@@GuitarZero2Herohi I'm a new subscriber to ur channel I'm watching ur guitar tutorials...I have 1 question I have the airstep SPK is it gonna work with my spark 2? mine is arriving tomorrow....thanks
@@dimebag0474 Hey Dimebag...I was wondering the same thing....I have the Airstep footswitch for the Spark 40, I'm thinking about upgrading to the Spark 2. So what did you find out? Does the Airstep work with the Spark 2? thanks !!
I just pre bought mine today based it off how much I love my 40. I know a lot of people hate em but whatever! I love mine and since I work offshore it’s the ultimate lightweight amp that doesn’t take much space and does a lot! I like to jam to backing tracks and the spark is awesome at that! Can’t wait for my spark 2😊
I was all ready to stick with my 40 - I don't play much and it does what I need. The improvement in sound on the Spark 2 vs the 40 is crazy though, huge step change on those comparisons
One of the most thorough reviews I've seen, period. EXCELLENT review all around. I was looking at a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 but you just sold me on the Spark 2. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
It’s an upgraded and bigger version of the spark mini. The spark 40 does not sound good without serious eq tweaks. Meaning the speaker sounds are not close to the headphone or direct sounds. On the mini they’re almost identical to each other. Much improved seams on the spark 2
That is good to know. I love my Spark 40's sound though my headphone, but not so much though it's speaker. I have ordered the Spark 2. Can't wait to get it!
Like any amp , it’s comes down to tweaking and tuning your tone, there are some good features on the new one, but no matter what you have it’s up to you to update or tweak, your device
The 40 sounds like it has a massively thick blanket over the speakers. Biggest reason I never got one. Now the spark 2 is a completely different story. I like what I hear. Almost bought a mooer sd30. Glad I waited👍 very nice thororough review
I own a Spark40, a Mini, a Go, and I just received my Spark 2 .. I love these amps.. In fact when I'm jamming wirh a full crew I'll slave my Marshall Plexi to one of my Sparks and ....Boom!! Tone + Power + options.. Nothing in it's class beats a Spark.. I recommend it for any guitariest beginner to pro.
Bravo! Great explanation and breakdown of an awesome piece of kit. A friend bought me the Spark Mini and I was impressed, but after seeing Dave Tran Demonstrate the Spark 2 I am going to upgrade. Perfect for novices like me.
@@GuitarZero2Hero I mostly want a practice amp with looping capabilities to learn guitar at home. Down the road i'd like to incorporate vocals. Would you recommend the spark live or get the spark 2 now & a simple vocal amp later?
Just ordered the Spark 2 in white thanks to your review .i didnt know what i should get but this helped me make my mind up . Love all your videos and lessons by the way :)))
Thank you for this review !! I definitely will add the Spark 2 to my gear collection, it is undoubtedly the best practice amp available right now. I really like that they added a battery, updated the speakers and bass port. The only negative thing I see, is that we double DSP capabilities we still have to chose either a Mod or an EQ. This is annoying but in general I really appreciate all the efforts they put in it and I am definitely in 🤘
i agree they need to give you control over the order of effects and the ones you can use at the same time as well as give better guidelines to which tablet to purchase that can handle the operations without it shutting down the wah effects for lack of memory.
Glad they’re using the same battery pack and didn’t make a specific unit. One of my favorite things about the LIVE version is that I can set it up anywhere, plug in a mic and guitar and go. It’ll be interesting to see what the discount is for current owners.
Such a great review, the way you describe all the Spark 2 properties is perfectly presented and so easy to follow for a foreigner like me. My admiration to your loops, so easy yet so great. Thank you. Ludek from Prague
Really enjoyed your review, @GuitarZero2Hero - nice one! I have the Spark 40 and recently got the Spark 2, and I confirm that everything you said about the upgrade and superior functionality of the Spark 2 is accurate. One thing for everyone to be aware of, though, is that (on both the 40 and the 2), the video recording function doesn't work on later Android tablets/phones (I'm using Android 13 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+), as it keeps asking for permission to access your device's storage, even though no permissions are denied. Positive Grid has been aware of this for at least 5 months, but it's still not fixed (as of 2 September 2024). It's a fairly minor issue, but worth being aware of.
they need to open the app to enable it to used the on desktops and laptops til then it's still very limited for my uses and which tablet is best to handle the app without shutting down the wah from memory overload
That was the best deep dive that I have seen on that thank you! I have the 40 and I can get pretty damn good sound out of that and even adjust either the guitar or the amp itself to get rid of the woofiness . Also, they give you a break if you already own the 40 so you can pick it up for 238 for the Spark two.! I love that you preset eight instead of four presets. and also you don’t have to buy and if the other software it’s all included. So I’m looking forward to my Spark to arriving!
