I almost sent mine back, sound quality is terrible compared with similar size blutooth speakers I have. They really dropped the ball there, I have an Exogear speaker of this size, many years old, sounds way better. Decided to keep it because it's so tiny and wasn't all that expensive, shipping costs $ and is a hassle, but I would not buy it again nor would I recommend it. Unless someone wants to use it with headphones. But to sit on the patio or couch I'd get the Mini, not that much bigger and sounds miles better. You can't expect much at this small size, but I expected at least similar sound quality to years old blutooth speakers. Good review, all the first ones that demo it plugged in are false advertising IMO.
I liked mine, when I got it, it looked like a joke but sounded surprisingly good at conversation volume level. More bass and mids than I anticipated from such tiny speakers. I did the firmwware upgrade and felt that backing tracks from my phone sounded pretty good, decent balance and clarity so long as you didn't put the volume more than about 80%. I'm visiting my mum in England for a month, have a guitar over there. This little amp is going to be perfect. Tuner and it works well as an audio interface too.
It is what it is. It is small and that is all what it is. You can crank up the bass volume knobs on the amp and EQ in the control app. The effects are in the software, hence, they are not as good as the actual pedals so you know what to expect. For a $100, an amp about the size of an effect pedal, that’s all it can do. For me it serves its purpose for a tiny amp.
I am impressed with your custom tones you built for the 4 internal presets. I think this thing really shines in its ability to audition others pre-sets from the tone cloud, much more usable than NUX mighty plug, for not much more money.
I run mine through the effects return on my Mesa Boogie mk4. I’m basically using the spark as a pre amp and the boogie power amp. It sounds great but definitely not better than the boogie preamp. But surprisingly good. Headphones sound good too. Even the presets need tweaking but it’s it’s a great practice amp or portable option for like vacation and such.
On a Windows computer and android I had no problems in upgrading. It was literally click click and done. If you have an old Bose SoundDock of some sort, you can use the aux to the SoundDock and really get a much better sound. It will still be punchy in the midranges, but it's a guitar after all. A guitar friend of mine came over and was impressed with how it sounded through a SoundDock XT. You can carry everything you need in a handbag or a small backpack. The GO for no electricity, Add the Bose XT with electricity. Makes a quick run to a friend's to play a little, really easy. Looking for a cheap 30W-40W small speaker with aux for jamming with drums. For those who hate having to be a pack mule to get a good sound, the GO is a great buy.
@@ZackSeifMusic Cheers buddy. I've just bought the mini. I'm a simple bedroom noodler picking up my guitar after nearly 40 years so I think the mini at 10w will be plenty enough for my needs without the neighbours getting out their pitchforks and flaming torches.
I have to say I had no problem with the update and am very impressed wit the Spark Go, it's handy at home and works great as an effects option plugged into my amp. It gives me so many sound options using the software.
@@ZackSeifMusic Yet you told me that the iPhone "mic" is a recording standard? I will stop trolling you...your review was not positive for something that does exactly what it is advertised to do. You should update your review. I see so many of your replies to other comments agreeing that this amp does what it is supposed to do so clearly your are looking for followers rather than giving an honest review of this amp. Good luck trying to be a "social influencer."
camera audio ends up acting like a high pass filter (relative to the mic at ear level). Presumably, the mic at ear level is close to what it actually sounds like
I like the original Spark and the Mini, but the Go just doesn't have enough low end for me. I'd rather listen to a Fender Mustang Micro through a little stereo bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink or any of its cheap equivalents.
I ordered mine when they first became available to the public on 5-30-23. I love it. Have 4 custom presets, my style is metal. Not interested in the firmware update. interface or any of that. I only turn up the volume about halfway and it is plenty loud enough. I play Jackson guitars so the noise gate pedal is great. All in all I use it for its intended purpose and I’m 100% satisfied.
I tried this and didn't care for it. Notice how the string sound in the room is equal to or louder than the amp itself. All the claims "it sounds amazing" and "it sounds so big.. for it's size" I can't agree with. If I can hear my own strings acoustically on my electric guitar over the sound of the amp.... I might as well just practice not plugged in. Not worth the money if you ask me. Yes, the software is good, but I can find backing tracks for free to practice along with. I can't recommend it unless you have no other practice option.
Would this keep up with the volume of an acoustic player? My brother plays acoustic and i want to be able to jam with him at cook outs and parks and camping but i have no idea if the volume could match an acoustic guitar
I think I'll stick to my katana and learn off youtube vids. I've got my pedals. not convinced about the sound it outputs in a bedroom for practice. great vid, thanks.
The setup process is really annoying, took me longer that I would have expected. One thing I found is that if you lay it on its back (where the rubber stuff is) it produces more bass using whatever it is placed on, but the it also moves around when playing a bit louder 😂 But I really like it for the tones and the portability. I guess people should just not expect massive volume out of such a small box.
Thank you for the honest review of this amp. Also for both the recordings. I felt the camera mic made it sound fuller somehow. Where the condenser mic sounded more like I expected. Which was great for what it is. Great eork!
I found the same issues with the firmware. I gave up on it and just used the presets. I eventually gave it to my nephew. I would only recommend this if travelling with it is your main concern. Otherwise. Go with the larger model or small tube amp, or even just a headphone amp.
