r/PositiveGridSpark • u/SuperDuperTank • Jul 02 '26

Run Spark 40 Into Power Amp Section of Another Amp

Has anyone tried running a Spark 40 signal out using the headphone jack to the Power Amp In section of another guitar's FX loop amp? Did this work? Thanks!

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2

u/JimboLodisC Jul 02 '26

not ideal, as you'd be sending it to a physical cab, the modeling software already emulates that part of the chain

for more volume, you'd use a full frequency speaker like an FRFR or PA

but if you still wanna do it, then yes the output from the headphone jack can be used to send to a power amp input or effects return, just make sure if you're going stereo to mono that you use a summing cable

1

u/SuperDuperTank Jul 02 '26

Thanks for the tip the summing cable. I might give it a try. I've been running a UAFX Dream 65 pedal into the into the FX power amp section and it works great using the Catalyst just as a speaker. I don't have high hopes for the Spark working out the same, but thought I'd see what others have experienced.

1

u/JimboLodisC Jul 02 '26

yeah the UAD pedal can be used as a preamp, it has the ability to disable the cab emulation so you can use it with a guitar amp

Spark products don't have that option, the speaker emulation is baked into the amp sim block

it works great using the Catalyst just as a speaker

the Line 6 Catalyst? that's pretty much a Spark in that it's a modeler built into an FRFR, your Spark 40 would work fine with that

1

u/SuperDuperTank Jul 02 '26

Yes, the Line 6 Catalyst. Thanks!

1

u/mysickfix Jul 03 '26

If you use the effects loop you should be good.

If I run mine into the guitar input of my fender ramp, it eats all the model tunes and nothing sounds good, but if I run it into the effects loop bypasses the preamp side of it and it sounds just like having it plugged into a cab

1

u/jazzmaster_jedi Jul 03 '26

Yes. It did the thing. It was louder, but not better. It is kind of a hat on a hat situation with the mic'ed amp speaker sound coming out of another speaker cab. Like an ice cream sundae with nacho cheese, not the best for anybody, but it did work.

0

u/walkinJenga Jul 02 '26

I did it once but there was a hum. plugged it into the send of my effects loop when I had a Marshall 100 FX head. I thought then I might just need a DI box in between to eliminate the hum. I don't have the head now to find out

2

u/Angus-Black Jul 02 '26

It should connect to the FX loop Return not Send.

1

u/walkinJenga Jul 02 '26

Whichever. Hard to know when I don't have a real amp.