I FINALLY Play the Positive Grid Spark...But Should You Buy One?
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- So this amp is getting a ton of hype. Today I play the Spark unedited and in real-time to show you what the actual playing experience is like!
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Enjoy!
I know you guys have been waiting for this one! Tones start at 5:20
Enjoy :)
Yes, we've been waiting for this video. But not nearly as long as we've been waiting for the amp itself. ;-)
I've been waiting for my amp forever what the hell!!! This sucks your getting one before aaaaaalllllll the paying customers. Love your channel nothing against you. But after sooo many videos out their promoting this you're not really needed anymore. Why would they keep sending free amps out and not getting it to the customers that already want it and paid in full. We know it's a great amp. Just get it in our hands already!!!! So you can sell more by word of mouth!!!! You sould do a give a way of this.
Were you aware this company has been taking people’s money without actually sending them their product? It’s basically stealing at this point. If you weren’t aware of this, fine. But I think some kind of disclaimer somewhere would be warranted.
Sure, this thing might work fine, but if you never receive what you paid for it’s not really worth the money is it?
Thank you....i ordered one already and heard its about a five month wait...
@@Dravensheart The customers payed. They know they will get the money, & the customers know they'll eventually get the product. They know what they're doing. They want to reach out to more people. Also Covid 19 is causing a delay. I've waited about three months for a pop filter. Was supposed to arrive in march, it's almost July. Not gonna be mad. Just gonna get used to it.
Ordered one for my son's 18th Birthday. He will be Born in feburary this year
LMAO 🤣
I really appreciate that laugh brother. Lol. Perfect 👌
@@MrMangano421 I got mine today ordered 2 weeks ago
@@romendeep833 Congrats! Hopefully you didn't get one of the lemons they seem to make. Good luck with it.
@@romendeep833 You're lucky. You should see the hoops they make you jump through when they send a lemon. They won't replace it on a swap. You have to take a video send it and then ship your amp back and they will either fix it or if all else fails they say they will replace it. So what was supposed to come for Christmas (it didn't) will probably arrive in time for the Fourth of July. :-) Nothing is worth that kind of wait.
Glad you pointed out how it looks good in any room. My Marshall full stack clashes with my shower curtain.
😂😂😂
My Marshall stack IS my shower curtain 😆
You have shower curtains in your yoga den??
@padawan9127 no, in my bathroom, with my amp.
😂🤣😂
13:20
Bud, the software didn't mess up. You picked the "funky drummer" and played rock and roll.
Thanks Darrell for going over the Spark. I have ordered one but it has not come in yet and this video is a great help. I am 73 and trying to learn all I can. Again Thanks for all your videos.
How’d it work out?
cap
I’m likewise an older beginner so this looks ideal. I know what sound I like but have no idea what a fazer or modulation does. So downloading a sound I like then seeing how it’s made is a time saving educator too.
Whether you love or hate this thing..all I can say is I wish I had this growing up in my teens.
Omg. I wish
Exactly
ABSOLUTELY WHEN I WAS 7Y/O WAS NO INTERNET, JUST GUITARS N AMPS WITH TUBES. OH AND EASY TO FIND TRUE TONE WITH JUST THE KNOBS NO WIRES, CABLES, COMPUTERS, PLUGINS ECT. LIFE WAS GOOD, WE JAMMED. NOW WE NEED COMPUTER CLASSES, AMP CLASSES, PLAYING CLASSES AND OF COURSE DBG RUclips, GO DARREL!!
@@brynion2117 GRANDPA'S KNOW BEST!!
Amen
Bought one after seeing your video and having the confidence that it was worth every penny. Turns out...it was worth every penny. Thanks for such a thorough review, dude. And for establishing yourself as a trustworthy voice for such things.
Buying one this instant
Every penny! It’s amazing value for money. So glad I took the plunge.
The best practice amp I have ever owned. Full stop. It is fun to play on for hours, the sounds are seemingly infinite, loud and solid without any compromises and loads of useful, innovative, intuitive learning tools... To be honest, if a company like Positive Grid can do this, the only real question I have is for the far more established competition: "why didn't **you** do this?"
It works better for me as bluetooth speaker. I cant get a beautiful classic rock sound. U find that small tube Amps blow all this kinda stuff away. Night Train Lil and Ampeg 5watt. Also the HOTONE British Invasion (not tube) completely rocks.
Fender Mustang? Sounds significantly better than the positive grid.
@@kyle8575 i had the Fender mustang, and there were some features I liked, but once I got the Spark, it was so ready and intuitive (with more features that were more accessible), i sold the mustang and kept the spark.
@@I-Libertine specifically the mustang lt25 I’m talking about. Definitely has more features than this amp.
@@kyle8575 that's the mustang I had. Too clunky imho, not nearly as intuitive or fun to use, practice with, write songs on, etc. But i guess everyone has a favorite.
Darrell walking into his studio: *Looks at wall of guitars & the shelf of pedals* Y'know... I don't feel like practicing today... *See's practice amp* you son of a gun, I'm in.
having too many stuff can give you option paralysis. You tweak and try so many different things that the practice part goes out the window. That's why I own a THR30, my hands on time with the guitar has increased dramatically.
@@Silkaz7 Absolutely. I've had a Micro Cube since 2005 and simply sold it and got a new one when the model switch stopped working. If this Spark were battery powered, I'd consider it for a little more variety in sound, but otherwise Yamaha has the best approach, just for more money than Roland.
