Bought one 2 days ago, from Amazon, didn’t bother to update firmware, just pressed cancel. Connected to my old iPad mini 5 straight away, no issues. Sounds bleddy great tbh, ideal for playing in the garden and walking around the house with it on my belt, that’s probably all I’m going to use it for, no need to update firmware to use this straight from the box. It looks good and feels solid. I would defo recommend as a fun practice amp.
Got mine a week back, updated firmware no issue and the music quality definitely improved. As a Bluetooth speaker is average. No bass as expected. As a guitar amp is ok at best. Don’t expect great sounds. It’s my first spark and I wanted a battery amp for the sofa and this works a treat. The headphone option sounds really good in my opinion.
You are the truth in Unboxing gear, no microphones give an experience of what to expect when unboxing gear. I thought something was up with mine, coming from the Spark Mini that now guitar riffs when the volume is maxed was great information, you are now the Unboxing King
Got mine in BC a couple days ago as well. I think the best thing about the Spark is I that can plug in my guitar and plug the spark into my computer and use it as an interface. Taking online lessons, Playing over backing tracks, or recording has never been easier. Super happy with it so far!
I think the best thing about this amp is that you can plug it directly into an actual amplifier using the headphone jack. I mainly use mine as an effects loop. Midi foot petals are expensive, but bluetooth midi foot switches are cheap. And yes, the app works with bluetooth midi.
Thanks for the review , I have this on preorder, already downloaded app on my phone, was going to ask about hooking the GO to my computer but this was answered by the comment below.
Updating the firmware on a Mac was so easy I just pressed update and it did it all automatically. Didn’t need to do any file extraction like it said. Took 30-60 seconds and said you’re up to date.
Just wanted to say that I loved your review and assessment. There is another thing that the amp can do that you didn't mention. The amp can be plugged into your computer via USB and you can use it as a digital audio input to a DAW like protools. It can also be an effects processer fot it too. I think that's why they want you to pair to your computer first and update the unit before you pair the phone. I'm still waiting for mine so the last part is just a theory.
i also have the spark 40 amp and it's brill!! but havent got the room for this or a generator to power it with on a motorcycle 🤣 i am doing research for a spark GO mini amp for motorcycle camping tours, my 7 year old grandson has given up learning on his 3/4 Harley Benton strat..so, i will throw it on my back for camping trips..some of the guys i ride/camp with play guitars...gonna order this so we can have some fun with this lil beasty 🤘🤣 EDIT: just ordered one from positive grid website..with a go case..£148 delivered to the UK inc UK vat paid 👍
..and that's why they implemented the hi-z option, to eliminate those crackling / clipping problems i also experienced when i used the little amp right out of the box. once i activated the hi-z option from within the app, no more nasty ugly, clipping sounds, and the spark go sounded as expected - meaning awesome :) i guess you figure out how to put the strap by now (by unscrewing the screw) :)
Was so close to buying one but when you said that i needed to update on a computer i changed my mind. My laptop is dead, so this promised a lot but i have went off it. I bought a Nux mighty air instead, it is also small but the app is not as pro as the spark but it is cheapish and you can get some good tones.
"And THEN!" Chinese food ! 🎉+1 (yep, I'm new). Very useful that it didn't work for you out of the box. Thanks 🙏. One of these will be my retirement present in January when I get my old guitars back from the luthier 🎸. Small is beautiful 😍 with headphones 🎧. (Use the tuner😊🇨🇵)
The firmware upgrade was flaky for me. My MacBook Air has USB-C ports so I plugged the cable that fits this amp into a dongle that would accept the USB-A plug. The update software didn’t detect the amp. So I pulled out my 2011 MacBook Pro with the USB-A port, and it took a few tries (close app, reopen, etc) before it finally saw the amp and I could update the firmware.
Do you feel the bass is good enough to practice with or perform in front of 1-2 people? I don't expect it to blow away a room, but good bass is a must. I have a tiny bluetooth speaker that can fill a room so wondered if this can do something like that. Also, does it sound good for general music playback? I have a spark mini which doesn't sound too good for just general music listening. Thanks, great vid.
Has your Spark 40 bricked and have you contacted their service center in India and got the complete run around??? You will eventually sooner than you think.
Well if they are arriving in Alberta, they should be shipping to the Midwest soon. Your video gave a good warning that one can expect to have to upgrade the firmware. Until your video, I guess I never had full realization that the gadget makes a pretty good bluetooth speaker. Besides the guitar, I can use it for podcasts and audio books. Question - Is the 1/8" plug used to plug into your tube amp monophonic like a guitar plug or stereo? I'm guessing it works either way. I'll have to keep an eye on the front porch for the delivery. Good review.😊
Great video! Could you provide a link to the type of cable you used to line out from Go to your amp. 1/8 cable both ends with adapter at the amp for the 1/4 jack. Any issues using what you did. Someone on Facebook wrote something about a "summing" cable? I am not tech savvy I bought an Airstep for SPK and i am reading that it will only connect to the Go Amp and not the app so you have to assign new tones to the four presets. Thanks!
This type of cable would work, and you wouldn't need an extra adapter. 1/8 to 1/4 TS Cable, Ancable 6ft 3.5mm to 6.35mm Male to Male Mono Cables a.co/d/63Fcbad No issue with the way I hooked it up. Cheers
@@boechlerguitarsandrepair I was able to hook up to my stereo. I also got a transmitter for the guitar and an EIM so I don't have cables messing with me. Thanks for your efforts! Cheers!
