Positive grid spark mini

[vino_buono]

I am considering upgrading my home practice rig, which is a Fender Mustang Micro headphone amp that can play backing tracks via Bluetooth. I usually use it with headphones, and connect it to iLoud Micro monitors when I can (i.e., family is away…) Issue with this setup is that the quality of the amp models I use in the Mustang is not that great - Plexi is tubby and Friedman is too scooped.

The Positive Grid Spark Mini ticks all the boxes for me. However, I have read that the headphones volume is very low, but this may have been fixed in a firmware upgrade. Do you have any experience with this? Low headphones volume would be a dealbreaker for me.

Alternatively, anything else you would recommend? I already have an HX Stomp, but that is hooked to my pedalboard which takes time to set up. Plus from the iphone I can not control the backing tracks volume if not digging into the menus for the usb trim option. But a “cheap” modeler would also serve as a gigging backup, which is a plus.

The one option that would also work well is the Boss Waza Air (headphone only, but that would be ok). Very expensive though…

Any ideas appreciated, thanks!

 

[Mikael Dez]

I think the Yamaha THR series is the best practice amp series for the money - Bluetooth compatible, and the THR10ii (non wireless model) can be had for $299. There are a ton of videos on YouTube - I like Drew Creal and Cameron Cooper’s videos on the THR line.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Atomic Fire-Box MKII for $199.

 

[vino_buono]

Atomic Fire-Box MKII for $199.

This was indeed on my watchlist, but it is hardly available in Europe…

 

[Lysander]

This was indeed on my watchlist, but it is hardly available in Europe…

I feel your pain. I was 200% ready to boy a FB MKII when they hit a great sale price about a year ago, and shipping outside the US was impossible.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I feel your pain. I was 200% ready to boy a FB MKII when they hit a great sale price about a year ago, and shipping outside the US was impossible.

How much was shipping?

 

[timbuck3]

What about positive grid spark 2? Anyone have this and like it?

 

[Lysander]

How much was shipping?

Literally impossible; Atomic's online store offered no international shipping options

 

[KingsXJJ]

Literally impossible; Atomic's online store offered no international shipping options

Sorry to hear that. I’ve got a couple new in box. Use a third actively.

 

[dbagchee]

POD Express

 

[vino_buono]

POD Express

This would work; only downside is the aux in is via USB and I am afraid volume control would be hidden in a menu. But not a dealbreaker. For a change, maybe I'd like to try something different from Line6 modeling... If the Strymon Iridium had an aux in, it would have been attractive.

 

[vino_buono]

I think the Yamaha THR series is the best practice amp series for the money - Bluetooth compatible, and the THR10ii (non wireless model) can be had for $299. There are a ton of videos on YouTube - I like Drew Creal and Cameron Cooper’s videos on the THR line.

The Yamaha THR is indeed a great option and I might end up buying it; it is just a bit bigger than I'd like, hence I was looking at the Spark Mini, which is the perfect form factor for me.

 

[Mikael Dez]

The Yamaha THR is indeed a great option and I might end up buying it; it is just a bit bigger than I'd like, hence I was looking at the Spark Mini, which is the perfect form factor for me.

If you can buy it new, I’d suggest getting the Spark Mini - return it if the headphone volume is too low.

 

[vino_buono]

If you can buy it new, I’d suggest getting the Spark Mini - return it if the headphone volume is too low.

Yes, I can and probably will do as you suggest. Yamaha THR10 is the tried and true solution; everybody says it sounds great and I know it will get the job done for me, though maybe not in the best possible way. Maybe anybody who has tried the Spark Mini can comment on the guitar tones? Is this as good as the Yamaha?

 

[Mikael Dez]

Yes, I can and probably will do as you suggest. Yamaha THR10 is the tried and true solution; everybody says it sounds great and I know it will get the job done for me, though maybe not in the best possible way. Maybe anybody who has tried the Spark Mini can comment on the guitar tones? Is this as good as the Yamaha?

There are YouTube videos where they talk on this. Generally I’ve found that most people prefer the Yamaha tones, but there is more flexibility with the Spark’s modeling. As far as a practice amp goes - less is better in my opinion. I don’t want to go down a rabbit hole of an app to see all the models etc - I have (and so do you with the Stomp) better solutions that provide that experience.

 

[timbuck3]

Why not just get the spark 2 vs mini

 

[Mikael Dez]

There are YouTube videos where they talk on this. Generally I’ve found that most people prefer the Yamaha tones, but there is more flexibility with the Spark’s modeling. As far as a practice amp goes - less is better in my opinion. I don’t want to go down a rabbit hole of an app to see all the models etc - I have (and so do you with the Stomp) better solutions that provide that experience.

Wireless THR also goes nicely with guitar lessons or quick jam sessions.

 

[vino_buono]

Why not just get the spark 2 vs mini

Size matters

 

[Will Onyx]

I have the Spark Mini. The headphone out has plenty of volume on tap. I’ve used it with various earpods, Shure IEMs and AKG studio headphones and never had any volume issues. Can’t comment on how it sounds vs the Yamaha, but it sounds good to me and I use it all the time. Positive Grid does some pretty good sales throughout the year, so might be worth it to wait and buy then.

 

[R590]

The new version of the Boss Katana Mini looks cool. I have the spark mini, and the tones are fine. The original THR I had sounded better to my ear, but the bluetooth angle for backing tracks on the spark mini is super handy.