The looper is definitely a selling point for me. I was already thinking about getting a drum and loop pedal and then playing my Spark 40 with a Boss IR-2, but now it makes more sense for me to sell my Spark 40 and get the Spark 2, especially since it will also be available in white. Maybe I would have liked a foot switch connection to switch back and forth between two presets (rhythm and lead), for example. That would have been easy to do, since you would only have had to put the impulse when pressing the preset control onto a foot switch.
The amp seems great, but upgrading and adding new software would be really cool, a game changer, like a drop pitch pedal, so we can play songs in other tunings, like Eb, D standard, things like that. Also it would be nice in the software app to be able to move the pedals around. maybe a foot switch to switch to different presets. Maybe the ability to create a preset list. Thank you for posting this.
Does the Spark 2 allow the user to create their own “Amp Groups”? Example, I play a Tele, a Strat, a PRS. I would like to save presets based on the guitars I use.
The way to demo an amp like this is to show us what it can actually do and showcase its full range of capabilities. Show off its effects and dial up some various Pink Floyd tones, say, "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Run Like Hell." Show me a good ACDC tone and ZZ Top tone I can use. Many players like myself also enjoy playing classic metal, so demonstrate a good Metallica tone. Show a tone that works well for Pantera. Additionally, highlight tones for rockabilly, vintage surf music, country, and funk. Essentially, display the amp’s tonal palette and effects and how it can be used to cover a wide range of material. I wish Positve Grid would send me one. I'd really put it to the test.
I'd like to see how it stacks up to other brands' new desktop amps coming out in the next few months and if they have fixed the bugs from the Spark 40 I'm on my second one after hardware failure in the first one and I see signs of this one going down in the same way in the future. you have to be careful how long you leave the amp on because it really can shorten the amp's life and PG tech support sucks as far as I have experienced so far. the difference between a good solid-state amp and a bad one is the tech support period. It is good to remember these amps are disposable and no one knows how to work on them
I would have liked an extra channel. It would be great to have a mic input, that would make it a fantastic busking tool. I currently have a Bose S1 pro, which does benefit from two channels, + bluetooth, but doesn’t do all the backing track/looping and modelling effects that the Spark offers. Great review, thanks!
Great review and video as usal. Thanks for sharing. I can't agree more on the user scenarios you've described as I own Go, Mini, 40 and now Spark 2. And Spark 2 is a great step forward. Love it.
I have a Mini, but I ordered a Spark 2. Funny thing is I just received the Xsonic Ulooper, I only learned about the Spark 2 having a looper afterwards. Doh!
I've had the Spark 40 for about 3 years now and I love this practice amp. I like to bring it to school whenever I give guitar lessons. This video brings a question though. Does the release of the second model mean the end of the updates for the Spark40? It's a practice amp so I don't really feel obliged to get the most recent model since I don't need the battery feature and I also have more powerful amps to play with. I also bought the NUX MG-30 a few weeks ago and I love it. Hello from Ottawa, ON.
I bought the 40 2 weeks before they announced the spark 2, then I was away for a week and then got covid. I know the 40 is pretty much perfect for my needs but wish I’d had a warning of some kind. Hell, if it was $100 off, I could probably rationalize it. As it is, not so much.
I am surprised how the spark go sounded. I never checked it out because every tiny amp I have tried didn’t sound that great. But for a tiny amp I am surprised. I had the spark 40 when it first came out, and played around with it for a few months. But there is some features on the new spark 2 I like, and I think it would be great for parks and camping ect. Probably give it a try once it’s available. Great review!
i ordered my Spark 2 yesterday. Looks amazing but with all these features are their tutorials that teach you how to use them? I’m not really an expert on looping and tones. I want to learn of course.
man, they should have added a DI out, that's why many go with other amps like fender mustang or line 6 catalyst. If you make an amp do all this great backing track stuff, would be nice to DI it without a mic for a quiet stage. So simple. We play at home, but would also like to use it for small venues. Cant believe this hasn't come up in a meeting at positive grid
Goes spark 2 and then mini for sound. Can’t wait for a mini 2 upgrade. Still need an app upgrade though so you can use more pedals and even in different orders.