Yea I definitely viewed it as the poor man’s multi fx processor. But with the benefit of an actual built in speaker, internal battery supply and obviously portability. Honestly if they can keep this same quality up and upgrade the speakers themselves I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to lead the micro amp market, moreso than they probably do.
Thanks for doing this. I’ve messed around with a number of the small practice amps. Most recently was the Blackstar Fly 3 Bluetooth. I found it to be very underwhelming. My little JBL Go2 Blue Tooth Speaker sounds much better when listening to backing tracks and songs. Wait just heard your issues with the firmware. I’m out.
Nice to see a miniamp actually being reviewed as such. Far too often I see them being compared against 'proper' amps and then dismissed for not sounding as good. They're like an mp3 - yeah, compared to vinyl on a decent set-up it doesn't sound as good, but my little mp3 player means I can take most or all of my record collection with me when I travel. It's not what I would choose at home, BUT I don't have the choice of a proper hifi on trains, planes, the bus.... I'm on the fence with the PG Spark Go.... [ha! just had to go back and edit that - I'd typed "Fender" instead of "fence"!). I want something that small and convenient for playing on the go, I also want to be able to have a line-in to use it as an outboard speaker for both my mp3 player and my tablet. Problem is... it's way more complex than I'd use (I'm highly unlikely to do any recording with it, and I don't want to play jam-along tracks), and lacks a crucial feature for me: a 3.5mm line-in cable. Yes, I can do the line in from tablet & player with blutooth, but I much prefer to use a cable instead and maximise battery life (which is basically halved if I use blutooth rather than a cable - on all my devices). The PGSGo is probably the closest to what I want *so far*, but I think it's still just not there. At £50 it would be a no-brainer, but it's still just expensive enough that it's not for me. I suspect that what I really need is a 3-watt, pocket-sized version of a Fender Champ using the Tonemaster tech, which we're just a few years away from yet.
In a few years I can see major brands making reasonably priced, yet decent sounding mini amps with 3-5" speakers that can actually be heard over the acoustic sound of the guitar that are 1/2 the price or less of the amp they're trying to emulate.
I purchased one about a month ago and I do like it and use it fairly regularly. However if you have an IPhone I think an IRig or similar adapter with apps such as ToneStack or Rhino has better quality sounds.
Yes it'll sound great direct. Just like a good quality modeling unit. Just make sure you use the correct cabling and gain staging, as headphone outs are much higher impedance wise than a regular balanced or unbalanced signal.
Hey there! I wish I could but I no longer own this amp. I typically use Dumble style clean amps, Friedman style crunch amps, Mesa Mark II style high gain amps. Compressor on clean tones 2:1 100%. Dual Delays for leads 450 and 600ms. Hope that helps.
I have this on order and should be here in a day or two. I been worried about if I made the right choice in getting it. I just wanted something to take on the back porch and play a little and not hear my neighbor say turn that down. I’m now finding out you need to do a firmware update and that’s going to be a problem cause I do not have a computer now cause mine crashed. In your video it sounds good and loud enough. Hope this is what I want but just not sure. Thanks for the video.
You have to assign them in the preset or you could possibly buy a Bluetooth foot switch and have it connected to your phone or tablet. There are no small amps like this that come with foot switches.
the bass only works when it is flat on the base the base is actually a speaker if you look at it, but it needs to be flat on a surface. just bought one. I think it is amazing for the price and size. Obviously not intended to replace a 'real' amp. Mine lives by the bed.
Thanks for the video. I would love to have heard it tested with an acoustic guitar & and a looper pedal,which is what I would like to use it for. Would you have any advice on the best small practice amp (for ~€100 mark) which would be good for looping a Takamine acoustic guitar with built-in pickup & pre-amp - for home/bedroom use only. Would appreciate any guide here.
I ordered one of these and debated getting this or the mini for a while, or even the katana. When I thought about my use case, how small it is really matters. I'm getting it for noodling around with my traveler guitar... while traveling. In my backpack (which isn't that big) I'll have a laptop, Nintendo Switch, a couple controllers, the traveler guitar (neck sticks out the top) and supporting cables / chargers, so I think the mini would be just too big. This is just small enough that it makes sense for me, for practicing and noodling on my own while traveling. I like that I have the option of either the small built in speakers, headphones, or line out into whatever speakers I happen to have access to. I wish I could use my JBL Charge 5, but they took the aux jack off of them and they're only Bluetooth now which is BS.
@@ZackSeifMusic Yea, I have amplitube but the point of a device like this is to lower the barrier of entry for practicing electric guitar and make it more fun. I'm taking it on a trip right when I get it, we'll see if I like it or not.
It’s better than nothing. It’s strengths, especially if you own the larger Spark, is it’s very convenient to plug in and play anywhere. I am lucky and have a dedicated music room but this is nice to have in the living room or patio to play. The Nux is way better if you want a dedicated headphone amp. While the tones are not as easy to configure as the Spark you can find excellent tones. As you mentioned the Spark sounds great through headphones. Its strength of being super portable is also its biggest weakness. The convenience of portability compromises the sound. With that said I am happy I own one. The Spark ecosystem really encourages players to jam and play with different amps and settings. Like the bigger Spark adding an EQ pedal helps. Thank you for the room comparisons. This type of review is way more useful then anything where the Spark is used as a audio interface. Fun little amp to bring along on the road.