Silkaz7 I have to agree. My practice amp is just a Fender Rumble (bass) when I practice I really don’t want to touch my amp or my phone or iPad (except to read my music) I had the Boss Katana Air which is similar to this and the BS ID Core BEAM
Me walking into my guitar room...nope, still no Spark.
autobotsNdecepticons a
For sure gonna get this as my first proper practice amp...the fact it does everything including being a recording interface is just perfect....
I finally got the Spark based on this review, supported by other good reports. All I will say is that I finally for the first time found the exact tones I wanted for my guitar on specific songs through the app that I haven't been able to emulate through my other amps, pedals, and software in real time! Thanks, Darrell, for giving the nod to Positive Grid.
I have a line 6 spider jam that I've had for years and I just started playing again recently in this amp just doesn't seem to have what I need. I started looking around and seeing this video and I think I'm hooked! Going to order one now.
Good review, Darell. I'd mention that tools like this are also great for learning how tones are created vs just finding the right tone to play or practice with. It could take years for a beginner to learn the signal chain and the possibilities of combining different effects and styles of Amp/Cabs. You called this out in passing while demonstrating some of the tones - like when adding the Tube Screamer (16:25) in front of the high gain amp. It's a nuance but it can really help to learn tone and circuits.
When playing with a backing track, is the sound good? I have played practice amps and stream music via Bluetooth to play along with and it sounds like crap! How does it sound as a simply Bluetooth speaker?
I bought the spark and am impressed. Quality in sounds is pretty decent for what it is.
I’m always impressed with just how musical your improvs are, Darrell. So many youtubers shred endlessly and while that can be cool in its own right, I like how you play much more slowly but with much more melody and soul. Very cool demo of a very cool amp.
Side note: almost every cheap amp’s dual rectifier model is absolutely terrible. They nailed it in this.
I finally got my Spark amp after ordering it in mid April. After playing with it for two days these are my initial impressions. I wasn't really bothered by the three month wait since I knew up front that was what to expect.
I first tried it as a blue tooth speaker for songs on RUclips on my phone. It connected and worked as expected. Then I plugged in my Strat and PRS Custom 22 and tried the preset tones, and EQ and effects adjustments. I was actually surprised at how good it sounded. Maybe I wasn't expecting much based on my past experience with digital amps but I was really impressed. It almost sounded as good as some of my Fender tube amps.
I tried the create-a-jam with a simple chord progression and it worked as expected based on RUclips videos. I was not expecting a lot from the smart jam function. But I was really surprised at how many song backings in different genres were available and how good they sounded. Playing along with them required some tweaking of volumes, EQs, etc. to balance the guitar with the overall mix.
Up to now, my experience with digital amp tones created by users have been mostly not so good. I tried about a dozen different tones and liked every one of them, although, for different styles of music. Some of them were tones I would not have tried myself. But they actually inspired me to explore different things with my guitar that I would have not normally thought of.
Now for the negatives: The blue tooth connections seem to be very finicky. I had to repeatedly delete and re-install my I-pad to get it to connect. One time, the backing track played through the amp but the tones and adjustments didn't. It seemed like the blue tooth music playing and tone access and adjustments are on two different circuits making it tricky to get them to both work at the same time. When all the blue tooth connections worked, in my opinion, the amp was amazing and a joy to play with. Adjusting the guitar volume was odd since there were three different controls, "gain", "master", and "output". Volume control was not necessarily linear with the amount of adjustment inputs. Also, sometimes an adjustment in volume had an unexpectedly large impact that some effects, such as modulation, had on the tone of the guitar in the mix. The extent of this phenomenon depended on which tone was being used at the time.
Saving tones to my I-pad and to the four presets in the amp worked as expected. It would be much better if the amp had more than just four presets. It would also be nice if the volume control for the music from external devices was not so small.
Overall, considering this amp costs only $225.00, is digital and has 4 inch speakers, it sounds great. And, when combined with the I-pad app, the overall experience is amazing. Another plus is the app graphics making it easy and fun to use. I would have loved to have this amp when I was a young teenager learning how to play guitar. But back then, there wasn't even the internet or digital amps.
All the same experiences here. I really do have a lot of fun with this amp.
Spot on, exact same pros and cons on mine. The whole works for 10 minutes then loses connection and then fails to reconnect can get a bit annoying. Can’t really beat the price though.
Thanks Base! Your comment convinced me to go ahead and sell my DigiTech iPB-10 and purchase the SPARK. I've been undecided for the past six months, but I think it's time now. Thanks again... Stay safe... Rico
Thanks for taking the time to post this, really helped. Best wishes
This makes learning all the pedals and the amps much faster.
It most definitely does not! As a beginner all the tones and options will overwhelm and discourage! You’ll spend more time trying to figure it out and selecting a tone than you will actually practicing...
@@ArneWidding I strongly disagree. As a beginner myself :)
And with friends who were just starting out I recommended this to them and they all loved it.
Claudia Baby I totally agree with you! I have been waiting for my spark sooooo long I have obtained an online electronics degree and have completed the assembly of my first four amps and built dozens of pedal kits. And have yet to receive my spark. The good thing is I can repair it myself.
@@ArneWidding that's happens when you can't get the tone you want on a regular amp
Just got it for Christmas! So far, I’m extremely impressed by the sound quality! And that’s just using the amp (without) the app! The crunch and hi-gain settings roar, and they are extremely sensitive to your guitar’s volume knob, which is very cool. Using a 90s USA Strat with Dimarzio Chopper in the bridge and heavy blues in the neck.
feedback Rocks...if a Dud heads Up to fellow/ette better few unhappy then many unhappy AKA Pissed... wanna know does it do keyboards. Got Bass 4S ...Yamaha with Midi...soon a Squire Fender... probably will anyways. MAcBook M1 tool on standby
just like anything ...toy with it..don't take apart..tell that to Elon..No=Go. Slot Cars Come Very Far....Sad to see Ford do a electric 4 door mustang..only Porsche getting away with..4 door Carrera....can't make them quick enough
I'm trying to figure out where to put the output. It gets VERY LOUD VERY QUICKLY.
