Matthew Davis - I ordered in November and got it May 12th. It’s an impressive little device but Positive Grid thoroughly screwed this up and has yet to acknowledge anything. It’s the last money I’ll ever spend with them unless they publicly acknowledge their mistakes.
I sent Positive Grid an email about comments upset about the extremely late and delayed shipping. Here is my email and their response: Man you guys sure get a lot of hate on the late orders. If you have any updates or information on delivery status that you can share I will let viewers know Thank You Phil Response: It's been tough. So this went up as a crowdfund and I think a lot of folks either weren't familiar with that format, or didn't notice. On TOP of that, our projected sales were +/- 5,000 and we're sitting at almost 50,000 sales right now - it literally SKYROCKETED once we announced it which led to supply delays, and just as things were catching up: BOOM. Covid-19. Absolutely smashed the manufacturing industry in China (and worldwide, to be honest), as well as created massive supply chain issues and shipping delays. We've ramped up production like 5x and we're shipping insane amounts daily, but once they're in Fedex's hands there's a delay there as well. Spark has been really successful but it's also been a learning experience for us as a younger company (another thing people kinda misconstrue - we're not BOSS or Line 6 - we're a pretty tight knit company who's only been around for 8 years, doin' hardware for the last four). It definitely sucks that people are bummed about their orders being fulfilled but we're delivering hundreds of these daily and everyone has been blown away so far, so we're really hoping people can try to understand why they were delayed and ultimately dig the amp!
Thomas Raines I’m sure they underestimated the response then like he said boom covid 19 hit. I’m bummed too but I guess it’s a good problem to have for PG. Remember when the original gen 1 iPhone came out? That’s what this reminds me of. I’ll have to wait a while longer but this thing is totally on my list for sure.
@Thomas Raines you hit the nail on the head. Positive grid can explain and rationalize everything except how they are continuing their aggressive and likely expensive advertising/marketing strategies. Every time you visit the website when they give "updates" and try and track your order you are met with imbeded pop-ups informing you that yet another person has allegedly JUST pre-ordered a spark for the same discount price that was withdraw from your bank account months and months ago. Hopefully mine will actually "arrive at my local distribution center" soon so I have a proper tracking number to confirm its existence and once I have it hand will flip it new-in box on the market. I can wait a year for companies with better pedigrees and frankly more tasteful designs to catch up with the learning tools. It would also be great for NAMM to revoke the reward for best in show because of the constant misleading updates that were clearly designed to gaslight the customers into waiting "just another 30 days or so!" Month after month.
Answer from Positive Grid is lame!!! Every week I see a new Spark review from a UA-cam influencer who didn't pay for the product and oh by the way (in your case) did not even ask for it ... What a friggin slap in the face to all (Former) PG loyalists. I was a Positive Grid customer for over 5 years ...... key word here, "was".
Phil, great review! But, the reason I like it is not the amp, though it’s a cool product. I so appreciate your keeping an open mind, even after admitting you don’t like apps. It’s so cool to see your genuine excitement as you discover the amps functionality. And kudos for digging deep and sharing the app details. So respectful of your audience. You are an impressive man, Phil McKnight.
I just got this amp yesterday. And all I can say that I’m blown away. Most people don’t (except Phillip) discuss this but patch sounds that are created by positive grid have a almost (3D) stereo sound and most amps are mono unless you have two amps to mess around with and your delays , mods and reverbs are all run in stereo. Like he said this amp fills the entire room with sound. This practice amp has some ballz and needs zero to little tweaking to achieve some seriously phenomenal tones that inspire you to play and get creative. I actually waited almost 4 months to get my amp and yes it was a wait but its definitely worth it the long run.
I've literally had this amp shoved down my throat via ads for months, this is the first video I've actually watched about it. Sounds great! I have a Yamaha THR30ii that I was equally impressed with.
Thanks so much for making this. I was really torn between this and the Katana. I had already ordered the Spark, but now I'm much more comfortable with that decision. I really trust your assessment of it. Thanks!
First believable review on this item. Was interested but not in the manufacturer delays. But am on the waiting list for an FM3. Larry Mitchell's fault....
So glad I did the superchat last friday, it was a spur of the moment decision a few days before hand to buy one and I am so glad I did. Great video as usual!
@@RequiemDead I paid 2 months ago. I'm figuring it will probably be another 4 months. If it gets here sooner I'll be happy. I'm not stressing over it, just resigned to the fact that it probably has at least a 6 month delivery window.
@@pvbaelen That is where I am at. When it arrives then I will be a happy lad. But I know it's not a "scam" as previously mentioned. It's obviously real lol, and I can't wait to get it.
Mitchell Witchell lots of people have received them lol it’s just backed up like crazy because of coronavirus and a large unexpected amount of preorders, stop spreading bullshit.
I recived mine a few weeks ago. For the price. It is incredible. It is a badass little amp. When I frst started playing in 1973. You had nothing like this.
I feel ya I would have progressed so fast if the internet was available when I was a kid but I also appreciate learning by ear by rewinding the tapes over and over
I like it a lot, but I returned it for a Fender Mustang GTX 50 for a practice amp. The biggest reasons were that the Spark limits where you can use each pedal in the chain. You cannot put a delay or reverb before the amp, only after it. But the Mustang GTX lets you put any pedal in any position you want. Also, the Fender is not as dependent on the app as the Spark, since it has a display on the amp so you can change everything there if you prefer. Lastly, the Mustang GTX has a foot switch input for wah, etc which the Spark doesn’t have. I was also surprised that the Spark did not have a spring reverb, just plate and room reverbs. Not bad, but I prefer the spring reverb options in the Mustang. Hopefully they add that in a update. Lastly, even though the Mustang 50 is $80 more and bigger, you get a way more powerful 12” celestion speaker for clearer low tones and 10 more watts, which is important in non-valve amps. Lastly, the stereo XLR outputs, and looper capabilities are awesome bonuses on the Mustang. Not to mention that Positive Grid has been getting tons of complaints over lack of communication and customer support issues. Fender is usually very responsive. So all of those features for only $80 more sealed it for me over the Spark.
My favorite feature is being able to play any UA-cam video and it gives me the chord diagrams on the screen as the video plays, so I can play along. At 64 I've had guitars forever- and never progressed. It's like going from crawling to racing. I can play along with my favorite songs for hours now. It was a very rapid progression. Totally priceless.
Great review! I ordered one Nov 8, 2019. It came about 2 weeks ago. I am so glad I waited and didn't cancel the order. It took me about 2 days get everything updated; Spark, computer & iPad. I work, so it took me longer to do the software updates. I am a rank amateur. I got it because it seemed to me to have great learning possibilities. I too was impressed by the packaging, looks, solidness, and sound. Phil's review added a lot to what I already knew of this amps ability. Other than the torturously long wait to get it, I say it is a good value.
I haven't seen a bad review for this amp it sounds awesome infinite sounds and play along I'll never bore of this also very good showcase of the amp thank you really helped me decide to buy it I can't wait
Thanks for this Phil, right now they're $224. I'm going to order one anyway in spite of the shipping delay. It'll be my Christmas present to me, hope to get it by then.
Just got mine in the mail today, wanted to love it but the built in speakers are horrible. Get the Yamaha Thr instead, sounds much better in the room. The spark would make an excellent recording amp though
I hate the fact that Phil really likes this amp. The reason this sucks is because now I really want it. And since I don’t have a wicked awesome UA-cam channel, like Phil, there is no telling when I would get the amp if I were to preorder it right now. 🤦🏼♂️ this is frustrating.
lewisbeeman - I ordered in November. Still no amp, every announced date came and went, no replies to emails. Dislike Positive Grid quite a bit and yet, they’ll email you tubers and send them amps to promote amps that aren’t available to paying customers. Positive Grid will never get a dime from me again.
