On tour, simple and reliable gear matters. Three Days Grace / Five Finger Death Punch guitar tech, Jeramy "Hoogie" Donais, works behind the scenes to keep the band’s massive rock tone locked in every night.

One of the tools he now keeps in his daily setup is Spark 2, a compact amp that’s become part of his backstage workflow for fast tone checks and quick idea building. We asked him how Spark 2 fits into life on the road.

1. Three Days Grace has a huge, riff-driven sound—how have you incorporated the Spark 2 into your workflow? Is it part of your backstage setup, writing rig, or something the guys use to sketch ideas on the fly?

Whether it’s Three Days Grace or the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as a guitar tech, I use the Spark 2 all the time in my day-to-day. It’s super handy for checking guitars, making sure everything’s working the way it should, and dialing in tones without needing to fire up the full stage rig. It’s quick, reliable, and gives me exactly what I need to run through setups or troubleshoot on the fly. It’s become one of those tools I keep close because it just makes the workflow smoother.

2. With Spark 2’s new Smart Tone technology and expanded tone library, have you dialed in any presets that capture the band’s signature sound? Any fan-favorite song tones you’ve recreated inside Spark?

I use Spark 2 constantly backstage to run guitars and check setups. I’ve been gravitating toward the 6508 for heavier tones—it fits the band’s sound perfectly. It’s not about exact song presets yet, but having a reliable, quick way to dial in tones keeps the workflow smooth and efficient.

3. What surprised you most about the Spark 2 when you first started using it? Did it replace any previous gear or streamline any part of your process?

What surprised me most was how fast and versatile Spark 2 is. The only thing it replaced was the original Spark, but its streamlined setup checks and tone dialing make having one reliable tool to run guitars and sketch tones way easier.

4. When the band’s working on new material or demos, how often are tools like Spark 2 part of that writing process vs full rigs or DAWs? Has it changed how quickly ideas come together?

I love having Spark 2 available backstage—it lets the band experiment and sketch out ideas for new material. It’s just a great all-around tool, and I honestly can’t rave enough about how much it helps keep the workflow smooth and creative. Whether you’re checking or backstage, just having fun.

5. If a young guitarist wanted to capture the tone of songs like “Riot” or “Pain” using Spark 2, what tips would you give them? Any key amp models, drive settings, or effects you’d recommend?

For tones like “Riot” or “Pain,” I’d go with the Insane 6508, Clone Drive at noon, and a light noise gate on the front end. It gives a solid, versatile rhythm tone that works for these songs—or really any heavy track.

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