TC Spark Booster - IN DEPTH Review with 3 Amps
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- čas přidán 27. 12. 2015
- A Booster is supposed to keep the sound of your amp and just push it.... the SPARK does this amazingly well and it doesn't break the bank !!!!
In case you want to buy, please use my links !
TC Spark Booster
www.thomann.de/de/tc_electroni...
TC Spark Mini
www.thomann.de/de/tc_electroni...
Mesa Boogie Mark V:25
www.thomann.de/de/mesa_boogie_...
Gear from this video TC Electronic - imp.i114863.net/e7VVj
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The Spark Booster is the ultimate single coil pedal. It adds so much punch and mix-cutting to Strats and Teles! I can't play them without it now haha
The standard of your videos never ceases to amaze me!!! Great work man!!!
I first watched this video about 5 years ago, and what you say at 21:14 really resonated with me, i think about it all the time. I just had to come back and hear it again
Very nice again. Compressors and boosters are wonderful things that a lot of guitar players just don't reach for. Thanks for doing these reviews and showing how useful these things are! Very professional!
I really enjoy and learn a lot from your videos!! Thanks so much for your work and please keep them coming!!!
I like the honest and your natural speaking when making your videos! This impress me as much, as you're playing super good! :-)
And your explanation why we guitar players love to use pedals also was very right said!!! Thank you very much for your CZcams channel!
man I wish more people would subscribe to you man, best reviews out there.
Great video. I've subscribed to your channel a few days ago and I've watch many of your videos. thanks for uploading :)
"I expect you to play guitar, Mr. Bond!"
Love your reviews Henning! Thank you.
this channel deserves more subs... so much great content, I'm not trying to kiss your ass but when you think about it, there are channels out there that have 100 000+ subs that don't make that good content... every time I try to find how a certain pedal or amp etc sounds, your videos always sound and are the best quality... I'm speechless for the standard of quality and the time you put in your videos...
I can not understand how these vids only get about 200 likes. I mean he even made sparks on the pedal! Come on, show Your love people!
Seriously great demo!!!! Just got the pedal myself, and it's very versatile and highly recommend. The Worntage ´57 is great eye candy though!!!!!!
This was very helpful. I just bought this pedal. I play single coils in my Strat and Casino. Thanks for the clarification.
I've got a Sparkbooster that I use with my Les Paul and overdriven Blackstar HT5R. Result?... I get a sweet lift for solos but retain the wonderful Blackstar tone... very pleased! Thanks for the video, you make a lot of sense, man.
Brilliant sounding pedal.
Love your style and always love your 2 cents... TC is so damn good
"chasing the dream" love it !
Never mind the cat. How did you teach your dog to disappear like that, at 13:35 ?
Wow... theres a space station control console on the floor behind you. Hi quality videos man, thanks.
Hi Henning - I am a big fan. Your videos are very professional and you put alot of soul and effort in - highly appreciated! Could you advise on your mic position of the Sennheiser 609 in terms of the speaker cone?
Seeing you with your cat at the start of this video reminded me of Ernst Stavro Blofeld from the James bond Novels & films :o
Mark Gowans Dr Evil.
“You’ll be happy if people will hear you at all”
I like this!!!! :))))))
Use to own this pedal. Got the whole pedal board stolen at a show with the spark booster on it. Replaced all my pedals, then had to give them up. Now starting again with the spark booster just picked it up today again for the second time. Only second time because the first time I've opted for an MXR Boost/Line Driver to use in the FX loop. I'll get that one again as well. Best way to use the Spark is to push a driven amp. If you have a lot of gain but want to go into heavy metal territory depending on the amp and pick ups this can push you into that territory!!!
Great Video Review (even if 5 years Ago) - I wish i'd have seen the test mainly focused on single coils ... it's there where the Spark Booster gives his best and has its focused sense (IMHO a usual). The only question is about the gain pot. Is it like a Light OD (but does the SB have one or two transistors? he Boosters usually have only one) or more like the Naga Viper from Catalinbread that is like a bias controll that controll the output from the one and only transistor?
I don't know but if you want a OD without the distortion buzz added and transparent this pedal is it. I really like it.
Ah, so I'm not the only one default in A minor :) For fun I switch to G, B(especially B after A creates a nice tension) and major.
And whatever song I happen to play at the time, off course.
