentary and the wonderful performance.
I am a Japanese guitarist. I bought this amp the other day and uploaded a video to my TH-cam channel.
I still have a lot of things I don't know. Watching your video I've done a lot
Oh wow thank you for the kind words!! I’ll check out your video, cheers
It’s one of the Greatest amps I’ve owned! I would like to see a dedicated efx loop added to the list of inputs. When run thru the pa , it sounds Fantastic!
When you need boost for a solo do you throw your phone on the floor and stomp it? 😂😂😂
Yes!!!! 😂
I've had mine since the day it came out and I use it a ton over these couple years.The only gripe is that is a little bassy like you said.50% of the time I use headphones when everyone is in bed and it is the greatest sounding amp with headphones hands down.Try the headphones if you haven't you will be blown away.
Good tip thanks!
What kind of headphones do you use? I'm trying to decide on a pair for the Spark and recording tracks to MBP
@@JTB-- I use the Audio-Technica M50x.
@@tacob69 👍
Really cool review. Thinking about buying one of these. You make such an important point, if it makes you pick up the guitar more it’s a win.
Quick and honest review for the win along with great editing. All gear reviews on YT should be like this. Thanks.
Thanks, appreciate that
Best small practice amp in my opinion is the THR10C blues amp, I'm talking about out and out good tone, all these other amps have tons of options on them but they don't sound as good, even the newer THR30 amps with the extra options added don't sound as good as the older ones.
If anyone knows a small amp that sounds better than the THR10C please let me know, I love buying new amps
I’ve a THR10x which I’m contemplating selling for one of these Sparks
I'm returning my thr30ii bro, I sold my thr10c 😢 for 100$ biggest regret of my life
@Ben Kuhn Yamaha lied to everyone with the new amps, they ain't a touch on the old ones.
@@benkuhn4315 really eh? I’m trading my THR10x tomorrow for a THR10 (cream one). Almost upgraded to the 2. Glad I didnt! Sounds like the original is best
If you need something small try a Roland Micro Cube or even a Cube 20 / 40 if you need a bit more
power. Good luck with finding the right amp for you. 👍
What are your experiences with it and were you aware of it? surely you were
Man that’s a review it itself! Thanks for the comment, I’m sure others will find it useful too
It is bass heavy and there's ways round it. The clean sounds are good as mentioned. Its loud too for home use. Sometimes it sounds great then other times it sounds like there's a duvet over it..🤔
Its good as a Bluetooth speaker but i had to go into the equaliser in TH-cam music and fiddle with the controls to get rid of the overpowering bass.
Im still on the fence with it after 3 months. I havent updated the software. Looks like a chew on tbh.
What a wonderful review. Honest and beautifully put together. I might have to try one of these, but I do prefer a more traditional amp that doesn't require apps....
Thanks for watching and the kind words!
I switched the speakers out on my Spark for a better sound. It was very simple and took 15 minutes tops. "Cheap" for what you get is the selling point on these.
Which speakers did you use ?
@@stevemiller3433Yes inquiring minds want to know.
BIG D! I've actually been considering the Spark for a few months now. Great, no-nonsense review. I think you've convinced me to hold out and go all valve though!
Hey Ash!!! How you doing mate? Been a long time, it’s a decent practice amp but for you I’d say valve, you are a great player my friend! And hope all is well in your world mate!
@@DerekPaulGuitar doing good thanks mate. You still loving life on the wrong side of the Atlantic? Been lurking on your channel for a while now, loving the content bud
@@ashleyflood7235 thanks mate! Yeah all ok here, same thing different country really, and haha siding realise you knew my channel, keeps me out of trouble
I got it so I could instantly dial in the tone to whatever song I was learning and easily play along with records (well mp3s nowadays). Plus the auto drummer feature. It's great for that. They've added a new eq in one of the recent firmware updates that helps with the excessive bass and muddiness. Still too bassy but not nearly as bad as at launch.
Thanks for the comment and update on the firmware, I’ll check that out cheers
My take: I don't mind the heavy bass. But, I can't access the app from my laptop or home computer. 2. The physical controls on the amp are pretty much useless for getting any diverse sounds. 3. There are no external speaker outputs. 4. no battery operation..... Other than those? I'll keep it!
