Positive Grid Spark 40 - How Well Can It Handle Guitar Pedals?

[@rommelrivera1186]

Best review ever for those of us who invested a lot in pedals and now find ourselves wondering if all that hardware can be used with our new wave modeling gear. The answer, thanks to you, is YES!

[@PotatoKing86]

Yippee

[@russtyruss_i-Invest]

PG implemented two new EQ pedals (guitar/bass) which clean up the bass immensely. You can now get this little box to play Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" intro with exactitude! You can pretty much do everything with this amp, including adding other hardware pedals and now you can get a cool XSonic AirStep Sprk lite pedal which has a looper...insane! Love it! Edit: forgot to mention, if you feel like the power is too weak and you already have other amps or a PA mixing system, patch it in, you'll love it even more!

[@jspacone]

I tame the Spark’s bottom end quite nicely with an MXR 10 band EQ pedal. Works great!

[@gosman949]

do you keep it turned on all the time?

[@jspacone]

@@gosman949 Yes.

[@JustDr3-TV]

Ur a genius man

[@valueofnothing2487]

Also have one. Still use it a bit, although there is no an onboard eq

[@KozmykJ]

@@valueofnothing2487 Yeah but the internal Graphic EQs take up the Modulation pedal slot. They really need their own slot.

[@psykopit38]

Once again, great content about Spark Tones. Actually the best on KZbin

[@TheStudioRats]

Very nice of you to say so.

[@russel818]

Pls continue making spark tone/how to videos: ) Want to really be able to master all the ins and outside of spark 40

[@edelcorrallira]

@@russel818 that makes two of us. I think that its like a little sandbox, and being really good at handling oneself within these constraints can lay the foundation for making the most out of much more complex setups :)

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

I got my Spark last week, and sort of hated it due to the extreme muffled low end on most amps, even after dialling all the bass out. I went so far as to start writing an email to Sweetwater to request a refund. Then yesterday I discovered that it's actually the gain that adds all the flubby bass- so now I leave the Gain below 3 on most amps and use the pedals for dirt and to act as an EQ like in this video- except instead of the Tube Screamer, I use the Rat (Black Op) or the Sab Driver with the HP filter. I also found out that the Master has a lot of effect on both the level/quality of saturation and the tone- acts almost like a master volume that drives the power tubes in a real amp with a little presence added. So I usually turn the Master up quite high if I'm looking for distortion. If I tweak between the Gain, Mid, Master, Treble, and the knobs on the virtual pedals, I can sculpt that horrid low-end into something useable. Finally starting to like the Spark!

[@TheStudioRats]

Great tip!

[@craighutcheon6991]

Excellent tips! I had given up on the Spark but now have some things to try. I find the users manual really lacking in detail for such a complicated amp.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

@@craighutcheon6991 Cool! Try turning the "Filter" knob on the Black Op pedal to the left- the further left it is, the more bass it dials out.

[@jegl1012]

Good tip. I plan to use a Spark with with a pedal board.

[@airgliderz]

Love how versatile my Spark is, all ways finding new cool tones. No instructions required intuitive easy to use very versitile controls

[@theorc9098]

I tried my Ceriatone Centura, a Snarling Dogs wah (love that pedal!) which has a gain boost and just for fun, a Marshall echo head (to get some really mad double delay ambient craziness). I have to say that I didn't expect much from the Centura, (it is decidedly muddy in my line 6 but a beast with my Blackstar HT stage 60) It sounded great through the Spark. The wah worked perfectly. Very crisp through a number of tones from the cloud as well as the standard settings. I really didn't expect such a good result. I'm officially impressed.

[@TheStudioRats]

Nice one.

[@Jeepjones85]

I’m waiting on mine to come in Im soo excited, all the videos of the spark I’ve watched sound really good

[@baldybonce29]

You won't be disappointed,I've got a few practice amps and the spark us easily my favourite

[@danielepastres7880]

You'll be surprised how loud it can go 😆

[@MarceyTalks]

ordering mine next week

[@RocktCityTim]

And THAT is the question I've been experimenting with on my Spark - Big Muff, Cry Baby (original), Ibanez FL1 flanger, and a few others. So far, I've been very happy with either my pedals, or the Spark 40's built-ins.

[@rickgriego2844]

First of all THANK YOU for doing this video as this exactly what I was wanting to know about The Spark,but great video all together.

[@jonathanb1471]

Another great video, thanks Paul.