Almost there... Missing from what I can see: Spring reverb Full size headphone jack (Not PCB mounted) FX-loop Assignable Expression pedal input The "upgrade" price has to be very competitive if they expect me to jump on it as it only addresses the boominess of the 40 in my case.
I actually like that heavy low end sound. I glad to hear about the looper, but I feel they could do more before releasing a new amp. Like an ai chord/key recognition, as well as tone recognition. And maybe have a guitar sound swap like the bias fx plugin
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.
All I can say is that since Spark 2 has been announced, the amount of used half-priced Spark 40 (v1) is tremendous. It can be bought for 160 Eur in perfect state.
From what I understand, you need to register your amp on your positive grid account. As long as it's a spark 40, you should get access to an additional discount when they open to orders.
@@tomsidoti5290 Spark 2 and AIRSTEP do not work with each other, not very easily at least. Good thing Spark 2 is an awesome audio interface so you can just use bias fx 2
Okay how does that tiny Spark go sound 100x better than the original spark 40 haha. The spark 2 seems like a 100% buy if you own the first one and LOVE it. It just sooo much better.
Before watching, my biggest problem was that I was getting drowned out by other amps, even similar sized ones, with the 40. I hope the 2 will resolve that problem but, listening to the side by side comparison, I also didn't realize how muffled the 40 sounds compared to the cleaner/crisper sound of, well, all the rest. Still love my 40 but, definitely upgrading to the 2... if not the Live! Anyone interested in a used, very well taken care of 40? lol...
I would like to see a specific preset to bypass all amps and effects implemented without icons so there would be no confusion (or the option to remove them completely from the instrument list i .e. the icons) as an option, rather than just off/on.
I would like the sparks more if the eq/mod was separated. For me it's the only downside to have to choose between modulation effects or eq. I want both.
Received my Spark 2 in advance (I used the pre order offer 😃), I already had the mini and go but did not like the muddy sound of the 40. I am quite delighted to say that it has been fixed and that the spark 2 now has fantastic sounds, as good as the mini and other practice amps (I have the yamaha thr 30ii, the Boss Dualcube lx and some Nux too). The looper was the functionality I was expecting the most and that's fantastic it is now integrated. However I have a question as I am an heavy home studio player and I do record lots of videos for fun : is it possible in a Daw to split the loop and the guitar lead, meaning to record the loop on one track and the lead guitar on another one, things I am doing with the Boss RC 500 .... As the Spark 2 has a stereo Line out option , I thought it would be possible to do it, is it ? Thanks for your answer 🙏
I would rather go with Boss Katana Mini X - straight forward physical dials.....spent more time playing guitar instead of fiddling with an iPhone for half the price, I think Boss mini X like a $150 bucks battery included.
how „silent“ can the Spark 2 go, compared with the mini? i often use the minis guitar knob only at around 9am to 11am, or about a fourth / third of the possible loudness. how loud is the Spark 2 compared? could you do db measurements?
Thanks for this review. What do you think about it when it comes to play acoustic guitar (in terms of sound as features would be different) ? Does it worth it or is it better to go for a bugera AC60 or nux ac25?
Great job. Spark 2 is far more articulate and the heavier bass is gone compared to Spark 40. Man, I wish I could afford it right now. Do they take Spark 40's for trade in? I'd gladly pay the balance! lol🤘🏻🎸
@shima3092 Yeah, boss katana will do better for me. It has bigger speaker and it is possible to gig with it. The katana looks cooler in my opinion and will be suitable everywhere. The only disadvantage is the weigh, but everyone is able to lift 12kg.
I love my Spark 40. Its got so many uses that you'll sometimes forget its a guitar amplifier in the first place. My cheap wireless unit actually kills that unwanted ooompf this amp gives. It really sounds a bit shrill to be honest but if you use it as a monitor, it will actually give you a flat response output. Use it as a bluetooth speaker and it will give you a "Apple-devices" like EQ shape. I modded mine with a battery and sometimes thats all i need. A loud, guitar amp that can do what i want it to do, despite a the need for a extra tweaking here and there.
Is the Aux In truly independent of other functions, so we can use modelers via the Aux In with no lag? (This is infamously impossible with the Spark Mini?)
@@thehappyheretic2136that pedal is shit ( I think the whole pack was a waste of money only bought it to get the wah) You can barely hear the octave The spark needs a proper pitch shifter That can be used as an octaver
@@MicksMechanics The mini is a completely separate product line and much smaller. Also, it looks great whilst the Spark 2 (and Spark 1 for that matter) are fugly.