Hey, just some tips:
#1 My pain as well; you could try an Android wrapper/emulator to try and hook via Bluetooth on a computer though; I don't understand why they don't offer a desktop app, maybe they have a deal to push tablet sales? :D
#2 Depends greatly on the amp models and effects, give it more time; also, you won't be hearing that much variety since it does all come from the same cab and speakers and it's by no means FRFR or HiFi
#3 check out the headphone out, it's way better than you might suspect; you can take that to wherever else you want; modding it for a Line Out is possible, some have done that
#4 You can effectively hook with adhesive velcro a compatible laptop external battery to its back and benefit from its full power while not having to plug; if you noticed, it's power supply is a laptop one :)
I love my spark. I feel like people will either dig it or hate it I feel it’s hard to find someone who will just be like “eh it’s ok”. The speakers are of course not the main point of the amp. They are def selling it with more of the modeling and practice amp feel in mind. My biggest suggestion is why not just let this unit run bias fx 2? It has a neutered version of it which while serviceable, is not as unique as bias fx 2. I think this would be a guitar essential if they allowed the amp to work with bias fx 2. I still use it as a practice amp and practice modeling and sometimes I use it as an interface for demos. Cool starting place for ppl who are new the bias universe and also want a practice amp. Kill two birds with one stone. The acoustic setting is really useful for gigs !
Oh yeah it’s a great little amp, perfect for people who want the instant ‘song’ sounds or to practice, nothing wrong with it at all, for me it just wasn’t ‘open’ enough when compared to my tube amps, having said that I’d still recommend it to people who want those sounds, and it’s not a lot of money, cheers for the comment
I like mine but 2 things. I can't get my iTunes to connect and adjusting the tempo with the flat rotary dial never moves hardly? You can hit the center and it randomly go from 58 bpm to 300bpm to 235 to 125 to 185 etc.. other than replacing the power cord to a 3 prong it's fits my couch rocker needs.
To me something doesn't sound right and maybe it's because of the limitation of small speakers. I don't know I can't put my finger on
Nice to see the ol' Hendrix thumb grip there. Definitely has its appealing qualities and the design is excellent. I get why so many people rate it. I'm, like you, more into messing about with pedals and getting my own sounds. Great review btw 👍
Thanks David, appreciate that, it definitely has a place in the world today 👍
spend the money and get the Yamaha thr
Thank you for the honest review! I love mine.
Thanks for the comment! Appreciate that
✝️ Subbed/Liked! Great VID! God bless in ‘24! ✝️
Good Lord, the Wind Cries Mary preset sounds incredibly horrible! Actually, all of the tones sounds terrible. THANKS for posting this, as I've been curious about this amp for low volume practice for some time. I'd rather play through a old Tom Sholz Rockman than this thing. That said, I have an "old" Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty that kills this thing without much effort. Oh well.
I think for high gain stuff it’s ideal, but I’ve since sold it as I play more clean or overdriven stuff, it just didn’t sound ‘open enough’ to my ears, thanks for the comment
Rockman is my favourite toy in guitar world.
@@DerekPaulGuitar it sounds like a Beats bluetooth speaker with a wet blanket thrown over it
Too much hype - mine does not sync with the app. Support is non-existent.
Thanks for the review. It's nice to see one from someone who actually spent money to get the amp.
That's my only issue so far. The company doesn't correspond with customers.
I ordered one 8 days ago. So far I have no idea on whether they are going to ship it to me or not. They showed that it was in stock and took my money right away but shipping status still shows "Awaiting Fulfillment". I have no idea what that means.
Thanks for the comment! I can only assume they have a back order on them as initially it was a 3-4 month wait, sometimes even longer, I’ve not heard good things about customer service either!
@@DerekPaulGuitar That is what's going on. They showed "In Stock" when I ordered it, now they tell me they are hoping for June.
I cancelled the order. Let's see how long it takes to get my money back.
I really don't mind preordering products but don't lie to me. I'm not lending a company money for 3-4 months.
@@AngusNB That's part of the issues, i think they are massively back ordered, i got mine use(B-Stock) which came quickly, i don't blame you it's what i did initially last year when i looked at them.
Great video!
if you do have the time, you mention it can be used as an interface/bluetooth speaker. Does that mean I can play spotify from my computer/phone and not be playing guitar? aka, just have it as my home speakers. Can I even watch netflix on my computer and have the audio run through the Spark amp?
Hi, you are absolutely right, it can be used as a Bluetooth speaker from your smartphone, thanks for the comment and kind words!
Refreshing to see a review from someone who bought one.
A friend bought one a while ago, but just didn't like the boomy bass.
