I own all the Spark amps-the 40, Mini, and Go-and the cab. I use them all the time. I just got my Spark 2 yesterday, and it's vastly improved. The looper is fun to nerd out on. No regrets here. I would recommend it 100%. I love the video, Phil.
I loved the style of this video, like sitting in the room while you evaluate. I know you want to sit with things for a lot longer, and that's fair. But there's something really interesting about seeing your reactions and thoughts happening in real time, even knowing that they are provisional. Also really like how you consistently focused on getting the usable tones and functions that you need, knowing that those are, and being able to explain that and how the product is meeting or failing to meet them. (I actually think you struggle a bit with this in guitar land, where narrative or idea of a guitar is often a big factor in your interest.) Anyway, just wanted to say that I did appreciate seeing your off-the-cull reactions to new gear, and that I'd rather see this than not see anything because the full evaluation etc would take too much playing and production time.
Yeah agree with the above it’s cool to watch you tweak the controls. Sometimes I’m afraid to trust my ear or go too far down the rabbit hole. Because I think that the presets are optimal since the company did them. But when you said “why does every amp company make their presets so over done”. I was like “yeah that right! Sounds way too much”. So I think I’m going to trust my ear more and tweak away. Thanks for the real review. Btw I own a SPK2 and appreciate it more now. 😊
I have disconnected the speakers in my 40. The amp now sits on its' front (with the controls now at the front) and I use a pair of old PAs with 2x6" Lorantz and 2x8" Lorantz drivers. A great sound.
Got mine last weekend. This is much better than the Spark 40. As it is, it's a great practice amp where the THR's (I have the original 10, 30, and the 100HD) are just great amps. The sound quality of the Spark 2 is improved but it's still a little boomy, particularly when playing bluetooth audio. I think your video illustrates this and reflects my experience as well. At least the tonestack works well and you can cut the boominess out of the guitar signal. The audio quality is decent out of the speakers but it's does get a little spicy in the treble and has some sibilants in s's and t's when playing bluetooth audio. I double checked, and this isn't present with headphones or via the line outs so I'm pretty sure it's the drivers. I really like the improved sound and added functionality. It's great for bedroom players like myself. The looper and the app are outstanding. Line out into and through a good set of monitors and all of those issues are addressed. But if you're going to do that, you can save yourself some money and just get the mini or go and get everything but the looper. Thanks for always giving your honest opinions Phil. Everyone else is just praising Positive Grid on this. There's value in pointing out a products shortcomings so people can make educated buying decisions.
Unless you really need a smaller one, surely the relatively small price dif between the Mini and the Spark 2 makes it a no brainier to get the Spark 2. ? PS. I don’t have either, but v interested.
@@longjonwhite Not sure. I've tried the original Spark 40 which I hate so much I never use it and the Spark Go which I like and use all the time. The Go doesn't suffer from any of that bass bloat at all. I can't say with any authority but my suspicion is that the Mini likely is similar. What gets me about the Spark amps is that if the intent is for it to be a modeler, then you'd want relatively neutral speakers so that your EQ settings would sound reasonably similar going from the go, to mini, to spark 40, to spark cab. That way you could set up presets and just go from bedroom, to jamming with friends, to a gig without having to change anything. That's not how these seem to work which I think is a little weird.
@@caseyodonnell6621 Thanks mate. I may just stick with my Bose S1 Pro. It doesn't have all the FX etc. only reverb, but it does have two separate channels, (in addition to the Bluetooth input), so it is great if you want to sing while playing either guitar or keyboard.
I purchased a Hotone Pulze after having the original Spark 40 and a Yamaha Thr10x. The sound quality from the Pulze are superb, especially the ambient clean tones using the Roland JC120, together with a delay and Shimmer reverb. The Mesa 2C+ tones are phenomenal too.
I really liked this style of review. Informal, true reaction, less produced and clinical. Like to see more of this type of "evaluation". And we need to see a lot more of your birthday guitar!
Thanks for the great review. I also have the original Spark 40, Spark Mini, Spark Go & Yamaha THR30ii, so I was very interested in Phil's take. I do agree that Spark Mini has the best sound out of the original line-up, and that THR30ii does sound clearer. As much as I am tempted with a new shiny toy, I think I will pass on Spark 2...for now
May give the Spark mini a try. The Yamaha THR30 wasn’t bad when I tried it out at my local GC. But holy Christ is it EXPENSIVE. I can afford, but it just feels overpriced for what you getting imo. The Spark mini might be the way to go.
Im happy to hear you say it's definitely improved. I bought the 40 when it first released and sent it back, have the Mini and love it so I ordered the Spark 2 with the supposed sound improvements.
Great review. I came here for the amp review and stayed because I was interested in your guitar. I met Tim Miller at Berklee about 10 or 11 years ago and he was playing Klein guitars. Very gracious gentleman. I guess I need to subscribe and check out your other videos.
Great format Phil. Felt like exactly what I would do with a new amp when I got it out of the box . I sold my old spark 40 6m ago for £199 and bought the new one for £220 arrived last week. It's exactly as you say . The ai will improve . It's less bassy and the looper is fine.
Glad to see you like the Yamaha amp! I have two generations of the THR, and I love them both - I'll use them until they die. Easy to use and sound great. Yamaha knows sound, but you knew that already I'm sure. In my mind, they can keep the Spark stuff.
I don't intend to purchase the Spark 2, but I will say that upgrading the speakers in the Spark 40 is a fairly easy mod to really upgrade the original Spark and you don't need to spend a lot of money. It's a much better amp and less bassy with a set of speakers that provide better definition, and there are several videos available on UA-cam that walk you through the process.
@@Acre00 I've had good luck with a pair of these and they're really very affordable PRV AUDIO 4 Inch Midrange Speaker 4MR60-4, 60 Watts Program Power, 4 Ohm, 30 Watts RMS Power Pro Audio Loudspeaker usually are sold as single speakers.
This was a different kind of gear review from the ones you usually do, and for this product I think it was the right approach and made for a great video. The ideal review of it in a way: it a-b’ed it with the Mini and the Yamaha, we got to see you try to dial in tones. Thanks for this; it was helpful. (For my own needs I think I’d still buy the Mini. I like its smaller footprint though I wish it had more controls on the panel rather than having to use the app for most tweaking.)
