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What is it?
It feels like the original Positive Grid Spark was launched a lifetime ago, but really, the amplifier was only announced in October 2019 and began shipping to customers in early 2020, making it a little over 6 years since the smart amp burst onto the scene and changed the practice amp game entirely.
At a glance
Launch price: $199 | €209 | £179
Type: Multi-effects/amp modeller
Buy at: Positive Grid
Since then, the San Diego-based amp titan has expanded the Spark line with countless variations, from the pint-sized Spark Mini and portable Spark Go to live options like the Live and Cab. The latest offering takes a slightly different direction, with a three-button floor unit that aims to deliver all the power of the Spark in a much smaller, pedalboard-friendly package.
Running on Positive Grid’s acclaimed HD Tone Engine, which is the same DSP architecture housed inside the latest Spark 2 practice amp, you get a whopping 33 amp models, 43 effects, and access to thousands of tones through the online ToneCloud.
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The Spark Pedal is mainly positioned as a gig-ready unit, but it has a few other use cases. Of course, as expected, it can also be used as a stand-alone all-in-one option for live use or as a traditional multi-effects pedal to run into an amplifier if you bypass the amp modelling, but it can also serve as an audio interface for desktop recording or a silent headphones rig for quiet at-home practice.
There’s also built-in Bluetooth audio, so you can jam along to your favourite tracks, a handy 60-second looper and, of course, a free companion app that helps you dive deeper into tone creation.
Specs
- Launch price: $199 | €209 | £179
- Type: Multi-effects/amp modeller
- Controls: Footswitches, Multi-function Control Knob, Drive/Gain, Mod/Bass, Delay/Mid, Reverb/Treble
- Features: All Spark features including effects, amp modelling, looper, and practice tools via the Spark app
- Connectivity: 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ output, 1/4″ expression in, USB-C, MIDI in & out and 1/8″ headphone output
- Bypass: True bypass
- Power: USB-C/rechargable bettery
- Dimensions: . 180 x 100 x 50mm
- Weight: 1.4 lbs
- Contact: Positive Grid
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★☆
After stepping away from its classic gold-and-black branding for the new Reactor amp a few months ago, it’s nice to see the Spark Pedal return to something that just works so well for Positive Grid. Sure, it’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a good-looking pedal, and one that most definitely fits into the greater, now pretty stacked, Spark line.
In terms of the build, it’s another thing that is classically PG. It feels sturdy and robust, and since this is designed to be put on a pedalboard and toured, it does really need to live up to some serious strain and abuse, and it really feels like it could handle it with no problems.
Connectivity-wise, everything you need is on the rear of the pedal, easily accessible and logically laid out. With a single input, stereo outs, expression in, MIDI functionality and even a headphone out, this pedal really has everything covered.
It is worth noting that the unit comes with an internal rechargeable battery and is charged via a USB-C port. Ideally, I’d have liked the option to power it with a standard 9V pedalboard power supply. Since it’s intended to go on a pedalboard, it would make sense to be able to power it this way.
I don’t particularly like the idea of having to charge the pedal before a show, or carry an extra USB charger in my gigbag for this one pedal. It would be far more convenient if it could tap into the power supply already tucked away under my board.
Connectivity-wise, everything you need is on the rear of the pedal
I reached out to Positive Grid about this, and a representative said the brand “deliberately chose USB-C because of how it integrates into various scenarios.”
Of course, the unit can be used while charging, and many modern pedalboard power supplies now have USB outputs, which should be fine for most players, but if you want to run it on your old power brick, you may need to factor in an upgrade.
That said, really, there’s nothing too big to fault here. The Spark Pedal is a well-made unit that feels as robust as I’ve come to expect from Positive Grid.
Usability and features
Usability and features rating: ★★★★☆
I’ve been using and reviewing Spark products since they launched, so I’d like to think I know how to navigate them pretty well, but the Spark Pedal could use a few usability tweaks.
I think the Spark Pedal is mostly intuitive to use, and it doesn’t take long to get a usable sound out of the device, but with the dials all having secondary functions, it’s easy to get lost and end up adjusting the wrong parameter – especially mid-song.
The central control knob is the perfect example. This one dial is the main control point for the entire pedal, letting you adjust the pedal’s volume, switch between FX Mode and Amp Mode, turn the Cab Simulator on and off, and even activate the tuner. Honestly, I think it’s too much to put into a single control.
The other four dials also have secondary functions. In FX Mode (Green LED), they select your effect and adjust its level, while in Amp Mode (Red LED), they shape your tone with Gain, Bass, Mid, and Treble.
I totally understand that laying the dials out like this saves space and keeps the unit compact, but personally I’d rather have a slightly bulkier pedal with more knobs if it means better usability. Perhaps a screen would solve the problem. It would certainly make it more obvious what you were adjusting, without trying to remember what the LED colours mean.