@@fgoulding mate I own all 3 I know the size is different I could be wrong they may do a spark 2 mini But I was just saying I don’t see the point now that the spark 2 has an optional battery
Nice amp but there's still no option to modify the effects signal chain and that's extremely important to me. And PG still has the equalizer as one of the Mod/EQ options instead of as a stand alone--why PG why?? I'll still use my TRIO+ to loop and already have a portable battery to power it up. There's just not enough here for me to upgrade, my 40 still suits me just fine.
Could you help us with something. With the new Control X, what expression and volume pedals are compatible with it? It’s easy to see Positive Grid videos showing one connected but they don’t sell one so what model are they using? Thank you for your help and all of your great videos.
Why can't all reviewers be as thorough and as smart as you are 😅 so surprisingly rare to see anyone actually pull off a good and thorough review!
Thank you!
@@GuitarZero2Herohi I'm a new subscriber to ur channel I'm watching ur guitar tutorials...I have 1 question I have the airstep SPK is it gonna work with my spark 2? mine is arriving tomorrow....thanks
@@dimebag0474 Hey Dimebag...I was wondering the same thing....I have the Airstep footswitch for the Spark 40, I'm thinking about upgrading to the Spark 2. So what did you find out? Does the Airstep work with the Spark 2? thanks !!
I just pre bought mine today based it off how much I love my 40. I know a lot of people hate em but whatever! I love mine and since I work offshore it’s the ultimate lightweight amp that doesn’t take much space and does a lot! I like to jam to backing tracks and the spark is awesome at that! Can’t wait for my spark 2😊
Other people are living their lives. Hating. Let em.
I was all ready to stick with my 40 - I don't play much and it does what I need. The improvement in sound on the Spark 2 vs the 40 is crazy though, huge step change on those comparisons
That new Spark 2 sounds great! Can't wait to grab one. My Spark 1 is my favorite amp by far! Such a great learning and playing tool!
One of the most thorough reviews I've seen, period. EXCELLENT review all around. I was looking at a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 but you just sold me on the Spark 2. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
My pleasure!
I'm so happy I watched this first... would've ordered the Spark 40 and thought it was the Spark 2
It’s an upgraded and bigger version of the spark mini. The spark 40 does not sound good without serious eq tweaks. Meaning the speaker sounds are not close to the headphone or direct sounds. On the mini they’re almost identical to each other. Much improved seams on the spark 2
That is good to know. I love my Spark 40's sound though my headphone, but not so much though it's speaker. I have ordered the Spark 2. Can't wait to get it!
Like any amp , it’s comes down to tweaking and tuning your tone, there are some good features on the new one, but no matter what you have it’s up to you to update or tweak, your device
The 40 sounds like it has a massively thick blanket over the speakers. Biggest reason I never got one. Now the spark 2 is a completely different story. I like what I hear. Almost bought a mooer sd30. Glad I waited👍 very nice thororough review
I bought the spark mini first. Love it so much. I just got my spark 2 and love that just as much. Both are so good and fun!
Great to hear!
Mine showed up today, I’ll set it up tomorrow 👍
I own a Spark40, a Mini, a Go, and I just received my Spark 2 .. I love these amps.. In fact when I'm jamming wirh a full crew I'll slave my Marshall Plexi to one of my Sparks and ....Boom!! Tone + Power + options..
Nothing in it's class beats a Spark..
I recommend it for any guitariest beginner to pro.
Bravo! Great explanation and breakdown of an awesome piece of kit. A friend bought me the Spark Mini and I was impressed, but after seeing Dave Tran Demonstrate the Spark 2 I am going to upgrade. Perfect for novices like me.
Great review/comparison video. 👍🏼 Was about to get the mini, but the addition of the looper & fixing the low end sound sold me on the Spark 2.
Glad it was helpful!
@@GuitarZero2Hero I mostly want a practice amp with looping capabilities to learn guitar at home. Down the road i'd like to incorporate vocals. Would you recommend the spark live or get the spark 2 now & a simple vocal amp later?
Well said. I'm definitely upgrading from my spark 40
Just ordered the Spark 2 in white thanks to your review .i didnt know what i should get but this helped me make my mind up . Love all your videos and lessons by the way :)))
Thank you for this review !! I definitely will add the Spark 2 to my gear collection, it is undoubtedly the best practice amp available right now. I really like that they added a battery, updated the speakers and bass port. The only negative thing I see, is that we double DSP capabilities we still have to chose either a Mod or an EQ. This is annoying but in general I really appreciate all the efforts they put in it and I am definitely in 🤘
i agree they need to give you control over the order of effects and the ones you can use at the same time as well as give better guidelines to which tablet to purchase that can handle the operations without it shutting down the wah effects for lack of memory.
