This is a community-maintained guide to getting started with the Positive Grid Spark Amp, including frequently asked questions. Feel free to contribute changes.
Most original spark amp orders were pre-orders via the Positive Grid website. Customers ordering today can expect less wait time. The amp is not generally available in stores currently.
Get the Spark Amp App for your device. You can install this app even if you don't have your amp yet:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.positivegrid.spark&hl=en
iPad/iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/spark-amp/id1457653921
There is currently no offical app for desktop computers (Windows or mac OS).
There is an unofficial community app developed Desktop app called Soundshed, for Windows, macOS and Linux, which can be used to control the amp, manage presets and browse video backing tracks etc: https://soundshed.com
People with recent Chromebooks with Google Play store may find they can use the Android App.
Confusingly, Positive Grid also make a music tuition app called Spark Edu which is a subscription service that is no relation to your Spark amp. You do not have to pay to use the spark app with your amp, so if something is asking for money you've gone to the wrong place.
To use the app on iOS/iPhoneOS/iPadOS you should have a device capable of running iOS 13 or higher. Apple no longer allow app updates to devices which do not support this version of iOS or higher, so if you have an old device (iOS 12 or lower) you will no longer have app updates.
On Android, the app is currently supported on Android 8.1 and higher. Users of Android 7.0 have previously managed to get the app to work but this is not guaranteed especially as the app receives updates which may make it less compatible.
- To get started, first try using the amp straight out the box.
- You can use the amp without the app but functionality is limited to the basic controls on the amp itself. The real flexibility of the amp comes from using it with the app. Install the correct app on your mobile device (phone/tablet), connect to the amp using Bluetooth.
- A common issue is that either the app backing tracks come through the amp but changing controls doesn't work or vice-versa. The amp uses two types of Bluetooth connections (Bluetooth Audio
Spark 40 Audioand Bluetooth Low EnergySpark 40 BLE). You need to pair with Spark 40 Audio before you use the app. The app also needs Location Services to be enabled so that BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) works: https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT207092 - If you can't hear backing tracks/smartjam audio, make sure the little
Music Volumeknob is turned up and the audio is turned up on your mobile device, this applies when using as a Bluetooth speaker as well. - When you change a Preset using the amp or the app, the physical Knob positions don't mean anything until you adjust them (the settings from the Preset take priority until you adjust a knob). Otherwise the knobs would have to actually spin as you changed settings in the app :)
- Your serial number (for registration etc) is visible in the App when the amp is connected and is also on a little sticker near the Aux port.
- Editing presets: swipe the little pedal image up/down to disable/enable the effect, double tap the little pedal image to get the list of effect types to choose from. Swipe the FX chain left and right to see the full list of FX in the current chain.
The basic Smart Jam functionality uses your mobile device microphone to listen to the chords you are playing an suggests a backing track (drums and bass). Your mileage may vary. For some users this feature is a great match for their playing style, others may consider this a limited novelty feature.
The app has limited support for sourcing the names of backing tracks from your music library (Spotify, Apple Music etc). It then finds this track on YouTube and passes the information to the app/Positive Grid in order to analyse the music and generate approximate chords. The accuracy of auto-generated chord etc will vary by music style.
The Firmware is the software the amp uses internally to function (bluetooth connectivty, amp and FX models, controls etc). The firmware version you have installed can be see in the app when the amp is connected (it's a version number such as 1.2.3.37). Firmware is a completely different thing to the mobile app.
To update your firmware see the PG guide: https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038685111-How-To-Update-The-Firmware-on-Spark-
- on Windows you may have to install the Spark ASIO driver first (see the above link) and reboot before attempting the update.
- on Mac OS you may have to allow the app to run via the the mac OS Security setting, because the app has been downloaded from the internet.
You can put any other physical FX pedal in front of the amp if you want to (Wah, Pre-amp, Noise gates, Compressor etc) but there is no FX loop so you can't insert FX after the amp FX in the signal chain.
This is the current list: https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038772571-Spark-Amp-List
This is the current list: https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038388192-Spark-Effect-List
- You can use any normal wireless transmitter/reciever with the Spark if you want to. This also reduces line hum that would often be induced by connecting a guitar cable. Amazon/eBay etc have many cheap transmitter/receivers that work reasonably well. Generally avoid Bluetooth transmitters/recievers due to bluetooth audio latency.
- Bluetooth Headphone will not generally work with the Spark. There is no way to tell them to connect to the amp (unlike conencting to a computer, phone etc). In addition Bluetooth audio often has very high latency (the delay between strumming the guitar and hearing the results back grom the amp) which makes it inappropriate for this use.
- Screeching/siren tone when changing presets: This is known bug in the first batches of the amp, update the amp firmware (see below).
Some users of the first generation Spark Amp have reported hum (buzzing) when using the amp. This has mostly been attributed to lack of electrical grounding on the power supply unit and affects users differently dependin on their house wiring and local electrical interference. The isse will be particularly apparent when using guitars with single coil pickups and non-grounded hardware. Affected users should open a support ticket with PG to discuss. Several users have reported being sent replacement power supplies by PG to help resolve the issue.
Note that in general, hum/buzz is considered a normal characteristic of amplifiers when used on high-gain settings, because low level electrical interference is amplified by the gain stages of the amp (common to all amplifiers). Over the years this has led to the introduction of Noise Gates (which silence noise when the guitar is not playing). The Spark has a noise gate setting which you can adjust in the app.
Ensure the Noise Gate effect is enabled and adjust the Threshold value (when no notes are playing) to the minimum level required to line/pickup noise but to still allow for note sustain.
Noise gate usage: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.marriott.96/videos/3165897856812563
If playing a note leads to the sound cutting in and out erraticaly, adjust the Noise Gate settings within the app for the preset you are using. Ensure the Noise Gate effect is enabled and adjust the Threshold value (when no notes are playing) to the minimum level required to line/pickup noise but to still allow for note sustain. The required level varies slightly for each guitar/pickup combination.
The amp has a deeper bass presence when placed on the floor. Lift it off the floor.
- On Windows, install and use the Spark ASIO driver to reduce audio input/output latency: https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039598451-Spark-Windows-ASIO-Driver-
- In any recording software, make sure the Spark is selected as the track input, and recording is armed.
- The
Spark Amp Owners Clubfacebook group is probably the most useful and active community for Spark Amp Owners: https://www.facebook.com/groups/202479867664001 - The PG forum: https://forum.positivegrid.com/category/28/spark
Sorry, can't help you. You'll toughen up soon enough.