Spark 2 adds AI, doubles its DSP power to help your guitar rock out
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Very pleased to see a music gear review.
It would have been great if you could embed some performance of yours, for a little more interactivity.
On a side note, I wish this kind of affordable musique de chambre amps existed for bass players.
It would have been great if you could embed some performance of yours, for a little more interactivity.
On a side note, I wish this kind of affordable musique de chambre amps existed for bass players.
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I have a Spark 2 and a Spark Mini. Both are great, and with a cheap wireless transmitter cable-free playing is a nice option. (The Boss Waza Air sounds better, in my opinion, but those also are coupled to absolutely atrocious software.) I’ve had some irritating issues with Bluetooth connectivity over the years with the Sparks, but usually with some resets and light profanity I've gotten it to work again without too much lost time. Overall, the ease and the convenience of the Sparks have led me to play more frequently and to enjoy just messing around with effects chains, and I don't regret the investment.
Also great if you can find one: the Hotone XTOMP is much more limited (only one effect at a time, save for a few dual-effect prebuilts) but it sounds great and it's nice to have physical knobs and switches.
Also great if you can find one: the Hotone XTOMP is much more limited (only one effect at a time, save for a few dual-effect prebuilts) but it sounds great and it's nice to have physical knobs and switches.
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Interesting...
I've been happily using a Roland Micro Cube as a practice amp for probably 20 years now and felt no desire to change, but I do appreciate seeing what the current state of the art is.
I've been happily using a Roland Micro Cube as a practice amp for probably 20 years now and felt no desire to change, but I do appreciate seeing what the current state of the art is.
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This is a cool little speaker. I already use a Tonex and it's superb, so I am more in the market for a flat response speaker without too many extra bells and whistles. but the technology sounds amazing, certainly more economical than purchasing a menagerie of exotic amps and cabinets!
Keep up with the music gear, Ars. I love it!
Keep up with the music gear, Ars. I love it!
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I appreciate the article. I am on the fence about getting one of these mini modeling amps. However, I really don't want yet another thing I own to be tied to an app update, or amp update, or "Required Update" in the middle of a recording, or wifi glitch, or DRM, or copyright dispute, or chapter 11, or blah blah blah. You can turn on a 50+ year old Fender amp and be playing in seconds and, in another 50 years, it will probably still work (and be repairable). Will these (or Kemper or Boss Katana) still work at all in 10 years? I dunno.
I will probably get one anyway.
And there might not even be a choice in another 5 or 10 years.
About your "Headphones? Never!" comment: I started using headphones a year or so ago and frickin love em. You are completely immersed in the sound. You can hear every nuance, tonal variation, pick sound, etc. They are great for practice in my opinion. And you can practice the same phrase over and over and over within driving anyone within earshot absolutely crazy!
edit:missingword
I will probably get one anyway.
And there might not even be a choice in another 5 or 10 years.
About your "Headphones? Never!" comment: I started using headphones a year or so ago and frickin love em. You are completely immersed in the sound. You can hear every nuance, tonal variation, pick sound, etc. They are great for practice in my opinion. And you can practice the same phrase over and over and over within driving anyone within earshot absolutely crazy!
edit:missingword
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The "M7" presumably means a microcontroller based on the Cortex-M7 architecture. I've seen them used in some other audio modelling projects, and it's nice that we can now use cheaper, general-purpose microcontrollers instead of specialist and somewhat obscure dedicated DSP architectures for applications like this.
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I had a pre-Yamaha Line6 combo bass amp many years ago, but they stopped making them. Maybe we bass players didn't buy enough of them.
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They make a mini one (Pod Express) although it seems pretty slimmed down from the older versions. I did see a few different ones about 2 years ago when I was looking for a simple alternative to a full stage cab, but there were more preamp DIs instead.
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It has some bass cab models IIRC but I haven't delved into that side of things to speak more specifically. The Waza Air had a bass variant if you wanted some headphone practice time, but they're expensive and I'm guessing the app sucks just as badly as the version for guitar.
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I came to express the exact opposite - for $300, the limitations are really easy to accept! I kinda missed the pricing in the sub-head, and was pleasantly surprised at the end.
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Appreciate the review! I picked up a Spark 2 last fall and really like the portability—it’s a nice change from my usual setup of a bigger amp and pedalboard. I still love my gear, but I am sometimes tempted to spend more time tweaking knobs to dial in a sound. With the Spark there’s a sense of freedom in just turning it on and playing. I think it’s accurate that the modeling isn’t studio quality, but it’s still good, and for everything it offers the price is reasonable.