@@adilO.o Nux mighty space is superior to spark
I’ve been watching a lot of review videos on this…yours is BY FAR the most helpful and comprehensive. Thank you!!! Subscribed!
Glad it was helpful!
Glad they’re using the same battery pack and didn’t make a specific unit.
One of my favorite things about the LIVE version is that I can set it up anywhere, plug in a mic and guitar and go.
It’ll be interesting to see what the discount is for current owners.
did he say it’s the same? if so big deal as i have spark live and battery
i went to the site. i believe it is the same battery
Discount for current owners? All it said was early bird price of $259 instead of the usual 299
@@J.C...once you register your spark 40 online the discount will appear :)
$239 (plus Tax) price for upgrade.
Such a great review, the way you describe all the Spark 2 properties is perfectly presented and so easy to follow for a foreigner like me. My admiration to your loops, so easy yet so great. Thank you. Ludek from Prague
You’re welcome!
I just received mine. The sound is by far better than the spark1. Really it is impressive
Really enjoyed your review, @GuitarZero2Hero - nice one! I have the Spark 40 and recently got the Spark 2, and I confirm that everything you said about the upgrade and superior functionality of the Spark 2 is accurate. One thing for everyone to be aware of, though, is that (on both the 40 and the 2), the video recording function doesn't work on later Android tablets/phones (I'm using Android 13 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+), as it keeps asking for permission to access your device's storage, even though no permissions are denied. Positive Grid has been aware of this for at least 5 months, but it's still not fixed (as of 2 September 2024). It's a fairly minor issue, but worth being aware of.
Spark 2 and Spark Live definitly sounds the best. Hopefully the Loop will come for the live Version as well on the App.
You did a great job. Most useful review I’ve seen so far on this product. I’ll definitely get one.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
You always do the best product reviews. 😊
Oh thank you!
It's indeed an upgrade, BUT WE NEED A DESKTOP SOFTWARE!
Bluetooth or direct would be nice.
Isn't that what Bias Effects 2 is?
I'd much rather them put money and resources into important/needed features over desktop software....
@@dbillett1 no. It has nothing to do with the spark amp. It is a standalone with higher quality sounds and features.
they need to open the app to enable it to used the on desktops and laptops til then it's still very limited for my uses and which tablet is best to handle the app without shutting down the wah from memory overload
Love your videos! Been watching you for years and you never disappoint 🤘🏽
I appreciate that!
That was the best deep dive that I have seen on that thank you! I have the 40 and I can get pretty damn good sound out of that and even adjust either the guitar or the amp itself to get rid of the woofiness . Also, they give you a break if you already own the 40 so you can pick it up for 238 for the Spark two.! I love that you preset eight instead of four presets. and also you don’t have to buy and if the other software it’s all included. So I’m looking forward to my Spark to arriving!
The looper is definitely a selling point for me. I was already thinking about getting a drum and loop pedal and then playing my Spark 40 with a Boss IR-2, but now it makes more sense for me to sell my Spark 40 and get the Spark 2, especially since it will also be available in white. Maybe I would have liked a foot switch connection to switch back and forth between two presets (rhythm and lead), for example. That would have been easy to do, since you would only have had to put the impulse when pressing the preset control onto a foot switch.
The amp seems great, but upgrading and adding new software would be really cool, a game changer, like a drop pitch pedal, so we can play songs in other tunings, like Eb, D standard, things like that. Also it would be nice in the software app to be able to move the pedals around. maybe a foot switch to switch to different presets. Maybe the ability to create a preset list. Thank you for posting this.
Does the Spark 2 allow the user to create their own “Amp Groups”? Example, I play a Tele, a Strat, a PRS. I would like to save presets based on the guitars I use.
I had no idea they were adding this to the spark family.
if you mean saving a tone you made for a specific guitar then totally! i save my tones with a guitar in the name, for example "zeplin tone les paul "
@@hachiroku5407 today, there are categories like Rock, Pop, etc. I mean it would be good to create my own category like Tele, Les Paul, etc.