From my experience, you won't get it anytime soon anyway. I ordered my pre-sale in December 2019 and it was supposed to come in January 2020. It's May 7th, 12 minutes before midnight here. No amp in sight, but plenty of delaying emails and even a bogus email/Fedex shipping notice a week and a half ago, that has come and gone for delivery date........
bbmade I ordered a bit before you, and got mine a couple weeks ago. It will show up but I know it’s frustrating. I went into knowing it would take for ever so wasn’t so bad. One other thing, I had zero warning it was coming, it just showed up one day.
Ordered sometime in November, got mine a few days ago. I haven’t really dug into it but so far I like what I have experienced. I feel like they were really proactive with communication, I got emails saying it was going to be delayed and why (coronavirus), got a shipping notice email, etc. I think this ended up being more popular of a pre-order than they expected, so they tried to ramp up production and make more to sell but they got screwed by Coronavirus shutdowns and whatnot so they were able to at least ship preorders and have some for NAMM and some review units. There will be more to buy eventually. I wouldn’t call this a scam in any way.
Or if you live in any other country that is not on the 24 list of "worldwide". With almost 21 thousand of "already made" and 35 thousand "last chance" you would think those should be a regulary produced commodity.
I'd love to get my hands on this amp. I ordered in November. No love, just 3 or 4 emails pushing the date back each time. I'm a patient man, but this feels more like it was a Kickstarter at this point. Update: The status of my order changed to 'shipped' on May 12. And as a correction, my original order was Dec. 6th, for those of you tracking time from order to delivery. Final update: received amp on May 26th. Works as advertised. Good stuff.
@@stephenrix4883 I found out the 'shipped on May 12th' notice meant shipped from China. However, my FedEx app just notified me that it arrived locally on May 22, and I'll receive it on Tuesday the 26th. Will post a final update hopefully then.
I've been watching your channel for a couple of years now. I really enjoy your reviews and based upon your positive input concerning this amp, I believe I'm going to go ahead and purchase one.
I plan to do a shoot out with my Katana and demo pedals. I love the way it takes pedals which is why I bought the Katana I need a amp to demo pedals when I travel.
Been seeing the ads pop up on social media but ignored them then you did this review and it piqued my interest... then tonight my wife comes across the ad too and asked if I’ve looked into it and showed her this video... she turns to me and says order one before the price skyrockets ...so it’s ordered! Thanks Phil!!! 👍🏻 🎸
A Spark vs Katana vs THR would be a pretty convenient review for the community, since the former two seem to be the best current options on the market for practice amps. Another thing that a lot of us would like to see is how well does this thing performs when hooked up to an external Speaker, be it a cabinet or a PA. Since it only has a 'headphone out' with a cab sim, it remains to be seen if the sound will get contaminated or not. Nice review, Phillip!
Phil, I am blown away by the fact that you 86'd the Boss Katana MK2 for the Spark! I have asked many reviewers about how they felt the Spark compared to other "Modeling" amps like the Katana, Silvertone, GTX, and other trans-tube modelers. Nobody has answered whether the attack, response, or tonal characteristics of tube/valve amplifiers was accurately replicated by the Spark. Trans-tube technology seems to be the direction that many of the instrument amplifier manufacturers are going and some are doing a better job than others at nailing the characteristics that tube/valve amplifiers provide in a musical experience. Tube amps are not just about a sound but an interactive experience between the artist, instrument, and amplifier; there are certain reactions that valve amps have to pick attack, string bends, harmonics, volume, and tone adjustments that a solid-state amplifier's signal path just never seemed able to capture. Roland/Boss does a really good job with the modeling amplifiers and trans-tube technology, however, Positive Grid with their Bias line of amplification expands way beyond that. If the Spark harnesses that same technology and replication then it is definitely going to be hard to beat. Thanks for sharing sir.
@Krisitan Sterjo I ordered mine in Dec 2019 and just got a notification this morning telling me it's in transit ,now getting it to my doorstep is an other battle with the Covid19 delay ,if all goes well I'll hopefully see this amp in a month or so😐
Got mine about 2 weeks ago, finally.......ordered at the end of November. Thanks for reviewing, learning a bit more every time I turn it on. Happy with it so far.
I think their marketing might have been better then they anticipated and they got overwhelmed with orders... Also, Rona has a lot to do with the delay. I finally got mine a couple of months ago and I'll say this... IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! That lil SOB is a Power House! Phillip McKnight thanks for your videos, I appreciate your opinions and content!
So far, the Smart Jam feature is the only thing I find lacking. It's just not that smart. It sets the loop length, which is... Disappointing. As Gary Oldman's character in The Fifth Element said. It's basically useless, sorry. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with most everything else. I would like to be able to edit the chords extracted from the UA-cam videos tho. It gets many wrong, and unfortunately, it also includes the chords from any commercials, making those captures a lot less useful.
@@SteveMeiers Also I would like to see more than just 4/4 time available on the smartjam. Lastly, I would like the amp to be rechargeable or battery powered. If it would change those 2 things, I might consider it.
@@love4thetruth - I still think the amp is well worth buying. Especially for its UA-cam integration, with the matching presets. It's nothing short of amazing being able to almost instantly have a patch similar to the original artist's and the tracks, itxs beyond awesome! The rechargable battery power would be very nice too! Add FX foot switching via Bluetooth pedals like AirTurn and FX loop jacks and I'm very happy.
I ordered mine in November, got it a few days ago. Unlike some commenting here, I feel like the communication from Positive Grid was good, I felt well informed about what was happening with my shipment and the problems they were having with manufacturing these during the shutdown in China. The only gripe I have about it is that I feel the play-along feature was a bit oversold. Hope they fix it in subsequent app updates. Phil is right, it doesn’t work about half the time. Playing along with UA-cam videos through the app is ok, but when you play some bars of your own progression, and have it play back, it’s kinda bad.
Michael Hagan I agree. I just received my amp after ordering it in November. I was eager to get it, but I don’t understand how people don’t take, oh I don’t know, the global pandemic into account. I’m impressed overall, but consider the play along feature to be beta in its current form. I hope that will get better. The amp sounds great though.
People are understanding of the pandemic but the fact that they can mobilize units to go to youtubers hands and not their paying ones definitely say something. The logistics is there, and there is proof. That’s why they’re upset. Good for you that you received yours.
@@jaxonvictoria4345How about being understanding of the fact that the dozen or so amps they've sent out to be reviewed pails in comparison to the preorders and this idea that if youtubers didnt get one you'd have one by now is ridiculous. That being said you definately have a right to be upset, but i think its a little misdirected and forgivable given the global situation.
The good news is that all those features , even the amps and fx are all upgradeable since everything is software based. You can imagine improved versions with more amp models , improved jamming apps and who knows what all as new firmware upgrades get made over time. Very cool.
I think this is a very honest review. He had reservations about it being an App based product, but I get the impression that it actually EXCEEDED his expectations in many ways!
Yep, paying customers will be far less enthused when they have to wait for months before it comes. Ordered mine in DEC, supposed to ship JAN, still waiting.
I'm bummed you didn't play bass through it, too. I play guitar and bass, and think it'd be cool to have one practice amp for both instruments, but only if the bass sound was as good as the guitar sound. That said, great thorough, in-depth review as always!
It takes bass fine. I was going to cut that in, but I needed to leave some stuff for my Katana vs Spark video. I think a lot of players want that comparison
@@PhillipMcKnight fair enough, thanks for the reply. Also, thanks for turning me on to LPD Pedals! I just received my Modern Classic, and that thing is a killer drive pedal!
I bought 2 of these. 1 for my son who plays bass and 1 for my other son and myself who generally play lead and rhythm. This is a cool little practice amp for not only bass and electric, but acoustic as well.