@@Madchris8828 bluetooth or USB out hit up website ..or RUclips search ...probably order mine this week. maybe
I have to add. Azon got $259 and V good feedback...and JB has best return policy..Almost ready to pull trigger and get one..I want it to do everything...bass guitar keyboard..maybe even freaky vocals..Gotta Laugh or a Loud PA at a protest...
Finally got my preorder a few weeks ago and haven't been able to put it down since. Being stuck inside has made this amp my go to and keeps the neighbors on friendly terms.
i’ve been watching this channel since i was a beginner guitarist, Darrell’s warm and helpful presence keeps me coming back again and again.
SIMP /s
Me too, both weeks.
Agree. It also has caused me to buy two Schecter guitars of which he gave excellent reviews. He undersold them both. The Solo II Custom and the C-1 E/A are both even better than hoped and his reviews were fairly glowing. Schecter is making some beautiful guitars right now that compete in every facet from tone to construction to components with guitars twice their price. I had an issue justifying purchasing those two but I just flat-out wanted them. Not an ounce of buyer's remorse. Mr. Braun not only didn't steer me wrong. He did me a huge favor.
I've been enjoying my Spark for several months now after waiting for months. Timing is everything. I got in early and feel badly for those who have been waiting. I knew going in that it was like a "crowdfunding" thing. Covid-19 hit hard for those who bought after I did. Positive Grid's supply chain and logistics were affected by the virus. It's not a scam in my opinion. The product is everything and then some for the price. Darrell, your review couldn't have been any better. This is a great practice option.
I knew it was a wait because of covid...and im okay with it...this thing has too many functions to pass up...
You articulate it well. I bought it in March. That is NOT good timing. As of June 22, nothing has arrived. Not a scam, just a symptom of a global pandemic. What are you gonna do?
I ordered mine the first week of April. Almost three months now, and still no update as to when it will ship. While waiting for this I have bought a Fender M80, a couple pedals, and another guitar. I check Positive Grid's website for updates weekly, but they don't post updates very frequently. Not giving up on my order, but I hope this lives up to all the hype. Haven't seen a bad review.
@@notedmastrmind I ordered mine in March and Positive Grid sends me email updates. The ETA for me is now early July.
Ordered mid November still nothing!
\
Darrell picks Funky drummer vs rock drummer to jam with, proceeds to play rock riff and then says the software didn’t quite get it right😂😂 Good review though👍🏽😂😂
It’s always the drummer’s fault.
@@krf3064 ain’t that the truth!!
I ordered mine yesterday from Amazon - and it arrived today!!
It’s a wonderful piece of kit! If you’re going to get a practice amp, get one that’s fit for purpose… this has far more features than I shall ever use!
Ordered one for my office as a practice amp several months ago. I'm happy to see so many positive reviews on it. (Still waiting on mine) - Micah's dad
Several months ago??????
@@DKLabs99 prob pre order
I ordered one the day I saw this video (usually I'm immune to this, but... not this time, lol). It just showed up, and I'm STOKED.
How long did it take to ship?
The smart jam is for when you play a riff or a song and it will build a backing track for you
There is no better time in HISTORY to be starting to learn to play guitar. WOW!
In fact, no better time to be into anything. Tech is awesome 👍👍👍☮☮☮
Yeah, there was. When I was as a kid you get a Marshall 1959 50 watt head for 300 bucks. A Fender Strat for 400, and the Gibson LP for 900.
@@johnston.scott64 The inflation calculator says that back in 1959 $400 was the equivalent to $3, 360.67 today.
Back in 1959, $900 was the equivalent to $8,460.84.
So, unless you were being facetious, I'm confused by your statement? lol I can't imagine that you don't have at least a basic grasp on inflation?
There's an off-handed remark about this stupid video. But if you want to take it seriously, a good old-fashioned bike bump will handle a 2-ton car, $12
95. But maybe your mommy didn't put your big pants clothes on you yet.
@@johnston.scott64 Do you often PROJECT your mommy-issues nto total strangers who you believe have delivered a narcissistic injury to your uber fragile ego?
You so blatantly tell on yourself...and your own issues....by what you so desperately, and openly, project onto others. smh
I ordered in December when I decided to start playing again after 30 years. I don't have the money for a big amp and a bunch of pedals. This seemed too good to be true, especially for the price. It FINALLY arrived end of May. I admit I was impatient and actually considered cancelling my order. I am glad I didn't. This thing is amazing. Wish they were around back when I was a kid - I probably would have never stopped playing. I highly recommend it even with the wait. I do have to say the Bluetooth speaker is a little loud for apartment living 😂
Same here....20 years without playing much. Ordered one today because they told me they will be shipping it early August. Fingers crossed
There is a volume control
I regret I didn't cancel my order. This thing is a piece of crap.
Hi Michelle, I wished the same, though, I started guitar after Beatles, Stones invaded😂 was 8 yrs old. Going well until that F' EN F CHORD!!!! hD big acoustic guitar ,nylon strings & guitar was bigger than I; every yr I'd attempt 2 play....This has been going on for almost 50 yrs. Took lessons, BUT!! I learned online. Pentatonic are the Best, covers ALL. Well, here I go now to download the Amp. The Very Best of Luck to you ,& ✌🏻💚
@@eddiewong8187 You Wong... it gwate.
