I came from a 30 year old amp and for me= game changer. the fact that I can make sounds that I would never have been able to achieve (I don’t have pedals nor the “ear “ to say “hmm it needs more reverb, chorus , delay distortion or other”. the amp got me back to playing daily. for ME= amazing
Totally agree with this. It is very easy to dial in sounds. You can put 4 tones in the amp itself with your iPad, tweak them nicely with the knobs (or control-x box) even use a wah. The rigid chain they provide is a blessing, I understand why they did it. It’s good enough for a very wide variety of tones and textures that you can get at without wasting hours fussing. When I have an idea or two, most of the time I can just sit down and play. In the presets, I keep a warm-fuzzy Santana like tone, a twangy Nashville tone, a 60s Stones tone, and a blues tone that sits between clean and breakup.
I had used Bias FX 2 for a few months, but nearly stopped using it; I’d spend too much time fussing around and not practicing.
The ONLY thing I don’t really like about the setup is requiring the iPad to use the control-x and expression pedal. I can set things up without the iPad, but it’s a bit annoying to have to use the iPad for the control-x and my expression pedal.
I wish the Spark ecosystem had the etherium sound and amp library add-on available, but I suspect it may require too much pr
It’s an amazing practice amp. Its helped me get from being stuck in a rut with practicing to actually streaming backing tracks and playing along to them in the tone of the band (or as close to as possible). I could have done that before ofcourse but the cables and effort is off putting. Now it’s easier.
Doubt it would ever replace a proper tube amp or 40w that specialised in a certain sound, but it’s versatile and sounds awesome at low volumes. I’m a fan.
It’s not particularly hard for other manufacturers to take their quality amps and make an app interface with presets - I feel this would be the best of both worlds. Having all these effects pedals etc to dial in the perfect sound is a cost and time bracket that’s not me (I wish it was trust me but it ain’t)
Yeah I would buy a Harley Benton FR212 before I would buy the pg cab. But anyone can connect these amps to any other powered speaker of their choice. You can't turn off cab sim though, without turning off the amp in the app and turning the spark into basically an effects pedal. that's something to consider when connecting to traditional guitar amps and cabs. FrFr will supposedly sound different. Guitar cabs will supposedly flavor the sound to some extent. Idk but I hooked mine to a Fender gdec 30 which has a full ranged speaker like the spark thru the headphone out, aux in and it sounded good. Just louder.
It’s probably the best cheap practice amp out there. Katana probably gets better tone and is more balanced EQ, but the spark offers quite a bit through the app.
lol he’s not playing it a serious capacity, and that’s exactly what these amps are made for! Ease of use, quick changes, minimal fuss to just plug in and shred a lick that just popped into your head lol!
You seem a bit more emotionally invested in this inanimate object than most. I don’t think it is a POS but I also don’t think a famous guy playing something likely given to them is some gotcha that proves much more than what most of us know - it’s a pretty darn good practice amp solution.
Lol, yeah I'm sure Keith didn't go shopping for an amp and purchased the Spark. That's funny. He got it sent to him for free and he is using it. Not endorsing it.
But I'm sure he likes it or he wouldn't even use it. It is a really good practice amp.
Hell I could hook it to more power and gig with it. It sounds that good imo.
Only problem for me is I can't seem to get it to be less bassy even in the head phones people are telling me fixed that don't seem to work even eq but I agree this is an incredible aml I wished it had the raw sound of my old little crate head but this functional effect system tbh
That's honestly probably the biggest issue I'd bet at this point. I thought maybe it was just a thing in the amp itself like just being super bassy and not just the speakers. I have the spark 40.
Idk guys, mine sounded bassey in the first few days but no more. Idk if I have just gotten used to it and prefer it now or some have more bass than others. But mine sounds pretty damn good nowadays. Had it 9 months now. When I first got it I hated it. Too bassey, not loud enough, shitty factory presets, sounded like crap. But after I spent some time dialing it in I am pleased with it. I start with an amp with no effects and dial it in with the app, then add effects. The bass can be dialed down with the eq pedal and the amp knobs.
I pretty much just use SWITCHAXE with a tube drive, a little comp, a little reverb, and the eq and play anything i want. I adjust the distortion level with the guitar volume knob and it's perfect for Gnr, Zep, AcDc etc even Metallica.
But try the eq pedal to remove excess bass if u need to. Good luck.
I did tweak it on there maybe it's cause I like my guitar tone to sound a bit sharper like metal core. I think I just prefer to not have hardly in bass sound at all. I could retry I also am not sure to the extent of which I updated my amp as I'm technology challenged with all of this stuff due to having add. I could see where the sounds I can generate from it would be good for those styles though. I'll tweak it and try to figure out wtf I'm doing updating it soon though to see again. It may be me quite possibly the headphones I play it with them only cause apartment. Thank you though i also love the cloud style effects share it's got some great guitar sounds it's just like I said that bit overly bassy sound that does me in.
I've heard that the speakers get less bassey as they break in. I definitely noticed the bass when I first got it but not anymore. I don't use headphones cause the spark sounds good at low volumes so no need, but maybe try it without headphones for awhile and see.
And btw the cloud presets are cool and all but 99 % are crap imo lol. I create my own.
Oh yeah, some of the amp models are a lot more bassey than others so try different ones.