That thing can be much more than a travel amp. Where that thing really shines is it can easily interface into powered cab or into the line-in on any amp for that matter. I have mine interfaced into the HeadRush 108 cab. I have the MX5 as well but dont like that it dont have an actual PC or Cell app. Its very combersome to use the onboard interface. Where the Spark lacks is it dont have any real IR's with any control, you are just stuck with what ever is with amp selection. So going to get the Boss IR2 as a plug in for my Spark Go. This will basically turn that little guy into a Katana. Use the Cabs and Amps from Boss side and FX from the spark side. Use the four presets with different FX loops on the Spark and then use the Boss to switch between the different amps. Been doing some experimenting with using just the Amps from the MX-5 and they sound a lot better than what is offered on the Spark especialy the high gain amps.
I found it is CRITICAL to play this amp from passive pickups via cable with no preamp anywhere between the pickup and amp. Likewise piezo pickup is a no-go. I hated this amp until I figured this out.
I think it’s better than having bad publicity later by people disliking the sound from the unit, but different strategies are true for different size companies or business models.
I prefer the Katana. You can actually hear it over the acoustic sound guitar 😂 The amps sound better on the PG but if you can't hear it then what's the point?
Your video is good thank you. Unfortunately, you have a MAC so it’s not the fault of Positive Grid-it’s the fault of Apple. Apple don’t in any way make things easy for ANYTHING regarding music upgrades on non Apple hardware devices. They are an awful, terrible company in that respect. Edit Found this video which may help: ua-cam.com/video/XD9sg2gHEaI/v-deo.htmlsi=zSCNEJtNPX8fvW65
If you use a cable from headphone output to any amplifier input using a 1/8 to 1/4 cable you get amazing tones that you can also tweak with the eq of your amp.
cool thanks dude yeah the little one doesn't sound to great but it is a great price. Guess its good for warm ups and quick practice sessions. Can you use custom IRs? @@ZackSeifMusic
If you are looking for a meeting with god….you will be disappointed. For what it is and what it was designed to do…it’s great! I own a Yamaha THR-30 and the Go does not cut it in direct comparison, but then again, the Go wasn’t designed to do that…it’s a different animal. I also own a Mesa MarkIII Simulclass combo and a Tone King Imperial MkII. For what the Go does and was designed to do it gets a ✔️ from me. Yep! A seven out of ten.
@@ZackSeifMusic aha. Let me ask you this.. I would assume the tiny box comes already pre programmed , no ? Let’s say I don’t want to edit anything. Can I just plug in my guitar and play without the need to be hooked to the internet ?
I think you're supposed to lay it on its back to get the best sound out of it, more bass tone...per the manual. Would like to hear how it sounds played that way.
@@ZackSeifMusic the spark mini has a lot so is not posible used for digital external instruments like samplers. I really like this tinny but i need with the doble purpose
Le problème c’est que ça va pas t’apprendre à jouer ! 😅 Main gauche : le pouce aïe 😩 et tes doigts se lève trop à bosser et en son crunch léger Y’a 30 ans au cmcn de Nancy sur un pov truc à transistor fallait faire sonner et le son c’est toi pas lampli ni la gratte ! Par contre sympa lampli ❤
Went to the Guitar center hoping to get one, the homie who works there told me to avoid this model ASAP. He told me there are a lot of people who came back to return this product, and he agrees that this mini amp sounds bad.
Have been debating between this and the Mini. I generally just practice in my room but like it to be loud at some points... just wasn't sure how big of a volume difference between the two. Also was considering the Boss Katana Mini
It's not meant to be paired with another amp. It's a standalone amp unit with some built in FX. There's no way to plug it into another amp on it's own if that makes sense!
You are not using (even semi-professional) professional mics; which would result in better sounds than your iPhone. This is an ok review, but watcher beware...it is made by someone who does not understand how to use mics.
Friendly reminder that the iPhone is the most accurate recording because that's how it actually sounds in the room. Because when you are using this amp at home, you're not going to be put a microphone in front of it. It is a cheap, small, very quiet product that can't even be heard over the acoustical strumming of the electric guitar in the first place.
@@ZackSeifMusic The iPhone is not the "most accurate recording" device and not an accurate representation of how any amp sounds in a room. Not sure where you got that info or experience. I feel like you are an iPhone fanboy; to give you an idea of my background; I have my own fully professional studio with years' of recording experience. I agree that the Go is not a performer's amp (unless maybe paired with the Cab they recently put out), but it is an excellent practice amp and recording interface. To say "Friendly reminder that the iPhone is the most accurate recording because that's how it actually sounds in the room" is an entirely false statement. Please visit your local professional recording studio to get a better idea on how guitars are recorded.
@@LuisDiaz-gt4vw Your grammar and spelling is so poor that I don't fully understand what you are trying to say. If you feel like you are winning with your unintelligible comment, good for you! You should also "do it better."