So kind as he is, he asked me to try it, i updated the firmware, and tried
many ways to tame that bass, to no avail.
Another classic example of an over hyped product with too may bugs
that can't be cured with just firmware updates.
I am glad that i didn't buy one!
I'm toying with the idea of selling it, alongside the boomy bass i can't get the mids to sound as open as my fender tube amps, it's a great little practice amp and i get it but i don't think it's for me, cheers
@@DerekPaulGuitar I wouldn't argue with anyone who doesn't like the amp. I love mine. I tried everything to get rid of the extra bass and finally found the answer on a Facebook group for Spark owners. Carefully pry off the grill. It's held on by velcro. With the amp running a background track, stuff a gently balled up clean rag into the bass port, the forward-facing cylinder between the two speakers. I use Scott shop rags. Adjust how many rags and how tightly balled up they are to get the sound you want. Yes, you shouldn't have to do this, but for me it worked perfectly. Only takes a few minutes. Completely reversible. Also, put the amp on a stand or table, not on the floor. Hope this helps!
To pry off the grill, I used two butter knives (flat, thin, not sharp) on opposite sides of the grill, prying at the same time. The material around the grill is soft, so be careful not to dent it.
And thanks for your video! :)
@@adamleffert7354 that’s a great tip, cheers Adam, should help others who also would like to calm the bass down, thanks for the comment
I bough one after using a Yamaha THR10 for 2 years because of all the hype. I sold it very soon after as I didn't like the sound of it at all. Way too bass heavy and no way to really cut it down. Pretty much every one says the same thing about the bass and everyone hopes that it will be fixed by a software upgrade. But I honestly think that it cannot be fixed as they would have done that a long time ago if they were able to. I eventually settled up on a 5W tube combo for home use.
Thanks for sharing! cheers
Interesting review, thank you. I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Spark in just a few days 🙂
I’m sure you’ll have a blast with it! It is great fun and thanks for the comment!
I found far better presets than those demo'd here
There are so many out there!
I own this unit and recently bought a Yamaha THR30ii. The difference is night and day in terms of sound and ease of use. The spark sounds like someone trying to talk with their hand covering over their mouth. The Yamaha is a high fidelity unit that is very plug and play oriented. It is pricey though unfortunately.
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
Agree 100% I sold my SPARK40… we never became friends😉Got also the Yamaha THR30II👌
Fantastic video Derek, really well articulated points, very curious to see where this kind of innovation leads! All the best!
Thanks Ant!! really appreciate that, wasn't aware of your channel...but i am now, cheers!
@@DerekPaulGuitar Consider this a friend request! 😂
@@AnthonyFernsGuitarTutorials subscribed! 👍
What’s up Derek! Been watching your vids today. Great to see your stuff! I thought about getting this amp a few times as well. Heard about the bass boom from other reviews, so it’s good you confirmed. But I love the wide reverb concept, and the samples sound awesome. Nice work as always 😎👍🎸
Hey buddy!!! So good to hear from you! All in all it’s a decent amp and as I understand it the bass boom is fixed in the new updated, they added an eq to the pedals, you stay well Steve 👍😀🎸
@@DerekPaulGuitar good to know! I still got my eye on the tonemaster Deluxe. Thinking about pulling the trigger soon
@@SteveGuitar oh man!!! Me too, I keep watching it, you’ll have to let me k ow what it’s like if you get it (I can’t justify it at the moment)
My Spark 40 was really cool for tuning, but the EQ doesn't work, and the system can't use gain without a loud HISSY fit, rendering it useless for my purposes. Customer service says they are too busy selling the newer units right now to fix this issue. Hmmm. I'll see about returning it.
Yeah if I were you, I'd go with a different company. Positive Grid is way too inconsistent with their products. I have been a customer since 2019 or 2020 and have Bias Amp, Bias Fx, Spark 40, and Riff. I never use any of those things anymore despite spending hundreds of dollars on them, often opting for my older Line 6 Firehawk setup or Line 6 Helix Native setup. There is just nothing that can tame the high gain low end of the Spark 40. It is so bad that I decided to move on from Positive Grid.
Nice review! You answered some of my concerns about the amp. BTW, I have the same Fender pick-shaped Stratocaster sign displayed behind you!
Thanks! And glad it helped out, yeah think I got mine from Hobby Lobby a while back!
I had one, sold it after a few months because it sounded so muffled. Picked up a Yamaha THR and haven't looked back.