Yes, as you mentioned, why are digital effects often engineered so overwhelming? I am at this video looking for a replacement for my old Line 6 Spider IV 30, which has chorus, delay, phasor, etc, yet each so overpowering as to sound ridiculous and mostly unuseable. One thing I have noticed about such amps is that the effects tend to be a lot more sensitive to pickup volume and tone settings than traditional pedals, but still challenging to get what you want. Thank you, Phil, what you demoed shows that the effects seem more controllable than what I have, so I'll give it a shot next time I hit GC.
I have the Go, Mini and Spark 2. The Spark Mini I love, but after some time tuning the presets on the Spark 2 (which Phil simply hasn't had), it sounds better than the Mini. It takes that bit of time though. I also end up playing to backing tracks or tracks I'm learning, and full music tracks on the Spark 2 sound shockingly good! I've now purchased the battery (making it much more expensive than the Mini as a whole it must be said). The Mini is now fighting for a spot in my guitar playing life. The Go is in my work bag and comes everywhere, the Mini's job at home is being often done by the Spark 2.
@@SwapnenduKar I think it’s amazing for the money. In the headphones it sounds as good as the 40 or Mini for such a small price. It’s much better than listening to my laptop through the speakers too. It almost goes with me everywhere.
Yes, I received my Spark 2 and was able to use it for a week and a half. Went to use it and couldn’t get it to power on at all. I filled out the form for customer support. It took about a week to hear from them. without doing any troubleshooting on it. It started working. I put in a formal request to send it back for a replacement or a new one. I have sent it back to PG. It’s about a week,I have not heard any word from them.
Biggest difference I can see is that for the $50 difference is that Spark 2 has 10w more of power, faster processing, has a looper, drums and a tuner.... Seems few if any practice amps have loopers.
I watch a lot of gear videos. Phil, you have a singular talent for this. Your format is informative and concise yet relaxed and easy to watch, always seems to hit on all the important points, and honest... never "selling" anything. And you technique is excellent. Many sound demos have sloppy playing but I'd watch yours just to hear you play. Thanks for all the great videos over the last... 10 years or so? Anyway, great comparison here.
Thank you for the video. I just ordered one of these and I was kind of on the fence because people were saying they sounded too harsh compared to the regular 40.
As a first time buyer of any spark product, this was a great jumping in point for me. I love my spark 2! I just reviewed it and demoed every effect on my channel.
My 40 was an impulse buy years ago because of the crazy low price. Bassy ? I just turn the bass down and my Strat sounds great at bedroom volumes. This new model will be easy to pass on. I'll check out the #3 in a few years. Thanks for the review.
The Positive Grid EQ recently added allows control over zeroing out all the base, and while far from perfect, does eliminate all the justifiable dislike over the excessive bass of the 40 out of the box.
Right, I think I may have heard too much bass on the presets on the Spark 40, but I never use them. I just find the amp I want and adjust the setting to get it sounding crisp and clear.
I got mine late last week. It is superior in every way to the spark 40. No more overwhelming bass, no more half cocked wah sound. Amp models sound crisper. Whether that is worth ditching the 40 depends on how much you like the spark concept and how much its shortcomings bother you. I definitely don't regret the purchase.
Thank you for an honest review/demo. I wanted to love my 40 but the bass was too much and wasn’t fixable. And I couldn’t find a single demo where anyone said it sounded muddy. They were all shilling for PG and would only play it direct into a DI. I DO love my mini and have refused to consider. Using the Spark 2 until you or someone else I trust played it miked up, and gave their honest opinion.
Hey Phil, more great content like normal. Unrelated question, do you know Darrell Braun? If you do, do you know if he is ok. He hasn’t put out content in months and no one seems to know.
I'm glad you mentioned your Yamaha practice amp costs twice as much as the Spark amp. I cannot afford to spend almost $600 on a practice amp. Also, remember there is an equalizer for guitar and bass under the pedal category located directly after the amp in the app. You can dial in the speakers to your own ears' liking using the equalizers. All the spark amps have access to the equalizers in the app.
Thanks for this. My hesitation in picking up the Spark 2 - or any Positive Grid product - is twofold: 1. Given the reliance on the app, what happens if/when PG falls on hard times or goes out of business entirely? I admit, I hate that everything seems to have/require an app these days. 2. The reviews about PG's customer service in the event that something goes wrong with their product are... not great.
I'm in the same position with a Spark 40, Mini and Go. This is the comparison I needed. I'd already come to a similar conclusion, the Mini is perfect for practice
Just one week before the Spark 2 came out, I had got a Talent Cell Battery Pack for my Spark 40. It appears that PG are charging extra for their Spark 2 Battery Pack. Not for me.
I’m satisfied w/ the mini & original 40. I swapped out the speakers for an extended frequency range set, and it sounds fantastic! I’ll pass on the 2, and anything else that isn’t a major upgrade. Thanks for the demo
I already got the spark 40. I'm fine with it for jamming and practicing purposes. When I saw the new spark being advertised, I already knew I wasn't putting money to another spark amp. I have 2 boss katana 2 12 combos. And 4 pedalboards with a Seymour Duncan powerstage 170 and an orange pedal baby. I have a 2 12 vertical combo. I'm more invested into my pedalboards and cabinets. The is good for practicing. That's it. I've edited the eq on the spark 40 to what like. I didn't notice any bass or it being bassy. I guess tweaking the eq probably helped.
I haven't tried the Spark, but I recently bought a Nux Mighty Space as an "upgrade" from my Yamaha THR10iiW. I returned the Nux for several reasons, one of which is a human factor issue that seems to be shared by the Spark. I use the amp on a desk while sitting down and, like you in this video, facing me. One of the things I love about the THR is that the knobs are right on top, in front and visible. The Nux and the Spark have all the knobs recessed in the back of the amp, so to adjust anything you need to stand up, or at least crane your neck and bend way over, to see the knobs and labels. Seems like a really poor design decision. For now, I'm sticking with the Yamaha, though I really do wish they'd add a looper.
