Positive Grid Spark Mini

[nyc chaz]

Looking at the video's online and it definitely sounds great to practice rock and blues but i am wondering how it would sound with jazz.I've been using a Fender Mustang Micro late at night and it sounds good but wondering if the Positive Grid might be better.It also has the added benefit of being able to use as a bluetooth speaker.Anyone using one of these? I would be interested in your experience's with it.

[FrankBlack]

I have both the Spark 40 and the Spark Mini and I like each of them. Keep in mind the Mini is more of a novelty amp, but I will say it is very flexible, can do a wide range of sounds and can even do some styles of tones better than one would anticipate for such a tiny device. I will also add the the Spark 40 shocked me with the quality of its sound. I really wasn't expecting much from it and I feel like I got my money's worth. Both are a strong candidate for a home practice amp if space is an issue. I can just plug a wireless adapter into the amp and my guitar and play. If you can only pick one, I'd suggest the larger Spark 40 (which is very easily portable with the available gig bag) for quality of sound. 40 watts vs. 10 watts is noticeable. If you just want something you can toss in a backpack, the Mini is decent, although I can't compare it to other available devices in that class (including Spark's own "Go"). The benefit of the Mini is the almost unnoticed portability and the rechargeable battery. But, I will say the presets I've created for the larger Spark 40 all sound much better on its larger speakers than on the Mini's speakers. I've not tried to tweak those presets to compensate for the Mini as it isn't that important to me, but it may be possible. Also, if battery power is important, keep in mind you actually can make the larger Spark 40 run on battery power with various 17500mAh batteries and the appropriate connectors found on Amazon and other such sites. The Spark 40 gets a LOT more low end than I would have thought possible in such a relatively small and inexpensive amp. You can store 4 presets in each of the amps to alleviate the need to connect to your smart device. I almost exclusively play clean tones (80% jazz, 10% acoustic and 10% blues) through the Spark devices and they work well for practice. I will further say if you could mic the Spark 40 into a good house system, I really believe it would sound excellent. If I could only have one amp, it would likely come down to a good Henriksen or Quilter for their under 20 lb. weight and excellent sound. But, the size, tone and preset flexibility of the Spark 40 is a true surprise to me and something that one should really try out if you have the extra money for a fun practice amp. Yes, it takes time to create, test and tweak the tones, but it may be worth it for some. I think you would be happier with the larger Spark 40's tone if you are a jazz player. As of this writing, there is only a $40 difference between the two amps. If you can afford both, you have nothing to worry about.

[nyc chaz]

I have both the Spark 40 and the Spark Mini and I like each of them. Keep in mind the Mini is more of a novelty amp, but I will say it is very flexible, can do a wide range of sounds and can even do some styles of tones better than one would anticipate for such a tiny device. I will also add the the Spark 40 shocked me with the quality of its sound. I really wasn't expecting much from it and I feel like I got my money's worth. Both are a strong candidate for a home practice amp if space is an issue. I can just plug a wireless adapter into the amp and my guitar and play. If you can only pick one, I'd suggest the larger Spark 40 (which is very easily portable with the available gig bag) for quality of sound. 40 watts vs. 10 watts is noticeable. If you just want something you can toss in a backpack, the Mini is decent, although I can't compare it to other available devices in that class (including Spark's own "Go"). The benefit of the Mini is the almost unnoticed portability and the rechargeable battery. But, I will say the presets I've created for the larger Spark 40 all sound much better on its larger speakers than on the Mini's speakers. I've not tried to tweak those presets to compensate for the Mini as it isn't that important to me, but it may be possible. Also, if battery power is important, keep in mind you actually can make the larger Spark 40 run on battery power with various 17500mAh batteries and the appropriate connectors found on Amazon and other such sites. The Spark 40 gets a LOT more low end than I would have thought possible in such a relatively small and inexpensive amp. You can store 4 presets in each of the amps to alleviate the need to connect to your smart device. I almost exclusively play clean tones (80% jazz, 10% acoustic and 10% blues) through the Spark devices and they work well for practice. I will further say if you could mic the Spark 40 into a good house system, I really believe it would sound excellent. If I could only have one amp, it would likely come down to a good Henriksen or Quilter for their under 20 lb. weight and excellent sound. But, the size, tone and preset flexibility of the Spark 40 is a true surprise to me and something that one should really try out if you have the extra money for a fun practice amp. Yes, it takes time to create, test and tweak the tones, but it may be worth it for some. I think you would be happier with the larger Spark 40's tone if you are a jazz player. As of this writing, there is only a $40 difference between the two amps. If you can afford both, you have nothing to worry about.

Thanks for your thoughts on the Spark.I can definitely see myself getting one of these. I don't play that much rock these days but it would be nice to have those tones available if i wanted them and the price of the Spark seems very reasonable.