I ordered mine back in November and after waiting for nearly six months I cancelled my order... After watching your review I still want to get it 🤦🏻♂️
Great DEMO -- like everyone else who ordered one -- I'm still awaiting delivery -- Positive Grid does provide tracking for shipment. Ordered mine in February -- should get it in June -- Now Phil you are making me jealous you got yours.
I was sweating through this video. I have one showing up on Monday (ordered in November). I value your opinion and am relieved to see you liked it. Thanks
Late to the party just got one of these the other day.....blown away. Stock patches are great, super easy to dial my own tones, sounds great via headphones too. Can't seem to get the ASIO drivers working in windows 10, but will get it sorted. Love how easy it is to take vids jamming to a backup track...the app and software are killer. I use it daily.
I’m tempted, but I now fear all that connected gear...I had a POD X3 : no more x3 update, I had a line 6 iphone interface : not supported anymore . I believe all that computerized gear does not last due to updates...unfortunately...
Nice review, like the USB vs room mic comparison, actually first time ive seen a review do that with a modelling amp that i can remember, most just try to mic it up and compare it to their tube amp and say it sucks, yet direct recording is where the amp sim shine. Still sounded impressive with the room mic. As long as they sound decent for low volume practising thats cool, the speakers in these modelling amps no matter how good they seem to diminish the quality of the amp sims, you need to go direct in or use headphones to get the best out of them. . Would have liked a more thorough explanation of the signal chain, like can you turn off the amp and just use the unit as an interface? or turn off the cab sim so you can use your own IR's in your daw paired with their heads? how many effects can you put in and things like that. Also the quality of the interface would be nice to know, even though my mustang's at 44.1khz 16bit and it sounds great, it would be cool to have better specs in a modern day modelling amp.
Thanks Phil! Have seen other videos on this but didn’t put my order in until I saw your review. I love the Boss Katana but this seems like I’ll be able to get more use and fun out of the Spark. Just started playing bass along with the guitar and the added bass feature sounds cool. Did you try that out yet?
Krisitan Sterjo it’s not a scam 😂 Positive Grid is a well known company. Yes it’s shitty that all of these youtubers are getting the spark before a lot of those who have paid but it’s not a scam. Shipments are delayed big time due to COVID-19, which is 100% to be expected.
Thanks Phillip!!! You rock. I ordered mine January 13th and I finally got it and I think it was well worth the wait!!! Stay safe and healthy my friend !!!
K M77 The price was too good too pass up and with the UA-cam reviews I’ve seen recently I’m only more excited. It’s the same price as an equivalent Bluetooth speaker right now.
It’s not heavy at all . I got mine a month ago and I waited 3 months . I have been using the app , with my iPad and am Alesis I/O Dock . Great tones there . So I got the amp and plugged in . Instantly , I was jamming and practicing . I take it out for teaching and jams at bbq’s . It’s an awesome deal for 224.00 all in .
watched a lot different reviews and from what i can tell, this amp is for you if : You want a great practice amp, you dont want the features of many pedals without spending a fortune, you want a decent sounding amp that is cost effective. This amp is not for you if: you want to gig. you need it by Christmas
Thank you for an honest review of the amp. I got mine the 17th of April and I think the more you work with it the more you will find to like about it. I look forward to them updating both the firmware and software side of this, especially the Jam along feature.
Mine says it shipped as well.....about 8 or 9 days ago...but FedEx has yet to receive the package.....they said customs is backed up...but can't wait to get this...
@@bbmade Hang it there...it shouldn't be too long before you receive a shipping notice...however...just be aware, that it may take another week or two after that due to customs being way behind due to the current Covid-19 situation (assuming)
TheChicagoTodd - Thank you. I want to like this product, I get the idea of preorders and realize there can be snafu’s but this is ridiculous even before COVID. Don’t let anyone tell you this causes the delay. They blew it long before COVID.
Definitely some grounding issues comes and goes , but my lespaul has some grounding issues my other guitars dont it still comes and goes . when I have it hooked up with my mixer the grounding issues goes away because my mixer is grounded .will be ordering the grounded ac plug for $16 from Amazon. Other than that this amp is fucking kool !
@@pauldoan8391 Nice! Have fun :-) Seems like an awesome amp, though I'm usually just using RockSmith to practice, but might get one as well eventually.
THIS is the channel I've been waiting to review the Spark. You hit all the points, that the other reviews didn't get around to mentioning. I'm happy you liked it, I was starting to doubt my purchase. Ordered mine Jan 2nd, and haven't seen it yet.
I hate the involvement of apps too. I have a TC Electronic Chorus with their Tone Print feature (requires app and use of your cell phone), and I can never get it to work right (and I've tried it with a dozen different guitars). Still a rockin' chorus pedal fortunately :)
Overall not a fan of app based equipment a well. Had a Line 6 but didn't like the interface etc. I do have GarageBand and this seems similar. The Spark is a bit easier to use so for now it's ok. If I keep it my plan is to get a few amps and effects dialed in that I like on the app and then store them to the preset buttons on top and only use app as a last resort tweak.
I ordered mine in the first round of pre-oders in October. Arrived mid Febuary. It's a pretty sweet practice amp. Way better than my Yamaha THR10, and my Blackstar IDCORE Beam. The app is fantastic. Hold out if you can, I think you'll find it worth the wait.
Phil, I been after you to look at this puppy since I ordered mine back in January. As always, a great review, but in this case you missed a key feature IMO. There are many great sounding practice style amps like this one, but the Spark is the only one that offers both live song transcriptions and also on the fly transcriptions of songs from youtube, spotify, etc... By other accounts and reviews, this feature is not 100% accurate - how could it be at this pricepoint? But the feature does seem to work for most songs [though super dense, complicated music will always be tougher to handle, just like real-life transcriptions] and does seem to be pretty accurate. This IMO is the real game-changing feature of this amp. Plus you are getting a built-in audio interface so no need for any kind of outboard gear at all. And on top of that, this thing seems to sound frickin' great.
@@fbcaware8805 There are a few. And what's with that marketing crack? Implying something? I'm a fellow guitar player and have nothing at all to do with Positive Grid. But IMO, if the thing does even HALF of what the box says, then yes, IMO, the Spark is a gamechanger in this product space. Do some homework on youtube and you'll find them. Oh wait - they'll all be marketing vids so they'll be useless to a guy like you I'm guessing....
Amazing product! I also own a Peavey Classic 30 and a Marshall SL5 and this thing is simply amazing! Best amp money you can spend! Frankly, I don’t know how the traditionnel manufacturers will even survive! This is a revolution!
PG’s biggest problems are: lack of frequent updates and false information about expected shipping/delivery. It’s never a good idea for a company to go quiet and lie.
Look.... they are dealing with chinese manufacturing... they are only as good as the information they are given, I'm not saying cut them any slack but do understand, that realistically ramping up manufacturing, sending things halfway around the world and pandemics... do cause these sorts of issues.
Ok. I used your affiliate link and ordered. Have been saying for months I would not buy it due to their shipping delays. Well...so much for sticking to my declarations. Lol
Phillip McKnight - Nope, they aren’t getting under control. I ordered in November, see people saying they ordered after that and got notice theirs shipped. They don’t reply to emails asking about the status. Nice to see they have available amps to send to you tubers to promote an amp that is NOT available to paying customers.
Glad to know that some have received this amp and found the good in it - also glad to know that others have been stiffed in ordering one and it hasn't shipped. Instead of comparing it with the Katana, I would rather have it compared with that portable Marshall amp.
@@bbmade Spot on. Ordered mine in DEC 2019, supposed to ship in January, the next month. Been waiting since. Seen plenty of reviewers receive their's free in the meanwhile.
