How to: Positive Grid Spark 40 Amp and Spark App User's Guide  

Unless Positive Grid sponsors a video and send me a unit or I get one from zzounds for review, I'm not sure that it'll happen, but I am impressed with what I've seen so far from the Spark 2.

That's what I love to hear! I just got the Spark Go and I've been having fun with it too. A little different than the 40 and I have to make some adjustments to my tones. I'll have a video up on that one in a few days. If you're interested, I have a video on a battery pack and wireless guitar dongles you can integrate into your 40 to make it wireless and completely portable. Oh, and the 40 works great as a bluetooth speaker for listening to music at parties, on your deck, etc. And if you;re ever interested in the Boss Katana MK2,, I have a tone of videos on that too! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IUZB4j2kpNw.html

Thanks!

Thanks. Glad you like the spark.

Glad it helped!

Thanks. You're awesome!

Me too! Great little amp for its size.

Awesome. Glad it helped. It's a great little amp and a loud Bluetooth speaker.

Thanks.

The foot switch can be kind of a pain in the ass to sync up to BT sometimes. I don't recall my firmware being out of date on the foot switch. I found it synced better to my phone than it did my older android tablet.

You can run the line out to a powered cabinet if you want to, but yeah, a simple output for a non-powered cabinet would be nice.

Fantastic video

Enjoy it! It's a great little amp with a big sound!

I wish I still had all my stuff from the 80's, but don't we all?!?

I don't think you have to worry about the electronics on your guitar. But I would try to back up your tines on the app and then do a factory reset.

Sorry, I no longer have the Spark .

Some of them were from the Jimi Hendrix paid purchase.

The factory presets leave a.lot to be desired, but there are thousands of times in the tonecloud and you can dial in your own pretty easily.i hope you enjoy it.

@@Guitarnivore Yes, most factory presets suck. But in reality, how can a company take in every guitar, every players ability and style. They are there to be tweaked. I have a lot of outboard gear and I have never used any of their presets. Friday I’ll go my local store and get the Spark.

I don't think you can use the vibe and the EQ at the same time.

I love my Spark 40 and I've never had a problem with the low end. You can adjust for that. Some people even stuff a sock in the bass response port. The battery pack is a third party item. The one I use is the TalentCell and it has worked really well. amzn.to/44FyKvD

@@Guitarnivore Thank you for your reply. I just some current reviews and no one mentioned the low end. For the price, the Spark is a choice I can’t pass up. I looked on Positive Grid and no battery there. But I know what and where to get a battery pack. THANK YOU AGAIN!

I used a program call scrcpy. scrcpy.org/

The Spark 40 sounds great in my opinion, but other people say it sounds too bassy. You can get plenty of good clean and distorted sounds out of it. If you only play at home, either a Katana or Spark is good enough. It all comes down to personal preference. I sold my Spark. I enjoyed using it, but I just found myself always using the Katana.

I haven't had the Spark in a while, so I'm a bit rusty, but if I remember correctly, you should be able to back up the factory settings by saving them to the local app library like you would any other tones you create or download. I'm sure someone probably saved them to the tone cloud too.

@@Guitarnivore thank you for you reply. I was able to save them to my drop box and I put them on the cloud and tagged them so they’re easy to find.

I'm using an Samsung tablet synced with Windows so I could capture what I was doing. I think I was using a program called scrcpy.exe to sync up to windows for demo purposes. I used this video to learn how to do it, but there are other ones out there you can use. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WHcF1ges2bY.html

You can't change the cabinet. It's attached to whichever amp you're using. But here is how to access the tuner from the app. help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/8140721234189-How-to-use-Tuner-in-Spark-app

Yes it does. When using the app, you don't even have to worry about the panel except for the master volume.

I don't think that's possible.

Appreciate it so much.?

Spark Amp List: sparkamplovers.com/kb/available-amp-simulations-list/ Spark FX List: sparkamplovers.com/kb/spark-available-effects/

Absolutely. You can use it with the presets that it comes with, which are still really good. But connecting it to your phone is.teally easy and opens up a world of options.

@@Guitarnivore oh of course! I just wanted to confirm that at minimum, when you turn the amp on, there is, at least, a preset engaged. At first I thought you could just play it, without a preset engaged, independently. I was always wondering why it sounded like it had effects on when I thought it didn’t. (All effects knobs were turned down)

@@geddy1001 Oh yeah. If I understand you correctly, even after you have some presets loaded, they stay on the amp once you disconnect and can play them that way.

@@Guitarnivore Did you find out if this was true?

​@@Jbuginas As long as you save the presets to a channel.

I had one. Like the 40, I loved all the features, but it just wasn't loud enough for me.

Working on it. Give me a couple hours.