Also your face when your tone suddenly comes together. That's everybody's face and feels when that happens. :)
& Could you do the sentry noise gate like this? I'm thinking of getting one and would like to know your 2 cents on it.
Happy new year :)
8:35 Marvin has found his comfort spot right before the Spark Booster popped out. 😂
great for Clapton tone plus if you have more than one strat and don't want the hassle off fitting a boost in guitar
Hello Henning, first time I comment in your videos. I subscribed to your channel a few days ago, I find your videos very informative and fun at the same time. I used to play guitar when I was a lot younger, but later in life I found myself just too busy being an adult with life problems, you know so I became a bit distant of playing. But I still have my old guitars and just noticed in this video that you have a MM Steve Morse guitar, right? I still have a 1997 MM Axis which I bought new back then when I was finally able to pay for a guitar of that price with my own money and thought to keep it for life! Now I'm thinking to start practicing once again hoping that late is never too late! Anyway, for the moment just want to congratulate you for the great work you show us in CZcams, and wish you happy holidays and a great 2016! Now you can say you have a distant Spaniard friend living down here in the warm Caribbean. Thanks and best regards, Christian...
Because tweaking knobs is fun! :) We love it.
Just bought a TC Spark Booster but still awaiting delivery . While waiting I spent some time looking for info (justification?) about the pedal and found EytschPi42's video above, On the furry front you beat me by one cat as I only have 4 but I also have 2 dogs, 2 miniature horses,2 full size horses, 3 pet cows,and 4 Alpacas.Most enjoyable and as the man said " I'll be back!" Regards
I'm curious, is the Spark capable of doing an approximation of a Dallas Rangemaster Treble boost of you roll off some bass and turn up the treble in either clean it mid modes? I've been looking for a Rangemaster type circuit, but the boutique brands seem to be the only ones doing them and charge ridiculous prices for such a simple circuit. I'm considering the EHX Screaming Bird or going the DIY route if I can find a reasonably priced kit; but I wonder if this pedal would get the job done?
First off, that Mesa sounds absolutely monstrous when turned up. I would leave the Spark on the mid setting, and only punch it in for solos.
Great review but I'm more intrigued by where you got those amazing guitar stands?
bulldog music gear
Hi, really great video. Could you tell me, would this work well for boosting the mids of a Big Muff Pi? Especially in a live setting? I am in two minds whether to get the Spark or a graphic equalizer. Look forward to hearing from you.
Ash Smart I'm on the same tone quest as you and I was thinking to buy this booster too.
I think as long as you set it on the Mid setting it's going to work really well with a Big Muff, some people use Tubescreamers for the same purpose.
A few questions if anyone doesn't mind answering ...
What would one of these do if it was plugged into a clean cheap beginner SS amp, would it raise the volume, overdrive it or just crackle?
On a cheaper valve amp, using these to over drive the tubes, working them harder, does this risk wearing them out faster or damaging anything?
Is there a hell of a lot of difference between this and the andoer/moer etc ultra cheap £20 boosts on Amazon? What makes this worth the extra? Is this the best boost pedal in the range or are there competitive ones that are subjectively considered better by some?
Thanks very much!
Hi, thanks for all the videos Henning. I was wondering how this TC Spark compares to the TC MojoMojo which I already own. Are they covering similar ground? I really like TC pedals, have a few in the collection. I'm not very experienced though. I also liked your Tube Screamer mini review, that's tempting also. H.
Compared to the mojomojo this Is much more Open sounding
EytschPi42 have you tried the mini spark booster ? Wondering if the tones the same
Damn, you put alot of effort and money into these vids where alot of other reviewers with alot more subs produce some pretty weak shit. Subbed
kitty is so precious
sounds better than lots of overdrives
I just realised he's not playing a Les Paul. That guitar is gorgeous.
I BELIEVE ITS A FRAMUS MODEL!!!!!
I know im a bit late, but do you recomend this pedal??
13:37 your dog phased out of dimension. I guess it just means that your playing is...
out of this world.
and ah fuck. im like 2 years late on that joke...
Out felined1 We've only got 4 cats, Mind you we do have 2 dogs, 4 Alpacas,2 Scottish Highland calves and 3 other fluffy type calves- not to mention 16 batshit crazy sheep,Sheep are just on loan thank goodness.Better stop there.