Did you do a review of the Spark Mini? A buddy of mine just got that (the Steve Vai edition) and sounds interesting. I like that it has a built-in lithium battery. I'm also interested in the NUX Mighty 8BT MKII (8xAA batteries) and the Joyo DC-15S (lithium battery) but both are almost 30 to 100 bucks less than the Spark Mini. Not sure what to do as a possible upgrade from my (non-Bluetooth) Blackstar Fly 3. I know there's the NUX Mighty BT MKII that's around the same size but would prefer a somewhat bigger speaker(s).
Hi Phil. Does the new tone engine of the Spark 2 offer a marked improvement in the quality of the amps (eq aside) over the current Mini or Spark 1? I was hoping for comment/feedback on that feature. Keep up the great work!
I have a Spark Mini, and you've answered a question - should I get the Spark 2. No. If I needed a looper, for £99 I could get the Xsonic Ulooper. But I use my Katana with its FX loop for looping, and my Boss looper has a rhythm facility.
Even at the 15:00 min mark, where Phil managed to dial in the spark 2 to sounding a bit more like spark mini, the mini still sounds more precise and rounded. The mini is by far the best deal from Positive Grid
With headphones on, the Spark sounds like there's a blanket over top of it. The Yamaha is so much clearer and "real" feeling. For the current sale on the Spark 1 though (60% off of the Yamaha), that's a pretty significant price difference.
I got the original spark. I was an early purchase and waited forever. Putting that aside I never loved it for guitar. It will never not sound like tiny speakers. I ended up putting it into top tool cabinet in the shop and it makes a fantastic Bluetooth speaker for music and podcasts. I’m glad I can use it but not for guitar. I just always hear tiny speakers.
I have one of everything that Positive Grid produces and the Spark II is the best amp. For me, I love the battery. On a full charge, I can play for hours. The 2 is noticeably louder than the 40. The app is very dynamic and they're adding new things like Mute. I play bass and guitar and the Spark II covers everything I need or want.
The spark mini is really good. It just pisses me off that with all of the current technology, they still dont allow the signal chain to be modified. Theres a decent selection of individual effects, but not being able to swap the location of the pedals in the chain is ridiculous. It would also be great if you could stack 2 pedals from the same category.
I'm gonna catch some flack, but i still love my Marshall Code half stack (I also own the Spark Mini & Go and love Positive Grid plugins). I just feel the customization is better, once you've spent a month learning how it works LOL. edit: yes i play guitar too :)
I find the bass of the Spark 40 is manageable when you have it elevated and sitting on the edge of a surface. That said, I'm glad they've tuned this one better.
My Spark 40 was bricked after a firmware update they told me to do to get the USB to work. I sent it back and got a Katana Gen III, it just arrived today and am just about to start messing around with it.
My new Spark 2 has strange behavior with long low tones (E/A string). It sounds like the radio used to sound before a text message arrived. It is even more noticeable when an electric bass is connected. All settings are set to normal.
I threw JBL Club 422F speakers into my Spark 40 and am much happier with the overall sound. Think new features are great and hope they keep making them even better because they're a fun little practice rig.🤘
I got my Spark 2 months ago. I was drawn to the new features like the looper and the built-in battery. Honestly, I expected more. First of all, I was hoping they would fix some issues from the previous version: The device cannot play sound from both the computer and the phone at the same time, which is very inconvenient because, among other things, I use the Spark as an external audio device for my computer. The constantly blinking rhythm indicator on the button is really annoying. The new features also turned out to have their downsides: The battery doesn’t come included. You can only control the looper with the more expensive version of the footswitch. The looper itself is very basic; it’s just there for the sake of being there. The drum machine is oddly designed like a looper with drums. If you just want drums, you have to play a demo from the drum track selection menu, and the tracks don’t have names. The preset selector knob: they added a button, but removed the stopper, so now you can’t blindly switch to the desired preset based on the stopper’s position. The case became slightly bigger, but the “tin can” effect is now more pronounced. This also applies to the mobile app, which isn’t part of the device itself. There are a bunch of annoying issues that the developers aren’t in a hurry to fix. My conclusion is this: if you already have the first version of the Spark, there’s no need to upgrade to the second one unless you desperately need a battery and a simple looper. If you’re looking for a device, I’d recommend checking out the Nux Expanse. It’s a bit more expensive, but it comes with a battery, a footswitch, and wireless guitar connectivity. Plus, it has both a looper and a drum machine.
Oh, I forgot to mention. The strap upgrade is actually a really cool feature. The strap on the first version was awful-it literally crumbled to dust just sitting on my shelf.
The Spark Mini is still my favorite. I own all of them and just bought the Spark 2 in the preorder and it arrived yesterday....I am still undecided if it was worth it.
I like your video comparison, but it makes me think you just haven't spent enough time with the Spark 2 in order to find the settings you prefer. In the video, you try various settings, make a couple quick adjustments, then like it much better after your tweaks - so maybe that's part of the issue? I haven't tried the Spark 2 yet but am considering it.
thanks for the helpful video. the mini definitely sounds surprisingly great for its size. i think it might be a little more "amp like" than my spark 40. for me the two big features for the spark 2 are the line outs and the optional battery. i am definitely going to go for the spark 2 because i will be able to use it in more situations than i can with the spark 40. positive grid has definitely come out with some great products over the years. at one point many years ago i was using the positive grid app with just an iphone and iphone-compatible audio interface going direct to house for some gigs and that was a pretty good sounding digital modelling rig for the time.
I guess I did right to wait til last month to get my spark 40. Noticed the settings leaned bass but just needed slight adjustments. I take it to work all the time to play at lunch or for the last 2 hrs of a 10 hr day as a supervisor.
Every miked demo of a Spark 2, it sounds like you still have to EQ out some mud to get basic clarity, especially for cleans. It also sounds like a driver problem, like better speakers would fix a lot of it.
The dealbreaker for me is that the $100 footswitch for Spark 40 won't work with Spark 2 so you have to cough up yet another $150 for another footswitch. My old Boss Graphic Eq pedal inline solved the too much bass issue with the Spark 40. I've often wondered why more people (especially people constantly swapping out pickups) don't discover graphic EQ's that have been around forever.
