Positive Grid Spark Mini

[tzd]

Spark MINI | Portable Smart Guitar Amp & Bluetooth Speaker | Positive Grid

Spark MINI is a battery-powered customizable portable practice amp and Bluetooth® speaker with smart app integration and big, beautiful multi-dimensional sound.

www.positivegrid.com

Looks good, wonder how much it will sell for.

 

[cybermgk]

Hmm,

I really wish they would have spent some time addressing some things everyone wanted in the OG Spark.

This seems like a maybe okay idea?

It's small and portable, but it is not THAT small and portable.

Price will be crucial imho.

 

[CB91710]

Hmm,

I really wish they would have spent some time addressing some things everyone wanted in the OG Spark.

This seems like a maybe okay idea?

It's small and portable, but it is not THAT small and portable.

Price will be crucial imho.

Yep.
Still no internal looper, still no effects loop (which would be preferred and allow the use of the Trio which is way better than the Smartjam limitations).
Battery power is nice, but it's not swappable, meaning when it dies, it needs to be opened up to replace, but mainly, you can't continue to play (on battery) while "another" battery recharges.

Looper solution is easy enough... run the Spark line/headphone out into the looper, then run the looper out into a separate power amp.

I guess, depending on the cost of the Mini, a good hack might be to use the Spark-40 as a power amp, and strip the Mini down to where it is just a head, feed the Mini into the Trio, then into the Spark 40.

Cost wise, the Spark 40 is not expensive for what it is, if the Mini price is scaled similarly, that's not a horrible option.

 

[efstop]

It has only three knobs, Preset, Guitar and Music. I read a review that says all EQ and effects settings are app only. Seems more cumbersome to use to me, and still lacks what the Spark lacks.

 

[cybermgk]

Yep.
Still no internal looper, still no effects loop (which would be preferred and allow the use of the Trio which is way better than the Smartjam limitations).
Battery power is nice, but it's not swappable, meaning when it dies, it needs to be opened up to replace, but mainly, you can't continue to play (on battery) while "another" battery recharges.

Looper solution is easy enough... run the Spark line/headphone out into the looper, then run the looper out into a separate power amp.

I guess, depending on the cost of the Mini, a good hack might be to use the Spark-40 as a power amp, and strip the Mini down to where it is just a head, feed the Mini into the Trio, then into the Spark 40.

Cost wise, the Spark 40 is not expensive for what it is, if the Mini price is scaled similarly, that's not a horrible option.

It has only three knobs, Preset, Guitar and Music. I read a review that says all EQ and effects settings are app only. Seems more cumbersome to use to me, and still lacks what the Spark lacks.

Yea, the more I think about it, the more I think this might just bomb. Seems like they heard all the people wishing the OG had battery capability, so rushed this out. I could see a more 'giggable', larger COmbo than the 40., or a Headphone version of the Spark, a la the Fender Micro. But this, seems a product without much market.

 

[CB91710]

It has only three knobs, Preset, Guitar and Music. I read a review that says all EQ and effects settings are app only. Seems more cumbersome to use to me, and still lacks what the Spark lacks.

Honestly, when using the app, I never touch the knobs except for the level... and I pretty much always use the app.
I would assume that since the footswitch connects through the app, it will also be compatible with the Mini.

It has more controls than the Nux headphone amp

 

[cybermgk]

Honestly, when using the app, I never touch the knobs except for the level... and I pretty much always use the app.
I would assume that since the footswitch connects through the app, it will also be compatible with the Mini.

It has more controls than the Nux headphone amp

All too true. That really trips my breakers about the NUX. You HAVE to spend some time, tweaking the few presets you can load it up with, and sadly that means for a particular set of headphones, since you can't change the volume on the friggin unit.

 

[CB91710]

All too true. That really trips my breakers about the NUX. You HAVE to spend some time, tweaking the few presets you can load it up with, and sadly that means for a particular set of headphones, since you can't change the volume on the friggin unit.

I bought one while I was waiting for my preordered Mustang Micro to show up.
They both arrived at about the same time and I never even hooked up to the Nux.

I never noticed that it doesn't have a volume control.
So *everything* has to be stored to a preset in that little thing?

 

[cybermgk]

I bought one while I was waiting for my preordered Mustang Micro to show up.
They both arrived at about the same time and I never even hooked up to the Nux.