Adding more bass just adds more mud in most scenarios. By having the speaker cut off at a certain frequency since smaller woofers cannot reproduce a full range of sound, you can't add what can't be created in the first place if that makes sense.
the fix is simple: put it flat on its back on a hard surface and it instantly enhances the bass and also projects better into the room. it takes a few seconds to google this
Thanks! Used this video to ultimately decide not to purchase Spark GO. Though, I love my Spark 40. May I ask what the settings on that “SOLO” preset are? Looked for it in Spark shared effects and couldn’t find it.
I no longer have this amp, because of how disappointed I was with it. But a typical solo tone that at least I would use, would be a tube screamer style overdrive in front of an amp with a medium-high amount of gain, and a delay.
best invention in years!! Excellent for begginers or pros,best battery life,and even very enjoyable without the app...and usable as a bluetooth player for your tunes library,overall,worth every penny,and its a good travel size,take it anywhere and jam!!
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Thank you for actually letting us hear it!
Glad to help!
No one else does it really helps
@@The_Squirrel_Dudewill u buy one ?
God bless you!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
(To The Glory Of God Alone)
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
-Ronnie
I almost sent mine back, sound quality is terrible compared with similar size blutooth speakers I have. They really dropped the ball there, I have an Exogear speaker of this size, many years old, sounds way better. Decided to keep it because it's so tiny and wasn't all that expensive, shipping costs $ and is a hassle, but I would not buy it again nor would I recommend it. Unless someone wants to use it with headphones. But to sit on the patio or couch I'd get the Mini, not that much bigger and sounds miles better. You can't expect much at this small size, but I expected at least similar sound quality to years old blutooth speakers.
Good review, all the first ones that demo it plugged in are false advertising IMO.
Appreciate your thoughts! You make some great points for sure.
I liked mine, when I got it, it looked like a joke but sounded surprisingly good at conversation volume level. More bass and mids than I anticipated from such tiny speakers. I did the firmwware upgrade and felt that backing tracks from my phone sounded pretty good, decent balance and clarity so long as you didn't put the volume more than about 80%.
I'm visiting my mum in England for a month, have a guitar over there. This little amp is going to be perfect. Tuner and it works well as an audio interface too.
It'll be perfect for that!
It is what it is. It is small and that is all what it is. You can crank up the bass volume knobs on the amp and EQ in the control app. The effects are in the software, hence, they are not as good as the actual pedals so you know what to expect. For a $100, an amp about the size of an effect pedal, that’s all it can do. For me it serves its purpose for a tiny amp.
I am impressed with your custom tones you built for the 4 internal presets. I think this thing really shines in its ability to audition others pre-sets from the tone cloud, much more usable than NUX mighty plug, for not much more money.
Tone shaping is a skill in itself for sure! Lots of factors to consider.
Is it possible to use the amp without the app?
Yes but you are stuck with the 4 default sounds it comes with and cannot tweak them.
I run mine through the effects return on my Mesa Boogie mk4. I’m basically using the spark as a pre amp and the boogie power amp. It sounds great but definitely not better than the boogie preamp. But surprisingly good. Headphones sound good too. Even the presets need tweaking but it’s it’s a great practice amp or portable option for like vacation and such.
Good way to get more sounds out of a tube amp!
Just got this for Christmas and I'm listening to this video through it lmao it's great !
Glad you like it! Enjoy it and make some wonderful music with it.
I have the 40watt one and I like it a lot. For me it would be redundant to get a mini or go version. But it does seem pretty cool.
Yeah the 40w is the way to go
Great review man! Thanks for recording it the right way. Now, I have a great idea of the result i might get
Glad I could help!
On a Windows computer and android I had no problems in upgrading. It was literally click click and done. If you have an old Bose SoundDock of some sort, you can use the aux to the SoundDock and really get a much better sound. It will still be punchy in the midranges, but it's a guitar after all. A guitar friend of mine came over and was impressed with how it sounded through a SoundDock XT. You can carry everything you need in a handbag or a small backpack. The GO for no electricity, Add the Bose XT with electricity. Makes a quick run to a friend's to play a little, really easy. Looking for a cheap 30W-40W small speaker with aux for jamming with drums. For those who hate having to be a pack mule to get a good sound, the GO is a great buy.
This is a cool setup! Thanks for sharing.
Hi - Out of both the camera and microphone recording, which do you think sounded closest to sitting there listening to it live?
Camera audio is more realistic. There isn't much here really as you'll always hear your guitar over the amp.
@@ZackSeifMusic Cheers buddy. I've just bought the mini. I'm a simple bedroom noodler picking up my guitar after nearly 40 years so I think the mini at 10w will be plenty enough for my needs without the neighbours getting out their pitchforks and flaming torches.
Thanks for the review. I preordered mine and got it in the first shipment they sent out. I actually had no issues with the Firmware update!
i use mac and android and had no problems upgrading the firmware. i also think the sound is very good considering the size of course.
I have to say I had no problem with the update and am very impressed wit the Spark Go, it's handy at home and works great as an effects option plugged into my amp. It gives me so many sound options using the software.
The options are endless which is really nice!