The way to demo an amp like this is to show us what it can actually do and showcase its full range of capabilities. Show off its effects and dial up some various Pink Floyd tones, say, "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Run Like Hell." Show me a good ACDC tone and ZZ Top tone I can use. Many players like myself also enjoy playing classic metal, so demonstrate a good Metallica tone. Show a tone that works well for Pantera. Additionally, highlight tones for rockabilly, vintage surf music, country, and funk. Essentially, display the amp’s tonal palette and effects and how it can be used to cover a wide range of material. I wish Positve Grid would send me one. I'd really put it to the test.
I have it. (Spark mini). Those tones and options are there. Check online it’s called tone cloud
Buy one you cheapskate!😁
@@dg1294 They're not available yet, genius. Only pre-order. Very soon though.
I'd like to see how it stacks up to other brands' new desktop amps coming out in the next few months and if they have fixed the bugs from the Spark 40 I'm on my second one after hardware failure in the first one and I see signs of this one going down in the same way in the future. you have to be careful how long you leave the amp on because it really can shorten the amp's life and PG tech support sucks as far as I have experienced so far. the difference between a good solid-state amp and a bad one is the tech support period. It is good to remember these amps are disposable and no one knows how to work on them
I would have liked an extra channel. It would be great to have a mic input, that would make it a fantastic busking tool.
I currently have a Bose S1 pro, which does benefit from two channels, + bluetooth, but doesn’t do all the backing track/looping and modelling effects that the Spark offers.
Great review, thanks!
I hope the looper will make its way to the other variants like the Spark Go. Nice playing btw!
Thank you!
ulooper by xsonic might be worth looking into
Great review and video as usal. Thanks for sharing. I can't agree more on the user scenarios you've described as I own Go, Mini, 40 and now Spark 2. And Spark 2 is a great step forward. Love it.
Thanks for watching :)
I have a Mini, but I ordered a Spark 2. Funny thing is I just received the Xsonic Ulooper, I only learned about the Spark 2 having a looper afterwards. Doh!
Don't have 40 nor Spark 2 so no bias, Spark 2 sounds so much better.
I've had the Spark 40 for about 3 years now and I love this practice amp. I like to bring it to school whenever I give guitar lessons. This video brings a question though. Does the release of the second model mean the end of the updates for the Spark40? It's a practice amp so I don't really feel obliged to get the most recent model since I don't need the battery feature and I also have more powerful amps to play with. I also bought the NUX MG-30 a few weeks ago and I love it. Hello from Ottawa, ON.
Great review! Does it also have a clean for acoustic guitar model? Many thanks
Yup it works for acoustic guitars too :)
Got it ! I will wait for the Spark 3 Amp
Considering it took them 4 years to come out with Spark 2, good luck!
Impressive deferred gratification. You must not be American. We MUST buy each iteration that manufactures crank out. Witness IPhone.
I bought the 40 2 weeks before they announced the spark 2, then I was away for a week and then got covid. I know the 40 is pretty much perfect for my needs but wish I’d had a warning of some kind. Hell, if it was $100 off, I could probably rationalize it. As it is, not so much.
I was thinking about the Spark amp for awhile then now they come out with the Spark 2 and blow my mind away lol.
Hi Dave. Can I use my existing Spark 40 footswitch with the Spark 2 or is there a new footswitch coming too?
I'm hoping for a Spark Live 2
oh dont worry they will release a 2 of all their amps ... give it some time
I am surprised how the spark go sounded. I never checked it out because every tiny amp I have tried didn’t sound that great. But for a tiny amp I am surprised. I had the spark 40 when it first came out, and played around with it for a few months. But there is some features on the new spark 2 I like, and I think it would be great for parks and camping ect. Probably give it a try once it’s available. Great review!
i ordered my Spark 2 yesterday. Looks amazing but with all these features are their tutorials that teach you how to use them? I’m not really an expert on looping and tones. I want to learn of course.
All I will say is that I learned my lesson on buying gear that rely on their apps for full control. Looking at you Digitech iStomp!
man, they should have added a DI out, that's why many go with other amps like fender mustang or line 6 catalyst. If you make an amp do all this great backing track stuff, would be nice to DI it without a mic for a quiet stage. So simple. We play at home, but would also like to use it for small venues. Cant believe this hasn't come up in a meeting at positive grid
Goes spark 2 and then mini for sound. Can’t wait for a mini 2 upgrade. Still need an app upgrade though so you can use more pedals and even in different orders.
Almost there...
Missing from what I can see:
Spring reverb
Full size headphone jack (Not PCB mounted)
FX-loop
Assignable Expression pedal input
The "upgrade" price has to be very competitive if they expect me to jump on it as it only addresses the boominess of the 40 in my case.
spring reverb. big missing feature.