I had to wait 6 months for it and I was royally pissed about that... but now that I have it I'm in love. I'm practicing twice as much because it's such a joy to play through. BTW... it sounds much better through headphones.
Excellent honest trusted review, makes my buyers remorse go away for the spark I ordered last month. My wife, un-benounced to me, sold my POS Champion practice amp. My wife used to work for Fenders world headquarters in Scottsdale AZ, she got me a drop dead gorgeous custom shop strat in 1990...We have Xmass cards from Hendrix family and other cool things from her Fender days.. Played it terribly every 6 months or so since 1990. During covid19 working from home I picked it back up again, watched a ton of you tube videos and started practicing every day with it plugged into my audiophile 200 watts per channel high end stereo as my amp... Sounds great clean but no high gain or much distortion... Plus generates a lot of heat and not at all portable with 200 pounds of huge.. With adapter cables cobbled together to connect my guitar. So I bought spark a month ago, waiting for delivery late this month, early next month? well worth the wait. Like a fine wine.
Propably gonna be more like 3-4 months.
You're going to enjoy it when you get it!
Get a blues Jr man, portable tube amp with versatility for days
Never mind pick a month .... Pick a year !!
@@MrYatesj1 does far less for far more money and less watts. Nope, not wasting my money, yes it's a good amp and sounds good but very limited tones and very limited cool features, its place but not for me at $400, not comparable, in different class.
What a great piece of kit! I'm not ready yet for this much options. But I will be looking forward to the day.
Was funny RUclips cut your show for a Spark add! LOL
I started guitar six months ago with the Spark Mini by my side. It kicks ass and doesn’t bother to take names. So so so SO many tone and the tone cloud opens up so many possibilities. The portability is amazing helps so much and it’s loud.
If you’re starting out/ don’t have hundreds of dollars for pedals, getting any Spark is the right move.
Wow, ordered in January and received it July 15th. The amp is like Darrell states, a fantastic learning tool. Have to admit it is worth the wait. I know I will put much more time in my music creations. I now have a jam buddy and a guitar instructor for a one time investment of under $300.00. Highly recommend to anyone at any level. Thank you Mr Braun for the quick and tickling demo. You are are an inspiration to every guitar lover. wls
When it was analyzing your chords, you picked the funky girl and not the rock guy. That's why she adapted it to the funky rhythm.
He was testing what it would do if he did that, he did it on purpose
@@nehemiahzo_ no he didn't...he specifically said" I dont know why it gave me this funky rythm"
it's because he was on the funky rhythm girl!
I just received my Spark today and so far ABSOLUTELY love it! Its a must buy for practicing.
glad that someone is getting them...when did you order it?
@@oldrrocr I just got mine in and it took about 6 months to get to me, however I had another amp to plate with in the meantime so the wait wasnt that big a deal to me
Compared to the older practice amps, the Spark is just badass! I love it for practicing at home. The options and tones are very solid, it has a lot of smart features, and the guitars still sing out with ease. I highly recommend the Spark! Smaller venues w/mike/PA, I think you could get away with it live. Cool review. 🎸
I heard a guy play one live at a small club miked into PA. I wanted to like it but Tone was uninspiring. As soon as he started playing, I thought that’s not a tube amp, then I started paying attention to his rig…. If I am seeing someone live I think part of the magic is hearing a real tube amp, just me though…
I know this is an older video but I just recently discovered your channel and I’m binge watching the back catalog and I gotta say you do the best gear reviews. Really appreciate now in depth you go on every aspect of things
Had one come in for a minor repair. Got to hear it first hand.
Damn impressive.
Ordered mine in 1964, still "in transit"
KUM0 Exactly...not a very good first impression so far.
HAHA!
Just got the lucky in transit message got me hyped for a day or two...stallllllliiiinnngggggg
Me too....let’s see🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
That is funny! 😎👽 (The 1964 part, not the in transit part!) Mines in transit but I think that just means it is ready to get on the ship from China. Still has to clear customs!
20:35 "If you tried to turn up the overdrive knob, it sounded like you were pushing a telephone book through a table saw..."
That is way too funny.
They’re so popular, Jimmy Hendrix is still waiting for his.
Hahahahahahaaa
Jimi Hendrix spell his name correctly or else 💥
lol I’m dead. Your comment made my morning.
@@trevorgwelch7412 sorry 🤭
I don't know what Jimi would have done with it but it would have been amazing
Thank you Darrell, for a great review, this convinced me about getting the amp. Love your honest opinions, very helpful!
Being a devoted BIAS FX customer, I was given am early bird opportunity when it was first announced, upon placing the order It prompted that the early bird opportunity expired and price jumped to an additional 50 dollars. I thought that was kind of BS move. Long story short I ended up buying the Yamaha THR10ii very happy I did, as by the looks of things I would have still been waiting for it.
You made the right call on the amp choice too, as I'm sure you've realized by now.
I ordered mine January 29th and it has been “in transit” for over a month now. Positive grid customer service finally told me after several emails that the issue is on FedEx’s end. I politely asked for the FedEx tracking number so I can follow up with FedEx. Positive grid outright refused to give me that information. They even went so far as to say, and I quote, “yes it’s been in transit for over a month but just wait”. I have been “just waiting” for over 7 months now with no real help from positive grid.
Sounds like modeled truth. Mismanagement will probably kill an innovative product before it can make its mark.
Stories like this have me totally disinterested in this.... I'll get my sound from companies who don't screw their customers
I hope for your sake that they didn't drop it on someone else's door step. I've had a package for over a month at my house that was intended for someone on a total different street.