I have a friend in TX who told me about the amp, but did not order one, but has told me he hears these same stories from others he knows that did order them and are not digging the shipping delays and problems, like me (pre-sale in December, supposed to ship in January, I'm still waiting).
Ordered mine December 15th, 2019 .... like almost everybody else I have not received mine yet either. I have had communications with Positive Grid a little over a month ago where my emails were answered within 24/36 hrs. I was asked to be patient and that it will be coming. Seeing some of the responses, people that ordered roughly around the same time been receiving theirs although it seems almost like they are not shipping out in the order the orders came in. What bothers me about all these you tubers getting theirs, and been showing them for months now, is that there should have been thousands shipped out by now but i do not see any new current videos posted by anybody that is NOT a known UA-camr. But i'll try and stay patient.
Totally agree with you bro. I ordered mine in November 2019, and still haven't gotten mine. But all the "youtube elite" get theirs upon request. Not really fair to us consumers who are actually paying $$ for them. I received an email mid-April that it was shipped...still havnen't gotten it. Looking up the tracking number also provides no progress status either. This is extremely frustrating!
Still waiting for mine too! This is bad business management they really needs to work on it. They're taking orders right and left and can't fill the ones they have already!
Well, guess what ! Today is my birthday. May 13. Turned 50. Yay I’m still alive! BUT here’s the kicker of today. I just tracked my order (which is now half a year ago) and my status just changed to “its in transit” my order is leaving the factory....... let’s see how long before it actually arrives.
Bill Lim awesome!! Damn I’m hoping I’m not missing my delivery as I’ve not been at my own home the last few days. On the order tracker its still marked as “in transit” from the factory.
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Recently received mine, and the first thing I noticed about the clean was the reverb was as deep as a 1000 foot well, it was literally shocking, I did the same look around feeling like I was surrounded by sound, very happy so far, lot to dig into with this unit.
I didn't get my order in until February so it will be a while before it ships. I knew it would be a long wait when I ordered. I would prefer to get it sooner rather than later but I'm OK with it. I knew it was a "PRE ORDER". I am also glad that Spark sent the amp to several UA-camrs to evaluate, this helps me know what I am getting. Thanks Phil!
Heard that, I ordered mine in DEC 2019, and it was supposed to ship in January. I don't have much respect for Positive Grid at this point. I've seen a whole bunch of reviewers get them free since, but not us customers who were willing to pay without a reviewer telling us it was good.
I ran my Reverb and delay pedals through it and it sounded good. I was concerned it would get digital sounding, but it sounded good. Im working on that video with pedals and comparing it to Katana now.
@@PhillipMcKnight that Is kick ass Phill! We must have that jam one day...I'll put the guitar down and play the drums you play bass. It would be one hell of a jam. Trust me. Hahaha.
Because you can use it as the interface on the computer and the sounds. You could use your normal interface as well. But I wanted to show how basic you can get with it.
The only thing I wish you had mentioned is that if you click the music tab and then on one of the preset Smart Jam genres at the top, it is kind of like a play-along feature. It will play a backing track that you can scroll through BUT on the display (on your phone or tablet) you will see the beats (like a metronome) displayed as it plays through the track and shows you the notes. It's awesome for a new player to see these things as you jam along. Super cool video. Great stuff as always!
Got mine 2 weeks ago From guitar guitar uk . It took about 8 weeks from order to delivery. Absolutely worth every penny. I play half a step down on tuning and as stated I have to turn base down . Drop D starts to struggle but I am being really picky . This is now my go to practice amp . Guys ... no bull sh..t .... this little amp is incredible. If it cost Nearly double like the waza head phones I wouldn’t be disappointed.
It seems like they are sending them to everyone except those who have actually ordered one.
Matthew Davis 12 weeks and counting
I got mine a few weeks ago. It is fantastic.
5 months !
Matthew Davis - I ordered in November and got it May 12th. It’s an impressive little device but Positive Grid thoroughly screwed this up and has yet to acknowledge anything. It’s the last money I’ll ever spend with them unless they publicly acknowledge their mistakes.
Ron Loewen - Check their website. The FINALLY have a way to look up and track the order.
I sent Positive Grid an email about comments upset about the extremely late and delayed shipping.
Here is my email and their response:
Man you guys sure get a lot of hate on the late orders.
If you have any updates or information on delivery status that you can share I will let viewers know
Thank You
Phil
Response:
It's been tough. So this went up as a crowdfund and I think a lot of folks either weren't familiar with that format, or didn't notice. On TOP of that, our projected sales were +/- 5,000 and we're sitting at almost 50,000 sales right now - it literally SKYROCKETED once we announced it which led to supply delays, and just as things were catching up: BOOM. Covid-19. Absolutely smashed the manufacturing industry in China (and worldwide, to be honest), as well as created massive supply chain issues and shipping delays. We've ramped up production like 5x and we're shipping insane amounts daily, but once they're in Fedex's hands there's a delay there as well.
Spark has been really successful but it's also been a learning experience for us as a younger company (another thing people kinda misconstrue - we're not BOSS or Line 6 - we're a pretty tight knit company who's only been around for 8 years, doin' hardware for the last four). It definitely sucks that people are bummed about their orders being fulfilled but we're delivering hundreds of these daily and everyone has been blown away so far, so we're really hoping people can try to understand why they were delayed and ultimately dig the amp!
This is a great reply from PG be great if you would share on the PG FB page. I can’t wait to start playing mine.
Thomas Raines I’m sure they underestimated the response then like he said boom covid 19 hit. I’m bummed too but I guess it’s a good problem to have for PG. Remember when the original gen 1 iPhone came out? That’s what this reminds me of. I’ll have to wait a while longer but this thing is totally on my list for sure.
@Thomas Raines Exactly!
@Thomas Raines you hit the nail on the head. Positive grid can explain and rationalize everything except how they are continuing their aggressive and likely expensive advertising/marketing strategies. Every time you visit the website when they give "updates" and try and track your order you are met with imbeded pop-ups informing you that yet another person has allegedly JUST pre-ordered a spark for the same discount price that was withdraw from your bank account months and months ago.
Hopefully mine will actually "arrive at my local distribution center" soon so I have a proper tracking number to confirm its existence and once I have it hand will flip it new-in box on the market. I can wait a year for companies with better pedigrees and frankly more tasteful designs to catch up with the learning tools.
It would also be great for NAMM to revoke the reward for best in show because of the constant misleading updates that were clearly designed to gaslight the customers into waiting "just another 30 days or so!" Month after month.
Answer from Positive Grid is lame!!!
Every week I see a new Spark review from a UA-cam influencer who didn't pay for the product and oh by the way (in your case) did not even ask for it ... What a friggin slap in the face to all (Former) PG loyalists.
I was a Positive Grid customer for over 5 years ...... key word here, "was".
25 years a go we would use anything that just made loud noise and now so many real options and quality sounds and effects...amazing!
Phil, great review! But, the reason I like it is not the amp, though it’s a cool product. I so appreciate your keeping an open mind, even after admitting you don’t like apps. It’s so cool to see your genuine excitement as you discover the amps functionality. And kudos for digging deep and sharing the app details. So respectful of your audience. You are an impressive man, Phil McKnight.
I just got this amp yesterday. And all I can say that I’m blown away. Most people don’t (except Phillip) discuss this but patch sounds that are created by positive grid have a almost (3D) stereo sound and most amps are mono unless you have two amps to mess around with and your delays , mods and reverbs are all run in stereo. Like he said this amp fills the entire room with sound. This practice amp has some ballz and needs zero to little tweaking to achieve some seriously phenomenal tones that inspire you to play and get creative. I actually waited almost 4 months to get my amp and yes it was a wait but its definitely worth it the long run.