[@TheStudioRats]

Pleasure

[@jasonhall947]

Excellent tips. Thank you!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it was helpful

[@DEREKDEGUARA]

well done great review on spark 40 and external pedals . just wonered if you spark 40 was l8ned out to cab speaker. I have early model and use head phone jack to my marshal amp

[@MrXcrt]

Great answer to my questions, I was going about it all wrong 😑, this cleared up my dilemma, thx

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it helped!

[@richardchristensen1768]

Dude! I'm listening to your video through my Spark that came to me this morning and I'm not hearing anything overcooked To me its more like an optical illusion I tiny little guitar amp head with no cabinet but yet it's somehow seems to be driving an invisible 4x12 cabinet I did the firmware update on it and I've been playing Spotify through it now for a little while! I gotta say This thing smokes and it's bottom end capability is not over the top for me at all! Your video of thing sounds amazing timewise and your playing!

[@kingfisher7960]

I see alot of reviews talking about HOW BIG A BOTTOM END this thing has. Has anyone stopped to think its also a bass amp?

[@TheStudioRats]

It does have bass amps built in, but I haven’t seen anyone do a video.

[@PotatoKing86]

Real

[@MichaelBegelspacher]

Thanks for this great Video. Is it possible to connect an external pedal to control the volume on Spark Positive Grid. I have a Spark Positive Grid an a xsonic Airstep.

[@michaels656]

Thanks Paul! In theory the TS in front of the amp isn’t taming the low end of the amp, but altering the eq of the dry guitar signal going into the amp to accommodate or offset the amps low end. Semantics I know. But all said, really appreciate the insight of using the onboard clones to achieve great tones!

[@smithfield06]

I’d start off with a clean amp sound and work from there, thinking of getting a Vox stomp 2 as it’s nice to use virtual and plugin pedals. I got my spark amp over 2 years ago and there was a big update in its software with extra amp sounds, it’s much improved

[@glenkepic3208]

Spark here. Arrived about 6 months ago. Phone isn't compatible. Set it like my first gen CT (semi clean) and add boxes Sure, tones sound good.. About four hours on the Spark so far. Someday...

[@harleyguido]

A very good comparison...thank you!

[@TheStudioRats]

Anytime

[@thepetlamb]

I bought a Spark 40 to run stereo fx. Sadly it does not take reverb.. it chops the tails off WAY before my main amp. My main amp is a valve amp (FBD) and the reverb tails last for days.. but I really don't see what difference that should make! Will be selling it.☹️

[@NicholasJens]

I was so confused when I saw that intro I thought I was watching Coach Greg

[@PotatoKing86]

Real

[@tuhinbhattacharya1184]

Can we add a pitch shifter pedal before the spark amp for drop tuning without sacrificing tone quality?

[@Rawnfella]

I do it! Works great! One more thing the spark can do!

[@kennethborrett8074]

Hi want to create the Shadows Hank Marvin sound could you advise on a setting . Thankyou

[@patrickkeating5329]

Looks like the eq from Spark operates in the same slot as tremolo. So, is there no way to have tremolo and eq?

[@wozboat]

I would like to put a drop pedal in there. Will it work?

[@mikeyjhn]

Interesting video. Have you tried using an eq pedal to tame the big flubby bass?

[@anthonyvaccari4607]

Just a question to anyone that could help. I'm just a home guitarist and lack space so instead of pedals I have the Boss me80 multi effects processor. If I didn't want to use the effects on this amp and play the pedal board is there a possibility of getting a clean tone an using the pedal board. I know this is defying the object of what this amp can do but I like the the idea of still being able to use this pedal.

[@theKid87]

Has anyone sorted the overly aggressive noisegate? I can't roll of volume at all without it killing sustain and signal.

[@salahbaker4089]

Question: You say bottom end is overcooked. Via amp in room, or via usb? Amp in room, block bass reflex port. Via USB, well just put a pass on EQ. ALSO> next time turn off the Gate as a pedal behind the gate will be far different than in front:)

[@sahisnusadarpo1553]

I was using my metal zone and compressor boss pedals into the spark amp and after the second day I think it bricked them. Their sound signal started to fuzz and stutter. How did you hook them up to your spark amp?

[@mearkitek3773]

Did you record this with the USB in from Spark or how was your signal chain setup to get the outer pedal to seamlessly alternate with the built-in ones in Spark in real time? Very great demo, thanks man!

[@peterbierlein]

Why can they put an eq option in the master settings?

[@ulisesdanielguerrerovelazq8359]

Is it possible to turn off the amp emulations and use it has a powered cab with a MultiFX pedal?