I never noticed that it doesn't have a volume control.
So *everything* has to be stored to a preset in that little thing?

Pretty much.

 

[Jeremiah]

is anyone else worried that they discontinued the rest of their hardware from the site? are they even supporting it? what happens to our Sparks when they decide to create something new (like the mini, but at least it is still a Spark)

 

[cybermgk]

is anyone else worried that they discontinued the rest of their hardware from the site? are they even supporting it? what happens to our Sparks when they decide to create something new (like the mini, but at least it is still a Spark)

Do you mean the Bias Head?

Looks to me, like they have chosen to go the Spark route, course correction.

Technically, it is still on their site https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-head/

Granted, it isn't an option in the pull-down on main page.

But, if you click buy now, you get the Bias Mini, On Sweetwater, it says the Bias Head is no longer available. Sweetwater is still selling the BIAS rack amp, which is in the same status as the Bias Head on the PG website. There is still a page, but clicking buy gives you a buy page for the Bias Mini.

At a guess, they have discontinued the Bias Hardware line, and only have stock already in Dealers hands (Sweetwater and Amazon) on the rack and mini, and some additional Bias Mini still on hand with PG as well.

I don't think the Bias hardware ever did that well in sales. Spark, on the other hand was/is huge in sales. Seems like they are sticking with Spark and their software only.

Yea, an announcement might be nice.

 

[CB91710]

Do you mean the Bias Head?

Looks to me, like they have chosen to go the Spark route, course correction.

Technically, it is still on their site https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-head/

Granted, it isn't an option in the pull-down on main page.

But, if you click buy now, you get the Bias Mini, On Sweetwater, it says the Bias Head is no longer available. Sweetwater is still selling the BIAS rack amp, which is in the same status as the Bias Head on the PG website. There is still a page, but clicking buy gives you a buy page for the Bias Mini.

At a guess, they have discontinued the Bias Hardware line, and only have stock already in Dealers hands (Sweetwater and Amazon) on the rack and mini, and some additional Bias Mini still on hand with PG as well.

I don't think the Bias hardware ever did that well in sales. Spark, on the other hand was/is huge in sales. Seems like they are sticking with Spark and their software only.

Yea, an announcement might be nice.

Clicking BIN took me to a page listing all 3, the head, rack, and mini... mini is just the top option and fills the screen if you don't scroll down.
I was able to add all 3 to my cart and there was no warning that they were NLA.... wasn't going to click through to confirm the order though

 

[cybermgk]

Clicking BIN took me to a page listing all 3, the head, rack, and mini... mini is just the top option and fills the screen if you don't scroll down.
I was able to add all 3 to my cart and there was no warning that they were NLA.... wasn't going to click through to confirm the order though

View attachment 597573

Huh. Yeah all 3 are there now. I swear earlier today, only the mini loaded, no scrolling down.

Also, they did sell lot's of Sparks, they didn't have ready to ship. Just because you can order thise three on their site, even pay for them, is no guarentee with PG, that they will ship them.

And Sweetwater DOES still show

 

[CB91710]

Yep... PG has no problem collecting the dough

 

[rich85]

Darrell braun did a great demo of this amp where he didn’t demonstrate the actual built in speakers once and only used the direct out.

 

[CB91710]

Darrell braun did a great demo of this amp where he didn’t demonstrate the actual built in speakers once and only used the direct out.

Braun is a freaking shill and him going a review of a product makes it less likely that I will buy it.

 

[rich85]

Braun is a freaking shill and him going a review of a product makes it less likely that I will buy it.

100%

Doing a review and demo of a combo amp and only using direct tones is intentionally misleading as says more than I ever could about him and PG.

I will never buy any of their products.

 

[CB91710]

100%

Doing a review and demo of a combo amp and only using direct tones is intentionally misleading as says more than I ever could about him and PG.

I will never buy any of their products.

Oh, I bought both the Spark, pedal, and ordered the mini.
I have no issue with PG, but I won't buy a product simply based on DB's comments.
Likewise McKnight, and a few others.

 

[efstop]

Caveat emptor.

 

[cybermgk]

Here are a few of vids using mic'ed speaker and room mic's

One using a stereo Mic setup