I ordered mine Jan 21 but have only been waiting 5 months...strange lol! :) I am still in transit as of May 13th.
Ordered in February, been in transit since may 13th. Still waiting.
Yes, I waited 5 months. I did get email updates irregularly. I realized there was no point in trying to get my "Late Adopter" (not what it was called) order bumped up when many others had jumped in ahead of me. For perspective, I tried in April to order a left-handed acoustic for a friend, and Guitar Center is backordered on the cheap one I want until July 25. So, in these times, I don't get freaked out. Even a guitar strap I ordered is backordered. Back to the amp: I paid $200, plus $120 for the Elite upgrade to the BIAS FX 2 app. Same price as three pedals, and since I am no genius about how to create specific tones, having a palette to listen to so I can choose the amp, pedals, and such that sound good to me, I would never be able to reproduce these sounds without dishing out thousands of dollars. I learned quickly that the headphone jack serves well as an output from the amp to my mixing board. The four hardware presets are satisfying for starters, and the Tone Cloud--it's insane. So many big-name sounds are available there. I haven't found Jimi or Brian yet, but I've had the amp two days. I may never leave my room again. If this type of gear had been available when I was 16, I would have had the motivation to learn this instrument and make amazing music with it. Now I am realizing it's never too late. Bottom line: How long does it take to get a Tesla after you order it? How about a stupid cheap lefty acoustic for a beginner? I do agree that they are messing up by not putting time into telling people how to know when they can expect their amp. But knowing what I know now, I would wait another year for it. It's a wondrous item, absolutely the next step for any but the most hard-core, established guitarists with lots of hardware already in place and tweaked to perfection. Don't let delays in China and in shipping from the virus get you down. After all, when it shows up, you'll have something to do in lockdown, now that the numbers are surging again. Sending you all good vibes in hopes that you're part of the next batch of deliveries. You deserve a reward for your patience.
Indeed. Hey lefty, lefty here. I’m waiting on mine, I’m gonna hang in. I’ve been building my pedalboard in the meantime.
Darrell! Hi, You are SO Articulate!! explaining how All parts work. Just ordered it and literally received it yesterday, I've watched many videos on this Amp, But! You are one if the Best! Explaining and Showing ,ETC. ✌🏻💚
I got mine in 2 weeks, thankfully I didn’t decide to learn guitar until after they sorted out all that.
I bought mine 3 weeks ago, arrived yesterday. More than happy !
Ordered it before it was released. I think November 2019. I believe it was supposed to ship in February. Then Covid etc. It showed up May 15th, on my birthday. I think this is really great value, I expected it might be a little tinny, but as you can see it has a lot of Bass. The Bluetooth speaker sound is not as good as the amp sound but usable. It can be just enjoyed as a stand alone amp even without all the other great features. I really love it. I feel this company is totally trying to offer something great here. Any other company would try to lock you into some monthly subscription fee.
The price is also quite a bit less than $300.
Thank you so much for doing this review and knocking me off the fence to buy one! I JUST found Positive Grid and the quality of the software they GIVE away is better than a lot of what you can pay for!
"Doing this in real time." Isn't that what we'd be doing? Man, I love it that you did that. So many reviews seem practiced and/or polished and take into consideration what we'd go through trying the gear for ourselves for the first time. Big Thanks for doing that!
commenting before i even watch! i'm SO INSANELY JEALOUS. mine is on order and is supposed to ship "late june"
PATIENCE IS NOT MY VIRTUE. ok, clicking play now. still jealous.
I ordered mine in February, I'm hoping it arrives sometime before the end of the decade.
Ordered mine 4/12/20, took my money right away but since then, no progress reports or anything.
You silly people...
I just bought an EVH 50 Watt..EL34's with less than an hour on her. 1,000 but I wasn't a Spark...lol
I’ve heard they’re 6 months behind shipping but they took everyone’s money.
I did an episode about this. You may want tot check it out
Best review I've seen. Playing one would be the only way to get a better understanding of the amp. I thought you HAD to use a phone to use the amp, but that's not the case. Thanks for sharing!
Got mine on sale and was delivered in less than a week. This is a fun little amp and can't stop messing with it. Kinda like band in a box meets small amp. Sounds great as Bluetooth speaker.
You don’t find it really deep though , like all most muffled ?
@@benallmark9671 Yes after I played it a bit. Sold it and picked up the Yamaha THR30
@@jimferry4751 so how do you like that , do you recommend it ?
@@benallmark9671 Yes 100%. I got the line 6 wireless with it. The tone is fantastic. Nice chimney cleans and extreme overdrive. Has an app to change up the cab simulator and it has a all the effects. I would swear it was a tube amp.
I got mine today! Despite some people having shipping problems with this company, I got mine in a week from ordering it. I live in Canada so I'm very impressed!
I've heard others also say the bass is too loud and and they had to turn it down to the minimum all the time - interesting🤔. Great video as always Darrell!
Nice review. So many things in just one piece of equipment !!. Maybe in a near future...you won't need a guitar anymore :O
BTW...that intro...omg I love it !!...super badass !!. You should totally do a tutorial/lesson to play that intro. It rocks !!
I have to say, I love the Rush riffs. Especially since he's Canadian 😁
I like how it actually shows which chords you're playing over; something my Boss JS10 cannot do.
This unit is totally awesome for the cost. It is a Jam ON machine! Granted I am no pro. I've been playing for 40yrs and this thing is is one of the top 5 buy's for my guitar playin ever.
Any Hassles with the delivery times
What were the other 4 ?
@@ibberman My first Ibanez S-series guitar, Roland RC 300 looper, Boss JS-10 E-Band and The first time I went with a 2 amp stereo set up.
