Unofficial Spark Amp Users Manual

1. Introduction
a. This (unofficial!) manual is for any and all Positive Grid Spark Amp users! A few
of us noticed that PG’s documentation seemed a tad incomplete so we took it
upon ourselves to generate this guide. In it, we explore every aspect of how the
amp and the app work. We hope that anyone can benefit from the material. Our
goal is to keep it as up to date as possible as future releases of software from
Positive Grid be

come available. This is not an officially sanctioned manual by Positive and is not
directly affiliated with them. We are volunteers and such, there may be
inconsistencies or mistakes. We are open to any and all feedback and will gladly
update if anyone identifies an incorrect fact, process or other detail.
b. [Copyright/CreativeCommons/Wiki and permissions of use]
2. How the manual is organized
a. The manual is organized into sections that each pertain to a certain aspect of the
amp or the app. The sections are listed here: (to be filled in later).
3. Quick/Getting started Guide
a. Play now, details later
i. We'll jump right into unboxing and playing the default amp without the app
ii. Later we'll discuss things like Bluetooth, soundcloud etc.
 ·

4. The TEN COMMANDMENTS of SPARK

a. 1) I am a $250 practice amp, not a $2,500 professional gear.
b. 2) Thou shall not use the included adaptor but buy one Dell’s adaptor to eliminate
the buzz.
c. 3) Thou shall upgrade the firmware.
d. 4) Thou shall use the noise gate for high-gain tones.
e. 5) Thou shall see the FAQ section before posting your question.
f. 6) Thou shall not complain all the time in this group about delivering times.
g. 7) Thou shall not steal other people's tones and name them after yourselves.
h. 8) Thou shall buy more guitars, and basses, and other non-useful musical stuff,
just because.
i. 9) Thou shall not post on Facebook every song you play.
j. 10) Thou shall covet (but just Switchfoot pedals).
i. Credit: Pablo Fleiss Via Facebook
5. Ordering and Receiving Your Amp
a. Shipping Delays
i. During the fundraising and early development stages of the Spark amp,
Positive Grid seemed to have problems fulfilling their orders. Undoubtedly
made worse by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some customers have
reported shipping delays of as much as 6 months or more.
ii. Positive Grid appears to have addressed their stock and supply issues as
of late (Autumn 2020), with recent customers reporting that they have
received their amp in a little more than a week.
b. Amp and Package Pricing
i. Ordering just the amp. Current pricing: $299. Listed as “in-stock”,
worldwide shipping in 5-7 business days.
ii. Ordering with bag. Current pricing: $349. Listed as “in-stock”, worldwide
shipping in 5-7 business days.
1. A good replacement bag option:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XJNIWG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap
_share&fbclid=IwAR16k9M8wF9o2Vt6yqMGnvg-Ch291PAnr7Fcb
6k10O-oldjJmpHADFXCN_w
2.
iii. Ordering with Headphones. Current pricing: $369. Listed as “in-stock”,
worldwide shipping in 5-7 business days.
c. Shipping expectations for various parts of the world.
1. US:
2. Europe: 9 days to Denmark (As of Sept 10, 2020)
3. Asia:
4. ...
6. Unboxing
a. List of parts in box.
i. Amp
ii. Ungrounded Power supply
iii. USB Cable
iv. Presonus software redemption card
v. Quick start page
b. Unboxing video: https://youtu.be/Vbcy_rIeBuo
7. Spark Amp App
a. Download and install
i. iOS
1. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spark-amp-smart-jam-chords/id145
7653921

2.
ii. Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.positivegrid.spark

1.
b. Amp to app connectivity information. For a video demonstration on how the amp
and app interact with each other, click here: https://youtu.be/kT4jz0yLhw8
c.

