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Post by justin on Aug 21, 2020 15:59:10 GMT -5
I got a “shipped” email today. So it took a bit more than two weeks to ship once you ordered it? I really wish they didn't charge you until it ships.
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Post by Leftee on Aug 21, 2020 16:26:50 GMT -5
That’s about right.
I thought about that too, but I let it go.
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Post by Leftee on Aug 26, 2020 13:20:28 GMT -5
I’m a fan! Easy to get started and pulling down tones via the app on my iPhone is super-easy. Great tones represented!
I guess I missed this point, but it also serves as a pretty nice Bluetooth speaker for streaming music. I’ve been thinking about getting a bt speaker for my office any ways. Mission accomplished.
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Post by Stinger22 on Aug 27, 2020 11:28:12 GMT -5
I’m a fan! Easy to get started and pulling down tones via the app on my iPhone is super-easy. Great tones represented! I guess I missed this point, but it also serves as a pretty nice Bluetooth speaker for streaming music. I’ve been thinking about getting a bt speaker for my office any ways. Mission accomplished. Glad you got and enjoy, mine is my living room amp, as opposed to my studio, I have enjoyed it immensely so far. No amp and pedalboard sitting on the floor and actually doing some "practicing" as opposed to just playing too.
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Post by Leftee on Aug 27, 2020 12:06:00 GMT -5
If I had an amp in the living room it would probably be this one for sure.
Yes on the practice vs. play scenario.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Sept 7, 2020 16:55:12 GMT -5
My son and I played through my buddy’s Spark 40 for a couple of hours last week. We were both impressed enough to want one but I am not convinced I need one. The older I get the more I play straight into smaller amps. I think it makes me a better player and the tone is as good as it gets.
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Post by Stinger22 on Sept 8, 2020 12:18:03 GMT -5
My son and I played through my buddy’s Spark 40 for a couple of hours last week. We were both impressed enough to want one but I am not convinced I need one. The older I get the more I play straight into smaller amps. I think it makes me a better player and the tone is as good as it gets. You can certainly do that with the Spark just setting up an amp model with no effects. I don't find much difference doing that and any of my tube amps. I do like a little reverb and slight slapback delay and have that in my presets like I do with my tube rig but could easily turn that off. I only have 3 electric and 1 acoustic presets I don't go for all the effected up and high gain stuff so my Spark is basically pick up the guitar and flip the switch and play. I was jamming some last night to my Pandora channels on my Smart TV and didn't even have the Spark app running, just played it like a small stand alone amp. I do like jamming with the backing tracks and actually doing some more "practive" than I would normally do. I have the back tracks playing through my home entertainment center as I keep the spark in the living room not the studio.
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Post by Leftee on Sept 9, 2020 14:32:13 GMT -5
Anyone pulled down more backing tracks? Looking for the where and how.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Sept 9, 2020 18:36:53 GMT -5
My son and I played through my buddy’s Spark 40 for a couple of hours last week. We were both impressed enough to want one but I am not convinced I need one. The older I get the more I play straight into smaller amps. I think it makes me a better player and the tone is as good as it gets. You can certainly do that with the Spark just setting up an amp model with no effects. I don't find much difference doing that and any of my tube amps. I do like a little reverb and slight slapback delay and have that in my presets like I do with my tube rig but could easily turn that off. I only have 3 electric and 1 acoustic presets I don't go for all the effected up and high gain stuff so my Spark is basically pick up the guitar and flip the switch and play. I was jamming some last night to my Pandora channels on my Smart TV and didn't even have the Spark app running, just played it like a small stand alone amp. I do like jamming with the backing tracks and actually doing some more "practive" than I would normally do. I have the back tracks playing through my home entertainment center as I keep the spark in the living room not the studio. I'm sure I'll get a Spark 40 before the end of the year. It was just too cool. I'd love an onboard battery option like my Microcube but that's probably asking for too much given the wattage. Having just survived a wicked wind storm and 33-hour power outage the Microcube came in handy. Generator priorities were keeping perishables cool and meats frozen, not playing through amps.