Hey Phil. I did watch your video, but the Spark 2 still seems like a solid deal for someone without the Spark 40. Is it worth paying $100 more for the THR30ii or should I save the money and go with the Spark 2 as a complete beginner? I can’t help but feel like the THR30ii is outdated tech as we get amps with loopers and other features built-in.
Thank You For the Video. The Spark 2 certainly has some good attributes that are usable and I want. Love the Battery Operated.and Light Weight for portability. Presently I'm using a Roland Cube StreetEX, 50W & Fender GTX100, 100W Modeling Amp & 1992 Peavey EVH 5150 Stack. I can wait until The Spark Amp comes out with a 100W version. Love the sounds, but feel the need for more projection/volume.
I decided to buy one last week, waiting for October ship. I ruined my current small practice amp Vox Valvetronix, dropping a cup of water on the top panel... it shorted something out.
update: the Spark 2 is KILLER.... sounds great for what it is. It can be "Over-loud" for a living room jam...really does what it needs to do... definitely "moves-air" for that real amp feel. My best assessment...It's a desktop amp... not a full floor amp...
One thing to keep in mind with these type of products is how long updates or possible updates will be… the spark 2 is supposed to have way more dsp and that could open up other features/amp models I have the mini and just got the spark 2 I also love the mini but if you turn the volume up to a certain point then it gets really messy. If you were to play at Speaker phone volume the mini sounds great ..the spark 2 you can get decent loud and holds up nice, looper is great to have and I’m thinking updates will hit for the spark 2
I always found good tone with the spark 40. Found the Mini to be lacking in bass but ok. Never tried the go. I did find myself rolling off bass or using a different pickup position with the 40 but again always found good options. I did order the Spark 2. Supposed to come today. Mainly looking forward to the looper. I use mine as a living room amp and the less wires and extra stuff the better. I think the looper is a great option for me.
I have a THR 10C and the Spark Mini. I prefer the THR for cleaner tones, and the Mini for a more driven sound. The THR is clearer, but I play the Mini more often.
I had bought a mini week before spark 2 release. I really love the mini, but returned it and pre ordered the spark 2. In very happy with the spark 2, it’s easy to update over the WiFi and the Ai has been great for asking for “ Chris Stapleton parachute” 2/4 is super well done presets you can save. Tried that with numerous artists and songs and liked all but one.
Thanks for the demo, Phil. I'd been debating if I want to upgrade my 40. Probably not worth the upgrade at this point, but who knows with their next release. I'd love to see an out to a cab.
The Spark 2 sounds great to me for the price and to be a more portable amp to go room to room, wish it came with the battery though. I have tried the TH30II and I didn't think it was all that great but it does sound a lot better in this comparison. How does the Spark Mini compare to the Yamaha THR30II which of those 2 would you pick?
The one thing I don't like about digital amp modelers (particularly IR models), is the clean to distorted transition..... there doesn't seem to be one or it just doesn't seem real. You didn't demo this on any of these amps so I guess it is still a problem? I do use an analog amp model and am quite pleased with it. And there is just something about a 12 inch driver.... even a less than stellar 12 inch speaker sounds better than a 10 or an 8 in my experience. Considering the use of a real tiny unit as a control though, I am guessing low level and portability are more important than a 12in speaker. I would still choose analog modeling over digital. Digital reverb is the way to go and I guess the idea is that once one adds an ADC/DAC for reverb, one may as well do amp modeling in the same cpu...
I have a spark 40. It’s easy to turn it into a Spark 2 using a woman’s stocking or foam that is inserted into the hole between the speakers. Then the booming bass goes away. Instead of Spark 2, I'd rather buy an inexpensive processor if I need a loop.
I own all the Spark amps-the 40, Mini, and Go-and the cab. I use them all the time. I just got my Spark 2 yesterday, and it's vastly improved. The looper is fun to nerd out on. No regrets here. I would recommend it 100%. I love the video, Phil.
How would you compare the Spark 2 vs the Mini in terms of sound quality?
How does one buy the Spark 2?
@@cincho822 a thousand times better ... I own the spark 2, the mini and the go ... Check my little review, that amp is a beast 🤘😉
@@cincho822far better ... Worth the change
@@cincho822 I would like to know this also.
I loved the style of this video, like sitting in the room while you evaluate. I know you want to sit with things for a lot longer, and that's fair. But there's something really interesting about seeing your reactions and thoughts happening in real time, even knowing that they are provisional. Also really like how you consistently focused on getting the usable tones and functions that you need, knowing that those are, and being able to explain that and how the product is meeting or failing to meet them. (I actually think you struggle a bit with this in guitar land, where narrative or idea of a guitar is often a big factor in your interest.) Anyway, just wanted to say that I did appreciate seeing your off-the-cull reactions to new gear, and that I'd rather see this than not see anything because the full evaluation etc would take too much playing and production time.
I 100% agree
Yeah agree with the above it’s cool to watch you tweak the controls. Sometimes I’m afraid to trust my ear or go too far down the rabbit hole. Because I think that the presets are optimal since the company did them. But when you said “why does every amp company make their presets so over done”. I was like “yeah that right! Sounds way too much”. So I think I’m going to trust my ear more and tweak away. Thanks for the real review. Btw I own a SPK2 and appreciate it more now. 😊
I have disconnected the speakers in my 40. The amp now sits on its' front (with the controls now at the front) and I use a pair of old PAs with 2x6" Lorantz and 2x8" Lorantz drivers. A great sound.
Got mine last weekend. This is much better than the Spark 40. As it is, it's a great practice amp where the THR's (I have the original 10, 30, and the 100HD) are just great amps. The sound quality of the Spark 2 is improved but it's still a little boomy, particularly when playing bluetooth audio. I think your video illustrates this and reflects my experience as well. At least the tonestack works well and you can cut the boominess out of the guitar signal. The audio quality is decent out of the speakers but it's does get a little spicy in the treble and has some sibilants in s's and t's when playing bluetooth audio. I double checked, and this isn't present with headphones or via the line outs so I'm pretty sure it's the drivers.
I really like the improved sound and added functionality. It's great for bedroom players like myself. The looper and the app are outstanding. Line out into and through a good set of monitors and all of those issues are addressed. But if you're going to do that, you can save yourself some money and just get the mini or go and get everything but the looper.