Thx for your video on the Spark. I ordered very early and some issues I found were the carry strap broke after a few months and the headphone jack is playing up. Overall I really enjoy using this amp. One thing I would of liked to see is a couple USB charging ports.
Thanks for the comment and feedback on it! Really helpful cheers!
That purple rain tone is really on.....I've been using it on different guitars all day. It needs a balanced out...it would be perfect if I could easily run it to my PA.
Hi Derek, I wondered what all the fuss was about with this amp and if it lived up to the hype and you've answered that for me in your' own inimitable fashion. Firstly, I see what you mean about the bass, even allowing for the fact you were on the neck pickup, it sounded pretty bass heavy. Balance that with the Def Leppard tones that I really liked and the SRV sound wasn't far behind and overall it does seem like a really practical amp with all the connectivity options, I can see what all the hype is about. I'm looking forward to your update and seeing how you got on with it. I know the Interwebz jury seems to be fairly balanced opinion wise about this amp so I wonder which way you will tip the scales?
Take care, amigo!
Hey Gareth! Yeah for high gain stuff and those cleans it’s inspiring, I think I may mainly use it when I travel too as it’s small and practical, loud too! It is indeed very versatile! And addictive :)))) cheers my friend!!
Why do I have to restart my iPhone every time I want to connect to my Spark mini? Very frustrating. Update. You don’t have to turn off your iPhone. Just swipe up and turn off the app on the phone. It’s easy. Go to the Spark app, push the button and it will ask you to connect. Problem solved.
How annoying! Hope you get it sorted!
I bought one and it quit working in about 2 months. I’m stuck with a 10 pound boat anchor because Positive Grid doesn’t have a customer service department.
The bad is it will stop working at some point in the near future for no apparent reason. Have a look at the hundreds of posts about the instrument input no longer working. However I thought it was great while it lasted.
Oh I’m not sure, it did sound great but it wasn’t unfortunately for me in the end, I moved it on, cheers!
Yep. My sparks40's speakers are now useless as well, and did so without warning.
The amp is still playable, ONLY if I'm running an aux cable from 1/8" out of headphone jack and into a 1/4" , plugged into my big goofy Powered Party PA speaker(thus reducing it from stereo ,..back to freaking MONO😔.
However
I'm going to still grab myself the New battery powered SparkMINI (coming Soon preOrder, + price is unknown as of today's date ) when it's officially shipping out to the public, ..
Useful review thanks. I’m a beginner so I think this will be ideal.
I think so too! I think you’ll love it! Cheers
The presets sound great with single coil pickups. They don't sound that great with humbuckers. I have to tweak pretty much every setting since all my guitars are humbucker guitars. Other than that, I like the amp.
Thanks for the comment!
After watching this review (thanks by the way, fellow Brit here) I was pretty set on buying one. But then I read through the comment section, and now I'm not so sure! 😂
Thanks for watching, honestly there are a lot of really positive reviews on it as well so don’t let my opinion influence you, it just didn’t sound like my fender amp so I was disappointed, but that was a few years ago and they may have re-voiced it, cheers
Love the the Spark Amp!
Often when I feel like a tone is too bassy on my Spark, I find if I turn down the gain I get rid of a lot of the muddiness. It also seems to be really guitar dependent. A tone which sounds like mush with one guitar sounds sparkly and great with a different one.
Thanks for the comment John
The internal software of the amp "Centers" the Bass, Mid, and Treble every time you turn it on.
Sounds gd 😎.
Really underrated in my opinion.
My Spark has Delay on everything. Very unpleasant. I guess it will just collect dust.
That is actually a pretty cool idea. I can see it having stage applications. I assume it can be hooked up to a cab, that would fix the bass flubbiness. When you’re looking for a new tone and don’t want to spend an hour in knob twisting mode. Great production on the video btw.
Cheers!
Cheers Brad, It’s a fun thing to play around with, especially high gain stuff which I don’t normally play but with this it gets so tempting! Cheers
You actually can't hook it up to a cab, only a PA
@@PoeticInsanity As ever...someone has done it here, cheers! th-cam.com/video/KaYhMNw6cPQ/w-d-xo.html
Pre ordered one of these when they were first advertised took about 10 months to arrive. I have to say I really do like it at first I have to agree about the bass, it doesn’t seem so bassy now though not sure if it’s to do with the firmware update or that I dial in better tones having got more used to it. It’s alsways compared to the THR of which I own two of the first model.