d. Using the app

 i.
ii. Basic Navigation Info
1. Main menu
2. 3 main areas of the app
iii. Main menu
1. What is Spark - This brings up the “marketing material” that you
see the very first time you open the app. It gives an extremely
brief description of the amp/app including “Smart Jam”, “Tone
Engine”, “Auto Chords” and the well known “10,000+ tones” claim.
It also includes a “Purchase Amp” button.
2. Connect Hardware - This is where you go if you need to make
sure that the app is connected to the amp, or if you need to
re-connect it during troubleshooting. You can also see what
firmware version your amp is running if you are already
connected. Lastly, you can “disconnect” the amp if you want to
connect to it from another device.
3. Adding Songs - For a video overview click here:
https://youtu.be/qc7HIjV_Li4
a. Spotify - If you already have an existing Spotify account,
you can login to it and import up to 20 songs at a time.
b. Apple Music (iOS only) - If you have any music in your
Apple Music library, you can similarly upload them to the
spark, up to 20 at a time.
 4. Recently Played - This is a link to the YouTube/chord analysis
section of the app for the last 20 consecutive songs that you’ve
played. A quick and easy way to see where you last left off!
5. Liked songs - Any of the last 20 songs that you’ve played along
with and have tapped the little “heart” icon will show up on this
list.”
6. Metronome - Spin the wheel to set the BPM, tap play, wait for the
countdown and go! Be forewarned, your drummer may not be a
fan...
7. Settings - This section mainly contains the legal stuff that Positive
Grid needed to include and gives a brief description of Positive
Grid, provides a link to their Terms and Conditions as well as their
Privacy Policy. Finally, the App Version is also listed here, not to
be confused with the firmware version of your amp!
8. Contact Support - Navigate here to report an issue to Positive Grid
customer support about your amp or app. You’ll need to specify
your email address, what your issue is related to as well as a
number of other details about the issue you are experiencing and
where you are located. They allow you to attach files like pictures,
videos, screenshots, etc. here as well, so please use that if
applicable for your issue.
9. Help center - This is a link to Positive Grid’s “Help Center”
website. There is a “troubleshooting”, “Track Order”, “FAQ”, “User
Manual”, “Spark Amp Editor app” update history, “Usage” guides,
“Tutorial video”, “Firmware” info and finally “Warranty” info. Some
of these items are helpful. But it may not cover everything you are
looking for, hence the documnt you are now reading.
iv. Tones - The top bubble with the small down arrow, indicates the current
tone you have selected:

Note - If it is one of the current hardware presets, it will also say “Ch1” for
the first preset, “Ch2” for the second and so on.

Use this navigator to select any tone you have already downloaded onto
your app.
Simply tap inside the bubble where the current tone is listed:

Select the genre of the tone you would like to select:

Scroll down to the appropriate tone and tap on it:

It will then look like this:

Then close out of the current menu:

And you’re ready to rock (or blues in this case)!:

To the right of the current tone is the “ToneCloud” icon and the “Action”
icon:

The ToneCloud icon (cleverly a cloud with a small tone knob on it!) allows
you to download tones from ToneCloud.

The 3 vertical action dots are for Overwriting, Saving, Deleting, sharing
tones to ToneCloud and Saving to a hardware preset. For a video
demonstration on downloading and saving tones from ToneCloud, click
here: https://youtu.be/nB9ZbYcoTG4

For a video demonstration on creating or editing tones and uploading to

ToneCloud, click here: https://youtu.be/QX-lfCW8wyQ
 You will use these icons to download tones from ToneCloud, as well as
Save, overwrite or upload your current tone to ToneCloud.

1. Effects - For a video of effects navigation, click here:

https://youtu.be/uMTTBlfPY1Y
a. You can navigate to the various effects by tapping on each
individual effect and it will bring up that effect pedal. To
change that effect, double-tap on it, and it will bring up the
list.
2. Amp models
3. ToneCloud
a. Searching for tones
b. Uploading tones
4. Creating Tones
5. Editing Tones
6. Saving tones
v. Music
1. Smart Jam
a. “Create”
b. Quick Jam - For a video of Quick Jam demonstration, click
here: https://youtu.be/yY7JLEIJo1w
2. Backing tracks
a. You can search for and play along with any song that
exists on YouTube, just by clicking the search icon and
typing in the name of the song. For a video demonstration,
click here: https://youtu.be/C_daINXOtBo
b. You can also play along with songs that have the guitar
part removed! For a video demonstration, click here:
https://youtu.be/JBZ13TtMsHI
3. Chord analysis
vi. Profile
1. Your info
2. Song lists
8. Using the amp without the app
a. It is possible to use the amp without the app. There are limitations, but you can
use the presets, amp selector knob and all gain, tone, volume, modulation, delay
and reverb effects knobs to adjust the sound. For more detail see this video:
https://youtu.be/a26WWgKAOE8