@@Atimo133 Yes it did take a long time but it was well worth the wait of three months. I hear they are shipping out a lot faster now.
@@solofender8303 short update, i ordered my Amp about a week ago when i wrote the comment, today i got the email that it's been shipped
This ad keeps popping up on ultimate guitar, apparently they won something at NAMM, but I didnt know if I could trust them. Thanks!
Can't trust this either. It's paid for sister.
On Facebook there's a LOT of complaints about a grounding issue that causes buzzing. Some don't connect to their phone. Etc.
Positive grid is a great “small” company. I personally fully support them and prefer their tones over line 6 garbage. This amp was pretty much crowd funded and Positive grid was not prepared for such physical demand and on top of that has to deal with the virus and riots. All the RUclips demos were “sharing” the same few demo amps. I ordered the Spark and don’t mind one bit to wait or if they already have my money. I would much rather wait for quality Positive grid products than to buy or play through any line 6 junk EVER again. POSITIVE GRID ROCKS!
But but Helix this Helix that blah blah blah 🤣
Then don’t cash the thousands of checks 6 months before you can deliver. That business practice is BS. Charge when you ship.
This is perfect, I've literally been looking at this like everyday for the last few months
Order now for Christmas delivery
@@thcpostv Delivery times from now expected to be April 2021.
Lol listen to the first guy
@@thcpostv Right? We ALL should have gotten the deal with the 'phones and bag for $250 in March!
It'll be worth the wait if you don't mind it
Got a Spark ad before the vid haha
Wow, same here.
Me too
Same!
How is it?
Same here🤣
I just got mine yesterday, ordered on Dec 7th. I was kind of expecting it to be good with so many positive (grid) reviews, but to be honest I’m blown away. Not only does it sound great as an amp in itself, it records beautifully. I pointed a Shure SM57 at one of the cones at the front and recorded a couple of tracks and the sound is amazing, much, much better than plugins, Line 6 Pod, Pod Live and a Blackstar valve amp I also have. The great thing about it is it is tucked away in the corner, I have a Line 6 wireless receiver plugged in to the input, so when I’m sitting at my console I can use a guitar, lead free, and use my iPad to control the sounds, of which there is a huge choice. This is easily the most compact and best sounding guitar recording solution I have ever had, and it is tucked away in the corner hardly visible.
@Philfy Phil
I'm considering surprising our budding guitar (acoustic and electric) player with something like this. She's a Sr in HS. IYO, would this unit be too much for a novice or just enough to grow into on her way to being proficient? Additionally, another poster mentioned an improvement of a missing Bluetooth pedal. Does that really matter to a novice? Your feedback is appreciated. TY
@@CC_Marauder I think it would be perfect. It has great sounds which can inspire good playing, but also built in practice features with drum and bass which will follow the chords you chose to play. I don’t really understand what you mean by a Bluetooth pedal?
@@philfyphil Unlike my daughter, I'm musically challenged. That's why I asked about the BT foot pedal. No biggie. After coming back to see if you responded, I read another review that said after only 4 months of use, the amp has an annoying hum (a well know issue apparently?) that renders it essentially useless. They promised him a replacement 2 mos. ago but still has not received it. I'm not interested in an expensive paperweight. How is your experience in longevity?
Thanks again for your feedback. ✌️
@@CC_Marauder I can’t really comment on longevity as I’ve only just got it as I said. The only hum issue I have heard of is related to the power supply. I don’t have an issue with mine. I’m not really surprised replacements are taking a while, I sent a laptop to someone in Germany about 4 weeks ago and it is still stuck in customs. Just about all deliveries are being delayed at the moment.
Ordered early January and received in the mail today. So far I'm impressed. Now has a two year warranty.
I found the apology from the PG CEO to be sincere. He backed up his words by doubling the warranty. Two years is a long warranty. I have no idea where the company is though.
“And there’s metal on here and ah... let’s go back to channel 3 here”
lol
Dude, you picked the funk drummer! For rock drums and vibe when you play a rock style chord progression into the smart jam pick Dave, the rock guy.
Yep. Total facepalm moment.
He had to be PC
Got this Amp now for two years and it is fantastic , it delivers!! I recommend it to be honest because it is great FUN!
man I’m really thinking about purchasing it as a practice amp! just one question, is the tonecloud free or does it come with like an additional payment?
The Spark amp is FANTASTIC for practicing. Especially when you get about halfway to nailing a song. Queue up the track in the app and play along. The 1/2 speed is, IMO, not worth it unless it's an exceedingly difficult segment that you're trying to nail as the sound gets a bit muddled. But the 80% speed is really damn good. Plus, getting a song under your fingers, in tune, along with the original track, for me anyway, makes me feel like I'm actually getting close to achieving something. I had an old Tasco CD player years ago that allowed me to adjust the tempo of the tracks and the Spark does it far better. Plus, you can hear it all through the one source either through headphones or the speaker. For me, that alone is worth the price of the amp. The fact that it has thousands of tones is a huge, double layer of icing on the cake. For the price, I'd be really hard pressed to think of a better tool for helping you take that next step if it's with a particular song or with having a really versatile gadget to get you excited about sitting down and putting in the time to practice. The functionality is insane for the price. As Mr. Braun said, there are better sounding options for the price but, IMO, not better tools for improving your play. You can pry my Spark from my cold, dead hands.
it's really impressive how much more this offers compared to the jamstack amp for only 70 dollars more. this is a rightcheous purchase to make
Hi Darrell - One thing I haven't seen anyone talk about is using headphones with this amp. Are there stereo effects while using headphones (delay, chorus, reverb)? Thanks for all the great demos!