I have to say I use the Spark a lot more as the vast array of amps and effects plus all the features on the app make it more fun than the THR the only thing it lacks in my opinion is a battery feature which is a big plus for the THR.
Also it’s nice to see a review from someone who actually bought the amp, maybe that’s why I initially waited so long as Positive Grid were too busy making them and giving them away to ‘big’ name TH-camrs
I do totally get the amp, but it wasn’t for me, just didn’t sound open enough, a little too mid scooped, having said that I sold it before the eq update.
Derek, great video review thank you! How do you like the amp a year later?
Thanks Joseph! I actually sold it, it wasn’t my thing, however, it is an amazing amp, cheers
notes choke out, zero sustain returned mine 🎸
"Seems incredibly unlikely though"... Classic... Subd...
Haha thanks man!
I have one of these spark amps and the bottom line is it will not replace your tube driven amp.
But it’s not meant to. It’s basically a practice amp. Being able to easily switch between tones without tons of gear is nice. I don’t want to have to haul a pedal board and my 6505 sitting on a 4x12 cab around.
Really! That's no surprise lol.
Nice Job! Thank you for this evaluation!
My pleasure!!
@@DerekPaulGuitar Hey has it gotten any better over the past year?
@@guharajdeep I actually sold it, but i understand updates have been made and a great EQ has been added.
The thing that I really hate about my spark amp is that each preset you save has it's own volume setting, instead of having an option for a universal volume. So sometimes you'll be playing something really low volume at night, switch presets, and accidentally wake your roommates because of the horrible sudden boom. I have to go into the app manually each time to make sure the volume is all the way off for each preset before turning it off so I don't do that on accident. The volume knob on the actual amp is practically useless.
That’s also one thing I didn’t like about it, I get it as people create their own, but as you say, the volume should somehow remain consistent on the amp, I’ve since sold it and gone back to my super champ x2.
@@DerekPaulGuitar Yeah, I'm thinking of switching to a 5watt modeling amp for playing at the apartment if I can find a decent one that has similar features to the spark
@@breaux2806 there are a few good options out there now
@@DerekPaulGuitar sounds like a cool video idea for players with noise limits that still want all the same tone
Thanks I was thinking about buying one but this is the exact reason I sold my katana.
I've had mine 18 days now and Today is the first time I've turned on my Blackstar/Fender wet/dry amps.
I still have my pedalboard engaged so my old favourite tones are still there when I want them.
Working with headphones or BlueTooth earbuds, I can rock away into the night without annoying the neighbours. 👍
Gripes - Although they Have added two EQ pedals that can be used to address the Bass heavy tonal balance, those EQs take up the Modulation slot in the FX chain.
The chain needs another slot or the firmware needs a Tilt EQ control.
FX Slot reordering would be a nice feature also.
Thanks for the feedback and great comment! 👍
I think they have pedal reordering on their more expensive software and gear and they're not giving it on this software at this price point.
Congratulations on 10K, mate!
Thanks mate!!
Seems great for a multi instrumentalist on a budget. Bass, keyboards and all through one amp. But if the equalizer can't really change the character of the amp significantly, as to accommodate a decent guitar sound, that's not good.
I understand they updated the firmware to include a decent eq, haven’t tried it though.
@@DerekPaulGuitar Okay. That's cool. Either way it seems like the best thing for my needs. I have guitar amps already. But I've been looking for like a small PA or a keyboard amp or something like that for a long time. Electronic drums, keyboards, bass, acoustic guitar. Ideally I should probably buy an amp for each of those separately but realistically, that's not going to happen. Lol. Does it have outputs for seperate speakers?
@@PaulTheSkeptic it should do a job for you, it doesn’t have separate speaker outs but I’ve seen mods on you tube to make this happen :)
@@DerekPaulGuitar Hm. Okay thanks. My mind is already working on it. I don't know if anything is going to come of it but I love it when that happens. That light bulb appears almost visibly over your head. Lol.
@@PaulTheSkeptic haha I hear ya, I have those moments often and try to come up with workarounds!
Is the bass/ low end issue now solved with firmware?
I think yes. I seen other guys talking about that
Not when streaming in my opinion
Very helpful. Got the Spark Amp as a gift but never used it much with my electro-acoustic. I tried playing along with some of the TH-cam backing tracks but the selection is overwhelming and I kind of gave up. Just got an electric so your video was eye opening. Although I knew it could do pedal and amp effects I did not know the app allows choosing canned setups for songs/artists. Very cool. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment and kind words! glad it helped you out, cheers!
