Finally got a chance to compare the Fender FR-12 to the new Spark cab 10".
We compared with classic Gibsons and a Stingray bass.
I chose to try the 10" Spark because it has better specs in the bass response zone and is $200 cheaper. It held its own against the Fender FR12.
I know it’s not a totally fair comparison because of the speaker-size difference and the cabs are quite different, but surprisingly they sat in pretty similar areas.
We all felt the Fender sounded ‘wider’- it covered more across the spectrum and would probably have the edge in a solo performing/practicing situation. Though it claims 1000 watts, and the Spark is rated at 140w, those are obviously types of ratings, RMS versus peak. I couldn’t find any reliable info on what the Fender wattage is, realistically. The Fender got a little bit louder, but not by much.
My studio-mates felt the Spark handled double-duty just fine; bass was very present and punchy, and guitar was tight and focused. I’ll probably be keeping the Spark for at-home playing and multi-instrumental use w/ the QC on stage. I’ve tested it at home with acoustic guitar, piezo-p’ups, bass, acoustic bass, and several types of electric guitars so far it and handles them all quite well.
No extraneous noise, and get loud enough to keep up with a rock combo.
The main thing the Spark lacks in comparison with the Fender FR is Eq. The Fender is very amp-like and has a 3-band EQ which could be really helpful for dialing it in as your monitor without having to change your FOH tone. It also has the tilt-back legs. The Spark looks nice with the new Pearl tolex, but is designed less like a guitar cab and more like a studio monitor, with a control panel on the back and a power switch like a speaker, not an amp toggle. Both models can run an output to send your signal straight on to the FOH, saving you an output on the QC (possibly)
All of these models are extremely light-weight but offer great bang-for-buck. I wouldn’t use it as the only amplification for a gig, but for a typical stage setup with PA re-inforcement, these are great options for the modern stage setup.