Yup. Surround sound that beats out my once owned Jazz Chorus amp. Takes my Riki bass too!
I've literally had this amp shoved down my throat via ads for months, this is the first video I've actually watched about it. Sounds great! I have a Yamaha THR30ii that I was equally impressed with.
Thanks so much for making this. I was really torn between this and the Katana. I had already ordered the Spark, but now I'm much more comfortable with that decision. I really trust your assessment of it. Thanks!
First believable review on this item. Was interested but not in the manufacturer delays. But am on the waiting list for an FM3. Larry Mitchell's fault....
So glad I did the superchat last friday, it was a spur of the moment decision a few days before hand to buy one and I am so glad I did. Great video as usual!
@@witchell8976 That's actually not true, but whatever. I know they are massively delayed but people are receiving them.
@@RequiemDead I paid 2 months ago. I'm figuring it will probably be another 4 months. If it gets here sooner I'll be happy. I'm not stressing over it, just resigned to the fact that it probably has at least a 6 month delivery window.
@@pvbaelen That is where I am at. When it arrives then I will be a happy lad. But I know it's not a "scam" as previously mentioned. It's obviously real lol, and I can't wait to get it.
Mitchell Witchell lots of people have received them lol it’s just backed up like crazy because of coronavirus and a large unexpected amount of preorders, stop spreading bullshit.
I ordered mine back in late November and just got it. Well worth the wait! This little amp is awesome!
I recived mine a few weeks ago. For the price. It is incredible. It is a badass little amp. When I frst started playing in 1973. You had nothing like this.
I feel ya I would have progressed so fast if the internet was available when I was a kid but I also appreciate learning by ear by rewinding the tapes over and over
I like it a lot, but I returned it for a Fender Mustang GTX 50 for a practice amp. The biggest reasons were that the Spark limits where you can use each pedal in the chain. You cannot put a delay or reverb before the amp, only after it. But the Mustang GTX lets you put any pedal in any position you want. Also, the Fender is not as dependent on the app as the Spark, since it has a display on the amp so you can change everything there if you prefer. Lastly, the Mustang GTX has a foot switch input for wah, etc which the Spark doesn’t have. I was also surprised that the Spark did not have a spring reverb, just plate and room reverbs. Not bad, but I prefer the spring reverb options in the Mustang. Hopefully they add that in a update. Lastly, even though the Mustang 50 is $80 more and bigger, you get a way more powerful 12” celestion speaker for clearer low tones and 10 more watts, which is important in non-valve amps. Lastly, the stereo XLR outputs, and looper capabilities are awesome bonuses on the Mustang. Not to mention that Positive Grid has been getting tons of complaints over lack of communication and customer support issues. Fender is usually very responsive. So all of those features for only $80 more sealed it for me over the Spark.
The Spark sounds great with really nice tones-, very nice playing as well. I'm impressed & subbed!
Ordered my Grid Spark on December of 2019 received it today! Playing with it, it is quite loud for my condo, worth the wait!
Yes, it take 6 month.
Returned the Katana...This practice amp is the real deal! Thanks for the vid Phil!
My favorite feature is being able to play any UA-cam video and it gives me the chord diagrams on the screen as the video plays, so I can play along. At 64 I've had guitars forever- and never progressed. It's like going from crawling to racing. I can play along with my favorite songs for hours now. It was a very rapid progression. Totally priceless.
Great review! I ordered one Nov 8, 2019. It came about 2 weeks ago. I am so glad I waited and didn't cancel the order. It took me about 2 days get everything updated; Spark, computer & iPad. I work, so it took me longer to do the software updates. I am a rank amateur. I got it because it seemed to me to have great learning possibilities. I too was impressed by the packaging, looks, solidness, and sound. Phil's review added a lot to what I already knew of this amps ability. Other than the torturously long wait to get it, I say it is a good value.
I haven't seen a bad review for this amp it sounds awesome infinite sounds and play along I'll never bore of this also very good showcase of the amp thank you really helped me decide to buy it I can't wait
Thanks for this Phil, right now they're $224. I'm going to order one anyway in spite of the shipping delay. It'll be my Christmas present to me, hope to get it by then.
Did the same last night. I ordered the amp along with the bag. Glad it didn’t cost $1000, like you would think it would.
Just got mine in the mail today, wanted to love it but the built in speakers are horrible. Get the Yamaha Thr instead, sounds much better in the room. The spark would make an excellent recording amp though
Thanks Phil you sold one here. Good enough for you to switch up good enough for my journey.
I hate the fact that Phil really likes this amp. The reason this sucks is because now I really want it. And since I don’t have a wicked awesome UA-cam channel, like Phil, there is no telling when I would get the amp if I were to preorder it right now. 🤦🏼♂️ this is frustrating.
lewisbeeman - I ordered in November. Still no amp, every announced date came and went, no replies to emails. Dislike Positive Grid quite a bit and yet, they’ll email you tubers and send them amps to promote amps that aren’t available to paying customers. Positive Grid will never get a dime from me again.
From my experience, you won't get it anytime soon anyway. I ordered my pre-sale in December 2019 and it was supposed to come in January 2020. It's May 7th, 12 minutes before midnight here. No amp in sight, but plenty of delaying emails and even a bogus email/Fedex shipping notice a week and a half ago, that has come and gone for delivery date........
bbmade I ordered a bit before you, and got mine a couple weeks ago. It will show up but I know it’s frustrating. I went into knowing it would take for ever so wasn’t so bad. One other thing, I had zero warning it was coming, it just showed up one day.
Ordered sometime in November, got mine a few days ago. I haven’t really dug into it but so far I like what I have experienced. I feel like they were really proactive with communication, I got emails saying it was going to be delayed and why (coronavirus), got a shipping notice email, etc. I think this ended up being more popular of a pre-order than they expected, so they tried to ramp up production and make more to sell but they got screwed by Coronavirus shutdowns and whatnot so they were able to at least ship preorders and have some for NAMM and some review units. There will be more to buy eventually. I wouldn’t call this a scam in any way.
Or if you live in any other country that is not on the 24 list of "worldwide". With almost 21 thousand of "already made" and 35 thousand "last chance" you would think those should be a regulary produced commodity.
I'd love to get my hands on this amp. I ordered in November. No love, just 3 or 4 emails pushing the date back each time. I'm a patient man, but this feels more like it was a Kickstarter at this point.
Update: The status of my order changed to 'shipped' on May 12. And as a correction, my original order was Dec. 6th, for those of you tracking time from order to delivery. Final update: received amp on May 26th. Works as advertised. Good stuff.
It's now May 22. Did you Get your Amp?
@@stephenrix4883 I found out the 'shipped on May 12th' notice meant shipped from China. However, my FedEx app just notified me that it arrived locally on May 22, and I'll receive it on Tuesday the 26th. Will post a final update hopefully then.
@@stephenrix4883 Got my amp today, the 26th. Bluetooth pairing easy, sounds good, lots of fun. Been playing my Amazon Music through it and jamming.
I bought two of these and run them both at same time, sound is phenomenal set 3' apart
I've been watching your channel for a couple of years now. I really enjoy your reviews and based upon your positive input concerning this amp, I believe I'm going to go ahead and purchase one.
You are the first that mentioned it takes pedals, i was really curious about that
I plan to do a shoot out with my Katana and demo pedals. I love the way it takes pedals which is why I bought the Katana I need a amp to demo pedals when I travel.
@@PhillipMcKnight i build pedals and wondered if the amp would be good at recording them. Thank you for trying that.
I use it with my EP booster and it sounds great.
@@parkkingery9216 Nice Park! I have heard about your pedals on Robert's Guitar Dungeon!
@@Jaysteenn that is beyond awesome!