Any good for thrash metal?
It has some very dirty metal sounds too..
YES. The metal tones are SUPERB
@@Skeleton_Dorkis the software really as bad as some comment?
This little amp sounds fantastic. I wish there was a pedal to switch between two tones.
There are Bluetooth foot switches out there that should work :)
@@DerekPaulGuitar thank you!
If they could improve on the Spark and make it sound even better. I might pop! I’ll wait for the futuristic model.
Maybe they will improve the reverb. Don’t like what I’m hearing.
Thanks for the comment, I’m sure future updates will be on the way!
No spring reverb. Over saturated in church hall sounding reverb and everything is one muddy mess you can't hear the individual notes in the chords and everything just melts together like a Bluetooth speaker which is basically what that is. And it's not this video it's the amp it's on every video and if you try it out in guitar center you'll hear the same thing
I am an acoustic singles performer. My Spark 40 is my stage amp, but I don’t use the internal finals or speakers.
Using an impedance matching cable, I come out of the Spark headphone Jack, directly into my PA!
It’s fabulous! I have all the power I need, with all the amazing tones and cabinet/amp combinations that Spark is famous for. I can play an auditorium or a dining room, with my amazing chameleon Spark amp.
It saves hundreds on pedals, but gives you a huge spectrum of tonal possibilities.
I have sold my “stage” amps. They’re too heavy, and no matter how you set them, they are ONE TONE. The Spark has thousands of personalities! No comparison.
Use it as a “head” with all your pedals and many amp/cab choices enclosed!
I’m a believer!
Oh, I just received a Spark GO as a gift. Incredible! Another masterpiece from Positive Grid!
Is it a good amp to practice with the band?
I don’t think you’ll hear it over a drummer to be honest
There's no expression pedal.
Plus, the features are really limited compared to something like the Boss Katana - although you do spend more for that.
Out of the box the amp is too bass heavy. While the eq "pedal" can solve most of the problem, it's annoying to have to change each amp setting with the EQ. And then you're stuck with the EQ solving that problem instead of using it for other things.
Comparing amps that are twice the price is unfair. Buy a Mustang and expect it to perform like a Porsche?
@@slottibarfast5402
The Boss Katana 50 is the same price - at least today. They are definitely competitors. I think what you get with the Spark is less fizz in your distortion - and more sustain. But it is quite limited.
Can you change tones effects in the middle of a song like a peddle board ? Can you change effect combinations in the middle of a song like a peddle board ?
They do offer a foot switch sold separately to do this.
I mean, he flat out admits he's not using it to its full capabilities as he "likes to dial it all in on the hardware"
But i did play through some of the app tones in the video, it didn't change how the speakers sound though, and plus as i said, it's a good amp, just not for me
I can get off of the fence now. I like the features but don’t trust it. Thanks 🙏
I got mine in 2020 and it sucks. It sounds terrible and hums loudly whether a guitar is plugged in or not. I asked PG to send me a grounded power supply, but they refused. They said it was my gear. Then they quietly began sending out 3-prong grounded power supplies with the amps in early 2021. They hate admitting to any shortcomings.
@@TheRisingFury Pffft.
@@ChillCollins616 Back at ya, sparky
I got a mustang lt50, would the spark be an upgrade or a downgrade? If i get the spark ill get a cabinet for it too
It depends what tones you are after, if you like high gain stuff then probably, if you like clean guitar tones then probably not, and this is just my opinion, thanks
great video, too much on the bass it does have great features, but I am leaning towards BOSS Katana , I think that bassy sound would drive me nuts,
Thanks for the reply and comment! Appreciate that!, if too much bass is going to bother you then probably try the Katana out :) cheers
@@DerekPaulGuitar great features the Spark has and nice bluetooth speaker for streaming Spotify music , I have a BOSS Katana Mini amazing little amp, I wish the Spark was in a local music shop, so I could properly test myself this is a great review, it did get my thinking, oh I want to ask is does the spark have dual voltage 220/120 volts, when I travel home to Toronto I could just get a 120 v Kettle lead and just plug it in,
@@canadianintheukbrian thanks for the comment, that’s the things isn’t it, I had the same question, how does it really sound? Is it full deep and rich and the only way I could hear it was to buy it unfortunately, having said that it really is full deep and rich (like the little jbl Bluetooth speakers) you think wow where does this sound come from? Speaker technology has advanced so much, im afraid I don’t k ow about the dual voltage as I have since sold it (it a wasn’t for me In the end) but thanks for the comment and I hope you get to try it out, cheers!
