Positive Grid Spark Pearl Guitar Amplifier + Traveler Bag Bundle - Electric, Bass and Acoustic Guitar 40-Watt Combo Amp Including Spark Mobile App

I really 100% wish this had been available back when I started playing -- it would be a great way for beginners (young or old) to get started playing guitar -- perfect for that! The apps make it easy to choose a custom amp/rig sound, or to search for other players' recommendations on which rigs can help you get certain sounds (i.e. like how to make your rig sound like certain songs from bands like Deftones vs the tones/sounds from various songs by Alice in Chains, or Foo Fighters, etc. )Here's what I love about it:The amp is also great because of the onboard controls and ability to shape sound -- even if you didn't use the app at all! It has great sound (at 40 watts not LOUD loud but absolutely fine for beginners and/or as a spare practice amp for others (how I plan to use it myself.) It has a switch with 7 different core amp modeling sounds (Acoustic, Bass, Clean, Glassy, Crunch, Hi-Gain, Metal.) This is awesome because you can simply plug in your guitar and start playing with that huge range of tones and sounds -- so you don't need to go buying effects pedals out right out of the gate (TONS of sound shaping options here for the price, and being built right into the amp.) In addition - you also have built in Delay, Reverb and Modulation --- that's three more effects you get to experiment with but not have to buy separate pedals as you get started!They have some cool ideas going with the way it can bring in a 'virtual drummer' or bassist to accompany what you're playing - how cool is that!? (It's not perfect, but what in life is? In this case -- it's all software (in the app) so they can upgrade/enhance it over time -- which is the absolute miracle about living in this age of tech. So like with other gear out there - this product and experience could get better and better, it all depends on how the company supports it over time --- but their website and customer forums/support section seem very solid and active -- my gut says this product will keep getting better...)For me, since I've been playing for years (too many to admit) and have accumulated lots of amps and effects -- I mainly bought this amp for the amp modeling functionality through the app, and to see what the 'virtual drummer' and bassist would be like... if I remember back to my 'beginner' days this amp with the app functionality would have been PERFECT... (and I'm looking forward to seeing how this company supports/enhances the functionality of the app - I've been impressed so far so I'm optimistic!)If all that wasn't enough -- it can also be used as a bluetooth device or powered speaker also! For this price -- it does a whole lot in such a small package -- perfect for beginners, but also useful and well worth the small price for 'veterans' like myself who always have a way to use an extra little practice amp!

UPDATE (May 28, 2021):Finally got my Galaxy Tab A7 and had no problem pairing it with the Spark 40 (see photo). The amp itself sounds fine for practice, though it would never be loud enough to gig with (you're probably not considering using it for gigging anyway).The built-in preset models are a lot of fun to play with, and reasonably authentic. Dedicated tweakers will no doubt be able to get even more out of the models by fiddling with the pedal settings. I can't imagine anyone not being able to dial in the sound(s) they want for practicing.I have only played around a little with the backing tracks feature, but in my opinion it justifies the purchase all by itself. Nothing helps make practice less tedious than actually *making music,* and the backing tracks facilitate that nicely.There is still much left to explore, especially the feature where the Spark 40 will provide you the chords for songs you give it to analyze, and its ability to slow songs down to help you master them.I will say that under certain conditions there is an awful hum produced by the Spark 40. I plan to upgrade the power supply, but in the meantime I was able to tame the hum by switching cables (went from a coiled Vox to a regular DiMarzio). I will update this again if the hum problem returns.* * * * * * * * * *I got a pleasant surprise today when my Spark 40 arrived ahead of schedule! Amazon said to expect it on May 20-25, but it's May 19 and the amp is safely here.I will supplement this review after I have had more time to play with the device, but my initial reactions are that it is a handsome and solidly-built product. The ergonomics are excellent, and the knobs turn easily and smoothly. The sounds I've gotten out of it so far are fine for a practice amp, and I look forward to digging deeper into its capabilities.I'm planning on using it in combination with a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 tablet. The Positive Grid app works on my phone but it isn't a large enough display to be useful to me. The tablet should be here in a day or so, and once I have got things set up properly I will post an updated version of this review.

This amp sounds pretty good, and it's visually beautiful in pearl white, and has a lot of bonuses -- you get an app where you can create a virtual FX chain, you can use it as a Bluetooth speaker (I haven't tried this but it sounds interesting), and it has a volume control for the Aux input. These are unique features! It comes with some cool presets and it's awesome that it lets you record the sound over USB (this was a key factor in my decision to buy it). I use it for playing in my bedroom and recording in Reaper over USB.My only complaint is that the live audio from this device in Reaper comes out a little spotty... Idk why, and I haven't played with settings a ton to see if I can get rid of it, but it doesn't seem to affect the recorded quality. It's just for when you're listening to it through your DAW (that one old version of Reaper at least), it would seem a little low-fi and occasionally stutter. Again, recorded fine without the glitches.I know they released a version 2.0 since I bought this, so this review is a little deprecated.