Just like the middle child, the Spark Mini, the new Spark Go amp does all of that, but without the need to tether to the mains. It has a rechargeable battery, making your amplified guitar playing truly portable. In this case, even clipped to your person. It’s not that important as you can adjust these settings on the digital amp and pedals within the app. However, it does make the Go less useful if you don’t plan on connecting through the app every time.Remember, you can always save your four favourite tones to the amp so you don’t need the app at all. The presence of three Spark Amp models now leaves people with a big decision. All three bring something to the table. However, the amplifier used (think Marshall, Orange, etc.), the settings on the amp, and the effects pedals (delay, distortion, reverb, etc.) used are the other key factors, and that’s what the Spark app’s tones attempt to replicate.

Spark GO - Ultra Portable, AI-Powered Bass/Guitar Amp New Gear: Spark GO - Ultra Portable, AI-Powered Bass/Guitar Amp

Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we test each product. Related buyer's guides In terms of on-board controls, this version eschews almost all buttons to bring the physical controls down to the bare bones. Just like the Spark Mini, there are no dials for bass, treble, delay, reverb, etc., which you’d see on a traditional amp (or the Spark 40). Unfortunately, and this was the case with the other Sparks, firmware updates for the amp cannot be transferred via the app. You need to do it by connecting to a computer via USB with the bundled-in cable. There are 33 amp models available based on classic manufacturers and a total of 43 effects. The community has used these bases to create thousands of unique tones you can also add your own spin to. This clever little amp offers incredible value for money and may just change the future of practice and modeling amps forever.If you're going to be using this amp to potentially gig, then we'd really argue that you'd be better off with any of the best practice amps or guitar amps. The small speakers in a desktop amp will make playing larger spaces difficult, even though they’ll sound loud at home. How we test the best desktop guitar amps For us, all amps should be well made and sturdy, regardless of their application. Guitar amps should feel robust and able to withstand anything you throw at them - something that's particularly important with a portable desktop amp. Of course, the controls and dials should feel smooth with just the right amount of resistance, not flimsy or unresponsive. Fingertip access to over 50,000 guitar tones– all instantly available on Positive Grid’s online ToneCloud community. The hallmark of the original Spark 40 amp was its size-defying sound. It’s easy to forget looking at its baby brother that the Spark 40 – a reference to the 40W speaker – was the OG little amp that could. For a practice amp, it has no right sounding as refined as it does at high and low volumes. It was even loud enough for some light gigging or an open mic without losing fidelity. I loved it and have it five stars.

Positive Grid Spark Go | Review - Guitar Interactive Magazine

Meet Spark GO – the Ultra-portable, Smart Guitar/Bass Amp and Bluetooth® Speaker with Advanced Acoustics… Auto Chordsuses AI-powered technology to analyze millions of songs and display the guitar chords in real time for fun, easy learning. The mobile experience has always been intrinsic to the Spark amps, transforming the products from standard (albeit over-performing) practice amps to a limitless world of tones and functionality that’ll have a stab at replicating any guitar sound. From your guitar heroes, to a completely custom sound that works with what you’re playing. Not all of these multi-channel or modeling amps are capable of re-creating every tone you can think of, so you'll need to put some thought into which desktop guitar amp suits you best.Video captureallows users to record themselves playing within the Spark app and then post it instantly to social channels with brilliant sound and video.

Welcome to Spark Go – Positive Grid

When it comes to recommending a desktop amp, we are looking for a well-made unit that delivers a versatile tone at a manageable volume for home practice. So for that reason, we'll pay careful attention to the following factors when testing the best desktop guitar amps. With any amplifier, the most crucial thing to think about is the sound you're going for. Granted, you probably won't be playing Madison Square Garden with your desktop amp so it needn't be the most pristine tone ever, but it's important to find the right sound for you nonetheless. Though compact in size, Spark GO offers powerful features for practicing and playing guitar through seamless integration with the award-winning Spark app. This free companion app is a fun and easy-to-use portal that encourages learning and provides more motivation to play and try new ideas. Users can find immediate inspiration from massive tone and gear libraries; fine tune their skills with real-time, AI-powered features; and even create performance videos.On the other Spark amplifiers, I preferred using the tablet version of the Spark app, but that’s against the spirit of the Spark Go, which is all about portability. Things are cramped and fiddly on the smartphone, but not annoyingly so. Spark GO comes fully loaded with 33 authentic amp models and 43 effects and pedals that can be combined into an infinite number of tone setups for convenient guitar practice and jamming. Four onboard preset locations allow instant recall of favorite amps and effects. Since NAMM 2022, I've been waxing lyrical to everyone who would listen about how good the Positive Grid Spark Mini is. It's tiny, portable, sounds enormous and feels great to play. It looks fab on my desk, and works as an absolutely phenomenal bluetooth speaker. I've taken it on road trips (my car is an older Jag without an aux in), to barbecues on the beach, and most recently to provide music in a large courtyard at a friend's wedding - and we even got a noise complaint!

Positive Grid | Guitar Amps, Software and Apps Positive Grid | Guitar Amps, Software and Apps

Positive Grid has played another blinder with the Spark Go. The Spark Go requires compromises in terms of sound quality, but the amp still outperforms its physical limitations. For users seeking ultimate freedom in terms of portability, wearability of the amp, and on-the-go battery power, it may be the perfect solution. Those app-based features do so much of the leg work, but it’s still remarkable so much can be squeezed into a product the size of one single effects pedal.

If, like me, you don’t have the time, finances, or expertise to finely tune a guitar sound via the amp or a big grand pedal board, this is where the Spark range truly comes into its own. Next up, you should consider which effects you use on a daily basis. Each amp on this list comes with access to lots of guitar effects, from delay to reverb, compression to chorus, and even octave pedal effects, so take a minute to either consider which tones you use the most, or which tones you want to emulate. Personally, I’d buy the Spark Go over the Mini for that added portability, and the ability to play with the amp on your person (more or less) wirelessly. You lose sound quality with the smaller speaker, but I think it’s worth it to not notice carrying an amp with you. It could be Slash’s reverb-lased Gibson Les Paul solos, or a beautifully clean John Mayer-like tone. Either way, the Spark amp will have a solution that seeks to replicate the set-up of those icons, from amp models to the effects pedals.