Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Has anyone played one of these amps? I can go try them, but the shop is closed until Tuesday. What do you think of these amps? I am starting to think I want one of these more than a Marshall but I'm not sure yet. Can they get good plexi tones to play Zep/Cream/Hendrix and all other sorts of classic rock and blues?

Anyone know of where I can find clips besides their site?

Chris

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Depends on what Marshall you are looking at....any Plexi or RI Plexi will blow away any Rivera.
They are nice, but they are also somewhat lacking a personality and sounds too polished, well to my ears, and I used to have a Rake-head, worked in the shop here that used to import Riveras to Scandinavia, so I have tried quite a few of them.
The R-55 combo is all midrange, not alot of top or low end, it says alot but lacks the body to me.
They do not have the bite and body of a big mean Marshall.
And that is the sound of classic rock.

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Yeah I'm looking at getting a plexi RI. I guess I need to try them out, but there's an auction on ebay for a Marshall I don't want to pass up if I'm getting one.

[echofinger]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

I love Rivera.

To me, their amps are too vague unless you know what you WANT to sound like. The E.Q. seems to do more to the sound than E.Q.s on many other amps, particularly when compared to Marshall. SO... they almost offer too many options tone wise... just my opinion.

And TURN 'EM UP when you take 'em for a test drive, Riveras don't even think about making sweet tone till AT LEAST half volume...

I made the identical choice you are asking about a few years back, (same brand names anyway), I choose Rivera and I will never go back.

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Hmm...one for and one against. I'm so confused. I wish I could try one before the cheap Marshall auction ends on ebay tomorrow.

Any other opinions?

[flank]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

i tried to play one.......but it had too many buttons and lights......lol......... i think youll like that marshall dude....

[Scott_F]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

I had a Rivera KH55, non reverb model and it's the only amp I wish I hadn't sold. It could do vintage Marshall on one channel and BOTH tweed and blackface fender on the other.

I sold it for a lack of reverb and the fact that I got suddenly prejudiced about amps with circuit boards. Well circuit boards are okay if they are done right. See Bogner and Rivera and Reverend and Fuchs. Nothing like the pieces of excrement that Fender and Crate and Peavey put out with their tube sockets soldered directly to the freaking boards. At least the Blues Jr isn't like that, right?

But if you use a good quality board and leave a bit of room between tracings, it works.

I thought that KH55 was the most versatile amp I've ever owned. Stupid choice to sell it.

[Curly]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

I've heard that the Rivera is the one amp that can do both Fender clean and Marshall crunch

here's some additional info

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Is the Marshall sound "like" a Marshall or "is" a Marshall if you get what I mean?

The thing I don't like about the Marshall is the fact it's not as versatile. I play alot of styles, and it's always good if I get good tone for all those styles. But my main focus is on 60's/early 70's rock and blues.

[bvc310]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

i completely agree. the knucklehead is a great amp and most likely my next upgrade. it smashes in fender cleans and marshall crunch imnto one package and does a damn good job. They are some of the most versitile amps i have ever played. BE SURE TO PUSH IT WHEN YOU TRY IT. Them tube amps just dont sound right unless you do. Whichever amp you choose, im sure youll love them. Both are great amps, but my vote definatly goes Rivera.
Later,
Brian

[Justice4all]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Well i have just ordered a Rivera KHR 100 head and matching 4 x 12 cab, i am absolutley stunned buy the sound of this head.
It will take about 4 weeks to get here, ooo the time goes so SLOW!!
I sold my Marshall 4 one, and wont look back, As everyone says, both fender
cleans, and marshall crunch...... and even more CRUNCH!

I cant wait!

[Jonny R]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Is the Marshall sound "like" a Marshall or "is" a Marshall if you get what I mean?

The thing I don't like about the Marshall is the fact it's not as versatile. I play alot of styles, and it's always good if I get good tone for all those styles. But my main focus is on 60's/early 70's rock and blues.

Personally I think the best way to think about Rivera amps is that they do a great 'Rivera' tone.

Sure, it does good tones like other amps, but in the end, it's a quality amp that makes great 'Rivera' sounds.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

Well I still do not think that the Marshall sound had much to do with the old Plexi sound, it just do not push the same way, not much does that except for Hiwatts and a few other big heads.
The old Marshall can be pretty versatile, depends on how you use it, the foundation for a great sound is there.
The KH I could never get anything I liked out of, and I am far from knobscared....eventually tried it with a EMG equipped guitar, there it worked, but it was not a sound I liked very much, on the other hand I liked the 4x12 cab alot
Dunno, try them and see what you like, it is after all you who is going to play either of them, see what fits you the best.

[echofinger]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

I agree with the posts above...

The whole concept of Rivera from the get-go was versatility. Some more talked about and well-known companies put out great amps, but they only get that "Marshall sound", and maybe a nice clean sound if you dig into them.

So really, it's up to the player I guess, Marshall does one thing extremely well, and if that's what you want, buy one.

And don't forget, Rivera was founded by the 2nd in command at Mesa-Boogie, (I forget his name at the moment) when he defected to start his own company... So in my mind, all you are missing out on is the Boogie name.

For the record, I never sold the JCM 800 the Rivera replaced, I am still using that amp too!

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Rivera Knucklehead 55 and R5512 amps

I have a K100 Knucklehead 1/2 stack ... it is the loudest, most versatile amp out there (at 100W). I've never tried playing it at 50W w/half of the tubes in it.

You can hear clips of my Rivera in action at www.twilight-odyssey.com. When recording, I use a Wayne Rock Legend into a Fulltone Full-Drive 2 into the Knucklehead, turned WAAAY loud!!

On the clips online, I used 3 mic's (a Sure '57 and two Oktavas), but on the new stuff I'm recording, I used a single BLUE mic for a more direct, focused sound.

As for the Rivera "sound", I agree with the theory that they sound like Rivera, lol; I don't think the gain channel sounds anything like my JCM800, but it has enough gain to satisfy this NWOBHM and midrange freak. The clean channel is very Fender-like (suprise, suprise, given Paul Rivera's breeding), but I think it has greater resolution to the late 60's Deluxe Reverb I have in my studio ...