You are a legend. You did demo it with room sound and USB.. Finally I'm convinced now to buy it
A lot of how good it sounds is the musician behind the guitar.
Been seeing the ads pop up on social media but ignored them then you did this review and it piqued my interest... then tonight my wife comes across the ad too and asked if I’ve looked into it and showed her this video... she turns to me and says order one before the price skyrockets ...so it’s ordered! Thanks Phil!!! 👍🏻 🎸
A Spark vs Katana vs THR would be a pretty convenient review for the community, since the former two seem to be the best current options on the market for practice amps.
Another thing that a lot of us would like to see is how well does this thing performs when hooked up to an external Speaker, be it a cabinet or a PA. Since it only has a 'headphone out' with a cab sim, it remains to be seen if the sound will get contaminated or not.
Nice review, Phillip!
Phil, I am blown away by the fact that you 86'd the Boss Katana MK2 for the Spark! I have asked many reviewers about how they felt the Spark compared to other "Modeling" amps like the Katana, Silvertone, GTX, and other trans-tube modelers. Nobody has answered whether the attack, response, or tonal characteristics of tube/valve amplifiers was accurately replicated by the Spark. Trans-tube technology seems to be the direction that many of the instrument amplifier manufacturers are going and some are doing a better job than others at nailing the characteristics that tube/valve amplifiers provide in a musical experience.
Tube amps are not just about a sound but an interactive experience between the artist, instrument, and amplifier; there are certain reactions that valve amps have to pick attack, string bends, harmonics, volume, and tone adjustments that a solid-state amplifier's signal path just never seemed able to capture. Roland/Boss does a really good job with the modeling amplifiers and trans-tube technology, however, Positive Grid with their Bias line of amplification expands way beyond that. If the Spark harnesses that same technology and replication then it is definitely going to be hard to beat. Thanks for sharing sir.
Glad you liked it BUT.... Paid for mine 5 months ago and still haven't received it.. not happy that people got them to demo and mine isn't here yet..
@Krisitan Sterjo I ordered mine in Dec 2019 and just got a notification this morning telling me it's in transit ,now getting it to my doorstep is an other battle with the Covid19 delay ,if all goes well I'll hopefully see this amp in a month or so😐
@Krisitan Sterjo funny thing just happened.. got an email today 5/13 that my order was updated to awaiting shipment
Roy R is it still awaiting shipment? Mine has said that for a month
@@1980glamfan Still waiting too.. keep you posted
same
Got mine about 2 weeks ago, finally.......ordered at the end of November. Thanks for reviewing, learning a bit more every time I turn it on. Happy with it so far.
Your one of the lucky ones! Multiple orders with no product delivery’s.
Heard that. Meanwhile, every reviewer on UA-cam is getting one free.
I really liked his review of this amp and how he goes and shows us everything we need and takes us through it all. It sounds great and is fun.
I think their marketing might have been better then they anticipated and they got overwhelmed with orders... Also, Rona has a lot to do with the delay. I finally got mine a couple of months ago and I'll say this... IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! That lil SOB is a Power House! Phillip McKnight thanks for your videos, I appreciate your opinions and content!
Mine is on preorder. I was excited before but, after this review I am ecstatic. Can't wait to get mine.
These days any amp has good clean and crunch sounds. I would like to see a detailed demo of the smartjam feature.
So far, the Smart Jam feature is the only thing I find lacking. It's just not that smart. It sets the loop length, which is... Disappointing. As Gary Oldman's character in The Fifth Element said. It's basically useless, sorry. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with most everything else. I would like to be able to edit the chords extracted from the UA-cam videos tho. It gets many wrong, and unfortunately, it also includes the chords from any commercials, making those captures a lot less useful.
@@SteveMeiers Also I would like to see more than just 4/4 time available on the smartjam. Lastly, I would like the amp to be rechargeable or battery powered. If it would change those 2 things, I might consider it.
@@love4thetruth - I still think the amp is well worth buying. Especially for its UA-cam integration, with the matching presets. It's nothing short of amazing being able to almost instantly have a patch similar to the original artist's and the tracks, itxs beyond awesome! The rechargable battery power would be very nice too!
Add FX foot switching via Bluetooth pedals like AirTurn and FX loop jacks and I'm very happy.
I appreciate your opinion on this and everything. Keep bringing honesty.
I ordered mine in November, got it a few days ago. Unlike some commenting here, I feel like the communication from Positive Grid was good, I felt well informed about what was happening with my shipment and the problems they were having with manufacturing these during the shutdown in China. The only gripe I have about it is that I feel the play-along feature was a bit oversold. Hope they fix it in subsequent app updates. Phil is right, it doesn’t work about half the time. Playing along with UA-cam videos through the app is ok, but when you play some bars of your own progression, and have it play back, it’s kinda bad.
Michael Hagan I agree. I just received my amp after ordering it in November. I was eager to get it, but I don’t understand how people don’t take, oh I don’t know, the global pandemic into account. I’m impressed overall, but consider the play along feature to be beta in its current form. I hope that will get better. The amp sounds great though.
People are understanding of the pandemic but the fact that they can mobilize units to go to youtubers hands and not their paying ones definitely say something. The logistics is there, and there is proof. That’s why they’re upset. Good for you that you received yours.
Jaxon Victoria Honestly, as shitty as it is, it’s a good way for them to market the Spark Amp
@@jaxonvictoria4345How about being understanding of the fact that the dozen or so amps they've sent out to be reviewed pails in comparison to the preorders and this idea that if youtubers didnt get one you'd have one by now is ridiculous. That being said you definately have a right to be upset, but i think its a little misdirected and forgivable given the global situation.
The good news is that all those features , even the amps and fx are all upgradeable since everything is software based. You can imagine improved versions with more amp models , improved jamming apps and who knows what all as new firmware upgrades get made over time. Very cool.
I think this is a very honest review. He had reservations about it being an App based product, but I get the impression that it actually EXCEEDED his expectations in many ways!
Yep, paying customers will be far less enthused when they have to wait for months before it comes. Ordered mine in DEC, supposed to ship JAN, still waiting.
The Amp lots paid months ago but no one ever got one but the UA-camrs all have one to review :)
Wow you have amazing skills brother! And that amp, just wow. For the price it's unbeatable on every level!
I’ll check it out when they are readily available in stores.
May 2021.
Ordered the amp, 2 days later it arrived. Worth every penny, it’s a keeper!!
I'm bummed you didn't play bass through it, too. I play guitar and bass, and think it'd be cool to have one practice amp for both instruments, but only if the bass sound was as good as the guitar sound. That said, great thorough, in-depth review as always!
It takes bass fine. I was going to cut that in, but I needed to leave some stuff for my Katana vs Spark video. I think a lot of players want that comparison
@@PhillipMcKnight fair enough, thanks for the reply. Also, thanks for turning me on to LPD Pedals! I just received my Modern Classic, and that thing is a killer drive pedal!
I bought 2 of these. 1 for my son who plays bass and 1 for my other son and myself who generally play lead and rhythm. This is a cool little practice amp for not only bass and electric, but acoustic as well.
“Famus” Phil McKnight. Love that you make it available as a podcast. 👍🏻👍🏻 Keep on sharing the good word, sir.
I ordered mine back in November and after waiting for nearly six months I cancelled my order... After watching your review I still want to get it 🤦🏻♂️
Love hearing your opinion vs. the Katana. Not too many UA-camrs give honest opinions.
1:07 "I feel like the whole point of this stuff(just playing guitar on your own) is just to get away from that(phones/social media)"
so fcking true!
Great DEMO -- like everyone else who ordered one -- I'm still awaiting delivery -- Positive Grid does provide tracking for shipment. Ordered mine in February -- should get it in June -- Now Phil you are making me jealous you got yours.
