📧 Riff City email so you don't miss deals and updates: artofshred.com/riffcity/ 🔈 Spark 40 amp review and sound demo: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-llCF5cxhjx0.html 🕹 Spark Control footswitch review and demo: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Cd3noFXdOc4.html 🎸 The guitar I used for the brief sounds in this Spark Go video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BosxaYwJAbk.html 🎁 Unboxing the Spark GO: ru-vid.comsL392Hum_RI
So this amp hits the spot for my VERY specific niche. I’m a mail carrier for USPS. I’m getting an affordable Sawtooth guitar (they’re crazy sales are tough to beat). I want this amp now. I can hook this up with an aux cable and practice guitar in my mail truck using the stereo during my lunch. VERY specific, but I’m happy knowing this itch will be scratched. I was looking at those Vox Amplugs. Those are killer, but for about double, this does EVERYTHING. If you walk past a mail truck and hear awful metal guitar, that’s me!
@@ArtOfShredYT oh def would be loud enough, but man…my truck has a kick ass stereo lmao. But, I like options, and in my case I could use that belt loop thing to hang it in my truck. I REALLY doubt Positive Grid built this with me in mind but holy shit this is perfect lol. I was going to pull a trigger on that Vox Amplug for like 50 bucks, but there’s multiple of those. Sometimes I play post rock with tons of effects, sometimes I just want Metallica, or stoner metal stuff. Why buy two of those? The Go has everything I need, and it will work very well for my very oddly specific scenario lol
I feel your enthusiasm and yeah, those of us who love them are a great unpaid sales force! (I think I've moved at least 5 units for these guys...) It's the first piece of gear I've bought in years that makes me feel all gear-gaga like when I first started playing, because it's so much fun and sounds great, in that order. The joy of it for me is being able to cue up limitless tracks on RU-vid to jam to, sounding perfect in the mix with just a preset choice and a volume tweak. As an "amp," expectations are the key to loving it IMO. I mean, look at it--it's not gonna fill a room or sound "big!" But I've found that the basic quality of the sound is very easy to get used to, for instance if I'm jamming to one of those 15 minute YT tracks it doesn't take long for me to forget its shortcomings as a standalone amp and just get into the moment. (Important: Through headphones it's heaven, don't judge it on the tiny speaker.) Money well spent, and I haven't even spent much time on the app yet, and that looks cool, too!
Mine arrives tomorrow and cant wait. Think its gonna be a genuine game changer for people like me who may have a full 'set up' (I've got a headrush into frfr upstairs) but cant always get the time/bother to go and play away from the family - now I'll be able to have the Go downstairs, with a guitar sitting in the corner, and play/practise whenever it takes my fancy - after 20 odd years of playing i might actually get round to some dedicated daily practise again...... And will also be handy if my kids wanna learn and we can jam together, plugging in to the frfr for extra volume. Like i say, cant wait! Nice video review 👍
And how was it mate? I take delivery of a brand new Fender guitar on Tuesday, and I'm about 99% sure that I want to buy one of these little babies...🎸😊
I have one and I love it. With the mic out, and some decent speaker(s) with mic in, you can get rid of a lot of that tinny sound of the small speakers. For me, the software is the reason it is worth buying. You can record, get thousands of tones, and have a portable amp. I have a cheap notebook, a Samsung phone, and an old Bose SoundDock XT to go with it. I can carry enough to go play at a friends in one easy, light trip. So, you can't blow out your neighbors' eardrums, or your friends neighbors'. And it is not for playing with a drummer. But say you want to get with a couple of friends, you pack it up and set it up in less that 5 minutes and put it all in places you can't put big equipment and have a bunch of fun. So, I guess that is the best thing about it. It is fun and easy once you set the software up. How many times have you looked at all the shyte you brought to a friend's and thought there has to be something better? Yeah 5 watts is not much, but I have a 20 watt combo, and have to turn it down to the point that it is always a pain to get the gain and volume right with pedals and such. With my rig, I control volume with one knob, and have access to thousands of FX already setup. Sure beats having a mule train to help you get your gear inside so you can play rather than lug shyte around.
I'm about to buy one. For me it will be an effects laden interface for basic recording that gives me the ability to also do that in a portable way. Also, a cheap porch sitting amp i dont have to plug in. The fact that it charges like a wifi speaker means i dont have to buy batteries like some of the other ones. That's kind of a big deal. I burnt through so many batteries in my Blackstar mini just forgetting to turn it off I could have paid for this. Maybe the best thing about it. Batteries are expensive and if they die you either have to keep a stockpile or your out of business til you get some more. Its also a wifi speaker, if it targets guitar frequencies it"s probably not a good one, but who knows. Plus its like $110 for all that and there's enough hype around them that if i get it and hate it, i can probably easily sell it used for 75-80 bucks. So, not a lot of risk.
I haven't tested it as a Bluetooth speaker but yeah that is an extra feature I didn't mention in this video. Thanks for pointing it out! Based on what you're buying it for I doubt you'll dislike it, but let me know what you think!