Hey DP. Nice simple review. I don't find mine bass heavy tbh and I don't like too much bass. All the best bud.
Hey Chip! Cheers for the feedback, I’ll be playing around with it to see what I can get it to do (I don’t mind a bit of bass either) love it on cleans, cheers!
@@DerekPaulGuitar oh the cleans are nice. I still would prefer an Amp (Fender Champion 100 finances wiling) but for my small place it's perfect.
@@Chip_57 yeah I hear ya! Much rather have a tone king imperial but it seems to be 10x the cost, so unfair :)
If you don't find the Spark bass heavy muddy and cloudy then you are deaf. I have e been playing guitar for 60 years and it is the first thing you'll notice about the tone right out of the box! It is as if the creators' got together and brainstormed on how they could make the absolute worst sounding amp ever made! Treble and mid range are drowned in a sea of bass! Right out of the box!
@@davidaronek2062 Hmmm Thnx for that interesting observation. I think where and on what the amp is positioned makes a difference. Its interesting that some complain about it being too bassy and others not. As I said, I've not personally experienced it and no I'm not deaf. Sorry about your bad experience with the Spark.
Too much reverb on all the examples.
Noted thanks!
In every video on every channel. No spring reverb either
So would you recommend it for a bass instead?
I don’t play bass but have heard that it’s great for bass!
I love the features, but the looping backing tracks you put in yourself don't play back your own rhythm guitar, which to makes it kind of useless. Instead it adds these bass lines that are way too busy. Keep it simple guys and allow it to keep our original guitar track.
It's a spot on amp period 👌
Thanks for watching 👍
Mine stopped working. Out of warranty but it was barely used.
it died cuz you gave up
Every review and comment section of the Spark amp mentions how it's "Bass-heavy", and rightfully so. But I am so surprised that no one has figured out that the internal software of the amp "Centers" the Bass, Mid, and Treble every time you turn it on. If you have the Bass turned all the way down when you turn it on it is actually centered and no way to turn it down more. Same with the Mid and Treble. No one complains about the Mid and Treble because those are generally turned up by the user anyway so it's not immediately noticeable. I'm also surprised Positive Grid hasn't tried to correct this other than giving us an EQ. I'm sure they are aware of this defect, if not then I question the company's technical prowess.
"no way to turn it down more"? If you mean you already have the physical knob turned down, but the software has "centered" the bass after a reboot, you realize you can turn the physical knob to center and it will thereafter control the bass correctly, yes? Once the knob and the software setting match, the knob will adjust the setting. If it didn't work this way, the software wouldn't be able to adjust the settings because it can't physically turn the knob.
@@JohnKelso It doesn't work that way. It Centers it and if you don't have the knob at center then it will only increase the Bass even more. I understand what you are saying, you would think that centering the knob the software would catch up to the position of the knob, but it doesn't. It only increases it. In other words, if you have the Bass knob all the way down then it will increase the bass as you turn it up. When you turn it down it is still only returning to center.
@@JohnKelso To furthur clarify. You turn the amp on with the Bass all the way down, you turn the knob to Center and the software is at Full. You turn it up past center it is still at Full. You turn it all the way back down it is once again at Center. An easy, though annoying, fix is to turn all the tone knobs to center before turning it on. The knob position will then reflect the software position when turned on and you can turn it up or down as normal.
@@truthhertz8198 why don't you just adjust the EQ in the app then?
I bought one. Thought it was absolutely terrible. It's not very loud ( I mean its not very loud, not talking about gigging loud) and I couldn't get a decent sound out of it. I have played a fair few amps from cheap Marshall MG 10 (which is much louder and gives a better sound than the Spark), all the way to Mesa Boogies so I'm not some newbie when it comes to guitar amps. Maybe there's something wrong with mine.
Honestly it sounds like yours could be faulty, mine was loud! And it did have a decent sound to it.
@@DerekPaulGuitar Thing is , it doesn't sound obviously faulty. It's just not very loud and the sounds don't come across as wrong just not very good. I'd love to find another to compare mine to. It's a digital amp so its not as if the sound relies on working valves or transistors etc. As it is , it's the second worst amp I've ever played after one of those budget Squier amps that capture that wasp in jar sound so perfectly!