I was sweating through this video. I have one showing up on Monday (ordered in November). I value your opinion and am relieved to see you liked it. Thanks
I think you will dig it. I have not stopped playing it. It is creepy how fun it is
Late to the party just got one of these the other day.....blown away. Stock patches are great, super easy to dial my own tones, sounds great via headphones too. Can't seem to get the ASIO drivers working in windows 10, but will get it sorted. Love how easy it is to take vids jamming to a backup track...the app and software are killer. I use it daily.
I been watching you for a while so your opinion was important to me thanks
My Spark finally came! Well worth the wait !
do you need pedals to change the tone??
I’m tempted, but I now fear all that connected gear...I had a POD X3 : no more x3 update, I had a line 6 iphone interface : not supported anymore . I believe all that computerized gear does not last due to updates...unfortunately...
Tubes rule
I know a lot of people are ticked off about the wait, but I ordered one today anyway. Phil’s recommendation pushed me over the cliff...
Nice review, like the USB vs room mic comparison, actually first time ive seen a review do that with a modelling amp that i can remember, most just try to mic it up and compare it to their tube amp and say it sucks, yet direct recording is where the amp sim shine. Still sounded impressive with the room mic. As long as they sound decent for low volume practising thats cool, the speakers in these modelling amps no matter how good they seem to diminish the quality of the amp sims, you need to go direct in or use headphones to get the best out of them. . Would have liked a more thorough explanation of the signal chain, like can you turn off the amp and just use the unit as an interface? or turn off the cab sim so you can use your own IR's in your daw paired with their heads? how many effects can you put in and things like that. Also the quality of the interface would be nice to know, even though my mustang's at 44.1khz 16bit and it sounds great, it would be cool to have better specs in a modern day modelling amp.
Thanks Phil, and yeah, it is a versatile tool.
Room mic sounds muddy, but usb recording sounds good.
Just got mine today....this amp would only be useful for recording. The built in speakers are horrible. They should call it the Positive Grid Mudbox
@@BrandonEht Does EQing inside the app help with this or is it to far gone?
@@annekedebruyn7797 I tried everything. Don't waste your money. The THR 10 is far better
I just got one of these , it’s a lot of fun inspires you to play more , sit down and wow it’s Wednesday what happen to Tuesday 🎸👍🏼
Thanks Phil! Have seen other videos on this but didn’t put my order in until I saw your review. I love the Boss Katana but this seems like I’ll be able to get more use and fun out of the Spark. Just started playing bass along with the guitar and the added bass feature sounds cool. Did you try that out yet?
Phil, thanks once again for your honest opinion on a piece of equipment. You've kept us from spending money on useless junk more than a few times.
This makes me feel good about the fact that I already ordered one.
Krisitan Sterjo it’s not a scam 😂 Positive Grid is a well known company. Yes it’s shitty that all of these youtubers are getting the spark before a lot of those who have paid but it’s not a scam. Shipments are delayed big time due to COVID-19, which is 100% to be expected.
Thanks Phillip!!! You rock. I ordered mine January 13th and I finally got it and I think it was well worth the wait!!! Stay safe and healthy my friend !!!
I almost forgot that I ordered one of these over 2 months ago.
Write it down, mine is over the five months point now.........
Has I not arrived yet then?? 2 months!
K M77 lol yeah not even close I won’t get it til July if they don’t push it back again
@@jgenoese shouldn't be still promoting it if they can't keep up with demand, I'd be pissed
K M77 The price was too good too pass up and with the UA-cam reviews I’ve seen recently I’m only more excited. It’s the same price as an equivalent Bluetooth speaker right now.
It’s not heavy at all . I got mine a month ago and I waited 3 months . I have been using the app , with my iPad and am Alesis I/O Dock . Great tones there . So I got the amp and plugged in . Instantly , I was jamming and practicing . I take it out for teaching and jams at bbq’s . It’s an awesome deal for 224.00 all in .
watched a lot different reviews and from what i can tell, this amp is for you if :
You want a great practice amp, you dont want the features of many pedals without spending a fortune, you want a decent sounding amp that is cost effective.
This amp is not for you if:
you want to gig.
you need it by Christmas
Thank you for an honest review of the amp. I got mine the 17th of April and I think the more you work with it the more you will find to like about it. I look forward to them updating both the firmware and software side of this, especially the Jam along feature.
I got an email that mine shipped. I preordered December of 2019!
You lucky bastard, lol...
Mine says it shipped as well.....about 8 or 9 days ago...but FedEx has yet to receive the package.....they said customs is backed up...but can't wait to get this...
I ordered in November, haven’t heard a peep. Strong dislike of Positive Grid at this point. They’ll never get a nickel from me again.
@@bbmade Hang it there...it shouldn't be too long before you receive a shipping notice...however...just be aware, that it may take another week or two after that due to customs being way behind due to the current Covid-19 situation (assuming)
TheChicagoTodd - Thank you. I want to like this product, I get the idea of preorders and realize there can be snafu’s but this is ridiculous even before COVID. Don’t let anyone tell you this causes the delay. They blew it long before COVID.
Love your channel... You REALLY helped me set up my first new M.I.M. Strat. Thanks you and look forward to next time.
"Super Easy, Barely an Inconvenience"
I love that channel.
Guitar related mocking pitches would be hilarious
Wow wow. Wow wow wow.
Oh, Super Easy, Barely an Inconveniences are Tight !
OOPSIE!!
Thanks great playing enjoyed it sounded amazing 👍 I just bought this last night should see it in a few days !
That quick? Let me know how that goes.
Ordered it on Amazon got it 2 days later !
Definitely some grounding issues comes and goes , but my lespaul has some grounding issues my other guitars dont it still comes and goes . when I have it hooked up with my mixer the grounding issues goes away because my mixer is grounded .will be ordering the grounded ac plug for $16 from Amazon. Other than that this amp is fucking kool !
@@pauldoan8391 Nice! Have fun :-) Seems like an awesome amp, though I'm usually just using RockSmith to practice, but might get one as well eventually.
Though you were gonna say “ 60% of the time it works.....every time”
THIS is the channel I've been waiting to review the Spark. You hit all the points, that the other reviews didn't get around to mentioning. I'm happy you liked it, I was starting to doubt my purchase. Ordered mine Jan 2nd, and haven't seen it yet.
UPDATE: Got the amp a few days ago.
I hate the involvement of apps too. I have a TC Electronic Chorus with their Tone Print feature (requires app and use of your cell phone), and I can never get it to work right (and I've tried it with a dozen different guitars). Still a rockin' chorus pedal fortunately :)
I've got the WireTap from them and yea, app doesn't work 90% of the time and I have to restart my phoneover and over again to try and make it work.
Overall not a fan of app based equipment a well. Had a Line 6 but didn't like the interface etc. I do have GarageBand and this seems similar. The Spark is a bit easier to use so for now it's ok. If I keep it my plan is to get a few amps and effects dialed in that I like on the app and then store them to the preset buttons on top and only use app as a last resort tweak.
I ordered mine in the first round of pre-oders in October. Arrived mid Febuary. It's a pretty sweet practice amp. Way better than my Yamaha THR10, and my Blackstar IDCORE Beam. The app is fantastic. Hold out if you can, I think you'll find it worth the wait.
@@witchell8976 You have no way of knowing. I could email you a pic I suppose.
Phil, I been after you to look at this puppy since I ordered mine back in January. As always, a great review, but in this case you missed a key feature IMO. There are many great sounding practice style amps like this one, but the Spark is the only one that offers both live song transcriptions and also on the fly transcriptions of songs from youtube, spotify, etc... By other accounts and reviews, this feature is not 100% accurate - how could it be at this pricepoint? But the feature does seem to work for most songs [though super dense, complicated music will always be tougher to handle, just like real-life transcriptions] and does seem to be pretty accurate. This IMO is the real game-changing feature of this amp. Plus you are getting a built-in audio interface so no need for any kind of outboard gear at all. And on top of that, this thing seems to sound frickin' great.