Thanks for the review. I've got one of these and also really like it. It sounds fine, the app really brings it to life, and the ability to play along with tracks via its Bluetooth connection is great. It's also a nice object - to hold, to have about, to operate - and I use it day-to-day as a Bluetooth speaker as much as I do an amp. Arguably, is it a little expensive? Perhaps, but I certainly don't feel ripped off. I've had the Spark 40 for a while and love that too, but the Go is getting plenty of use because it's small, convenient and fun. As you said @ArtOfShredYT, young and new guitarists have access to much better stuff to practice on these days.
Thanks for the video. Could you use this as a amp for practising at home with a Takamine acoustic guitar (which with has a built-in pickup & pre-amp) and a looper pedal?
Thats what I want one for I have takamine too I'm thinking chorus reverb would be sweet.i know it's go acoustic amps and effects I'm almost sold on it.
@tefsoundz Hi, Just watching other videos on this spark Go. Another video poster (@boechlerguitarsandrepair) thought that it might be difficult to use it with an acoustic guitar as the Spark Go probably wouldn't be loud enough.
Question: I have a mountain dulcimer and I installed a pick-up under the saddle which does not have pre amps built in like an electric guitar. So, I cannot use all kind of speakers (because the signal need to be amplified first). Would this device work for me?
Mine was supposed to be delivered today, but looks like it will now be tomorrow. I was on pre-orders of both the Spark 40 (that was a disaster), and also of the Spark mini. Such great products, I can't see this one being any different. Guessing this will be the amp that I plug into a lot.
@@ArtOfShredYT Will do. I suspect it will be spectacular and will earn a place close to my desk. So easy to grab and start noodling....I already know the sounds it has, as everything is the same as the Mini and 40. It will be interesting to see how loud it gets. We use the mini all the time as a bluetooth speaker for listening to music, so I have very high hopes for this.
Did your Spark Go arrive? Mine will arrive mid-June. Like you, I also bought the 40 and Mini and love them. Curious how the Go sounds compared to the Mini, since you own one. Thanks
@@shannonjennings1454 Greetings Shannon....yes....FedEx sort of dropped the ball and had 2 consecutive 1 day delays, but yes, I finally received it. I'm very happy with mine and it meets my expectations. Since like you, I already had the 40 and the mini, I knew what to expect from the interface and capabilities, the only question would be whether or not the form factor would provide a good enough experience for the money. That is a very personal thing, and the price means different things to different people, but for me, very much worth it IMHO. Like many, I find that its best to back off max volume a click or two to remove unwanted distortion (I love distortion, but not bad distortion). Bottom line for me, a great purchase for the early bird price. The use case for this amp is its form factor. It's about a 1/4 of the size of the mini, so its obviously not going to compete with the Spark or the Mini directly on volume, and perhaps on tone, but for me it's way good enough for practice and impromptu sessions. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Yours showed up. I hope that means mine will show up soon. I have new neighbors with a baby so i gotta be polite now. There was nobody downstairs for a year that was nice but i think this mini amp will help
I liked the video Karol but every time I look at that tiny Spark, i cant stop thinking about Spinal Tap and the whole Stonehenge scene 😂. I bought the Blackstar Fly 3 a few months ago and love it. I guess for me I struggle with the idea that for at least at home, even though the Spark has all these settings, it is so dang small…maybe its my older brothers and their “go big or go home” echoing in my head. The Spark does seem reasonable for traveling, but for home use as a beginner I would go bigger and save some money. That’s just me though! Thanks again Karol for the nice review.
In regards to the app. If you have a newer Samsung with 120hz display the Spark Mini constantly disconnects unless you turn off high refresh rate on the phone. Hopefully the Go doesn't have this issue.
Thank you dude, I gave up on my Mini and just set the first preset as blank so I could use my pedalboard to tinker. Had the rest as quickies if I didn't want to get the board out. App was literally unusable, now it isn't with that 1 setting. Thanks again!
Great review so thank you. I have one ordered which should be delivered by the weekend. My primary use would be as an interphase for my Mac. I also recently bought a wireless transmitter and receiver which will make this a great wireless system to use. Having all the effects and tone options on the easy-to-use great app should help to limit my Mac's valuable resources by eliminating the need to select similar sounding tones and effects on Amplitube 5 and/or Garageband. This will be my very first Positive Grid Spark amp after being swayed a few years back by the Boss Katana 100w Mark 2 amp (certainly not so easy to lug around to connect to my Mac...). My next plan will be to plug the Spark Go into my Native Instruments Audio 6 interphase. Does anyone know if I can plug an XLR cable into my interphase and the Spark Go? Thanks in advance good people 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, happy you liked the review! I'd be really interested in learning how the Spark Go works out for you in the way you plan to use it. Come back and give us an update when you can.
I just got mine today. Straight away I need to update firmware. I don’t have a computer to do this and firmware cannot be updated by Bluetooth, iPhone or iPad. What the F??? I now have to buy a computer to update the firmware????
Ahh yeah firmware updates happen every once in a while. It's actually a good thing because it keeps the amp updated. But yeah without a computer this might be a pass.