Ah I see that you mean, the reason I sold mine was that it didn’t sound very open when I compared it to my two tube amps, not a fair comparison I know but it didn’t give me the sound I was either used to or looking for, cheers
@@DerekPaulGuitarhave you tried the blackstar debut50?
How to use backing tracks from youtube and play at the same time?Possible?
Totally possible, just play them on your phone and Bluetooth them through the amp :)
@@DerekPaulGuitar And what happens when phone is calling?
@@heavyvibrationstudiopl3256 It'll come through the speaker so probably best to use airplane mode when practicing
@@DerekPaulGuitar Thanks man.I think i will get it for busking.
Thanks best review I've watched brilliant 👏
Thanks for the great comment and thanks for watching!
What guitar model is this specifically?
It’s a Squier Bullet I picked up used from Goodwill for $80 I have a couple of videos on it, thanks for watching! th-cam.com/video/IDgjSXW2DGM/w-d-xo.html
I have one. It’s a nice practice amp and very reasonably priced. My gripe is with the overhyped app. It isn’t all that it was promised to be. The accompaniment nonsense is horrendously bad.
Played one at a casual jam session once. Too much bass was my initial reaction!
You can plug the middle sound hole with a cloth or sock and resolves the issue pretty nicely, pack it more to taste
It has a bass knob you know. You can turn the bass down. 🤔
@@rudybigboote3883😂😂😂
I have Spark 40 and when I turn my bass knobs down on the amp and guitar I can take out all of the bass. It doesn't sound good. I tried that and taking all of the treble and mid out as well. I wanted to know what my guitar and Spark 40 are capable of.
I live my spark. I bought one when it first came out and just received my second as it sits in my living room on a side table.
Beginner here and the cloud tones for me is the selling point. I want to learn a song, cloud and I got the sound. It’s is bass heavy so I turn the bass down a lot. It’s just a good practice amp and especially for the Xmas 2022 sale, it was really worth it, hides in plain sight and just makes me want to play.
got mine for $160 and it's great to practice with.
I still very much prefer my hot rod deluxe😎
I prefer my hot rod deluxe too, great amp!! thanks
Nice of you using a modest Squier Strat to get those great tones. Nobody can say that you need a more expensive Fender to do it.
Btw, did you keep it after all? 🤔
Thank you! that squier is amazing! plays great and sounds great, i didn't keep the amp after all, i sold it on, cheers for the comment!
@@DerekPaulGuitar
What made you sell the amp, it did sound in your video rather great though?
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 It really does sound good! but i'm more of a clean/blues player so it didn't fit my needs
@@DerekPaulGuitar
Copy that. My exact preference as well - clean tones. Rock sounds awesome with overdrive, fuzz, distortion and what have you, but I'm too chilled for that if to play my own music. An example of the moment would be George Michael's "Kissing a Fool". Not much of a clean guitar spotted - but its style is spot on. 🤔
Classic song! And the guitar parts in ‘kissing a fool’ are so jazzy and clean!
How do we compare it to marshall mg15?
I haven’t tried one but maybe someone else will pitch in, thanks
Great demo. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment and kind words!
Cant decide if I should keep my THR10x or get one of these!
I’d keep your THR10X and but the Spark 40 as well!
@@adriancoppin977 sold the Yamaha, got a Roland Cube, and a Mustang LT25. Didnt love them. Got a Blackstar HT-1R MKii and its amazing!
Spark not for me.
Why
I have the amp, and would have to agree that the amp sounds too bassy or muddy, though I have not tried the trick of plugging the bass port to see if that helps. The thing that bothers me is that even thru headphones many tones are still muddy for me. Some amp models are a little brighter than others but nothing really changes this fundamental behavior, at least to me. I haven’t played around much with the EQ pedal that is part of a recent update, and that might help, but it’ll be at the expense of having a modulation pedal in the chain.
Thanks for the feedback and your experience, I’m sure it’ll help others, I haven’t tried plugging bass port yet either, might be worth a shot, cheers!
PG added an EQ pedal for both Guitar and Bass which you can now use to eliminate most or all of the bassiness/muddy tone.
Great, thanks for letting me know,!
@@DerekPaulGuitar You can literally get the Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here intro sound! It's pretty amazing and makes a huge difference now.
@@russtyruss_i-Invest superb!! I’m glad they came up with something, I suspected they would
Can you tell me which EQ pedal is that ?