That said, the unit runs on the same ecosystem as other Spark products and shares the same app, so you can adjust it more easily from your phone if you’d prefer. Here you can tweak until your heart is content, from switching out the pedals to trying different amp voices, and if you’re not terrified of AI, you can also use Positive Grid’s Text To Tone feature to generate any guitar sound you can imagine, or, well, describe.
The unit pairs well with the app, and if you have time, adjusting the parameters on the hardware is also pretty easy, but as this unit is being marketed as a gig-able solution as well as a practice tool, it needs to be looked at from that point of view, and in my opinion, it feels a little impractical.
In an effort to keep things streamlined and sleek, I think Positive Grid has forgotten the working musician who needs to make small tweaks to their tone throughout a live show.
If you know anything about Positive Grid, you know it is known for its incredibly polished clutch of tones,
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
To test the sound of the new Spark Pedal, I ran my Gibson Les Paul into the pedal and directly into a DAW. This way I can hear all the amp modelling and effects in great detail through a flat set of studio monitors.
So, if you know anything about Positive Grid, you know it is known for its incredibly polished clutch of tones, and thankfully Spark Pedal is no different.
We’ve got sparkling Fender Twin-like cleans to Soldano-esque high-gain tones, and so much more. Honestly, the tonal palette on tap here is huge – and it only gets better once you connect to the app. That said, I could do without delay on almost every preset. I like delay as much as the next guy, but not, like, all the time.
Now, I have noted before that I think Positive Grid presets are a touch too bassy for my tastes, and again, it’s the same story with the Spark Pedal – well, that is to be expected, it’s the same tone engine after all.
Moving on to the effects, and there’s everything you’d ever need. We’ve got a variety of different delay options, plenty of verb, and a slew of modulation sounds. Thankfully, they all sound perfectly lush. Like all PG products, there’s a sense of depth and space that makes noodling around on this thing flat-out addictive. I’ve always loved a good ambient reverb wash or a swirling chorus, and the Spark Pedal absolutely delivers on that front.
Yes, the Spark Pedal doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the table in terms of sounds, especially for existing Spark users, but these are the core tones we’ve come to expect from Positive Grid, and well, if it ain’t broke, why fix it, right?
Below are a few sound clips I recorded directly from the pedal, straight into Pro Tools, using a Gibson Les Paul Standard loaded with Burstbucker Pro pickups. All amp sounds, effects, and EQ come from the pedal; even the bass on the full-band track is played through the Spark. The only post-processing done is a small amount of master bus compression to level out the volume between the sounds.
Verdict
Since the launch of the Positive Grid Spark, fans have wanted an easy way to use the sounds live, and this may be the most convenient way yet. But the Spark Pedal goes far beyond just a pedalboard rig, and instead, we get a stomp that can be a practice rig with headphones and Bluetooth, a clever recording interface, and a live amp-sim and effects pedal all in one.
It’s hard to deny that what Positive Grid has packed into this tiny floor unit is impressive, but it can feel a little overstuffed at times.
If I’m honest, I’m not totally convinced it needs all the practice aids and features. The Spark 2 or Mini is arguably a better option for practising at home, since you get a speaker without losing any functionality, so it might have been better if Positive Grid paired the Spark Pedal back slightly and focused on making it the very best live unit it could be, with slightly better usability.
That said, I think Positive Grid has nailed the sounds. I am a fan of the tones on offer in all the Spark amps, and the Pedal is no different. It presents a versatile collection of sounds that cover a surprisingly broad range of genres and styles.
Overall, this is a welcome addition to the Spark family, and if you are in the market for a way to bridge the gap between your at-home practice rig and your stage setup, then it is undoubtedly a convenient little package.
MusicRadar verdict: The Spark Pedal puts the power of the famed practice amp into a convenient, capable floor unit, and it’s also pretty competitively priced. While I fully understand why the controls are laid out the way they are, I still think navigation could be improved to make the pedal easier to use in a live setting.
|
Test |
Results |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Build quality |
The Spark Pedal is solidly constructed, feels robust, and features logical connectivity, though reliance on USB-C charging may not suit all pedalboard setups. |
★★★★☆ |
|
Usability and features |
While mostly intuitive and streamlined, the Spark Pedal’s multi-function controls and lack of dedicated knobs can make quick adjustments on stage challenging. |
★★★★☆ |
|
Sounds |
The Spark Pedal delivers a wide variety of inspiring and polished tones with lush effects, consistent with the Spark line’s reputation. |
★★★★½ |
|
Overall |
The Spark Pedal is a versatile and convenient all-in-one solution for practice, recording, and live use, though usability tweaks would make it even better for gigging musicians. |
★★★★½ |
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