The Perfect Practice Amp –
If you know me, you know I’m a tube amp guy through and through. But let’s be real… you can’t always crank a half stack in the living room at 11:00 PM.
That’s where the Positive Grid Spark 40 watt combo comes in. If we’re talking about practice amps, this thing is honestly all you need.
First there’s the interface. Even though it is a digital powerhouse, the top of the amp feels familiar. You have actual knobs for gain, bass, mid, and treble. But the real magic happens when you sync it to the app. The tone shaping is endless. You can deep dive and customize your own rig in the ToneCloud. There you can search for almost any song or artist, and someone has already built a rig that nails the sound. If you are a big digital amp user, you already know that you can get those broken up overdriven tones without having to blast the roof off. It hits that sweet spot at any volume, so you can get your session in while the neighbors stay fast asleep.
Next, there is the Bluetooth function. Even when I am playing through my main tube rig, the Spark is sitting right next to me. Why? The Bluetooth features. I use it as a dedicated speaker for my jam tracks. While my pedals and tube amp are handling my guitar signal, the Spark is pumping out the backing tracks. It is crisp, it is clear, and it serves as a high quality speaker for just listening to music when I’m not playing.
Then when it comes to travel, you just can’t beat it. I’m not hauling a 50lb head and a massive board to a hotel or a friend’s house. You just pick up this little box and go. You get access to a million tones in one hand carry speaker. It is the definition of grab and go without sacrificing the quality of your practice session.
For the price point, this is hands down one of the best practice amps on the market. Between the app integration, the ability to use it as a Bluetooth speaker for tracks, and the portability, it is a total win.
And keep in mind, this is only the 40 watt version. I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the new Spark 2, which is supposedly even louder and way better. But for now, the Spark 40 is holding down the fort in my studio perfectly.