Just want to say how much I have enjoyed watching your videos.This one about the Spark was the first, ended up getting one and love it!
PS The ferrets are cool, love the running tunnels and so do they.
2 wite cat))) best fun video, cool reviev spark booster, all very alright!
Please tell me, which is better for the Marshall JCM800: TC Electronic Spark Booster or Boss SD-1 (2016)?
Marvin's #1 fan
messner or this??... what do you like more?
Besides the general utility of this pedal, it just adds a certain quality to your overall sound. Always on.
Great vid! love the furry friends :) I bought the Spark a while ago, and while I rarely use it live, I love messing with it and my klone in the studio. To me, it's a very musical EQ/OD. I don't foresee getting rid of it unless I go through one of my asceticism phases again lol
Would I still get a boost with the gain turned all the way down on this? In other words, level control up, but gain at zero.
There are very few clean boost pedals that are capable of clean (as in no dirt) and ALSO transparent (does NOT change the amps tone).. The Dunlop CAE and the Spark (on flat, no gain, tone = flat) can do this... but add the fat & mid boost mode and the Spark just simply rocks... one of the most versatile pedals you can get.
Note to anyone who gives a crap lol, but the Spark mini does NOT have a flat response..
I have'nt seen Marvin since then I think. Where is he now?
Those are cool guitar stands. Where can i get one?
What is that prs/lp style guitar?
A great always on pedal for me. Best $79 I ever spent.
Henning! What kind of a booster would you recommend to put in to the fx loop of a HK black spirit 200 and that it would not color the eq, but could have the option of adding gain to the signal? :)
I wouldnt put a booster in the loop to add gain... that won’t work with that amp, it would have to go in front. The Spark is pretty good, but you might also want to check it the Proanalog Devices Strident vtb
@@EytschPi42 vielen lieben Dank!
You never cranked the level to slam the front end on the amp, to really boost the signal. Since it's a booster, that would've been nice to hear. Imo, that's where this kind of pedal really comes to life. Great demo as usual though!
+MrBrownstonee Good point... someone else pointed that out as well... I guess I was so happy with the sounds I was getting that I didn't consider the volume knob to push the amp harder.... my fault!
Kind Sir, methinks you demoed that pedal wrong: What you showed was how the Spark's built-in _Overdrive_ circuit works. Not "making the amp go to elebenty" - that's what the _Volume_ control is good for (which you didn't really use at all). If you want to use the Spark as a "traditional" clean boost, keep the Gain knob at zero & kick your amp by increasing Volume. This is the way I've used the Spark for over two years now: My Blade strat has underwound Fralins in it, which sound fantastic, but are (of course) _very_ wimpy in output. Using the Spark, I can increase their output to, say, the equivalent of a vintage PAF 'bucker WITHOUT altering the sound of the guitar per se. Increasing Gain instead doesn't really do this - all I'd get is some mild overdrive, but not more output.
Still a nice showcase of the Spark's tonal flexibility & versatility, which most other clean bosst pedals (especially the "single volume knob only" breed) can't match.
Does this have the bypass press down feature that the mini has? That’s all would like to know at this point
no it doesn't. its only on or off
Does the hold switch function from the mini version also work for this version?
No
Review the other four cats now! :)
Age old problem. I play humbuckers and single coils through the same amp with the same amp settings. As you know, the gain of the singles is much lower and they are far brighter. In your opinion, can this pedal make up the difference through the same amp? I want to be able to switch guitars between songs without having to change all the settings on the amp, just want to push one button.
This has 26db of headroom it will push anything anywhere at the click of the button
Try using the Spark in front and after your MojoMojo and Darkmatter pedals if you still have them around :-)
what is going to happen?
Yeah! Exactly. You can't tell which pedals live, and the audience can't tell either. And they don't care if it's digital or analog. Use what makes you feel comfortable. If you can get there with inexpensive pedals and modest gear, great!
i have this pedal, the mojomojo can boost better and thicker but i think ibanez ts9 is a better boost
Hi Marvin!
IMHO this is the best booster the whole world but got just one doubt ..is this a digi pedal or analog like the MOJOMOJO ?? I'll appreciate someone reply me .. t-you =)
elmero mero Pretty sure it's entirely analog.
is it normal the if im on the clean mode, with the gain on minimum, and de level on maximum, i dont get a much of a volume change? i just got mine, and was hoping to use it as a clean boost, but with an eq... and it just doesnt boost my volume, i need to get the gain going for it to do anything
Have you tried putting it in the FX Loop?
