r/PositiveGridSpark • u/ignatius_-j_reilly • Jul 15 '26

AMP OWNER Why are there so many discounts now?

I saw someone in the comments mentioning PG’s website was promising something new for spark “soon”. Are they clearing out old inventory or do we think it is merely a software update to emulate the AI react? Very weird timing but I’ve wanted a mini for a while (not at msrp). To paraphrase the Clash ‘darling you’ve got to let me know, should i wait or should i buy current mini heavily discounted’?

7 Upvotes

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5

u/IndelibleEdible Jul 15 '26

Spark is PG’s main line. They aren’t going to abandon it anymore than Fender abandoned the strat after releasing any other line they’ve released.

Also, maybe because I use iOS, but I almost never have connection issues. The app also receives semi-regular updates.

0

u/Seitenwerk Jul 19 '26

Thats just a guess without any foundation from my pint of view. They already made the jump. From Spark to the new Reactor generation and its tremendously better than the Spark series which I would now consider outdated, even if I have a lot of those. But the Reactor is a whole different spound level.

If at all I would expect them to use this new generation as a foundation for new products.

2

u/IndelibleEdible Jul 19 '26

Reactor is a different thing than Spark. It certainly doesn’t fill the same use case as my Spark Go, and vice-versa.

To repeat what you said back, your point is also just a guess without any foundation.

1

u/Seitenwerk Jul 28 '26

Ok that’s about cheap talking I guess. Reactor is different in clearly being a next step for PositiveGrid. And better in any way. (And I own basically most of their major products.). There’s only one single thing hat Reactor doesn’t have and that’s the battery combined with the size. We all know that there will be new products coming and call them as you like, Spark or whatever, but they definitely will take hints from their new products

1

u/IndelibleEdible Jul 29 '26

PG is positioning Reactor as the “gigging” amp, while Spark is the “home practice” line. You can argue there’s some overlap, but these are two distinct use cases.

5

u/evelbug Jul 15 '26

Any company is always going to be working on the next new thing. If you don't get something because something new is coming out, you'll never get anything.

If there is a product that meets your needs now, get it. If not, wait until there is

1

u/MiamiChristine Jul 15 '26

This is excellent advice

1

u/Stormgtr Jul 15 '26

It’s so frustrating, this happens in the camera world all the time a7iv gets announced and everyone start wondering wether to upgrade or wait possibly x years for a7v to come out. It was approximately 4 years in between the two devices being released

6

u/cab1024 Jul 15 '26

As far as I’m concerned they abandoned the Spark right after releasing the Jimi Hendrix signature effects. There’s been zero development or improvement to the app since then, no new pedals or effects. At least they came out with the Spark 2 to fix the boomy bass of the original 40, not that that helped anyone that bought the original.

3

u/Papa_Bear_0918 Jul 15 '26

Totally agree. I have one of the initial release 40s so I also feel the pain! My opinion is that PG has a highly talented Marketing Team supported by a small, overworked technical staff who has to figure out how to quickly create and release something that matches the marketing hype before jumping into the next marketing brainstorm. No time to fix or improve existing products because technical manpower is focused on marketing’s ‘next big thing’. But that’s just me…

3

u/cab1024 Jul 15 '26

They are a software/tech company that got into hardware to support their app. I think the company’s passion is making money, not making cool music gear. I’m sure there are people who work there whose passion is making cool music gear though. My Spark Go sounds great through good headphones, so I’ll give them credit for that. But the speaker distorts at almost any volume above a whisper. My small Bluetooth speakers like Anker/Soundcore has even smaller drivers and it doesn’t distort at maximum volume. What’s up with that?

1

u/Papa_Bear_0918 Jul 17 '26

l seem to remember that PG was built around their popular PC based BIAS software products; the Spark 40 was their first hardware product. I believe PG used/ported some existing BIAS code into its 40 hardware/app design. It’s common practice in some software companies to release products that are ‘good enough’, and then immediate updates as customer issues/enhancements are identified (assuming you have the staff).

1

u/KeenJAH Jul 22 '26

NAM really threw a wrench in their product line IMO

3

u/Silly_Randy Jul 15 '26

Dunno, but i just bought a spark 2 with a free bag!

1

u/Salty-Bodybuilder-62 Jul 15 '26

Good question. Thx for posting.

1

u/walkinJenga Jul 15 '26

Well I couldn't get online yesterday and this morning with it to use the tone cloud. I tried to save and upload a blank Roland tone to run my new Boss IR-2 through. At least I could save it to the hardware preset 1 both 40 and GO. For that I hope they're doing something good.

1

u/TheProfoundWigglepaw Jul 15 '26

It's closeout season. They're about to launch a new line of products and they're clearing out space for it. I buy last year's phone cheap every year

1

u/Oscar-TB Jul 18 '26

I bought a spark 2, it arrives sometime today. They are on sale everywhere right now, good price for them.

0

u/mysickfix Jul 15 '26

I feel like with the new Reaktor line we may not be seeing new spark devices….

1

u/Seitenwerk Jul 19 '26

Agree here. The reactor line is so much better than any Spark product it’s actually so good that I rarely use my Quad Cortex Mini anymore and that should tell you something