9. Connecting your instrument

a. Wired
b. Wireless
10. Top Panel Hardware Controls
a. Amp Type (Emulation). The amp type emulation selector knob is independent of
the preset configurations. It allows you to select different amp emulations (list
below) but does not change any of the effect configurations that you are currently
using. For a video demonstration on how the “amp selector” knob interacts with
the preset buttons, click here: https://youtu.be/633rWx4eibM
1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kdX2O7XxcVpQhcutcbCAef
p2o5pEli6wVRihEnHeMWk/edit?usp=sharing
ii. Acoustic
1. Jumbo - A PG Original Amp
iii. Bass
1. RB 800 - Gallien-Krueger 800RB
iv. Clean
1. Blackface Duo - Fender Twin Reverb
v. Glassy
1. Two Stone SP50 - Two Rock Studio Pro 50
vi. Crunch
1. JM 45 - Marshall JTM45
vii. High Gain
1. American High Gain - Mesa Boogie JP-2C
viii. Metal
1. 5153 - Peavey EVH 5150 III
b. Amp Control
i. Gain
ii. Bass
iii. Mid
iv. Treble
v. Master
c. Effects Control
i. Mod
ii. Delay
iii. Reverb
d. Output Volume
e. Presets - For a video demonstration of the presets, click here:
https://youtu.be/jpOjbYSQiKI
i. Default Preset modes
1. Clean
a. Blackface Duo - Fender Twin Reverb
2. Crunch
a. JM 45 - Marshall JTM45
3. High Gain
a. American High Gain - Mesa Boogie JP-2C
 4. Metal
a. 5153 - Peavey EVH 5150 III
ii. Modifying and saving presets
f. Tap tuner
i. Hold down the “tap tuner” button for a few seconds to engage the tuner.
ii. Play your strings and the 2 will light up green if you are in tune.
iii. The 1st and second lights will be red if you are flat.
iv. The 3rd and fourth lights will be red if you are sharp.
v. Check out this video for more info: https://youtu.be/idFnQuuFZV0
vi.
11. Bluetooth Setup
a. Bluetooth Status Indicator
i. Indicates the status of your Bluetooth audio connection:
1. Connected (blue light)
2. Waiting to connect (flashes)
3. Disabled (LED off)
b. Connecting with Bluetooth
i. App Control
ii. Audio
12. Using the Amp as a speaker
a. Bluetooth - The spark amp can be used as a standard Bluetooth speaker for any
bluetooth enabled audio device. You can control the volume of the aux import
with the small “Music Volume” knob on the top right hand of the amp control
panel. For a video demonstration on connecting from an iOS device, click here:
https://youtu.be/t5j6QfeLrrw
b. Aux port - You can connect to the Aux port of the amp in the back to use the amp
as a speaker. You can control the volume of the aux import with the small “Music
Volume” knob on the top right hand of the amp control panel.
13. Recording with Spark
a. Connecting to a computer
b. Downloading Presonus Software
c. Working with other software
14. Voice Command
a. https://youtu.be/IYTOzqRxkOA
b. Voice commands available:
i. “Play a song” - where you say the name and/or artist of the song you’d
like to play.
ii. “Play drums” - which brings up the smart jam session with Dave or
Sharon.
iii. “Play metronome” - which opens the metronome interface.
15. Miscellaneous Tips and tricks
a. You can use the Spark app without the amp! It has some cool features that do
not require the use of the Spark amp (but it’s definitely better with the amp!). For
a video demonstration, click here: https://youtu.be/CsfAubJXOqE
16. Amp and Software specifications
a. Amplifier