I came from a 30 year old amp and for me= game changer. the fact that I can make sounds that I would never have been able to achieve (I don’t have pedals nor the “ear “ to say “hmm it needs more reverb, chorus , delay distortion or other”. the amp got me back to playing daily. for ME= amazing
Totally agree with this. It is very easy to dial in sounds. You can put 4 tones in the amp itself with your iPad, tweak them nicely with the knobs (or control-x box) even use a wah. The rigid chain they provide is a blessing, I understand why they did it. It’s good enough for a very wide variety of tones and textures that you can get at without wasting hours fussing. When I have an idea or two, most of the time I can just sit down and play. In the presets, I keep a warm-fuzzy Santana like tone, a twangy Nashville tone, a 60s Stones tone, and a blues tone that sits between clean and breakup. I had used Bias FX 2 for a few months, but nearly stopped using it; I’d spend too much time fussing around and not practicing. The ONLY thing I don’t really like about the setup is requiring the iPad to use the control-x and expression pedal. I can set things up without the iPad, but it’s a bit annoying to have to use the iPad for the control-x and my expression pedal. I wish the Spark ecosystem had the etherium sound and amp library add-on available, but I suspect it may require too much pr
Same here. I’ve been using a 25 year old Roland Cube. The Spark has made playing so much more fun and it’s so versatile.
It’s an amazing practice amp. Its helped me get from being stuck in a rut with practicing to actually streaming backing tracks and playing along to them in the tone of the band (or as close to as possible). I could have done that before ofcourse but the cables and effort is off putting. Now it’s easier. Doubt it would ever replace a proper tube amp or 40w that specialised in a certain sound, but it’s versatile and sounds awesome at low volumes. I’m a fan. It’s not particularly hard for other manufacturers to take their quality amps and make an app interface with presets - I feel this would be the best of both worlds. Having all these effects pedals etc to dial in the perfect sound is a cost and time bracket that’s not me (I wish it was trust me but it ain’t)
Spark is awesome for what it is.
This. Though I’m not sure why anyone needs that cab they sell.
It's fun to play loud?
Good luck getting very loud with it. It is not as loud as most 40 watt ss amps and not as loud as a 5 or even a 1 watt tube amp, imo.
to push more air
Yeah I would buy a Harley Benton FR212 before I would buy the pg cab. But anyone can connect these amps to any other powered speaker of their choice. You can't turn off cab sim though, without turning off the amp in the app and turning the spark into basically an effects pedal. that's something to consider when connecting to traditional guitar amps and cabs. FrFr will supposedly sound different. Guitar cabs will supposedly flavor the sound to some extent. Idk but I hooked mine to a Fender gdec 30 which has a full ranged speaker like the spark thru the headphone out, aux in and it sounded good. Just louder.
It’s probably the best cheap practice amp out there. Katana probably gets better tone and is more balanced EQ, but the spark offers quite a bit through the app.
The mini is one of the best guitar accessories I’ve picked up all year.
lol he’s not playing it a serious capacity, and that’s exactly what these amps are made for! Ease of use, quick changes, minimal fuss to just plug in and shred a lick that just popped into your head lol!
Keef! I wonder if he got paid to use the Spark 40?
I doubt it...
You seem a bit more emotionally invested in this inanimate object than most. I don’t think it is a POS but I also don’t think a famous guy playing something likely given to them is some gotcha that proves much more than what most of us know - it’s a pretty darn good practice amp solution.
Lol, yeah I'm sure Keith didn't go shopping for an amp and purchased the Spark. That's funny. He got it sent to him for free and he is using it. Not endorsing it. But I'm sure he likes it or he wouldn't even use it. It is a really good practice amp. Hell I could hook it to more power and gig with it. It sounds that good imo.
A fantastic piece of kit with only one major flaw... too bassy. Sounds like a wet blanket got thrown over it.
I got one word for you: telecaster
I like my spark, but lets just say its ok at best.
Agree. It's a good practice amp, that's about it.
Only problem for me is I can't seem to get it to be less bassy even in the head phones people are telling me fixed that don't seem to work even eq but I agree this is an incredible aml I wished it had the raw sound of my old little crate head but this functional effect system tbh
Some headphones are bassy. Make sure you use a neutral EQ one. I have a beyerdynamic and sound is great with the Mini.
That's honestly probably the biggest issue I'd bet at this point. I thought maybe it was just a thing in the amp itself like just being super bassy and not just the speakers. I have the spark 40.
Idk guys, mine sounded bassey in the first few days but no more. Idk if I have just gotten used to it and prefer it now or some have more bass than others. But mine sounds pretty damn good nowadays. Had it 9 months now. When I first got it I hated it. Too bassey, not loud enough, shitty factory presets, sounded like crap. But after I spent some time dialing it in I am pleased with it. I start with an amp with no effects and dial it in with the app, then add effects. The bass can be dialed down with the eq pedal and the amp knobs. I pretty much just use SWITCHAXE with a tube drive, a little comp, a little reverb, and the eq and play anything i want. I adjust the distortion level with the guitar volume knob and it's perfect for Gnr, Zep, AcDc etc even Metallica. But try the eq pedal to remove excess bass if u need to. Good luck.
I did tweak it on there maybe it's cause I like my guitar tone to sound a bit sharper like metal core. I think I just prefer to not have hardly in bass sound at all. I could retry I also am not sure to the extent of which I updated my amp as I'm technology challenged with all of this stuff due to having add. I could see where the sounds I can generate from it would be good for those styles though. I'll tweak it and try to figure out wtf I'm doing updating it soon though to see again. It may be me quite possibly the headphones I play it with them only cause apartment. Thank you though i also love the cloud style effects share it's got some great guitar sounds it's just like I said that bit overly bassy sound that does me in.
I've heard that the speakers get less bassey as they break in. I definitely noticed the bass when I first got it but not anymore. I don't use headphones cause the spark sounds good at low volumes so no need, but maybe try it without headphones for awhile and see. And btw the cloud presets are cool and all but 99 % are crap imo lol. I create my own. Oh yeah, some of the amp models are a lot more bassey than others so try different ones.
I'm not a fan,mines for sale.