I actually like that heavy low end sound. I glad to hear about the looper, but I feel they could do more before releasing a new amp. Like an ai chord/key recognition, as well as tone recognition. And maybe have a guitar sound swap like the bias fx plugin
Can you make the Spark 2 play through my Spark Cab without muting the Spark 2 without extra hardware like say the Ulooper please?
Great review I'm looking forward to getting my Spark 2 🤘🏻🎸
Can the 40 and the 2 be daisy chained in any way or hooked up to an external board or speakers
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.
Great review. Only disapointment is I read it will only record into a daw at 44.1/16 bit. please correct me if I am wrong.
Does the X Footswitch be used to operate the onboard Looper?
Their info page says it does.
could I use this for playing a gig at a small venue or is it just for use as a practice amp?
With spark cab, yes, without, only quiet jazz gigs.
Is the looper going to be available for the 40 in the app - just not onboard?
sounds less heavy on the bass / the problem everyone had with the 40, am I right?
All I can say is that since Spark 2 has been announced, the amount of used half-priced Spark 40 (v1) is tremendous. It can be bought for 160 Eur in perfect state.
How does the upgrade program work? Is there a discount for existing g Spark 40 owners?
From what I understand, you need to register your amp on your positive grid account. As long as it's a spark 40, you should get access to an additional discount when they open to orders.
@@SolomonKrul which I've done. Just curious if they have leaked that discount. It's going to need tk be significant to justify upgrading
Upgrade price is $239
@@Archtops yeah. Finally got that. Wow a whole $10 🤦♂️
Hi just curious - I think the sound on this video is very well done - what was your setup ? Looking forward to spark 2
Can you plug the spark 2 to a DI and play live without any problems?
Or can you plug the spark 2 to a different cab and use it only as a preamp?
How much does it cost to upgrade???
Finally having a looper is great but can it be managed via any foot controls?
Yes, the Spark foot controller pedal
And I’d assume the AIRSTEP to
@@Incacal71 Thanks for confirming.
@@rudstar64not too sure about that,,I've got the spark edition xsonic but I'm thinking it's not going to get any updates from xsonic
@@tomsidoti5290 Spark 2 and AIRSTEP do not work with each other, not very easily at least. Good thing Spark 2 is an awesome audio interface so you can just use bias fx 2
Okay how does that tiny Spark go sound 100x better than the original spark 40 haha. The spark 2 seems like a 100% buy if you own the first one and LOVE it. It just sooo much better.
Before watching, my biggest problem was that I was getting drowned out by other amps, even similar sized ones, with the 40. I hope the 2 will resolve that problem but, listening to the side by side comparison, I also didn't realize how muffled the 40 sounds compared to the cleaner/crisper sound of, well, all the rest. Still love my 40 but, definitely upgrading to the 2... if not the Live! Anyone interested in a used, very well taken care of 40? lol...
I would like to see a specific preset to bypass all amps and effects implemented without icons so there would be no confusion (or the option to remove them completely from the instrument list i .e. the icons) as an option, rather than just off/on.
Er...stick to an acoustic?
Can you upload the loop created to a DAW on the computer through the USB-C?
I would like the sparks more if the eq/mod was separated. For me it's the only downside to have to choose between modulation effects or eq. I want both.
Yep eq should be on it’s own bank
I have the eq always on so I can never use modulation effects
Get an actual pedal!
Received my Spark 2 in advance (I used the pre order offer 😃), I already had the mini and go but did not like the muddy sound of the 40. I am quite delighted to say that it has been fixed and that the spark 2 now has fantastic sounds, as good as the mini and other practice amps (I have the yamaha thr 30ii, the Boss Dualcube lx and some Nux too). The looper was the functionality I was expecting the most and that's fantastic it is now integrated. However I have a question as I am an heavy home studio player and I do record lots of videos for fun : is it possible in a Daw to split the loop and the guitar lead, meaning to record the loop on one track and the lead guitar on another one, things I am doing with the Boss RC 500 .... As the Spark 2 has a stereo Line out option , I thought it would be possible to do it, is it ? Thanks for your answer 🙏
Great review! I still am wondering if I should upgrade or not. The sound is discernably better on the 2 than the 40.
Will the control-x control the looper? Will the control-x work without the app and device hooked up?
I would rather go with Boss Katana Mini X - straight forward physical dials.....spent more time playing guitar instead of fiddling with an iPhone for half the price, I think Boss mini X like a $150 bucks battery included.
