Music Is Win’s Tyler Larson plays the goosebump-inducing riffs and licks, with a little help from Positive Grid’s new Spark Pearl
Positive Grid’s Spark, the 40-watt intelligent amplifier that's loaded with amp models and effects, and which can access more than 10,000 additional amp-and-effect presets via the online ToneCloud, has continued its run as one of the most popular and revolutionary pieces of guitar gear to be released in the past few years.
Now the iconic design has been updated with a twist for 2021: Meet Spark Pearl, a special edition, limited version of the award-winning smart practice guitar amp and app. The new model is decked out in snowy white tolex trimmed with gold piping and a contrast-stitched custom carrying strap for stylish looks that will spice up any room or practice space.
In addition to its great new look, Spark Pearl retains all the revolutionary attributes of the original, including Smart Jam, Auto Chords and over 10,000 tones for electric, acoustic and bass guitar for easy access to engaging practice, jamming and recording experiences.
What's more, music can be imported from Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube, and Spark’s smart app will auto display the guitar chords in real time. And users can pick a tempo, play a riff or a chord progression or choose the genre they want and the amp will create a backing track with authentic bass and drum sounds to jam over.
(Image credit: Positive Grid)
As for the sound? Music is Win’s Tyler Larson sat down with amp to run through seven famous guitar intros that will give you chills, and demonstrates just how easy it is to nail them all with Spark Pearl – and look good doing it.
“These riffs have something in common – they’re all iconic, legendary guitar tones,” Tyler says. “And they all have this airy, elegant quality to them. Whether they’re clean or distorted, there’s this semblance of heavenly goodness about them.”
And Spark Pearl can capture all that heavenly goodness with ease, whether it’s John Mayer’s “tongue-twister for your fingers,” Edge of Desire, ZZ Top’s “badass” La Grange or Killswitch Engage’s “washy” My Curse.
Want to achieve the Edge’s glorious Where the Streets Have No Name sound? Call up a clean amp and a delay pedal on the Spark Pearl app and “head into the future.”
How about Eddie Van Halen’s massive Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love crunch? Just dial in a high-gain amp with heavy delay and reverb and, of course, some flanger to “tie it all together.”
To find out what the remaining chill-inducing intros are, watch the video and get that “little splash of pins and needles in the back of your neck.”
As for Spark Pearl, a limited quantity will be available beginning in late April, and customers can take advantage of special pricing for early orders.
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