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I’ve thought about getting one of these tiny modelling amps but I can’t really see the point. For recording it makes much more sense just to DI straight into the computer and use plugins, many of which which can be had for free. For live music the mini amps just aren’t loud enough. For practice something like the Katana Go is pretty good and sounds better through a decent pair of headphones than the tiny speaker on a mini amp*.
It’s also really annoying to plug a guitar cable into one of these mini amps as you’re basically pulling the thing over all the time with the weight. The Katana Air’s wireless attachment is much more sensible.
(* in my day we used to press the guitar’s headstock against a partly open drawer as a “practice amp”)
It’s also really annoying to plug a guitar cable into one of these mini amps as you’re basically pulling the thing over all the time with the weight. The Katana Air’s wireless attachment is much more sensible.
(* in my day we used to press the guitar’s headstock against a partly open drawer as a “practice amp”)
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I’m glad all those laid off Sonos engineers got new gigs, but wtf?
We have a violin from the mid 1800s and a couple amps from the mid 1900s. Never had to update the firmware or connect to an app. Don’t ask me about driving an hour to pick up a gut string last minute, but otherwise this stuff should just work.
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I agree with the above--not sure I see the point really. Though for live, everyone in our band (other than drums) goes direct most of the time. Bass player sometimes brings an amp. We are all on in-ear monitors. It's definitely an adjustment for guitarists to go that route, I've seen it with a few of them through the years! Lots of advantages but in the end whatever works, go with it.
For practice I and our guitarist either run direct into our interfaces and use software, or into the same modelers we'd use live (Fractal and Helix)....though I do have an old solid-state Vox Pathfinder I can use for clean tones
I echo the appreciation for a music gear story!
For practice I and our guitarist either run direct into our interfaces and use software, or into the same modelers we'd use live (Fractal and Helix)....though I do have an old solid-state Vox Pathfinder I can use for clean tones
I echo the appreciation for a music gear story!
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The audio plugin world is a complete fucking trash fire. Every goddamn pissant developer, large or small, demand you install their downloader/license manager/autoupdater, and they all suck bowling balls through garden hose. If Apple got of their asses and figured out how to sell AUs through their app store, or some third party developed a plugin app store everyone could use, the world would be a better place.
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This is my thought exactly. This is a cool little modeling amp, and the improvements in this area have been rather astonishing over the past ten years. But an amp loaded up with software updates, AI, and all that drek makes me nervous. As moddrift said, you can plug in a 50+ year old tube amp and as long as it's in good condition it will just work. It sounds like this will potentially work as a simple amp as well in case the app dies, but maybe not? Also, you will have lost a huge chunk of the functionality that you paid for. The knobs on the tube amp (or any other amp not dependent on software updates) will continue to do what they're supposed to do.
But I guess this is just old school grousing. It's not like we don't have other disposable technology lying around these days.
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If they haven't already, your bass player might want to check out the Fender and SansAmp preamp/DI boxes. Small, lightweight, flexible, perfect for pairing with an IEM setup.I agree with the above--not sure I see the point really. Though for live, everyone in our band (other than drums) goes direct most of the time. Bass player sometimes brings an amp. We are all on in-ear monitors. It's definitely an adjustment for guitarists to go that route, I've seen it with a few of them through the years! Lots of advantages but in the end whatever works, go with it.
For practice I and our guitarist either run direct into our interfaces and use software, or into the same modelers we'd use live (Fractal and Helix)....though I do have an old solid-state Vox Pathfinder I can use for clean tones
I echo the appreciation for a music gear story!
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So weird to see this here, as I've been researching getting an amp like this for the past few days. I ended up ordering a Nux Mighty Space just an hour before seeing this review. For me it came down to being able to change the order of effects, the wireless transmitter, included footswitch, and being able to use it with external speakers. No line out like this, though.
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Have tried it and own the OG Spark and I have to say this fixes basically every complaint I had about the original Spark (the few biggest issues being lack of a looper, poor speaker sound quality and lack of a battery option). Really great practice/portable amp and I plan to upgrade in the near future.
I wouldn't use it at a gig with a band (I use software modelers, but running on a laptop and plugged in via my audio interface), but for a small solo gig, playing with/for some friends, practicing away from my computer and giving lessons it's absolutely superb.
I wouldn't use it at a gig with a band (I use software modelers, but running on a laptop and plugged in via my audio interface), but for a small solo gig, playing with/for some friends, practicing away from my computer and giving lessons it's absolutely superb.
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I've got the original Spark, but I'm looking at the Spark Neo headphones for this exact reason. I've tried a Fender Mustang and don't mind headphones, but having the whole Positive Grid environment available direct to wireless headphones sounds damn convenient to me, and I'm sure would sound preferable to everyone in earshot of me as well...