Will the spark live be updated to use the groove looper?
Great review ! Good job !
does the Spark2 now has the power/functionality to pitch shift / downtune the incoming guitar signal like a Digitech The Drop?
One thing for sure the spark sounds the best of them all.
how „silent“ can the Spark 2 go, compared with the mini?
i often use the minis guitar knob only at around 9am to 11am, or about a fourth / third of the possible loudness.
how loud is the Spark 2 compared?
could you do db measurements?
What are the best amplifiers for beginners Boss katana 3 or Spark 2? Great video 👍thank you.
Will the Spark 2 take power from the CAB speaker like the Spark 40 does?
Thanks for this review. What do you think about it when it comes to play acoustic guitar (in terms of sound as features would be different) ? Does it worth it or is it better to go for a bugera AC60 or nux ac25?
It works with acoustic, the software contains a few different acoustic amp models :)
I have the Spark 40 and very recently got the Spark 2. To my ear, Spark 2 is much better at handling acoustic guitars.
Great job. Spark 2 is far more articulate and the heavier bass is gone compared to Spark 40. Man, I wish I could afford it right now. Do they take Spark 40's for trade in? I'd gladly pay the balance! lol🤘🏻🎸
Great comparison. Is there any noticeable difference in tone when playing through quality headphones due to the new DSP?
Slight difference, spark 2 and live have overall more natural sounding tones then the other 3 due to the upgraded modeling
Should I go for Boss Katana 50 or the Spark 2? i am thinking about it, both are really attractive and sound great, but i can't decide
hi did you make a choice ? I am hesitating too
@shima3092 Yeah, boss katana will do better for me. It has bigger speaker and it is possible to gig with it. The katana looks cooler in my opinion and will be suitable everywhere. The only disadvantage is the weigh, but everyone is able to lift 12kg.
@@Vashaco thans for your answer, defenitely going to buy a katana now
wonder what the upgrade price will be
I love my Spark 40. Its got so many uses that you'll sometimes forget its a guitar amplifier in the first place.
My cheap wireless unit actually kills that unwanted ooompf this amp gives. It really sounds a bit shrill to be honest but if you use it as a monitor, it will actually give you a flat response output.
Use it as a bluetooth speaker and it will give you a "Apple-devices" like EQ shape.
I modded mine with a battery and sometimes thats all i need. A loud, guitar amp that can do what i want it to do, despite a the need for a extra tweaking here and there.
Nice review @GuitarZero2Hero does the spark 2 speakers go on mute when you use the line out from the back of the amp?
Yes they do
Can I use that line out as a send and return ?
Hi, great demo. Boss katana gen 3
Or Spark 2? Which is better for home use.
hi did you make a choise now ? I am also hesitating
Very cool, but it still sounds rather dark to me. Can it do a jangly Fenderish tone?
Hey buddy it's not a Princeton
Can you store loops you’ve recorded ? 🤔
Is the Aux In truly independent of other functions, so we can use modelers via the Aux In with no lag?
(This is infamously impossible with the Spark Mini?)
Sounds fine with single coils, humbuckers would like a try. 😉
Is there an Octave effect yet?
in the Hendrix upgrade package
@@thehappyheretic2136that pedal is shit ( I think the whole pack was a waste of money only bought it to get the wah)
You can barely hear the octave
The spark needs a proper pitch shifter
That can be used as an octaver
The spark mini sounded great. Might be worth waiting for the V2.
I don’t think they will do one
Seems pointless if you can buy a battery for the spark 2
@@MicksMechanics The mini is a completely separate product line and much smaller. Also, it looks great whilst the Spark 2 (and Spark 1 for that matter) are fugly.
@@fgoulding the mini was only released cause people were asking for a battery powered spark amp
And I wouldn’t say it’s a completely different product
The size is completely different....by a long way
@@fgoulding mate I own all 3
I know the size is different
I could be wrong they may do a spark 2 mini
But I was just saying I don’t see the point now that the spark 2 has an optional battery
Nice amp but there's still no option to modify the effects signal chain and that's extremely important to me. And PG still has the equalizer as one of the Mod/EQ options instead of as a stand alone--why PG why?? I'll still use my TRIO+ to loop and already have a portable battery to power it up. There's just not enough here for me to upgrade, my 40 still suits me just fine.
Could you help us with something. With the new Control X, what expression and volume pedals are compatible with it? It’s easy to see Positive Grid videos showing one connected but they don’t sell one so what model are they using? Thank you for your help and all of your great videos.