@@MikeAndersonvinyloldies not really, because i tried the mini version in front of the amp and the volume change is a lot more significant, so i thought i could go without the trouble of connecting it to the fx loop everytime i play a gig
Henning, what's your take on Pantera not using that much mids, but still Dimebag blowing everyone's head's with his guitar sounds?
Does it work after od/dist pedals?
Like this:
Guitar > overdrive/distortion > Spark
Like a preamp?
Any thoughts?
first 4 minutes is in no way what I clicked for.
I'd say the first 8 minutes for me hahah
Try 20:37. You’re welcome.
Hey.... can you please tell us how much output impedance it has?
7
@@EytschPi42 7 what? 7 ohms?
The cat....picked the strat :D
13:36 & the dog dissappears.
No pedals going to sound as good as the amp. I usually use a homemade op amp preamp w a gain of 32db , but 26 db is enough for 90+% of situations. I really like TC's bass boost/tone shaping on the Dark Matter and Mojo JoJo, er Mojo Mojo and this seems to have it as well. Note that an amp w a boost at 3 isn't going to sound quite like the amp at 6 w no boost just because the power beam pentodes give different distortion than the preamp triodes which are compressing more than normal w the boost. TC is a cut above most effects. I m ordering one today.
Spark mini or EP Booster by Xotic or katana mini by keeley? Can't decide... :(
+Raphael Vierlinger The Xotic pedal is the Echoplex preamp so it's sort of the opposite of this in terms of transparency
+James Russo well yeah of course it does colour the sound in an echoplex kind of way, hence the name "ep". I'm just looking for something too boost my signal without adding too much gain, so I wouldn't mind some colouration as long as it doesn't add too much gain.
I gotcha. Honestly the Keeley is a great pedal
+James Russo yeah robert keeley makes some great stuff, i recently got a keeley modded Boss BD-2 and it's absolutely amazing. Well I'll have to decide anyway, but the spark mini would be more budget-friendly aswell, which is a good thing for a student like me haha ;)
13:37 Wow - teleporting dog!
haha... didn't notice... but Leslie and I watched it five times after you wrote it!
Henning you make me laugh, you always seem to try and follow someone elses laid out formula for what key you should be in if this chord goes with that. Who gives a shit if they sound good, go with it. Have totally enjoyed what you have been doing with all your videos and wish you and your family, leslie cats, ferret dogs and all all the very best for a great new year.
thanks... very kind of you!
Can't tell the difference between this and the mojo apart from the colour!
The Mojo Mojo is more gainier almost a Fuzz.
D'addarioooo.... xD
Is it just me or do your tones always have the same "vibe" no matter what amp you play trough? Maybe it is because of the cab or the way you record, but they all sound very close and have that same spanky characteristic about them.... or maybe im just deaf haha
I know what you mean... but that is very likely my playing style and my fingers...
You have a nice channel and make nice videos but I can't stand this bullshit talk that "no one need pedals, it all can be done in studio or live by a sound engineer" etc. No, not really, maybe this could apply to very basic rock, blues bands that all they need is drive, some reverb and maybe compression but there are bands which sound is heavily dependent on guitar effects and they want to have control on it and be unique. Could you imagine Radiohead without guitar pedals and only with very basic effects done digitally by a sound engineer? or any shoegaze band, any post rock/metal band, psychedelic rock band, stoner rock/metal band, various indie bands that are known for using certain effects lik Mac Demarco... the list goes on.
This video could've been 25 min shorter. Nice pedal though.
noise!!!!
tune your guitar please..
40 min to review a simple boost pedal? I don't have that kind of time!
Darren Turner then don't watch it dude. I appreciate all the time and info he puts into his reviews.
Mike Anderson you're right...I lasted about 18mis...
2020 now. I'm thinking of buying this pedal and return to eytschpi42... It's not about if you notice the difference live, it's the moment YOU notice in your own world!! That tone, that break-up, that tear, that spark... i LIKE YOU;) Not like gay-ish but ike the Dutch quarter-German blood neighbour.:)
And i'm a drummer.