I think this is what you wanted: ru-vid.com/show-UCTZP6_wHUQ6TjMnWn3xIK-g

I used a program called scrcpy to mirror my Android onto my PC. I learned it form this video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WHcF1ges2bY.htmlsi=T3UaK5IYN0HhqyEk

@@Guitarnivore Right on! thanks so much!!

They sell a blue tooth foot control for it as well.

Awesome. I was searching for this when I found your video. I did not see it in my country. There are some generic ones but I doubt they can deal with the app.

@@ValentinoLuggen There is also an aftermarket one called the Airstep. xsonicaudio.com/pages/airstepsparkedition

Have you tried a factory reset? I've had to do that once or twice in the last year.

Did u ever get this resolved? @donmilland7606

Two very different animals. Some things to take into consideration are, how loud do you need it? How much do you need different tones and how do you want to dial them in and how tech savvy are you. The Spark 40 sounds great for it's size and connected to a phone or tablet, you can get plenty of tones out of it. The Katana is a beast and it can be a bit complicated. You can work from the panel just fine, but if you want to fine tune every aspect of your tone, then you need to connect it to a computer or tablet/phone, which can be a little more complicated than the Spark. I would say if you want simplicity in a practice amp and you don't need it loud enough to play over a drummer, the Spark might be the way to go for you. Plus the app has a ton of features that I really didn't deep dive into here that can be a lot of fun.

@@Guitarnivore Thank you for help I am pretty good with computers and cellphones but would prefer something more simple and I don't play loud because I don't want to bother me wife. I was leaning towards the spark and after your explanation the spark will be here Sunday. I'm sure I would like both but the fits my needs best. Again thank you for all your help it's good people like you that makes RU-vid a good place to find answers. I will let you know what I think of it. I always give you a thumbs up on your videos and already subscribed.

@@jsr-uz3oj I hope you like it. I think you'll have a lot of fun with it.Thanks!

Here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B6FoPNOqgP4.html

A Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10" tablet.

@@Guitarnivore Thank you so much!

I think you can play iTunes through the app.

There is an app available for desktop/windows, but it doesn't doo all the same stuff as the Spark app. You will need your ipad for that. I screenshared my tablet on my computer for this video.

@@GuitarnivoreTank you for the reply.

This one is the most common. amzn.to/3KvAReg

They actually sound really good and quite loud for their size. A lot of people complain that it has too much bass, but that can be adjusted.

I have my Android screen projecting to my computer.. I used a program called scrncpy. You can learn how to do it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WHcF1ges2bY.html

Also, there is a desktop app you can use: soundshed.com/

wow thank you!@@Guitarnivore

When you reset t factory it goes back to the factory presets that probably have a delay and reverb in them. Just turn them off in the app and save it to a channel.

This one: amzn.to/41kma2M

@@Guitarnivore thank you

The headphone output on the Katana is fantastic because it emulates the sound of the cabinet. It also doubles as the record out. I use it all the time for my Katana videos. I have heard the Waza Air headphones are fantastic, but that price tag is insane.. The Spark headphones out sound really good too. If you don't want to spend much and don't care about it without headphones, check out the Spark Go. To me it doesn't sound all that great through the speaker, but from headphones it sounds great. Unfortunately, none of these are compatible with blue tooth headphones. I don't know of any that are.

@@Guitarnivore Thanks for the information. I'm curious now to try the Katana and Spark with headphones plugged in. As far as sound, independent of the cabinet/speaker quality, (just the quality and variety of sounds you can dial in), do you have a preference between the Katana and Spark?

@@Alan_Page I prefer the Katana, but with any of them, you need a good set of headphones and noise-canceling is always a plus. If you want simplicity and portability, the Spark is the way to go though, whether it's the mini, 40 or the Go. I found I wasn't using my Spark 40 much and ended up trading it. On a side note, one am that has been around awhile that I love is the Vox VT40X, but I don't think any of those Vox amps sounds very good with headphones.

amzn.to/3SqHmmT

It doesn't seem that you can.

Just like playing music through Bluetooth, except you plug in your guitar and play along with it. Adjust the volume between the guitar and Bluetooth to balance them out. However, I have noticed if you're trying to play along with something like Songsterr or Ultimate Guitar tabs, there is a slight delay between the audio and the tab movement.

@@Guitarnivore Thank you. When i want to play some backingtrack on my phone through my desktop computer, i still have to make a connection on my desktop computer to play the track from the phone. What is mean is, how does the Positive grid spark know it is supposed to play a track from a phone? i don't see anything on the amp to make the connection, or is it automatically connected? Thank you .

Sorry for the late response. Your comment got held for review for.somw reason. Anyway, you just pair your gone with the amp like any other device and it uses it like a Bluetooth speaker. I think you can connect Spotify, RU-vid and Pandora accounts through the Spark app as well.