@@fbcaware8805 There are a few. And what's with that marketing crack? Implying something? I'm a fellow guitar player and have nothing at all to do with Positive Grid. But IMO, if the thing does even HALF of what the box says, then yes, IMO, the Spark is a gamechanger in this product space. Do some homework on youtube and you'll find them. Oh wait - they'll all be marketing vids so they'll be useless to a guy like you I'm guessing....
@@fbcaware8805 That's all you got? Yawn....Move along pal - I didn't throw the first stone but I'm ending it. Cheers snowflake
Orange Car Bad No, just an enthusiastic guitar player with an “open” mind I’d say!
Amazing product! I also own a Peavey Classic 30 and a Marshall SL5 and this thing is simply amazing! Best amp money you can spend! Frankly, I don’t know how the traditionnel manufacturers will even survive! This is a revolution!
PG’s biggest problems are: lack of frequent updates and false information about expected shipping/delivery. It’s never a good idea for a company to go quiet and lie.
Look.... they are dealing with chinese manufacturing... they are only as good as the information they are given, I'm not saying cut them any slack but do understand, that realistically ramping up manufacturing, sending things halfway around the world and pandemics... do cause these sorts of issues.
On clean, at 3:25 the Spark sounds a bit like the Fishman Loudbox amp. A big thumbs up for that alone!
Ok. I used your affiliate link and ordered. Have been saying for months I would not buy it due to their shipping delays. Well...so much for sticking to my declarations. Lol
Let me know how it goes. I got the vibe they are getting it under control, but it would be nice to hear from people I can trust
Phillip McKnight - Nope, they aren’t getting under control. I ordered in November, see people saying they ordered after that and got notice theirs shipped. They don’t reply to emails asking about the status. Nice to see they have available amps to send to you tubers to promote an amp that is NOT available to paying customers.
Glad to know that some have received this amp and found the good in it - also glad to know that others have been stiffed in ordering one and it hasn't shipped. Instead of comparing it with the Katana, I would rather have it compared with that portable Marshall amp.
@@bbmade Spot on. Ordered mine in DEC 2019, supposed to ship in January, the next month. Been waiting since. Seen plenty of reviewers receive their's free in the meanwhile.
I have a friend in TX who told me about the amp, but did not order one, but has told me he hears these same stories from others he knows that did order them and are not digging the shipping delays and problems, like me (pre-sale in December, supposed to ship in January, I'm still waiting).
For a "I'm not a guitarist I'm a bass player"... you're a pretty darn good guitarist!
Ordered mine December 15th, 2019 .... like almost everybody else I have not received mine yet either.
I have had communications with Positive Grid a little over a month ago where my emails were answered within 24/36 hrs.
I was asked to be patient and that it will be coming.
Seeing some of the responses, people that ordered roughly around the same time been receiving theirs although it seems almost like they are not shipping out in the order the orders came in.
What bothers me about all these you tubers getting theirs, and been showing them for months now, is that there should have been thousands shipped out by now but i do not see any new current videos posted by anybody that is NOT a known UA-camr.
But i'll try and stay patient.
Totally agree with you bro. I ordered mine in November 2019, and still haven't gotten mine. But all the "youtube elite" get theirs upon request. Not really fair to us consumers who are actually paying $$ for them. I received an email mid-April that it was shipped...still havnen't gotten it. Looking up the tracking number also provides no progress status either. This is extremely frustrating!
Still waiting for mine too! This is bad business management they really needs to work on it. They're taking orders right and left and can't fill the ones they have already!
Well, guess what ! Today is my birthday. May 13. Turned 50. Yay I’m still alive! BUT here’s the kicker of today. I just tracked my order (which is now half a year ago) and my status just changed to “its in transit” my order is leaving the factory....... let’s see how long before it actually arrives.
I bought mine the same time, Dec 2019. Received mine yesterday. Great little amp, worth the wait!
Bill Lim awesome!! Damn I’m hoping I’m not missing my delivery as I’ve not been at my own home the last few days. On the order tracker its still marked as “in transit” from the factory.
Recently received mine, and the first thing I noticed about the clean was the reverb was as deep as a 1000 foot well, it was literally shocking, I did the same look around feeling like I was surrounded by sound, very happy so far, lot to dig into with this unit.
Beginning of the video: I really don't like amps with apps. End of the video: I love this amp, it's my new bae! 🤣
You can use the Amp without having to use the app
I didn't get my order in until February so it will be a while before it ships. I knew it would be a long wait when I ordered. I would prefer to get it sooner rather than later but I'm OK with it. I knew it was a "PRE ORDER". I am also glad that Spark sent the amp to several UA-camrs to evaluate, this helps me know what I am getting. Thanks Phil!
Ordered mine in January. Looks like they have sold around 55,00 of them already. Interested to see how it stacks up against the Katana..
Had an original Katana. Sold it as I preferred the THR10 for a practice amp. Now comparing the THR10 and Spark as we speak.
Thomas Pelley Hi Mr Pelley. Are you affiliated with the products?
@@nvr2old700 I would be very interested about your impressions
Hey Phillip, you are an amazing guitar player! Thank you for sharing your talent.
I am intrigued by these but the wait time for these seem to be forever.
Heard that, I ordered mine in DEC 2019, and it was supposed to ship in January. I don't have much respect for Positive Grid at this point. I've seen a whole bunch of reviewers get them free since, but not us customers who were willing to pay without a reviewer telling us it was good.
@@nealixd.3011 Tru dat bro.
Cool. You can read reviews all day, but to have someone you trust say it's good, well, that's an opinion I value. Thanks Phil.
Takes pedals well? What about a nice reverb ambient ?
I ran my Reverb and delay pedals through it and it sounded good. I was concerned it would get digital sounding, but it sounded good. Im working on that video with pedals and comparing it to Katana now.
@@PhillipMcKnight that Is kick ass Phill! We must have that jam one day...I'll put the guitar down and play the drums you play bass. It would be one hell of a jam. Trust me. Hahaha.
Changed the speakers in mine, JBL Club 4020s, sounded good before, sounds great now.
“Framus Last Words.”
Framus, blast chords!
ordered mine today 8/7 2020. hopefully there is no longer a wait!! Thanks Phil for the review! Love your channel and all that you do!
Why did you use USB into GarageBand?
I’m still waiting for mine like many others
Because you can use it as the interface on the computer and the sounds. You could use your normal interface as well. But I wanted to show how basic you can get with it.
The only thing I wish you had mentioned is that if you click the music tab and then on one of the preset Smart Jam genres at the top, it is kind of like a play-along feature. It will play a backing track that you can scroll through BUT on the display (on your phone or tablet) you will see the beats (like a metronome) displayed as it plays through the track and shows you the notes. It's awesome for a new player to see these things as you jam along. Super cool video. Great stuff as always!
Bought and paid for it 3 months ago... they say I might get it in June. I'm not happy.
June? Lolol 6 months already for me...but they did create a shipping label two weeks ago... could be 2mrw next week or next month!!! Good luck!
If nothing else, thank you for the demo Mr. McKnight.
Next mini amp try the Bad Cat The Paw :D
Got mine 2 weeks ago From guitar guitar uk . It took about 8 weeks from order to delivery.
Absolutely worth every penny.
I play half a step down on tuning and as stated I have to turn base down . Drop D starts to struggle but I am being really picky .
This is now my go to practice amp . Guys ... no bull sh..t .... this little amp is incredible.
If it cost Nearly double like the waza head phones I wouldn’t be disappointed.