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So you tease that your bricked your device doing an update... so what happened? Did the company respond promptly? Did they ship you a new unit? Did the entire Amp just stop working at all? This is a critical part of the review and you just ignored it after the first paragraph. Otherwise it sounds like a neat device, too bad I can't play or sing in tune at all...
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If you don't have your phone or the app then this is just four solid-state amps in one - but it's whichever four setups you chose to save onto the amp. The knobs all work like you'd expect once you've loaded the model onto the amp.
Whereas a 50-year-old tube amp will be broken 95% of the time. Tube amps are delicate as fuck. This is much more durable. A simpler solid-state amp is more durable for sure (as those are essentially and often literally bulletproof), but this is closer to that than either are to a tube amp. And that assumes you don't have your phone. If you do, the app works entirely offline, obviously just without all of the cloud functionality.
It doesn't sound as good as a real tube amp (well, not a good one anyway) and is lacking in other ways but in terms of durability and "just plug in and play" it's way ahead of a tube amp. Obviously on the flip side a tube amp is really easy to repair yourself, whereas if something does go catastrophically wrong with the main electronics here you're likely going to just be screwed, but considering owning a tube amp means near-guaranteed repairs will be required at some point if you're gigging whereas this can literally be thrown around without issues means it's not really the biggest downside.
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Couple of reasons. One is that the amp actually runs the models. So if you don't have your phone, it still works exactly the same way. Those cheap headphone amps typically don't run the models (or don't run a wide variety of models) but tend to use software on your device which also remains plugged in. I want my amp to work like a guitar amp, which means I can just take it somewhere, plug my guitar in and start playing. This is a modeling amp, not a fancy speaker (although it is also a speaker). Access to the Spark "ecosystem" (it's the app and the massive library of setups people have come up with for you to shamelessly steal) is I'm sure adding a premium as well. For me that part is easily worth it though - because the app is actually good.
The 50w speaker that actually sounds good though is a big part of it as well (previous model Spark had a bit less power and also doesn't sound very good, so it was less useful then). Those headphone amps are fine for practice, but they can't do anything else. There's no kind of gig you can use them at and they're worthless if you're teaching. They're strictly for practice. I don't really rate them at all, tbh. If I was willing to accept the limitations those things have, I would just use my audio interface and my PC (which is how I typically do practice and record).
If all you want is a way to practice at home, this isn't even the best value product from Spark (they have a little Spark Go which avoids the pitfalls of those headphone amps but is also a lot cheaper, the built-in speaker there is pretty shit and small though). Like sure, this is a practice amp. But the important part is that it's actually fulfilling the function of being a guitar amp, rather than only being a practice tool. If all you want is a practice tool this probably isn't what I'd recommend (which is why I have a Spark 40 and my daughter does not
).
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I'm in agreement. But perhaps for different reasons... when IK or Positive Grid decide to stop supporting the software in 7-8 years, you're left with just a basic IoT device. I'll take my Strymon Iridium or a tube amp (or solid-state: Quilter Labs makes some great stuff). While the impulse responses might not be loadable in 8 years, at least the device's basic operation will still work.
And forget plugins. I have Bias and it... sounds not great. And it's fiddly. Need more bass? take yourself out of the flow and get onto the computer with the mouse and find the slider... With the Iridium? Just turn a knob. But everybody has a different tolerance, so I guess I'm grateful for there being lots of options. But no IoT devices for me, thanks.
And 50 year old tube amps aren't that fragile, unless you're the type that has snapped a headstock off a Gibson and probably should stick with more durable hardware (for the record, I'm not a Gibson fan). But tube amps do just work (even if they are heavy AF). And are easy to repair with a soldering iron, some resistors, and some caps. Maybe a transformer.
Edit: added note about solid state stuff from Quilter.
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I love my Spark, but if your primary purpose is recording rather than portable practice + small solo gigs, I don't think this is the best choice, tbh. For recording I don't think the sound is quite good enough. There's great audio plugins with better models you can use for recording if what you want is modeling. The Spark is more sort of pretty good modeling with great software.
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I see. I only played around with a couple of these (I think a fender and a roland, don't quote me), but I was under the impression that all features were available onboard, it was just much, much easier to access/manipulate them via an app.
Edit: The person who owns the Fender I was playing with coincidentally appeared, and informed me my impression was correct. The app just makes things easier, but it can be used without.
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Middle aged guy who four weeks ago decided to pick up a bass guitar and teach myself. Surprisingly, it’s going well. I’m starting to understand how to read music. Never had an ounce of musical ability in my body. Are you telling me now that devices like this take the musician out of the music creation?