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Post by Stinger22 on Sept 10, 2020 16:48:28 GMT -5
You can certainly do that with the Spark just setting up an amp model with no effects. I don't find much difference doing that and any of my tube amps. I do like a little reverb and slight slapback delay and have that in my presets like I do with my tube rig but could easily turn that off. I only have 3 electric and 1 acoustic presets I don't go for all the effected up and high gain stuff so my Spark is basically pick up the guitar and flip the switch and play. I was jamming some last night to my Pandora channels on my Smart TV and didn't even have the Spark app running, just played it like a small stand alone amp. I do like jamming with the backing tracks and actually doing some more "practive" than I would normally do. I have the back tracks playing through my home entertainment center as I keep the spark in the living room not the studio. I'm sure I'll get a Spark 40 before the end of the year. It was just too cool. I'd love an onboard battery option like my Microcube but that's probably asking for too much given the wattage. Having just survived a wicked wind storm and 33-hour power outage the Microcube came in handy. Generator priorities were keeping perishables cool and meats frozen, not playing through amps. Been there done that, Katrina and Ivan, Ivan three weeks no power. The Spark only pulls 1.5 amps, my generators puts out 3800 watts. I think you'd be OK and I sure wish I would have had one back then!!
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Post by langford on Sept 21, 2020 10:53:23 GMT -5
FWIW. I took the plunge this morning and ordered a Spark. Website says 7-14 days for shipping to Canada. We'll see....
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Wish
Wholenote
You Were Here
Posts: 157
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Post by Wish on Sept 22, 2020 11:58:23 GMT -5
FYI - I received an email that you can get $40 off a Spark amp by using discount code "REFER40".
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Post by langford on Sept 22, 2020 17:19:10 GMT -5
Small update: I ordered a Spark yesterday (Monday). Just received an email from FedEx saying delivery is expected before 8pm on Thursday. Not bad! We'll see what happens with custom etc. But that's a way better turnaround time than I was expecting.
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Post by Stinger22 on Sept 23, 2020 15:15:53 GMT -5
You can certainly do that with the Spark just setting up an amp model with no effects. I don't find much difference doing that and any of my tube amps. I do like a little reverb and slight slapback delay and have that in my presets like I do with my tube rig but could easily turn that off. I only have 3 electric and 1 acoustic presets I don't go for all the effected up and high gain stuff so my Spark is basically pick up the guitar and flip the switch and play. I was jamming some last night to my Pandora channels on my Smart TV and didn't even have the Spark app running, just played it like a small stand alone amp. I do like jamming with the backing tracks and actually doing some more "practive" than I would normally do. I have the back tracks playing through my home entertainment center as I keep the spark in the living room not the studio. I'm sure I'll get a Spark 40 before the end of the year. It was just too cool. I'd love an onboard battery option like my Microcube but that's probably asking for too much given the wattage. Having just survived a wicked wind storm and 33-hour power outage the Microcube came in handy. Generator priorities were keeping perishables cool and meats frozen, not playing through amps. Just an update. Took a direct hit from Sally and was without power for 5 days but used the Spark, through a Furman power strip and generator, to help pass the time!!
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Ragic
Wholenote
Posts: 170
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Post by Ragic on Sept 25, 2020 8:17:40 GMT -5
I just ordered one! I ordered it Tuesday 9/22 and it already shipped and should be here Monday 9/28. I'm really looking forward to all the tones I can play with. And it looks cool too!
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Post by Leftee on Sept 25, 2020 9:05:59 GMT -5
These really are a great evolution of the practice amp. I had a G DEC 30 years ago. I like this a whole lot more. The tones sound a whole lot more authentic. The Spark app works well, too.
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Post by langford on Sept 25, 2020 15:56:48 GMT -5
I received mine just four days after ordering. Well pleased with that result. I've only had a few moments with the amp itself, but first impressions are very positive. First, it sounds really good straight out the box. Second, it's smaller than I thought, which pleases me to no end as I wanted an amp that would be super easy to carry to living room jam sessions. The app is surprisingly intuitive, given the number of things it does. It sometimes takes a minute to figure out how to do something, but the way forward usually reveals itself after a moment of poking around.
One thing I was expecting, but didn't see, is a greater flexibility in setting up your own signal chain, adding effects or taking them out of the chain in the presets. You can do with Positive Grid's Bias FX software. But the Spark has a workaround. Each of the amp models comes with four modes: clean, crunch, high gain and metal. Between those settings and the ability to set all the levels on your amp-of-choice and associated effects (or turn off the effects completely), there's not much call tweaking the overall chain.
I'm looking foward to playing more with this device. It's a good-sounding product and great value for the money.
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Post by Leftee on Sept 25, 2020 16:45:51 GMT -5
I’ve actually not used the amp controls. Just the controls, etc., in the app.