Thanks for always giving your honest opinions Phil. Everyone else is just praising Positive Grid on this. There's value in pointing out a products shortcomings so people can make educated buying decisions.
Unless you really need a smaller one, surely the relatively small price dif between the Mini and the Spark 2 makes it a no brainier to get the Spark 2. ?
PS. I don’t have either, but v interested.
@@longjonwhite Not sure. I've tried the original Spark 40 which I hate so much I never use it and the Spark Go which I like and use all the time. The Go doesn't suffer from any of that bass bloat at all. I can't say with any authority but my suspicion is that the Mini likely is similar.
What gets me about the Spark amps is that if the intent is for it to be a modeler, then you'd want relatively neutral speakers so that your EQ settings would sound reasonably similar going from the go, to mini, to spark 40, to spark cab. That way you could set up presets and just go from bedroom, to jamming with friends, to a gig without having to change anything. That's not how these seem to work which I think is a little weird.
@@caseyodonnell6621 Thanks mate. I may just stick with my Bose S1 Pro.
It doesn't have all the FX etc. only reverb, but it does have two separate channels, (in addition to the Bluetooth input), so it is great if you want to sing while playing either guitar or keyboard.
In Phil We Trust! Thanks for your truly objective review...
Probably one of the most honest , entertaining, informative, enjoyable reviews I have seen on YT ever !!!!! Thank you.
I purchased a Hotone Pulze after having the original Spark 40 and a Yamaha Thr10x. The sound quality from the Pulze are superb, especially the ambient clean tones using the Roland JC120, together with a delay and Shimmer reverb. The Mesa 2C+ tones are phenomenal too.
Have the spark mini. It’s perfect. Sits on my end table. Love it for practice.
I really liked this style of review. Informal, true reaction, less produced and clinical. Like to see more of this type of "evaluation".
And we need to see a lot more of your birthday guitar!
Thanks for the great review. I also have the original Spark 40, Spark Mini, Spark Go & Yamaha THR30ii, so I was very interested in Phil's take. I do agree that Spark Mini has the best sound out of the original line-up, and that THR30ii does sound clearer. As much as I am tempted with a new shiny toy, I think I will pass on Spark 2...for now
May give the Spark mini a try. The Yamaha THR30 wasn’t bad when I tried it out at my local GC. But holy Christ is it EXPENSIVE. I can afford, but it just feels overpriced for what you getting imo. The Spark mini might be the way to go.
Im happy to hear you say it's definitely improved. I bought the 40 when it first released and sent it back, have the Mini and love it so I ordered the Spark 2 with the supposed sound improvements.
Great review. I came here for the amp review and stayed because I was interested in your guitar. I met Tim Miller at Berklee about 10 or 11 years ago and he was playing Klein guitars. Very gracious gentleman. I guess I need to subscribe and check out your other videos.
Great format Phil. Felt like exactly what I would do with a new amp when I got it out of the box . I sold my old spark 40 6m ago for £199 and bought the new one for £220 arrived last week.
It's exactly as you say . The ai will improve . It's less bassy and the looper is fine.
I enjoy the video format. Kinda just hanging out, spontaneous, stream of consciousness. It really compliments the feel of the Friday night shows.
Glad to see you like the Yamaha amp! I have two generations of the THR, and I love them both - I'll use them until they die. Easy to use and sound great. Yamaha knows sound, but you knew that already I'm sure. In my mind, they can keep the Spark stuff.
Was looking to get a spark 40. Just realized there is a second one. Just ordered thank you!
Great review and the different format doesn't hurt at all. Nice to get an impromptu, live reaction instead of scripted and prepared.
Thanks Phillip, I’ve got the 40 and the Go, I’m getting dressed in a few minutes and going to the guitar store and buying a Mini.
I don't intend to purchase the Spark 2, but I will say that upgrading the speakers in the Spark 40 is a fairly easy mod to really upgrade the original Spark and you don't need to spend a lot of money. It's a much better amp and less bassy with a set of speakers that provide better definition, and there are several videos available on UA-cam that walk you through the process.
I've been meaning to build a cab for mine for sneaking up on 4 years now I guess. 😂
What speakers would you recommend upgrading to?
@@Acre00 I've had good luck with a pair of these and they're really very affordable PRV AUDIO 4 Inch Midrange Speaker 4MR60-4, 60 Watts Program Power, 4 Ohm, 30 Watts RMS Power Pro Audio Loudspeaker usually are sold as single speakers.
This was a different kind of gear review from the ones you usually do, and for this product I think it was the right approach and made for a great video. The ideal review of it in a way: it a-b’ed it with the Mini and the Yamaha, we got to see you try to dial in tones. Thanks for this; it was helpful. (For my own needs I think I’d still buy the Mini. I like its smaller footprint though I wish it had more controls on the panel rather than having to use the app for most tweaking.)
Absolutely loved this format, felt so organic and personal !
I have the Mini. The reverb when it collapses into mono disappears. When using headphones it comes back overbearing. Waiting for the Spark 2.
Yes, as you mentioned, why are digital effects often engineered so overwhelming? I am at this video looking for a replacement for my old Line 6 Spider IV 30, which has chorus, delay, phasor, etc, yet each so overpowering as to sound ridiculous and mostly unuseable. One thing I have noticed about such amps is that the effects tend to be a lot more sensitive to pickup volume and tone settings than traditional pedals, but still challenging to get what you want. Thank you, Phil, what you demoed shows that the effects seem more controllable than what I have, so I'll give it a shot next time I hit GC.
I have the Go, Mini and Spark 2. The Spark Mini I love, but after some time tuning the presets on the Spark 2 (which Phil simply hasn't had), it sounds better than the Mini. It takes that bit of time though. I also end up playing to backing tracks or tracks I'm learning, and full music tracks on the Spark 2 sound shockingly good! I've now purchased the battery (making it much more expensive than the Mini as a whole it must be said). The Mini is now fighting for a spot in my guitar playing life. The Go is in my work bag and comes everywhere, the Mini's job at home is being often done by the Spark 2.
Is the Go worth buying?
@@SwapnenduKar I think it’s amazing for the money. In the headphones it sounds as good as the 40 or Mini for such a small price. It’s much better than listening to my laptop through the speakers too. It almost goes with me everywhere.