Just got one and this is perfect video to help me get the best out of it. Have to say that this thing has truly great sounds at room volume and that's coming from someone with various amps and Line 6 gear!
I just got my Spark last week. Was waiting since March 18, but we’ll worth the wait. It is everything Darrell exhibited in this video. Really nice amp and features. Great job Darrell.
I agree, the only complaint I have as of yet is there is way too base tone coming from the cabinet itself
Awesome video. Does this have inputs for mics? And can you plug a keyboard into it?
I ordered my spark from positive grid on Jan 09 of this year......I’m still waiting for it! I recently started playing the guitar again and this seemed like the perfect amp for me.....if I ever receive it I will let you know lol. Positive grid can’t keep up with the orders they will take your money and won’t ship you a product until about 6 months later... it bugs me I see all these RUclipsrs with free spark amps they get sent to them right away but a paying customers like myself has to wait months for it. Very bad business practices
Totally agree. Paying customer here as well...still waiting. Irks me to see so many reviewers prioritized over paying customers although I find the reviews useful.
Update!....I received my amp on June 30th...so one week shy of 6 months from date of order. The amp is as advertised it’s very good, easy to use and sounds great an excellent amp for the price if It wasn’t for the long delivery wait I would say I would be very satisfied with it. So as long as you can wait for 5-6 months to receive it I would recommend buying a Spark. Cheers!
I’ve had one for a few months now (I was an early bird purchaser). The amp is really great in so many ways but it has one glaring shortfall: the lack of even rudimentary looping capability. Its great to have it create bass and drum tracks by analyzing your playing, but then all you end up with is bass and drums. You can play a rhythm track to the bass and drums that it creates or solo as a guitar/bass/drums three-piece but you can’t lay down a rhythm track and then solo against it. I’m not looking for something as sophisticated as the Trio pedal (which lets you do pretty complex looping to the bass and drum tracks that it creates), but being able to even lay down a single rhythm loop would make this the ultimate pedal platform. FYI, I gave up on the learning features and the canned bass/drums in favor of using the Spark with my guitar plugged into the Trio. The built in effects are great. I’d also love if the Spark could have one of those Karaoke machine features where you could load a music track on RUclips that isn’t specially prepared as a karaoke backing track and it digitally removes the vocals. It would be so cool if you could erase the guitar from a backing track and then play along.
Is it possible for the capability to be acquired in the future via software upgrade? That may be a dumbass question....if so sorry
You do realize you already have access to something infinitely powerful than even the most powerful looper and that is a DAW, right?
chatter if I have to go all the way into my studio and fire up my DAW, why would I need the Spark when I can use my real rig? This is a practice amp and a looper is a pretty obvious feature here.
I pre-ordered one back in Feb. I hope it arrives before everyone I know dies of old age...
Ordered mine in January. I emailed them in May and asked for an update. Magically, on May 12th the status of my order changed from 'Awaiting Shipment' to 'In Transit'. Of course...it's been "In Transit" since May 12. It's June 23rd now.
February? 4 months age and you still haven't received it? Oh no, I ordered mine in May. Maybe if I tell them I will review it on RUclips...
@@jaribu2758 be certain to let them know if you move in the next year or so.
Posts like this are exactly why I'm waiting. At this point I think it's still 50/50 between this being a huge hit and the company folding before they actually deliver anything.
Yup same here ordered mine Jan 09 showing in transit May 13 and hasn’t changed the status...apparently you need to have a successful RUclips channel to get one
I'm currently using the Spark as a laptop speaker and practice amp. I have a Blackstar ID:Core next to it that sees almost as much use. In my opinion, both deliver. Just know that the purchase price does not get you all the effects. Additional downloads are required for a fee. But, for less than buying numerous pedals. Thumbs up for both.
Thank you. I was sold on this when I noticed it at a friend’s gig. I liked that it was compact and it still filled the coffee house where he was performing. It was nice to see what else it can do.
Darrell, my question is, how does it compare to other modeling amplifiers such as the Boss Katana or the Fender GTX? I know that trans-tube technology is becoming the focus as more and more companies are coming out with solid-state amplifiers that are replicating the sound and playing experience of valve amplifiers. It is without question that some are doing a better job than others. How then does the spark stack up against the likes of Boss, Fender, Black Star, and Roland in that department? I like the price-point and it is definitely feature-laden but does it replicate the attack, response, and sound of the valve amps and effects realistically and accurately? Great video sir, and thanks for sharing.
Nearly all reviews have been made by RUclipsrs who got the Spark for free. Nobody ever compares the Spark to the Katana, the GTX or the Yamaha THR. That alone should tell you all you need to know ...
well, since I only play at home or at a friend's place I bought this Spark 40 and sold my Katana 100. It weighs about 4 to 5 times less than the Katana and fits on my motorcycle rack. Suits my application far better and my ears aren't good enough to notice any great reduction in tones. And selling all my pedals more than paid for both of those amps
It doesn't sound bad, but the gain/crunch has that digital fizzy sound, to my ears. The Yamaha THR II sounds way more natural for that kind of sound to me.
I got mine two days ago after waiting about six months. No end of cool sounds and all the pedals are already inside!
obbor4 You have to buy more software?
That was a nice review. I am looking for something with a lot of effects. Do you think I should go with the amp like this or a multi-effects pedal such as the Mooer GE200? Thank you very much and I love your channel :) Oh I forgot, I did buy a Fender Mustang LT25 25W with some digital effects.
