Spark amp

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Stephen Williams
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Spark amp

Post by Stephen Williams »

Anybody tried Positive Grid's Spark amp. 40 watts, sounds loud and has a 3d room filling reverb.
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Charlie Hansen
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Post by Charlie Hansen »

Got one. Use it mostly fo guitar and lap steel but it works pretty good for PSG. Look up Ron Hogan’s posts for an idea of how it sounds.
Actually I play my ubass through it. I haven’t tried my precision through it yet.
Last edited by Charlie Hansen on 7 Mar 2022 7:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I don't know much but what I know I know very well.
Carter S-10 3X5, Peavey Nashville 112, plus Regal dobro and too many other instruments to mention.
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Jim Sliff
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Post by Jim Sliff »

I have one as well. I found if you set it up facing any flat surface around 5-8' away - a wall, file cabinet, furniture - it sounds like a BIG, warm tube amp;

Works great with my Fenders or Emmons. I don't use the reverb - in 55 years of amplified-instrument plying I've found that anything but studio reverb - which doesn't come in and can't be copied in a small package - sounds washed out, thin and tinny. The exceptions - the Fender tube reverb, which is also a preamp stage - and surf music, where reverb is required.

Instead I use one or two analog delays.

But overall, the Spark is an amazingly full and loud amplifier/effects unit, especially considering the pair of 3" speakers. Great with both 6-string and pedal or lap steel. And an absolute bargain!
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Don Downes
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Post by Don Downes »

I bought one yesterday and am just waiting on delivery.

Any feedback on the interface? I have an Android tablet and an iPhone. Wondering what that's like.

I'm also interested in the USB/DAW interface (that presumably) comes with it.

Any thoughts?
"The secret to a long life is to keep breathing."
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Don Downes
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Post by Don Downes »

Buy this right NOW. Absolutely savage! And I haven't even got to the amp modeling.
The built in backing tracks are the bomb.
Just get it!. This thing rocks!
"The secret to a long life is to keep breathing."
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Don Downes
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Post by Don Downes »

I sent mine back after a week. It was a pain in the a**.
1.) No way to turn off Bluetooth.
2.) No way to reset Bluetooth.
3.) Setting using the Spark software were "sticky". The last setting was what you got when you fired it up again.
4.) No way to bypass that without using the Spark software.
5.) See number 1.

Rather have a Champ. I want to practice. I don't need to sound like Hendrix or Slash.
"The secret to a long life is to keep breathing."