[pingu]

yes I’m thinking of getting
a Spark Mini ….
for around the house and quiet stuff
without drums

[pingu]

oops repeat

[pingu]

Has anyone had any noise (hiss)
issues with the Spark Mini ?

[pingu]

Has anyone had any noise (hiss)
issues with the Spark Mini ?

(sorry for the dupe post)

[ruger9]

Has anyone had any noise (hiss)
issues with the Spark Mini ?

If you use the higher gain amp models and run the gain high, and don't use the noise gate, yes. Totally normal.

[pingu]

If you use the higher gain amp models and run the gain high, and don't use the noise gate, yes. Totally normal.

understood , many thanks ,

i won’t be doing much of that

[Oscar67]

Got a Mini as a very nice B-day gift. Dialing in a usable jazz tone was easy, I chose the JC120 amp model with some reverb from a Strymon-based virtual pedal. Sounds nice with my GB10 with .012 flats as well as Eastman Romeo with .011 rounds. What the amp also does surprisingly well is authentic AC/DC Marshall grind. I’m still working on a SRV-type tone as well as a nice, liquid rock sound (think classic Journey), those are proving somewhat more elusive. All things considered the bang for the buck ratio here is great.

[ruger9]

Yeah, I've been playing the Mini alot lately, I love the thing. It's fantastic for low-volume practice, especially with higher-gain sounds (think Steve Lukather). But IMO it pretty much outclasses my Microcube in every way, except volume: the Mini doesn't get that loud, but I didn't buy either one for "loud": I have real amps for that.

[pingu]

Nice to hear guys
I’ve got a pearl coloured one
coming next week ….

[josh74]

Hi I need something light to lug around on the subway to sessions. Is the mini loud enough to play with a piano, bass, horn?

thanks,

josh

[nyc chaz]

Hi I need something light to lug around on the subway to sessions. Is the mini loud enough to play with a piano, bass, horn?

thanks,

josh

I would say no from the one i have.You might try a DV Mark Little Jazz amp,it's small but pretty loud and easy to carry on the subway.

[ptuner1]

no

[Oscar67]

Agreed. Not loud enough.

[ruger9]

Not loud enough, it's for solo practice. A Microcube might keep up with a piano and horn, I'm not sure. (and they don't make them anymore). But any of the bigger Roland "cubes" will.

[pingu]

1299041[/URL]]I would say no from the one i have.You might try a DV Mark Little Jazz amp,it's small but pretty loud and easy to carry on the subway.

agreed ….
(Little Jazz is 15.2 lbs)

or get an Toob Metro BG
from Gitterbug here
and a mini amp

myMetro BG with a Bam 200
is under half the weight at 7lbs ….

[Oscar67]

Putting the 6-band EQ in the virtual signal chain is the key to making hollowbodies sound really good with the Mini, I’ve found. I use this little amp a lot, it’s quite enjoyable.

[pingu]

Putting the 6-band EQ in the virtual signal chain is the key to making hollowbodies sound really good with the Mini, I’ve found. I use this little amp a lot, it’s quite enjoyable.

what kinda settings on the 6 band do you use ?

[Oscar67]

If there’s mud I use the left slider to cut it out. If the tone is lifeless, I use the two rightmost sliders to boost the highs and upper mids a bit. This seems to bring the neck pickup to life and make the character of the guitar shine through, especially at home volumes.

This is one of the more valuable lessons I’ve learned over the years, BTW. So many times I tried a guitar by plugging it into my amp and then dismissed it as too bright, too dark or whatever. Making it shine might be as easy as flipping the bright switch. For some guitars it’s common knowledge, like how to make a Tele bridge pickup sound good without singing people’s hair off. I don’t mean to say that a guitar should be forgiven for being fussy, but they’re like people. They will reveal different sides if you’re prepared to look.

[Adam C.]

Hi there!

A bit late to the show, but I wanted to ask if you can use it for practice with iRealPro and other metronome apps and such? Can you save a preset for guitar and then switch to iRealPro for backing tracks?

I’m looking at the Spark Mini as a “tool” to have fun while practicing at home.

Thanks!

[fep]

There are others you might consider.

[pingu]

Hi there!

A bit late to the show, but I wanted to ask if you can use it for practice with iRealPro and other metronome apps and such? Can you save a preset for guitar and then switch to iRealPro for backing tracks?

I’m looking at the Spark Mini as a “tool” to have fun while practicing at home.

Thanks!

yes you can play ireal off your phone
via bluetooth and play along
it’s good for that

[Adam C.]

yes you can play ireal off your phone
via bluetooth and play along
it’s good for that

Perfect, thank you so much pingu!