The amp works well just to stream music, too. 😎
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Post by langford on Sept 29, 2020 18:17:51 GMT -5
I received mine just four days after ordering. Well pleased with that result. I've only had a few moments with the amp itself, but first impressions are very positive. First, it sounds really good straight out the box. Second, it's smaller than I thought, which pleases me to no end as I wanted an amp that would be super easy to carry to living room jam sessions. The app is surprisingly intuitive, given the number of things it does. It sometimes takes a minute to figure out how to do something, but the way forward usually reveals itself after a moment of poking around. One thing I was expecting, but didn't see, is a greater flexibility in setting up your own signal chain, adding effects or taking them out of the chain in the presets. You can do with Positive Grid's Bias FX software. But the Spark has a workaround. Each of the amp models comes with four modes: clean, crunch, high gain and metal. Between those settings and the ability to set all the levels on your amp-of-choice and associated effects (or turn off the effects completely), there's not much call tweaking the overall chain. ( ETA: I just figured out how to change effects in the chain. Tap the pedal and you get a menu of options.) I'm looking foward to playing more with this device. It's a good-sounding product and great value for the money.
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Ragic
Wholenote
Posts: 170
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Post by Ragic on Oct 7, 2020 8:45:10 GMT -5
Wow! I love it so far! For a home guitarist, what more can you ask for. The tones, and what you can do with them are awesome!
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Post by justin on Oct 8, 2020 12:12:24 GMT -5
Does anybody know if there is a way to pick and choose the pedals in a certain rig? Can they be purchased? I'd like to build a rig from scratch, but so far I have only been able to download other rigs from the "tone cloud" or whatever it's called. I really need to sit down to figure this out someday.
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Post by langford on Oct 9, 2020 14:47:33 GMT -5
I haven't found a way to build a rig from scratch, but if you double tap on an amp or a pedal one of the set-ups, you get a menu of options for that part of the chain. For example, say a specific set up has a Tube Screamer in the drive spot on the signal chain. Double tap the pedal and you'll get a menu that let's you change it to, say, a Big Muff sim, a boost pedal, an OD pedal etc. Not quite the same as building from scratch, but it puts you in the ballpark. It's the same for the amp, modulation, delay, reverb, compression etc.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 9, 2020 15:09:23 GMT -5
I admit I haven’t explored a whole lot. I dialed in some tones I really like and I haven’t fussed with it since.
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Post by justin on Oct 9, 2020 15:36:21 GMT -5
Thanks. I thought I had tried the double tap thing a few weeks ago. I need to go back and check that out! That's helpful for sure.
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Post by langford on Oct 12, 2020 9:29:11 GMT -5
Leftee.... Good strategy. It's fun to play with the features of modelling amps, but it's easy to get lost in them, too. justin... I didn't twig to the double-tap thing for a couple of weeks, so don't feel alone.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 12, 2020 10:00:11 GMT -5
Leftee .... Good strategy. It's fun to play with the features of modelling amps, but it's easy to get lost in them, too. justin ... I didn't twig to the double-tap thing for a couple of weeks, so don't feel alone. Funny that this amp could have you staring and poking at your smartphone for hours. 🤣
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Post by Stinger22 on Oct 12, 2020 14:32:49 GMT -5
I admit I haven’t explored a whole lot. I dialed in some tones I really like and I haven’t fussed with it since. After a couple of days I had 3 electrics and 1 acoustic set up in the four presets on the amp and haven't done much to change them. Same as with my Eleven Rack in the studio, one I had a couple of good presets I don't fool around much with the app.
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Post by justin on Oct 12, 2020 17:36:29 GMT -5
That's my plan - to have 4 go-to presets and then pretty much forget about the app. I've got 3 covered (clean-ish, high-gain, and bass). I'm still trying to perfect a moderately crunchy tone.
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Post by blowtorch on Dec 17, 2020 13:39:52 GMT -5
I ordered one during a blow out special, I think I paid maybe 180 and got it in no time at all, back in early September. I've been absolutely knocked out by it, and I really hope a 1X12 footswitchable combo is in the works for rehearsals/gigs. I would not attempt that with the Spark, it's just not got the oomph. But for a personal practice amp? It's gotta be pretty much the best ever
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Post by justin on Dec 17, 2020 15:03:45 GMT -5
I saw this video recently and downloaded all the sample tones he demonstrated. They're all quite good! I've had the most fun with his version of the "brown sound" because that's simply something I wouldn't have concocted myself.
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