@@ZackSeifMusic Yet you told me that the iPhone "mic" is a recording standard? I will stop trolling you...your review was not positive for something that does exactly what it is advertised to do. You should update your review. I see so many of your replies to other comments agreeing that this amp does what it is supposed to do so clearly your are looking for followers rather than giving an honest review of this amp. Good luck trying to be a "social influencer."
camera audio ends up acting like a high pass filter (relative to the mic at ear level). Presumably, the mic at ear level is close to what it actually sounds like
nice lil nelly ride with me riff on your custom sounds lovin it
Rock on!
I like the original Spark and the Mini, but the Go just doesn't have enough low end for me. I'd rather listen to a Fender Mustang Micro through a little stereo bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink or any of its cheap equivalents.
Very valid points!!
How loud can it go in terms of decibels?
Maybe 80ish dB. It's not loud enough to hear over the guitar itself and I can talk over it.
@@ZackSeifMusic ok thx
*What are YOUR THOUGHTS on the Positive Grid Spark Go?*
I ordered mine when they first became available to the public on 5-30-23. I love it. Have 4 custom presets, my style is metal. Not interested in the firmware update. interface or any of that. I only turn up the volume about halfway and it is plenty loud enough. I play Jackson guitars so the noise gate pedal is great. All in all I use it for its intended purpose and I’m 100% satisfied.
I tried this and didn't care for it. Notice how the string sound in the room is equal to or louder than the amp itself. All the claims "it sounds amazing" and "it sounds so big.. for it's size" I can't agree with. If I can hear my own strings acoustically on my electric guitar over the sound of the amp.... I might as well just practice not plugged in. Not worth the money if you ask me. Yes, the software is good, but I can find backing tracks for free to practice along with. I can't recommend it unless you have no other practice option.
100% agreed. The guitar is as loud as the amp. Very dissatisfied.
With the metal presets, It’s sound pretty decent. 😉
UnBias 🇺🇸👍
I have no affiliation with them so I kept the review as honest as possible.
Would this keep up with the volume of an acoustic player? My brother plays acoustic and i want to be able to jam with him at cook outs and parks and camping but i have no idea if the volume could match an acoustic guitar
Maybe. Most likely not too well considering an acoustic guitar clocks in around the amp volume of the Spark Go. Get the Mini if you plan on jamming.
I think I'll stick to my katana and learn off youtube vids. I've got my pedals. not convinced about the sound it outputs in a bedroom for practice. great vid, thanks.
Katana is the way to go for sure.
I'll stick with my pignose
I ended up returning this and sticking with my Boss Katana Mini.
just got this for my son, I have the 40 on the way for me. I have peen playing a a couple different pignose amps for years. I'm excited for a new amp.
Rock on! These are great compared to the Pignose. More options to be had for tone!
I am just starting out, mostly headphone use. Think this one all right?
Yes with headphones this is awesome
The setup process is really annoying, took me longer that I would have expected. One thing I found is that if you lay it on its back (where the rubber stuff is) it produces more bass using whatever it is placed on, but the it also moves around when playing a bit louder 😂
But I really like it for the tones and the portability. I guess people should just not expect massive volume out of such a small box.
These are all very valid points! Thanks for sharing.
@@ZackSeifMusicI've only owned the 40 in the past and the firmware updates were easy on it. Is it different for the Go and the Mini?
You playing through your Spark GO and me listening to your You Tube Channel on my Spark GO... double Go... ahahahahahaha
That's amazing haha
Thank you for the honest review of this amp. Also for both the recordings. I felt the camera mic made it sound fuller somehow. Where the condenser mic sounded more like I expected. Which was great for what it is. Great eork!
That's why I wanted to do both. Going direct doesn't help at all. So I figured a mic and a camera can get a better picture.
@@ZackSeifMusic So you admit that a decent mic makes this amp valuable?
I found the same issues with the firmware. I gave up on it and just used the presets. I eventually gave it to my nephew. I would only recommend this if travelling with it is your main concern. Otherwise. Go with the larger model or small tube amp, or even just a headphone amp.
Yeah the Spark Mini is leagues above this in my opinion. I returned mine.
what desk is that? would highly appreciate a response !! thanks !
It's actually from Guitar Center! Studio Trends 46" Studio Desk With Dual 4 RU Rack
Yea I definitely viewed it as the poor man’s multi fx processor. But with the benefit of an actual built in speaker, internal battery supply and obviously portability. Honestly if they can keep this same quality up and upgrade the speakers themselves I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to lead the micro amp market, moreso than they probably do.
They need to make it a little bigger. The speaker just can't produce sound louder than the guitar itself can.
Thanks for doing this. I’ve messed around with a number of the small practice amps. Most recently was the Blackstar Fly 3 Bluetooth. I found it to be very underwhelming. My little JBL Go2 Blue Tooth Speaker sounds much better when listening to backing tracks and songs.
Wait just heard your issues with the firmware. I’m out.
Glad I could help! There are so many factors to consider when getting a new piece of gear.
If strictly using headphone I’m incredibly happy with my Fender Micro Mustang. It’s become my go to amp.
Those sound good with headphones!
Can it play a backing track and your audio at the same time?
Yes it has Bluetooth audio!
Nice to see a miniamp actually being reviewed as such. Far too often I see them being compared against 'proper' amps and then dismissed for not sounding as good. They're like an mp3 - yeah, compared to vinyl on a decent set-up it doesn't sound as good, but my little mp3 player means I can take most or all of my record collection with me when I travel. It's not what I would choose at home, BUT I don't have the choice of a proper hifi on trains, planes, the bus....