Think of it as a supercharged Yamaha THR30II with a ton of more flexibility and practice aids. Incredible for the money. Just crazy. It’s so much fun to practice with. You can literally kill hours jamming with stuff. It sounds so good you can mic the darn thing and use it as your amp! I’m 61 years old and would not believe this was humanly possible when I was starting to learn guitar in 1979. So much for so little money! I got it for $259 and free shipping in a promo.
Very cool! To be honest, I feel intimidated by all the stuff that it does. I also feel like I’d spend all my time, noodling around in a chase for certain tones, while having to constantly refer back to the manual (or Google), to recall how to do certain things. I currently use a little Yamaha THR5, for practice. It does some “new fangled” things, too (amp modeling, built in effects, etc); but not even a fraction of what this amp does. Sometimes it get’s overwhelming too, so it feels good to drop back to my trusty (nearly as old as I am) ‘65 Fender Champ 15 watt tube amp. It only has volume and tone controls, but when matched up with my Tele ‘52 reissue (which I bought new in ‘93) it sounds amazing.....
15:22 into the video
Awsome options
British 30 instantly reminded me of the song Working Man by Rush🤘
Progrock ftw
I had my Spark for 5 days, when it just started with a static white noise sound. The input from my guitar was dead. The only thing that worked was Bluetooth. But it was hard to hear over the noise. Positive grid promised me a new amp. I sent my bad one back and I’m waiting for the replacement. Been 3 weeks and no update from them.
Do you have an update?
Please give an update mine is supposed to be on the porch today
@@OscarrCarr I received my replacement Spark. It is working. Fingers crossed.
@@curtisfarmer4926 I received my replacement Spark. It is still working....
I’ve had mine for a few months now. As a busker I depend on battery juice. For several year I used a Roland Street Cube Ex. I liked everything about it but it was a very poor platform for using effects pedals or all in one effects processors. The Spark gives me a far better base tone to run my Roland GR55 with all its sounds. Very pleased with it.
I’ve had one for almost two years and I love it. I have other amps but I’m playing through this the majority of the time. I do play primarily at home for my own enjoyment. FYI, it also has a headphone jack so you can jam away without disturbing anyone else in the house!
Just pre-ordered the Mini version. Have to wait until May for delivery though. Can't wait!
@@martel1972 you’ll love it!
How does it play on low volumes? Can I practice without headphones and without disturbing nearby people?
@@navneetnarayanan2177Yes, I actually play without headphones at lower volumes most of the time and I can still get the tones and feels that I like. I play downstairs and my wife says that most of the time she doesn't even hear me. I especially like accessing the backing tracks through the App for jamming. I have zero regrets owning one!
The intro gets me every time on this channel!
D nice opening my Canadian Brother. Sorry the others don't know that all of us Canadians know one another...
I know, right? Good seeing you again.
I'm into month 5 of the wait but I expected that. This thing is cheaper than some pedals, so providing quality control is good, it's a steal.
I love Positive Grid and utilize their products in my studio more often than most others...i recently had a great experience with live and text customer service snd the problems were solve and even though primarily my own fault, the rep was responsive ,polite, and got me situated promptly, unlike watching smoke pour out of one of my vintage Marshall amps and having to explain to a client that it might be a while for the repairs. I was back to recording in no time at all
Darrell, thanks for another great video. I wish I'd have watched this 3 weeks ago when you put it up and I bookmarked it. I just watched it and purchased a Spark today. They promise shipping in 5-7 days . . . . what they don't tell you is it takes over 2 weeks to ship, LOL. No worries, I can practice relearning the guitar for the next 3 weeks without getting distracted by such a shiny new toy! It'll also give me time to set up my first playlist of songs I want to (re) learn. Really enjoy your channel!
A friend of mine has really been wanting one of these. I'll have to show him this video!
Show him in four or five months. LOL. This company is doing serious damage to itself with all the delays.
mel obrien don’t agree at all!!! “They’re backordered? Dam they must be good! I want one!” Not a bad review of them out there. 🤷🏽♂️
@@44scoots Back ordered?? I haven't heard that one before??? Mmm. Meanwhile there's someone sitting without an amp they paid for & could have bought a Katana or Mustang. Back ordered 🤔🤔🤔🤔
@@nealdewar9959 you haven't heard they're back ordered? Wow, its all over the internet/youtube. Oh well, save your money and buy a Roland Blues Cube Hot 30.
@@44scoots Thanks I already got a Fender gt40 I got in a swap. It serves my purposes.
"phonebook thru a table saw" made this worthwhile
I got mine! I also got the bag with it. This thing is so awesome I'm not even going to go into it. But I will tell you it was very well packaged, and worth the wait!
Is it pretty loud? And can you plug it into a bigger amp or cab?
@@fiendswithbenefits6784 it's practice amp loud. And I don't know, I haven't tried.
@@fiendswithbenefits6784 no you can't plug in a cab.....sounds good though. Loud enough for practice and driving the wife insane.
I be owned Fender, Peavey, and Marshall amps and just bought my first Spark 40. This is by far the best amp I’ve ever owned for the money. I’d have no issues gigging with this thing. It goes way beyond just being a practice amp. With software it comes with it let’s you experiment with tons of amp and pedal set ups so if you want to buy new pedals or an amp you have a little better idea how things will integrate before you spend the money.
I liked these practice amps so much I bought one for myself and my grandson. They really are loaded with all manner of goodies. I am hoping my grandson takes off with this and learns quickly all the features and functions.
A friend took this to (drummerless) practice last night. It did well enough. I asked him a simple yet critical question, and only one question: “Does it inspire you to play?”
The answer was: “Yes”.
I’ll put it on my to-buy list, and possibly sooner rather than later.