b.
17.
18. Troubleshooting
a. Hum Issues
i. Example video: https://youtu.be/ts63ZzYDlY4
ii. Background and theory
iii. Using wireless
iv. Connecting to laptop
v. Contacting Positive Grid Support
vi. Purchasing a 3rd party power adapter
1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z4T115Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_
b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR2-dwUA7vDq
M9F_Y1qJvl_bHS2_NBWmSd9yg53NfUc4WqpwvXMwOSgTThw
vii. Solution comments
1. Ronald Allan Sprague
2. There are numerous solutions to “The Hum,” a well-known (and
well documented in the FAQ) grounding issue with the original
power supply:
3. Open a trouble ticket with [email protected], to answer 20
questions, post a video, and often, not hear anything back from
numerous e-mail attempts to contact them, or if you do, endure a
7-30 day wait to receive a 3-prong grounded PSU from PG
4. Ground the amp by plugging in your USB cable to your computer.
5. Get an $18 19V 3.4A 5.5 mm x 2.1-2.5 mm 3-prong grounded
computer laptop power supply from Amazon in 3 days.
6. Also run a firmware update (check the PG Spark FAQ on their
website)
7. Change the settings on the Noise Gate, which seems to be the
first pedal in almost every preset / patch, or disable it altogether,
through the Spark amp app.
8. Some combination of any or all of these will kill The Hum.
b. Connection Issues
i. Bluetooth for app control - For a video demonstrations of troubleshooting
amp<->app connectivity, click here: https://youtu.be/iHMiOcqHqIw
ii. Bluetooth for audio
iii. USB to Mac/PC
iv. Aux port
v.
c. App issues
i. Android
ii. iOS
d. “Bassiness”
i. Sound hole fix
ii. Tilt/angle/position fix
 iii. What surface it’s on affects the sound
iv. Stands or other mounting hardware
e. Firmware updates
i. For a video demonstration on updating your firmware with a Windows
computer, click here: https://youtu.be/DTBIyuwJMek
f. Factory Reset - For a video demonstration, click here:
https://youtu.be/4JCSwZzKQX0
i. FACTORY RESET
1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the TAP button when turning on Spark amp, then
release the TAP button when it starts to blink.
3. Long-press the blinking TAP button until all four (1~4) LEDs
buttons blink once, then release the TAP button.
4. The TAP button needs to be released as soon as all four LEDs
blink.
5. Press the TAP button to cancel factory reset.
6. If the TAP button is blinking and the CH1 LED is on, this means
the factory reset process is now complete.
7. This process will reset all four presets stored on the Spark amp as
well as its bluetooth pairing information. Remove Spark Amp
from recognized devices in Bluetooth settings before pairing
again.
19. Modifications
a. FB group dedicated to making modifications to the amp, maybe we can ask them
to contribute here?
20. About the Authors (do a short bio about yourself!)
a. Doug Strickland
i. Doug has been playing guitar since 1970, entirely for personal enjoyment.
He lives in Oregon with His wife Heidi, dogs Cooper and Mozzie, and cat
named Jack. He has a small collection of guitars, including a 1962
Fender Musicman, Takamine 12 string, and a Gibson SG. He bought the
Spark amp to explore new sounds, and to have a jamming partner!
b. Andy Garland
i. Andy Garland is a full-time father of 3, husband and IT engineer, part-time
wannabe guitar player and YouTube sensation.
c. Craig Heibert
d. Ronnie Howell
e. John Paloscio
f. Jerry Steele
21. Thank You!
a. Positive Grid
b. Facebook Group: Spark Amp Owners Club
22.
23. Appendix

a. Real names of amps and effects

Post by Richard » Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:21 am

https://spark.zone/viewtopic.php?t=16&fbclid=IwAR3ruB9AACDHiUqSEOTKPqtUO5r4P
WpOt_N3WHAV1t1VcNmKHnq9Uywg1ho

Obviously, the Positive Grid people could have used the real names of emulated amps
and pedals, but they would have needed to pay gazillions in royalties to their respective
trademark owners. This thread featured an overview of all amps and pedals with their
real-life counterparts. Some of these effect pedals seem not to be based on actual
pedals, rather are more a description of a desired effect (like the reverbs).