I'm on the fence with the PG Spark Go.... [ha! just had to go back and edit that - I'd typed "Fender" instead of "fence"!). I want something that small and convenient for playing on the go, I also want to be able to have a line-in to use it as an outboard speaker for both my mp3 player and my tablet. Problem is... it's way more complex than I'd use (I'm highly unlikely to do any recording with it, and I don't want to play jam-along tracks), and lacks a crucial feature for me: a 3.5mm line-in cable. Yes, I can do the line in from tablet & player with blutooth, but I much prefer to use a cable instead and maximise battery life (which is basically halved if I use blutooth rather than a cable - on all my devices). The PGSGo is probably the closest to what I want *so far*, but I think it's still just not there. At £50 it would be a no-brainer, but it's still just expensive enough that it's not for me. I suspect that what I really need is a 3-watt, pocket-sized version of a Fender Champ using the Tonemaster tech, which we're just a few years away from yet.
In a few years I can see major brands making reasonably priced, yet decent sounding mini amps with 3-5" speakers that can actually be heard over the acoustic sound of the guitar that are 1/2 the price or less of the amp they're trying to emulate.
Would you say this is a good 'beginner amp' for someone starting to learn? (Bass guitar, in my particular case)
I recommend the next size up overwise you're going to hear the guitar unplugged louder than the amp it self.
I purchased one about a month ago and I do like it and use it fairly regularly. However if you have an IPhone I think an IRig or similar adapter with apps such as ToneStack or Rhino has better quality sounds.
So many options these days!
Would it be amazing if i plug it into a PA.. you say the headphone output is great so i assume it would be the great plugged into pa
Yes it'll sound great direct. Just like a good quality modeling unit. Just make sure you use the correct cabling and gain staging, as headphone outs are much higher impedance wise than a regular balanced or unbalanced signal.
Hey Zack! Your custom presets sounds amazing! Could you please share your custome presets or some screens shots of you settings? thanks!
Hey there!
I wish I could but I no longer own this amp. I typically use Dumble style clean amps, Friedman style crunch amps, Mesa Mark II style high gain amps. Compressor on clean tones 2:1 100%. Dual Delays for leads 450 and 600ms. Hope that helps.
I have this on order and should be here in a day or two. I been worried about if I made the right choice in getting it. I just wanted something to take on the back porch and play a little and not hear my neighbor say turn that down. I’m now finding out you need to do a firmware update and that’s going to be a problem cause I do not have a computer now cause mine crashed. In your video it sounds good and loud enough. Hope this is what I want but just not sure. Thanks for the video.
Keep me posted!!!! Just connect to your amp with the app with the WIFI turned off, then once connected you'll be able to edit.
Nice review, I feel like I have an honest expectation of what it is…. Thanks…
Glad this helped you!
There is no way to trigger effects on the fly,right? I find that’s the only problem with the mini amps these days
You have to assign them in the preset or you could possibly buy a Bluetooth foot switch and have it connected to your phone or tablet. There are no small amps like this that come with foot switches.
the bass only works when it is flat on the base the base is actually a speaker if you look at it, but it needs to be flat on a surface. just bought one. I think it is amazing for the price and size. Obviously not intended to replace a 'real' amp. Mine lives by the bed.
Great place to have it!
I wish I would have had this on vacation. It sounds pretty good for being small.
That's what I'm using it for this week. Hope it does well for me.
Thanks for the video. I would love to have heard it tested with an acoustic guitar & and a looper pedal,which is what I would like to use it for. Would you have any advice on the best small practice amp (for ~€100 mark) which would be good for looping a Takamine acoustic guitar with built-in pickup & pre-amp - for home/bedroom use only. Would appreciate any guide here.
The acoustic guitar would be significantly louder than the amplifier, you will struggle to hear your loop.
@@ZackSeifMusic
Thanks a million 👍
I ordered one of these and debated getting this or the mini for a while, or even the katana. When I thought about my use case, how small it is really matters. I'm getting it for noodling around with my traveler guitar... while traveling. In my backpack (which isn't that big) I'll have a laptop, Nintendo Switch, a couple controllers, the traveler guitar (neck sticks out the top) and supporting cables / chargers, so I think the mini would be just too big. This is just small enough that it makes sense for me, for practicing and noodling on my own while traveling. I like that I have the option of either the small built in speakers, headphones, or line out into whatever speakers I happen to have access to. I wish I could use my JBL Charge 5, but they took the aux jack off of them and they're only Bluetooth now which is BS.
Yeah it's a touchy compromise.
I think your best bet is a small interface and a plugin library since you already have your laptop!
@@ZackSeifMusic Yea, I have amplitube but the point of a device like this is to lower the barrier of entry for practicing electric guitar and make it more fun. I'm taking it on a trip right when I get it, we'll see if I like it or not.