@@Guitarnivore Ok Thanks, spark uses two bluetooth connections, one as bluetooth speaker and one for setup the sounds, so all good, and it works great. Jean

Nope. I did a factory reset to do this video and I didn't have to update the firmware again.

@@Guitarnivore I saw you do the reset but I wasn't sure. Thx! I have had mine since the first batch of pre orders and it just has so much junk. I didn't know what I was doing initially. People have also put some way better tones in the cloud than there was a few years ago. Have you tried pulling off your screen and blocking the bass port yet?

@@richardclark. doing a factory reset won't clear all your tones from the app. Just the amp channels. I think it sounds fine without messing with the bass. I preorder the spark Go, so I'm looking forward to that.

Of course. I am technology challenged sometimes. I guess maybe I will have to look into deleting and reloading the app or something? It's really not that big of a deal. Pressing a few buttons for a reset did sound too easy to be true. Lol.

You can only access what comes on the amp or expansion packs. As far as I know there is only the Jimi Hendrix expansion pack. help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/8645729254029-How-do-I-purchase-an-expansion-pack-for-Spark

Just one payment.

@@Guitarnivore thank you so much

11:38 just like you switch fx. Click on the amp and then scroll through them to find the one you want.

has something to do with the prset buttons he didn't explain it good enough

Only 4 presets channels. The 4 presets are set to whatever you want to set it to. Now, if you're in a specific patch and turn the amp selection knob, it'll change the amp (only) within that preset to whatever amp is factory spec to the knob selection.

The tap tempo button always blinks, and the speed of it depends on the tap tempo that is currently on it. The other buttons only blink if you've changed something from the preset. You'll notice at 2:29 after the restart from the factory reset, the channel one light isn't blinking, but as soon as I change the amp selection on the panel, it start blinking. Once you save it again, it will stop blinking.

@@Guitarnivore Thank you! Is the jam drumming only in 4/4? Or can that be changed?

@@franksylva9031 I wish I could tell you off hand, but I have since traded my 40 to my son and I have no way of checking. From what I've just googled, it looks like the answer is no. Only 4/4

@@Guitarnivore thank you. I couldn't find anything other than 4/4 too

The Spark 40 doesn't have a battery.

Whenever someone uses a weight or measure I'm not familiar with, I simply Google a conversion instead of criticizing. Try it some time.

I used an android tablet to demonstrate all of the Spark app settings in this video. I simply used software to project my tablet screen onto the computer for recording as I was using the app.

@Guitarnivore But can you do some more spark content ? Please !

@@justinwhitehead7767 Sorry, I don't have the Spark anymore.

@@Guitarnivore Dang ok, thanks anyway!

It's a video guide for the basics of using the amp and app and its features. Not a review or demo.

Who's complaining?

EQ's definitely should have been a totally different section and XLR or at least a 1/4" line oput would have been a much better option.

@@Guitarnivore I just had a headphone plugged in 5 minutes ago....it sounds horrible! Nothing like the speakers. I used a wireless to send it to my Pa...sounds horrible just like what's coming through the headphones. These guys threw this together and pushed it out cause they're greedy bastards....they absolutely didn't do it right. The cabinet they're selling is a mess! People are complaining about it....the headphone out is a disgrace. I like the sound through the speakers but they didn't reproduce it in the headphone signal. I can add a mic with a cheap 20.00 battery operated mixer from Temu. I run the guitar and mic thru the mixer and into the guitar input jack and it's 100 times better then what comes out of the headphone jack. Can't get much volume....maybe enough for 30 x 30 room. A small quiet bar or busking on the street. (I use a 19V battery for the amp). They're trying to force people to buy the cabinet with an XLR for a mic and 140w but it's a piece of crap system hook it into the headphone jack! Tons of noise. Somebody needs to come up with a mod to do a XLR out or 1/4" line out.

I don't have my 40 anymore, but last year I got the Spark Go. It was garbage, so I sold it. I'm done with Spark anything.

You must have got a bad unit, because this things sounds louder and better than any 10 watt amp I've ever had.

@@Guitarnivore So I've been told but it doesn't sound faulty just not very good...and quiet.

@@plantagenant We're talking about the 40 and not the mini or the go, right?

@@Guitarnivore Yes...the full fat version. It's sitting in its box where it has since I first bought it and was completely underwhelmed. I might get it out and try a factory reset to see if that wakes it up.

Last I checked, I still lived in the United States where we use the Imperial system, so...I am with it. Multiply inches by 2.54. The conversion is that easy. I make a video to try to help people and out of 25 minutes of video, you want to bitch about the metric system? 🙄

In the spark app, turn off all of the FX and save it as one of the channels on the amp, then you can always go to it when you want to use it like that.