I will update this basic post with any info forthcoming. What's mentioned down below is
by no means cast in concrete, so feel free (to) suggest changes of appropriate.

Amplifier models
For a video overview click here: https://youtu.be/-k4tffzAA_g

Clean Amps

01 Silver 120 - Roland Jazz Chorus 120

02 Black Duo - Fender Twin Reverb
03 AD Clean - Orange AD 30
04 Match DC - Matchless DC30

Glassy Amps

05 Tweed Bass - Fender Bassman

06 AC Boost - Vox AC30
07 Checkmate - Teisco Checkmate 20
08 Two Stone SP50 - Two Rock Studio Pro 50

Crunchy Amps

09 American Deluxe - Fender Deluxe Reverb

10 Plexiglas - Marshall SL100
11 JM45 - Marshall JTM45
12 Lux Verb - Fender Deluxe Reverb

High Gain Amps

13 RB 101 - Bogner Ecstasy 101

14 British 30 - Orange AD30
15 American High Gain - Mesa Boogie JP-2C
16 SLO 100 - Soldano SLO-100
17 YJM100 - Marshall YJM100 Signature

Metal Amps

18 Treadplate - Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier

19 5153 - Peavey EVH 5150 III
20 Switchaxe - Hughes & Kettner Switchblade
21 Rocker V - Orange Rockerverb 50
22 BE 101 - Friedman Brown Eye 100

Acoustic Amps

23 Pure Acoustic - a Positive Grid original

24 Fishboy - Fishman Acoustic Amp (Loudmouth?)
25 Jumbo - a Positive Grid original
26 Flat Acoustic - a Positive Grid original

Bass Amps

27 RB-800 - Gallien-Krueger 800RB

28 Sunny 3000 - Sunn 300T
29 W600 - Eden WTP600
30 Hammer 500 - Aguilar Tone Hammer 500

List of Effects pedals

For a video overview click here: https://youtu.be/gsrCpcsyuZU

Noise Gate

01 Noise Gate - Positive Grid original noise gate

For a video demonstration: https://youtu.be/Sc0Cd9_kOaA

Comp
01 LA Comp - Teletronix LA-2A Compressor
02 Sustain Comp - Boss CS-3
03 Red Comp - MXR Dyna Comp
04 Bass Comp - EBS Multicomp
05 Optical Comp - BBE Opto Stomp

Drive

01 Booster - MXR Micro Amp

02 Tube Drive - Ibanez Tube Screamer
03 Over Drive - Boss OD-3
04 Fuzz Face - Dunlop or Arbiter Fuzz Face
05 Black Op - Pro Co RAT
06 Bass Muff - Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi
07 Guitar Muff - Electro Harmonix Big Muff
08 Bassmaster - Maestro Bass Brassmaster
09 SAB Driver - Wampler Plexi-Drive / Fulltone OCD Overdrive

Mod

01 Tremolo - Mad Professor Mellow Yellow

02 Chorus- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
03 Flanger - Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress
04 Phaser - MXR M-107 Phase 100
05 Vibrato - BBE Mind Bender (vibrato switch only)
06 UniVibe - MJM Guitar FX Sixties Vibe Classic / Shi-Nei Uni-vibe
07 Cloner Chorus - Electro Harmonix Small Clone
08 Classic Vibe - Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe
09 Tremolator - Demeter TRM-1 Tremulator
10 Tremolo Square - TC Electronic Pipelilne

Delay

01 Digital Delay - Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

02 Echo Filt
03 Vintage Delay
04 Reverse Delay - a Positive Grid original
05 Multi Head - Roland RE-201 Space Echo
06 Echo Tape - Maestro Echoplex EP-2 Tape Delay

Reverb
01 Room Studio A
02 Chamber
03 Hall Natural
04 Plate Short
05 Hall Ambient
06 Plate Rich
07 Hall Medium
08 Plate Long
09 Room Studio B

User avatarS@muele
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Italy