@@SwapnenduKaryes…it cheap and sounds good.
@@karnbroad8504 Thanks
@@jameslaversa528 Thanks
Yes, I received my Spark 2 and was able to use it for a week and a half. Went to use it and couldn’t get it to power on at all. I filled out the form for customer support. It took about a week to hear from them. without doing any troubleshooting on it. It started working. I put in a formal request to send it back for a replacement or a new one. I have sent it back to PG. It’s about a week,I have not heard any word from them.
Biggest difference I can see is that for the $50 difference is that Spark 2 has 10w more of power, faster processing, has a looper, drums and a tuner.... Seems few if any practice amps have loopers.
I watch a lot of gear videos. Phil, you have a singular talent for this. Your format is informative and concise yet relaxed and easy to watch, always seems to hit on all the important points, and honest... never "selling" anything. And you technique is excellent. Many sound demos have sloppy playing but I'd watch yours just to hear you play. Thanks for all the great videos over the last... 10 years or so? Anyway, great comparison here.
Thank you for the video. I just ordered one of these and I was kind of on the fence because people were saying they sounded too harsh compared to the regular 40.
As a first time buyer of any spark product, this was a great jumping in point for me. I love my spark 2! I just reviewed it and demoed every effect on my channel.
My 40 was an impulse buy years ago because of the crazy low price. Bassy ? I just turn the bass down and my Strat sounds great at bedroom volumes. This new model will be easy to pass on. I'll check out the #3 in a few years. Thanks for the review.
Me too, I’m waiting for the Spark 3 or the Live 2
The Positive Grid EQ recently added allows control over zeroing out all the base, and while far from perfect, does eliminate all the justifiable dislike over the excessive bass of the 40 out of the box.
@@ianrickey208 Bass... it's bass (".)
Right, I think I may have heard too much bass on the presets on the Spark 40, but I never use them. I just find the amp I want and adjust the setting to get it sounding crisp and clear.
@@gp85hkg Yes. I'll blame it on the AI spell check hahahahah
Please do a vid on the Boss Katana 50 and how to get a decent Blues/Rock/Country sound out of it
Bought the 40 and the mini at the same time , sent the 40 back day one. Mini sounds killer and takes up little space.
would have loved to see you try the line out to another speaker cab
The Spark Mini is a classic.
I got mine late last week. It is superior in every way to the spark 40. No more overwhelming bass, no more half cocked wah sound. Amp models sound crisper. Whether that is worth ditching the 40 depends on how much you like the spark concept and how much its shortcomings bother you. I definitely don't regret the purchase.
Vous pouvez diminuer les basses du Spark dans l'appli.
Thank you for an honest review/demo. I wanted to love my 40 but the bass was too much and wasn’t fixable. And I couldn’t find a single demo where anyone said it sounded muddy. They were all shilling for PG and would only play it direct into a DI.
I DO love my mini and have refused to consider. Using the Spark 2 until you or someone else I trust played it miked up, and gave their honest opinion.
Hey Phil, more great content like normal. Unrelated question, do you know Darrell Braun? If you do, do you know if he is ok. He hasn’t put out content in months and no one seems to know.
I'm glad you mentioned your Yamaha practice amp costs twice as much as the Spark amp. I cannot afford to spend almost $600 on a practice amp.
Also, remember there is an equalizer for guitar and bass under the pedal category located directly after the amp in the app. You can dial in the speakers to your own ears' liking using the equalizers. All the spark amps have access to the equalizers in the app.
Thanks for this. My hesitation in picking up the Spark 2 - or any Positive Grid product - is twofold:
1. Given the reliance on the app, what happens if/when PG falls on hard times or goes out of business entirely? I admit, I hate that everything seems to have/require an app these days.
2. The reviews about PG's customer service in the event that something goes wrong with their product are... not great.
I'm in the same position with a Spark 40, Mini and Go. This is the comparison I needed. I'd already come to a similar conclusion, the Mini is perfect for practice
Love the spark go ! I live on a sailboat so a mini is about as big as I’d go. Great little amps
Just one week before the Spark 2 came out, I had got a Talent Cell Battery Pack for my Spark 40.
It appears that PG are charging extra for their Spark 2 Battery Pack.
Not for me.
Same here, I have the 40, Mini, and Go. Over time I simply played the Mini the most. I like it the most. I keep the GO in my gig bag.
I’m satisfied w/ the mini & original 40. I swapped out the speakers for an extended frequency range set, and it sounds fantastic! I’ll pass on the 2, and anything else that isn’t a major upgrade. Thanks for the demo
I already got the spark 40. I'm fine with it for jamming and practicing purposes. When I saw the new spark being advertised, I already knew I wasn't putting money to another spark amp. I have 2 boss katana 2 12 combos. And 4 pedalboards with a Seymour Duncan powerstage 170 and an orange pedal baby. I have a 2 12 vertical combo. I'm more invested into my pedalboards and cabinets. The is good for practicing. That's it. I've edited the eq on the spark 40 to what like. I didn't notice any bass or it being bassy. I guess tweaking the eq probably helped.
I haven't tried the Spark, but I recently bought a Nux Mighty Space as an "upgrade" from my Yamaha THR10iiW. I returned the Nux for several reasons, one of which is a human factor issue that seems to be shared by the Spark. I use the amp on a desk while sitting down and, like you in this video, facing me. One of the things I love about the THR is that the knobs are right on top, in front and visible. The Nux and the Spark have all the knobs recessed in the back of the amp, so to adjust anything you need to stand up, or at least crane your neck and bend way over, to see the knobs and labels. Seems like a really poor design decision. For now, I'm sticking with the Yamaha, though I really do wish they'd add a looper.
It's not a poor design decision if you want to maximize the speaker area while keeping the device as small as possible which was clearly the intent.
Did you do a review of the Spark Mini? A buddy of mine just got that (the Steve Vai edition) and sounds interesting. I like that it has a built-in lithium battery. I'm also interested in the NUX Mighty 8BT MKII (8xAA batteries) and the Joyo DC-15S (lithium battery) but both are almost 30 to 100 bucks less than the Spark Mini. Not sure what to do as a possible upgrade from my (non-Bluetooth) Blackstar Fly 3. I know there's the NUX Mighty BT MKII that's around the same size but would prefer a somewhat bigger speaker(s).