It’s better than nothing. It’s strengths, especially if you own the larger Spark, is it’s very convenient to plug in and play anywhere. I am lucky and have a dedicated music room but this is nice to have in the living room or patio to play. The Nux is way better if you want a dedicated headphone amp. While the tones are not as easy to configure as the Spark you can find excellent tones. As you mentioned the Spark sounds great through headphones. Its strength of being super portable is also its biggest weakness. The convenience of portability compromises the sound. With that said I am happy I own one. The Spark ecosystem really encourages players to jam and play with different amps and settings. Like the bigger Spark adding an EQ pedal helps. Thank you for the room comparisons. This type of review is way more useful then anything where the Spark is used as a audio interface. Fun little amp to bring along on the road.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You bring up many valid points.
That thing can be much more than a travel amp. Where that thing really shines is it can easily interface into powered cab or into the line-in on any amp for that matter. I have mine interfaced into the HeadRush 108 cab. I have the MX5 as well but dont like that it dont have an actual PC or Cell app. Its very combersome to use the onboard interface. Where the Spark lacks is it dont have any real IR's with any control, you are just stuck with what ever is with amp selection. So going to get the Boss IR2 as a plug in for my Spark Go. This will basically turn that little guy into a Katana. Use the Cabs and Amps from Boss side and FX from the spark side. Use the four presets with different FX loops on the Spark and then use the Boss to switch between the different amps. Been doing some experimenting with using just the Amps from the MX-5 and they sound a lot better than what is offered on the Spark especialy the high gain amps.
Such a great, straightforward and informative vid!!
Glad you liked it!
Zack can you do a top 5 or 10 mini amp with pros and cons thanks
If I can get my hands on that many I'd love to!!!
I’ve tried the 40 watt version, very muddy sound
Very interesting! I've not heard about that before, I had the opposite problem with the Go
İt has no line in.. Dissappointment
It's just a small fun toy, not a lot of features
I found it is CRITICAL to play this amp from passive pickups via cable with no preamp anywhere between the pickup and amp. Likewise piezo pickup is a no-go. I hated this amp until I figured this out.
Unfortunately that limits their market and audience for the product and it should be known that that is a shortfall of this unit.
I think it’s better than having bad publicity later by people disliking the sound from the unit, but different strategies are true for different size companies or business models.
I've read that there's a setting for this now.
Great video. Thanks for making it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m struggling to see the headphone advantage … I can’t get any volume help “. It’s way too quite
It is very quiet
Make sure you’re not using headphones that have really high ohms rating. Studio headphones usually do.
How did it stack up to the Katana mini?
I prefer the Katana. You can actually hear it over the acoustic sound guitar 😂
The amps sound better on the PG but if you can't hear it then what's the point?
Your video is good thank you. Unfortunately, you have a MAC so it’s not the fault of Positive Grid-it’s the fault of Apple. Apple don’t in any way make things easy for ANYTHING regarding music upgrades on non Apple hardware devices. They are an awful, terrible company in that respect.
Edit Found this video which may help:
ua-cam.com/video/XD9sg2gHEaI/v-deo.htmlsi=zSCNEJtNPX8fvW65
If you use a cable from headphone output to any amplifier input using a 1/8 to 1/4 cable you get amazing tones that you can also tweak with the eq of your amp.
Does it mute the speaker when you plug in headphones and or the usb?
Yes
cool thanks dude yeah the little one doesn't sound to great but it is a great price. Guess its good for warm ups and quick practice sessions. Can you use custom IRs? @@ZackSeifMusic
It's a practice amp. Use headphones. It sounds amazing through a good set of phones.
If you are looking for a meeting with god….you will be disappointed.
For what it is and what it was designed to do…it’s great!
I own a Yamaha THR-30 and the Go does not cut it in direct comparison, but then again, the Go wasn’t designed to do that…it’s a different animal.
I also own a Mesa MarkIII Simulclass combo and a Tone King Imperial MkII.
For what the Go does and was designed to do it gets a ✔️ from me.
Yep! A seven out of ten.
I’ve never used an actual cable in my GO. Use a wireless my gosh!!!
So well made, thank you
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
So , do you need an Internet connection to be able to use that thing ?
Yes. You cannot program or edit the stock sounds without the app.
@@ZackSeifMusic aha. Let me ask you this.. I would assume the tiny box comes already pre programmed , no ? Let’s say I don’t want to edit anything. Can I just plug in my guitar and play without the need to be hooked to the internet ?
Go to a friend's place that has a Window's computer to update your Spark Go OS.
Thank you for a proper sound check
Glad I could help!!
Love mine ! I need a practice amp and this fitted the bill so much so I want to get my grandson one !
I think you're supposed to lay it on its back to get the best sound out of it, more bass tone...per the manual. Would like to hear how it sounds played that way.
do you know if aux input have latency?
Aux should not have any
@@ZackSeifMusic the spark mini has a lot so is not posible used for digital external instruments like samplers. I really like this tinny but i need with the doble purpose
Get a real computer and you will not have any problem. 😛
Sounds tiny
Lack of low end and a large speaker will do that!
Shorts /…really
Yup. It's 90 degrees where I live right now.
But I'm not a fashion channel I'm a music channel 😉
I guess at least your not naked from teh waste down @@ZackSeifMusic I should be greatful for that
Can you clip it your belt?
Yes it comes with a little loop made of fabric
@@ZackSeifMusic Thank you!