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No, they add flexibility to creativity and practice routines. Focus on the bassics first, worry about amp modelling and effects later. But if you want a lightweight practice amp that lets you plug in headphones and tracks to play along with, this is a good option.
Also, check out Scott's Bass Lessons - excellent material, and it could save you from developing some bad habits that will impact you later on. Have fun!
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Thanks for the review. Sounds similar to the conclusion I came to after playing with the free Positive Grid Bias many years ago (2018ish?) - just doesn't sound as good as other modellers. The best-sounding amp sims I've played are the Neural DSP plugins; I sold my Kemper after buying NDSP Nolly.
Right now my band plays to backing tracks so we just run 5 instances of Nolly all at once in MainStage for our 2 guitarists and the backing tracks switch which ones are live and turn the effects inside on or off. Works amazing, but we can't do any live jamming outside of the tracks with that. Trying to convince the lead guitarist to save up for a Quad Cortex as he doesn't own anything better than a practice amp.
Right now my band plays to backing tracks so we just run 5 instances of Nolly all at once in MainStage for our 2 guitarists and the backing tracks switch which ones are live and turn the effects inside on or off. Works amazing, but we can't do any live jamming outside of the tracks with that. Trying to convince the lead guitarist to save up for a Quad Cortex as he doesn't own anything better than a practice amp.
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So the Spark 2 has two 4" speakers. That seems quite small for 50W of power output and no "speaker out" for connecting an external cabinet (unpowered). I started with a solid state amp with twin 8" speakers (40W crate G 40cxl I think, early 90's?) and sound quality was much improved moving to a newer at the time crate GFX212 (twin 12" 120W solid state, 1998-ish).
I'm sure we've improved on DSP, but bigger speakers or at least the option to run them might be nice here. Plugging this this Spark into an external cab but then picking up just the head unit would be cool. It looks like you'd need a powered amp to do so (not too expensive I guess and more multi-purpose than a guitar cabinet.
For the intended use, 12" is probably not needed, but a slightly bigger powered speaker with tweeter/woofer setup might be a nice investment for this.
I still have the gfx212, but it's been retired after a tube amp purchase from when the Kemper was just getting traction.
I'm sure we've improved on DSP, but bigger speakers or at least the option to run them might be nice here. Plugging this this Spark into an external cab but then picking up just the head unit would be cool. It looks like you'd need a powered amp to do so (not too expensive I guess and more multi-purpose than a guitar cabinet.
For the intended use, 12" is probably not needed, but a slightly bigger powered speaker with tweeter/woofer setup might be a nice investment for this.
I still have the gfx212, but it's been retired after a tube amp purchase from when the Kemper was just getting traction.
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I use a Blackstar Fly 3 as my dinky little practice amp. I just love the simplicity of it.
I've tried these app-controlled modellers and practice amps before, and I find you spend more time fucking around trying to find the perfect sound than you do actually playing. More of a gimmick IMO.
As for the quality of the modelling, that's an entirely different can of worms. The only things that get close to the feel and sag of tubes are the Quad Cortex or Kempers IMO. I tried the previous Spark and wasn't impressed. It's fine as a little practice amp, but as a tube amp replacement for recording? Not even close.
Edit: spelling
I've tried these app-controlled modellers and practice amps before, and I find you spend more time fucking around trying to find the perfect sound than you do actually playing. More of a gimmick IMO.
As for the quality of the modelling, that's an entirely different can of worms. The only things that get close to the feel and sag of tubes are the Quad Cortex or Kempers IMO. I tried the previous Spark and wasn't impressed. It's fine as a little practice amp, but as a tube amp replacement for recording? Not even close.
Edit: spelling
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I generally run my guitars through a Helix system and FRFR speakers, but I also have a Marshall amp under my desk that I can plug into in one second, without leaving my office chair, call up a backing track on YouTube and get after it. This was all made possible when I got a good office chair with arms that fold up -- a critical piece of equipment.
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Basses are tending to be put straight into the house system now, and the amp is more and more being replaced by an effects board or boxes going into a DI (direct in) box or SansAmp box. At least that's what I see as a bass player more and more.
It makes it easier to balance the sound live and it sure makes it easier go to a Bass gig and set up. No more 100 pound bass amp and speakers needed!
I use the Zoom B6 : ( https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B6Zoom--zoom-b6-bass-multi-effects-processor ) and I love it. When you put it into a decent amp and speaker system, it sounds like a mic'd amp. That particular system is probably more than you need to buy, but when I bought it, it seemed like the best thing for the price range.
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With you here for sure. A quote from the article refers to recording "in the box." Straight truth. Relying on software puts you squarely within one.
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