Hi Phil. Does the new tone engine of the Spark 2 offer a marked improvement in the quality of the amps (eq aside) over the current Mini or Spark 1? I was hoping for comment/feedback on that feature. Keep up the great work!
This was a very informative video Phil, it's very helpful to hear them all side by side this way. Thank you for making it.
I have a Spark Mini, and you've answered a question - should I get the Spark 2. No. If I needed a looper, for £99 I could get the Xsonic Ulooper. But I use my Katana with its FX loop for looping, and my Boss looper has a rhythm facility.
Even at the 15:00 min mark, where Phil managed to dial in the spark 2 to sounding a bit more like spark mini, the mini still sounds more precise and rounded. The mini is by far the best deal from Positive Grid
With headphones on, the Spark sounds like there's a blanket over top of it. The Yamaha is so much clearer and "real" feeling. For the current sale on the Spark 1 though (60% off of the Yamaha), that's a pretty significant price difference.
I got the original spark. I was an early purchase and waited forever. Putting that aside I never loved it for guitar. It will never not sound like tiny speakers. I ended up putting it into top tool cabinet in the shop and it makes a fantastic Bluetooth speaker for music and podcasts. I’m glad I can use it but not for guitar. I just always hear tiny speakers.
When I use the EQ pedal in the app on my spark 40, there isn’t a bass issue anymore. I just turn on the pedal and pull some bass out.
Loved the insight and the humble video. Well done!!
DId you ever experiment with modifying the speaker port hole between the two speakers? Many say it helps a lot with the heavy bass issue.
I put a sock in it. I think it’s the main issue which is why the mini doesn’t have it.
Always enjoyable to watch you play and review, but the facial expression at the 16:10 time stamp priceless.
I have one of everything that Positive Grid produces and the Spark II is the best amp. For me, I love the battery. On a full charge, I can play for hours. The 2 is noticeably louder than the 40. The app is very dynamic and they're adding new things like Mute. I play bass and guitar and the Spark II covers everything I need or want.
The spark mini is really good. It just pisses me off that with all of the current technology, they still dont allow the signal chain to be modified. Theres a decent selection of individual effects, but not being able to swap the location of the pedals in the chain is ridiculous. It would also be great if you could stack 2 pedals from the same category.
Thanks I have one order. I noticed the spark go sounded better than my spark 40. I am retired and just a bedroom player. I don’t need much.
@@dougburden6685 i like the go too. I sold mine when i bought the mini.
Its annoying, the fixed order of effects. But damn that mini sounds so good
Fender mustang
I'm gonna catch some flack, but i still love my Marshall Code half stack (I also own the Spark Mini & Go and love Positive Grid plugins). I just feel the customization is better, once you've spent a month learning how it works LOL. edit: yes i play guitar too :)
I find the bass of the Spark 40 is manageable when you have it elevated and sitting on the edge of a surface. That said, I'm glad they've tuned this one better.
So you recommend spark mini over this?
Hi Guitar 🎸 Guy nice video and Workmanship !!! Sounds good !!!
My Spark 40 was bricked after a firmware update they told me to do to get the USB to work. I sent it back and got a Katana Gen III, it just arrived today and am just about to start messing around with it.
You forgot to demonstrate the looper. You did talk about it, but I kinda wanted to hear it.
My new Spark 2 has strange behavior with long low tones (E/A string). It sounds like the radio used to sound before a text message arrived. It is even more noticeable when an electric bass is connected. All settings are set to normal.
I threw JBL Club 422F speakers into my Spark 40 and am much happier with the overall sound. Think new features are great and hope they keep making them even better because they're a fun little practice rig.🤘
I got my Spark 2 months ago. I was drawn to the new features like the looper and the built-in battery. Honestly, I expected more. First of all, I was hoping they would fix some issues from the previous version:
The device cannot play sound from both the computer and the phone at the same time, which is very inconvenient because, among other things, I use the Spark as an external audio device for my computer.
The constantly blinking rhythm indicator on the button is really annoying.
The new features also turned out to have their downsides:
The battery doesn’t come included.
You can only control the looper with the more expensive version of the footswitch.
The looper itself is very basic; it’s just there for the sake of being there.
The drum machine is oddly designed like a looper with drums. If you just want drums, you have to play a demo from the drum track selection menu, and the tracks don’t have names.
The preset selector knob: they added a button, but removed the stopper, so now you can’t blindly switch to the desired preset based on the stopper’s position.
The case became slightly bigger, but the “tin can” effect is now more pronounced.
This also applies to the mobile app, which isn’t part of the device itself. There are a bunch of annoying issues that the developers aren’t in a hurry to fix.
My conclusion is this: if you already have the first version of the Spark, there’s no need to upgrade to the second one unless you desperately need a battery and a simple looper. If you’re looking for a device, I’d recommend checking out the Nux Expanse. It’s a bit more expensive, but it comes with a battery, a footswitch, and wireless guitar connectivity. Plus, it has both a looper and a drum machine.
Oh, I forgot to mention. The strap upgrade is actually a really cool feature. The strap on the first version was awful-it literally crumbled to dust just sitting on my shelf.
The Spark Mini is still my favorite. I own all of them and just bought the Spark 2 in the preorder and it arrived yesterday....I am still undecided if it was worth it.
I like your video comparison, but it makes me think you just haven't spent enough time with the Spark 2 in order to find the settings you prefer. In the video, you try various settings, make a couple quick adjustments, then like it much better after your tweaks - so maybe that's part of the issue? I haven't tried the Spark 2 yet but am considering it.
I don’t understand the reason behind muting the speaker while using the line out option.
thanks for the helpful video. the mini definitely sounds surprisingly great for its size. i think it might be a little more "amp like" than my spark 40. for me the two big features for the spark 2 are the line outs and the optional battery. i am definitely going to go for the spark 2 because i will be able to use it in more situations than i can with the spark 40. positive grid has definitely come out with some great products over the years. at one point many years ago i was using the positive grid app with just an iphone and iphone-compatible audio interface going direct to house for some gigs and that was a pretty good sounding digital modelling rig for the time.