Le problème c’est que ça va pas t’apprendre à jouer ! 😅
Main gauche : le pouce aïe 😩 et tes doigts se lève trop à bosser et en son crunch léger
Y’a 30 ans au cmcn de Nancy sur un pov truc à transistor fallait faire sonner et le son c’est toi pas lampli ni la gratte !
Par contre sympa lampli ❤
Went to the Guitar center hoping to get one, the homie who works there told me to avoid this model ASAP. He told me there are a lot of people who came back to return this product, and he agrees that this mini amp sounds bad.
Go for the next size up!! Those are pretty solid. I believe it's the Spark Mini.
Have been debating between this and the Mini. I generally just practice in my room but like it to be loud at some points... just wasn't sure how big of a volume difference between the two. Also was considering the Boss Katana Mini
Spark Mini is my pick between them
Great review. Have you tried Nux mighty air or spark mini? I wonder which portable amp sound better.
I haven't tried either of those. The Mini will be better than the GO.
Surprised about the 7/10 of rating because what else is better in this form class?
I prefer the Boss Katana Air or Blackstar Fly 3 by a far margin. This amp is just so small you can't hear it over your guitar.
Really dig this review! ..gonna ask a silly question but could ya do a small open mic gig with this ! Lol just wondering
I would not, the guitar would be the same volume as the amp 😅
What is the recommended headphone impedance? Will regular phone headphones work?
Regular headphones work!
Is there a simple simple clean sound or I could just add a touch of Reverb?
Yes you can edit the sounds as needed!!
You should sit father away from the mic it's picking up the guitar acoustically too much.
That's kind of the point of the video, the amp isn't that loud and you will be able to hear the guitar over it.
Will it work with a Fender Blues, Jr. amplifier ?
It's not meant to be paired with another amp. It's a standalone amp unit with some built in FX. There's no way to plug it into another amp on it's own if that makes sense!
Does it have a chorus without having to use phones and shit?
That's all i need to know.
All FX come through the built in speaker.
I had no problem with the firm ware update ? and my Mac is pretty new
For whatever reason mine refused to work :/
So,at full volume,how long does a charge last?
I returned it after this video, it just wasn't for me. It's up to 8 hours at moderate volume so probably 3-5 at max.
You are not using (even semi-professional) professional mics; which would result in better sounds than your iPhone. This is an ok review, but watcher beware...it is made by someone who does not understand how to use mics.
If you think, that you can do it better, do it, don't criticist
Friendly reminder that the iPhone is the most accurate recording because that's how it actually sounds in the room. Because when you are using this amp at home, you're not going to be put a microphone in front of it. It is a cheap, small, very quiet product that can't even be heard over the acoustical strumming of the electric guitar in the first place.
@@ZackSeifMusic The iPhone is not the "most accurate recording" device and not an accurate representation of how any amp sounds in a room. Not sure where you got that info or experience. I feel like you are an iPhone fanboy; to give you an idea of my background; I have my own fully professional studio with years' of recording experience. I agree that the Go is not a performer's amp (unless maybe paired with the Cab they recently put out), but it is an excellent practice amp and recording interface.
To say "Friendly reminder that the iPhone is the most accurate recording because that's how it actually sounds in the room" is an entirely false statement.
Please visit your local professional recording studio to get a better idea on how guitars are recorded.
@@LuisDiaz-gt4vw Your grammar and spelling is so poor that I don't fully understand what you are trying to say. If you feel like you are winning with your unintelligible comment, good for you! You should also "do it better."
@@ZackSeifMusicDefinitely not lmao what are you on about
But what does it feel like when you play?
Honestly nothing special. It's not bad but it's not great. I'm used to Mesa amps and Fractal Modelers.
Is there a reason to pick spark go over mini?
I'd rather have the mini any day.
I wish it had more output ports and cheaper footswitch option.
I doubt they could make it any cheaper with those options though. I get what the GO's appeal is, but the Mini is arguably better in every way.
Can you compensate for the lack of low end by adding more low end in the amp settings maybe?
Adding more bass just adds more mud in most scenarios. By having the speaker cut off at a certain frequency since smaller woofers cannot reproduce a full range of sound, you can't add what can't be created in the first place if that makes sense.
the fix is simple: put it flat on its back on a hard surface and it instantly enhances the bass and also projects better into the room. it takes a few seconds to google this
Wow so it’s not that crazy good loud like in the commercials, thank you! I changed my mind. :) keeping my Roland cube
The Cube definitely puts out more volume!
So.. Camera audio is better than mic audio ㅎ
I left both options to get as many sound options as possible.
Thanks! Used this video to ultimately decide not to purchase Spark GO. Though, I love my Spark 40.
May I ask what the settings on that “SOLO” preset are? Looked for it in Spark shared effects and couldn’t find it.
I no longer have this amp, because of how disappointed I was with it. But a typical solo tone that at least I would use, would be a tube screamer style overdrive in front of an amp with a medium-high amount of gain, and a delay.
Anyone know if this can be configured for 3 or 4 string guitars?
best invention in years!! Excellent for begginers or pros,best battery life,and even very enjoyable without the app...and usable as a bluetooth player for your tunes library,overall,worth every penny,and its a good travel size,take it anywhere and jam!!