So I've just got mine, and it's a good product for the price. The sound from the speaker is a bit "meh", but I've mainly bought it as a portable audio interface and a headphone amp with added benefit of the positive grid software. And the sound on the headphones is surprisingly good in comparison to my Blackstar fly and vox headphones amp, both of which are quite buzzy. Unfortunately the software update is also poping up at my app, and it still doesn't recognise it as a spark go, but as a spark 40, which is annoying. Overal 4/5, but maybe with some future software updates it'll go higher.
@@oracularmusic Hey! Right now I didn't have need to use it as a audio interface. As a headphone amp it works really well, better than my Blackstar fly. They've already released an update to the software, so if I were you, I'd just wait a bit, because the installation was a bit of pain in the ...
Looks like a nice device to use between an analog amp or as an interface to your computer, but as an amp not interesting whatsoever. I have the original Spark 40 watt. You get a nice device then, but the biggest con of the normal Spark to me, is the sound. Lots of possibilities, but it doesn't sound good at all. Seems a lot worse with the Go. For me personally the Go would be good to connect headphones to it and hang the amp to a belt. But then again: would the next step at Positive Grid be producing headphones to plug your guitar or bass in? Or even better with a wireless transmitter? So actually like the Boss Waza Air, but maybe cheaper?
I bought one a couple of days as I’m ampless for a couple of months due to a large move. It blows. After two days of trying, it still won’t connect to my iPad. I’ve updated the firmware, turned off all other devices, etc. Nada. Frustrating, but oh well, I figured. I’d been planning to use it as a basic interface, anyway. Then I heard the latency. It’s appalling. The guy in the store warned me about it, so I’ve got no one to blame but myself. But I’m done with BIAS. I’ve bought a few of their products and none of them have worked well, software included. Plus, they hammer me with advertising. There are better products and companies out there, IMO.
Can the Spark Go plug into my phone and allow me to use something like Tonebridge or an app that has a looper? The lack of things like drum patterns/metronoe and a looper kinda leave it behind other, cheaper devices. But I love the idea of an interface that would allow me to use the limited number of android-based guitar/recording apps out there. I was going to get an irig2 for this, but am I to understand this device would essentially do the same thing?
Mine just came in and when i try to turn it on doesnt work but when i hold it down for 10 seconds white light but no green light or anything what do i do
So when I get mine I shouldn't pair it with my phone first do the up date first an then pair with phone I know it sounds stupid to you guys but I suck at anything that has to do with computers not going to lie
mine is going back too, I play guitar, and this thing sounds like crap by itself. I have no interest in using this with headphones or to plug it into my computer. I have the 40 and Mini, expected more than ancient portable radio sound from this thing. I have similar size blutooth speakers that sound miles better. Sounds great plugged into something else, but as is, it's a bad joke. no matter "bad player" jokes, that's bad ears if anyone likes how this thing sounds by itself, LOL
I don’t own a computer, just an iPad Pro, which doesn’t have usb ports. Wish I knew that when I bought it to use for online lessons and such. I wonder if the new iPads have USB ports?
@Todd Brennan indeed it does. The type C port is not just for charging. It's the port to use door you interface connectivity as well. I know that it is definitely an interface, was just wondering if the tones over bluetooty and the app are transmitted while using it as an interface. Ordered one regardless so I guess we'll see lol
@@piercelawless2654 Yeah they sorted it out. 😂 Then why are the people buying Spark Go's still having the same issues? Do you work for Positive Grid? 😂
@@piercelawless2654 Denial is not just a river in Egypt. If a company sees that their customers are getting their devices bricked while updating the firmware, and still ships the devices with old firmware, then they are either ignorant or they simply don't care. All you need to do is Google "Positive Grid bricked firmware".
@@piercelawless2654 Sure wish they "sorted" mine. I've done all of their suggestions, but still just have a brick with some lights that turn on and off....
Wow i can barely see i can use some apps but i cannot do that. I may just send mine syraight back. I dont own a computer min should be here monday so yeah id say all the other demos on youtube are false advertising. Spark should be forced to be truethfull in their sponsored content
@@LoVeAmBiEnT i am mostly blind i can listen to stuff and have my keyboard memorized as best i can. So again i cannot see what happened just a cop chaising down a girl
The Yamaha is waaaay better than Spark 40. Being able to jam to tracks/download from the large community foist matter if your amp tone is boomy to start off and bricks out after moderate use slightly over a year. Its oriented more towards the beginner’s grade. Btw, Positive Grid’s customer service is in India . . . horrible!!!! I bought the Yamaha. You can do small gigs with its sound quality. Its not a metal amp by no means. BEWARE! YOUR “BOOMY" SPARK AMP WILL BRICK OUT, ITS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN Reply
got mine today and it's going right back, the sound is terrible from the speakers, worst blutooth speaker I've heard in a long time. I have the 40 and the Mini and expected more, this thing is a tinny joke with zero bass. You'd think the engineers could have bought a bose or other tiny speaker and reverse engineer how to actually get better than 40 year old portable radio sound.... Very disappointed in this one. This review gives you a good idea of how crappy it sounds, laughable. Don't sit on a street corner with this thing, LOL edit to add, software update worked fine on my stone old mac mini, it had me download some extra software of some sort, but all I had to do was click continue twice and it was done pretty fast. Getting it to connect to my phone for music streaming took a bit longer, didn't show up as an option until I held down the power button to get it into pairing mode, something that's not really all that clear from the flimsy manual.