I have a Spark mini that I use all the time. It's great for playing in a apartment.
QUESTION--pls elaborate when you said, almost every other tone you have to pay for. So they limit access to many tones/amp modeling?
The 1st spark 40 was way too boomy, but the last update massively fixed that... a few months ago.
I guess I did right to wait til last month to get my spark 40. Noticed the settings leaned bass but just needed slight adjustments. I take it to work all the time to play at lunch or for the last 2 hrs of a 10 hr day as a supervisor.
Every miked demo of a Spark 2, it sounds like you still have to EQ out some mud to get basic clarity, especially for cleans. It also sounds like a driver problem, like better speakers would fix a lot of it.
The dealbreaker for me is that the $100 footswitch for Spark 40 won't work with Spark 2 so you have to cough up yet another $150 for another footswitch. My old Boss Graphic Eq pedal inline solved the too much bass issue with the Spark 40. I've often wondered why more people (especially people constantly swapping out pickups) don't discover graphic EQ's that have been around forever.
if I wanted pedals, I'd get a real amp with an FX loop. the spark was supposed to be the stand alone desktop amp
THR still wins it for me as well, but I also forget how much more expensive it was compared to the spark.
And yes for the size that little tiny amp was really good
Hey Phil. I did watch your video, but the Spark 2 still seems like a solid deal for someone without the Spark 40. Is it worth paying $100 more for the THR30ii or should I save the money and go with the Spark 2 as a complete beginner? I can’t help but feel like the THR30ii is outdated tech as we get amps with loopers and other features built-in.
Thank You For the Video. The Spark 2 certainly has some good attributes that are usable and I want. Love the Battery Operated.and Light Weight for portability. Presently I'm using a Roland Cube StreetEX, 50W & Fender GTX100, 100W Modeling Amp & 1992 Peavey EVH 5150 Stack. I can wait until The Spark Amp comes out with a 100W version. Love the sounds, but feel the need for more projection/volume.
Looks and sounds great but I can't justify the upgrade over the spark 40, it's just not a big enough leap at this moment.
I decided to buy one last week, waiting for October ship. I ruined my current small practice amp Vox Valvetronix, dropping a cup of water on the top panel... it shorted something out.
Love those Vox amps
update: the Spark 2 is KILLER.... sounds great for what it is.
It can be "Over-loud" for a living room jam...really does what it needs to do... definitely "moves-air" for that real amp feel. My best assessment...It's a desktop amp... not a full floor amp...
One thing to keep in mind with these type of products is how long updates or possible updates will be… the spark 2 is supposed to have way more dsp and that could open up other features/amp models I have the mini and just got the spark 2 I also love the mini but if you turn the volume up to a certain point then it gets really messy. If you were to play at Speaker phone volume the mini sounds great ..the spark 2 you can get decent loud and holds up nice, looper is great to have and I’m thinking updates will hit for the spark 2
I always found good tone with the spark 40. Found the Mini to be lacking in bass but ok. Never tried the go. I did find myself rolling off bass or using a different pickup position with the 40 but again always found good options. I did order the Spark 2. Supposed to come today. Mainly looking forward to the looper. I use mine as a living room amp and the less wires and extra stuff the better. I think the looper is a great option for me.
I have the THR10C...there is no comparison with any THR version...just better all around sound than the Spark
I have a THR 10C and the Spark Mini. I prefer the THR for cleaner tones, and the Mini for a more driven sound. The THR is clearer, but I play the Mini more often.
My THR10 sounds great, but not enough volume!!!!
я купил две ямахи и продал. один и тот же звук и звучит как китайский магнитофон. спарк лучше по всем пунктам.
I had bought a mini week before spark 2 release. I really love the mini, but returned it and pre ordered the spark 2. In very happy with the spark 2, it’s easy to update over the WiFi and the Ai has been great for asking for “ Chris Stapleton parachute” 2/4 is super well done presets you can save. Tried that with numerous artists and songs and liked all but one.
Thanks for the demo, Phil. I'd been debating if I want to upgrade my 40. Probably not worth the upgrade at this point, but who knows with their next release. I'd love to see an out to a cab.
I bought one about 4 years ago. Never worked right. Volume cuts out constantly.
It has a ”real” output to connect it to an external cabinet, the 40 didn’t have that. That’s the main reason for me to (maybe) get one….
The Spark 2 sounds great to me for the price and to be a more portable amp to go room to room, wish it came with the battery though. I have tried the TH30II and I didn't think it was all that great but it does sound a lot better in this comparison. How does the Spark Mini compare to the Yamaha THR30II which of those 2 would you pick?
The Spark Mini with the Xsonic Ulooper for the looper guys.
like the new video format that is focused on having fun :)
I just got my SPARK 2 and I own the original SPARK and to be honest I enjoy both very much!!!!
I would love to see a head to head between the spark 2 and the NUX mighty space.
The one thing I don't like about digital amp modelers (particularly IR models), is the clean to distorted transition..... there doesn't seem to be one or it just doesn't seem real. You didn't demo this on any of these amps so I guess it is still a problem? I do use an analog amp model and am quite pleased with it. And there is just something about a 12 inch driver.... even a less than stellar 12 inch speaker sounds better than a 10 or an 8 in my experience. Considering the use of a real tiny unit as a control though, I am guessing low level and portability are more important than a 12in speaker. I would still choose analog modeling over digital. Digital reverb is the way to go and I guess the idea is that once one adds an ADC/DAC for reverb, one may as well do amp modeling in the same cpu...
I have a spark 40. It’s easy to turn it into a Spark 2 using a woman’s stocking or foam that is inserted into the hole between the speakers. Then the booming bass goes away. Instead of Spark 2, I'd rather buy an inexpensive processor if I need a loop.
Literally the reason I sent back my Spark 2 is how much it was suffocated with the bass.
Que tal para utilizar con un bajo ?
Does it handle the band rehersal or this is purely for practice at home? Thanks in advance for the answer!
You can mitigate some of the extra bass of the original Spark 40 by removing the grill and plugging the bass reflex port.
I like your choice on guitar for this review , seems to have been a no brainer 👌🏼🥸
Spark mini hard to beat sounds great !