[@darrylkillingsworth3194]

Has anyone thought about the reason for the heavy bottom end might have something to do with it being a bass amp as well?

[@darrylkillingsworth3194]

Just curious. Maybe if they try to fix it in an update then bass players will be complaining about their low B string sounding distorted.

[@darrylkillingsworth3194]

Acoustic guitars are a whole other monster.

[@darrylkillingsworth3194]

Have you ever heard the missing low end when you try to play music through your guitar amp? The spark handles this very well. So again, could it be a factor in “ too much low end”?

[@slashwannabe2k]

Great video as always! I wondered if you have ever tried a wah pedal in front of the amp? It would be great if it worked but if you or anyone else has tried I’d love to hear your thoughts or a vid on it 👍

[@TheStudioRats]

I’ll look into it.

[@richardembery]

I’ve tried it and it sounds great.

[@slashwannabe2k]

@@TheStudioRats great, really intrigued to hear it as I sold my wah pedal before buying this but then regretted it as I could’ve used with my Spark amp 🙈 lol.

[@slashwannabe2k]

@@richardembery ahh great! It’s good to know it works...might have to re-invest in one 👍

[@riff94]

Yeah but what about time based effects? Unfortunately it would put the effects before the amp gain stage resulting distorted effects. If anyone has a solution that would be great.

[@SisterRose]

Did they ever fix the low end on this, or add a global EQ or something? It seems so easy to fix.

[@HiltsyAdventure]

They added an EQ pedal that works.

[@ciaranwalsh3732]

Is it possible to use a loop station with the Spark amp?

[@mrchoptop5482]

You can use pretty much anything with it you can even hook it to any cab

[@israbbit0625]

I tried to put it in metal zone and the static was too loud

[@rich-lf1bm]

Hello, thank you for the review! Question, are you using the amp through you computer or recorded through mic?

[@TheStudioRats]

I’m recording using the headphone out.

[@psykopit38]

Which PRS model are you using for the video ?

[@aemk6129]

Looks like a DGT...

[@TheStudioRats]

It is a DGT.

[@shredspillers]

I use a Morley Bad Horsie into BOSS Compression Sustainer CS-3 into a ROCKBOX Boiling Point OD into a Friedman Duluxe BE-OD into MXR 10 band EQ into the Spark amp and I love the sound I get with this spark its got so much harmonics it's insane. All my OD pedals are all turned down pretty low. The amp I'm using in the Spark is the Insane amp with these pedals GATE, COMP/WAH, TUBE DRIVE, MOD/EQ, DELAY and REVERB. This amp sounds so good with harmonics jumping all over it!! I wish I could dial in my new Quad Cortex to get this sound out of my LANEY Ironhorse amp head and LANEY 1/2 stack cab

[@mangstrum]

I’m actually pretty surprised at how close things are

[@jesussavesrick]

On the amp tube screamer you cranked it. On the pedal you had it at noon. How was that a fair comparison?

[@Jimmytwofifty]

Pretty sure those are stock photos of the pedals and not of the actual pedal on the ground. Note that there are no cables attached.

[@elton28.20]

Hi Paul! How do you record the sound from the Spark in all these videos? I assume USB? It would be really interesting if you explain how do you deal with the sound of the built in speakers (how to get rid of the excessive bass inherent to this amp). I hope you find it interesting enough to be included in a video! Cheers!

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi I record it through the headphone out with the levels turned down. Yep the bass is way too much so normally the bass is on 0-2

[@elton28.20]

@@TheStudioRats thanks for your answer. I’ve just watched your last video where you say you will not be creating more content for the Spark for now due the general issues with the customer service. Sad news, yours are from my point of view the best videos. Having returned the first one I bought a few months back, I just ordered a new Spark a few days ago because of your videos. I wanted to give it another try. Now I’m feeling like cancelling the order!

[@klascojoe]

I think the real pedals sound better on all of the amps.

[@javierf55]

Maybe a wah wah, just that

[@jaybob3143]

would be much better if you played the same thing before and after...just sayin

[@thomassmith4037]

You’re splitting hairs at that point

[@zackakai5173]

Literally any amp that isn't crap "takes pedals well." That phrase is a lot of bullshit cooked up by salespeople to push certain amps over others.

[@TheStudioRats]

As someone that has owned many many amps I can tell you there are definitely amp that don’t react well with pedals. Also this is a digital amp with incredibly low headroom. To me that makes it a valid question.

[@PotatoKing86]

​@@TheStudioRatsyur