@@supaflymicros I’ve had two updates so far and I believe you can still use it without updating but best be prepared to update it. My updates gave me better performance. I ended up getting an older MAC 💻 and glad I did now as I am learning to use a looper with music processor to record my own music and ideas. I’ve really got to like the GO amp for its size and performance.
@@supaflymicros A bit of a back story. I got this amp 6 months ago and updated it twice. I resented the fact that it arrived needing updates right away and couldn’t update without a computer. Also their customer service is awful. Very Chinese / AI type interaction. They did not follow original shipping instructions and my delivery was left in a public place with no notification to me. But the product itself has won me over. I use it with Moises, an app to make backing tracks, slow songs down, change keys and loop sections to practice. I’ve run this little amp directly into my bass amp for band practice. Lately I am travelling and this why I originally bought the GO. I’m using headphones and a headless travel guitar to spend 3 months in Mexico. I did not want to be without a guitar or have to do airline check in. The headless guitar I can take the neck off and the whole guitar package will fit in my carry on. Check out Moises if you’ve not heard of it. It’s made the biggest impact on my learning guitar. I am just trying to figure out Loopy Pro, a looping app for my IPhone as I left my computer behind to travel.
You know, I was in the market for a bluetooth speaker for a kitchen to listen to music while I am cooking. But spark go has so much more options for a guitar player for the price of a better bluetooth speaker.
@@ArtOfShredYT I think it is ment to play music for backing tracks, so I hope it will be at least serviceable. But look at the "marshall" bt speakers, expensive af and there are no guitarist friendly features.
I just ordered one of these and from what I'd seen from other reviews the little belt is so you can shove your strap into it and have the amp attached to the strap. That may not be true, its just what I've heard.
3:55 in the perspective of portability (campfire, beach, parc or wherehever outside) I supose this tiny strap may be usefull to hook the thing somewhere when there is no proper surface to put them on
I just got mine today, and it sounds terrible, worst blutooth speaker I own. No bass, sounds like a 30 year old portable radio. No bass, tinny sound, laughable for guitar with anyone listening. And any of my other blutooth speakers are way louder and sound better, including a Bose Micro and an old Exogear that's the same size and floats and is waterproof and sounds 3 times as big. Maybe if you run it into a PA or real amp or into your computer, but sorry, I have the 40 (love it) and the Mini (like it), this thing is going back, not worth the $120. And it doesn't sound anything like this video if you don't run it into something bigger. It sounds so laughably bad, nobody would pick this thing out of a lineup of same size blutooth speakers. Yes, it runs with the app and if you want to play with headphones or plug this thing into something with real sound, go for it. Otherwise get the Mini. Or the 40, my favorite of these. I didn't expect much, but I expected quite a bit more. Sorry PositiveGrid, this one is not a winner. The smaller Bose Micro sounds better. The Spark app is fantastic, if you have one of the other Spark amps and want something to toss in a bag then maybe this thing is fine, bring headphones so you don't die of laughter once you hear it.... Don't trust any video review that uses the headphone out to give you samples. This video actually gives you a good idea of how laughable it sounds. As for the beginner questions, unless you live in a box, you have room for the 40, if you want smaller, get the Mini, the app and all the practice options are one of a kind, nothing comes close. I really don't know what the target market for this thing is supposed to be, don't plan on sitting on a street corner and playing with this tinny sounds box.
A note: the first sounds in this video were via a cheap overhead voice mic that I use to film these videos. Thanks for sharing your experience, but I can only imagine you've either got yours setup poorly or it's defective. I played through mine for an hour today and (as stated in this video) it doesn't sound as good as the Spark 40, but it sounds good.
@@ArtOfShredYT I didn't do any setup, just updated firmware and went from there. Compared to my old and same size blutooth speaker it's bad as a music speaker, and compared to the 40 and Mini it's just not worth the $. At half price maybe, but even then I'd have no use for it, I have zero interest in playing with headphones or piping this or anything into my computer, I just want to jam around for fun. Compared to my same size and years old waterproof and floating Exogear speaker it just pales in bass response. And that thing is a lot lighter too. Anyway, everyone hears things differently, to me this GO is a waste of money and I have no use for it, since I have the other two. The app software is what's really great about these, I just expected at least sound quality up to par with similar size blutooth speakers on the market. There's nothing special in the spark amps, just that they work with the outstanding app, which is all software and a tiny bit of cheap hardware. Just my 2ct, I expected a bit more than tinny box radio from 1970. Tried different guitars and compared with the Mini and the 40. The GO is going back, I can't imagine a setting where I'd use it personally. Certainly not to play in front of anyone. Just an other opinion though, and worth as much ;-)
@@adventureawaits3646 It's not meant as a music speaker but a portable guitar amp so it's odd you keep talking about that. That's a bonus feature. It definitely sounds good as a small guitar amp. It's like buying an acoustic guitar and complaining it doesn't sound good with a distortion pedal. But yeah, you should definitely get a refund.
I don't have a Spark Mini, but I don't see the point of a Spark Mini at this point unless maybe you're busking. Would love to hear from someone who has the Go and the Mini, though.
