richard parker
Active member
What's the opinion of Riveras ? Don't see them much in the UK.
Rivera amps
- Thread starter richard parker
- Start date
Uk Ant
New member
Re: Rivera amps
I've only tried the quiano studio, which had some absolutely fantastic clean sounds, but the sovtek valves that was loaded with sounded a bit fizzyy for my tastes once overdriven.
They are built like tanks mind and have a good range of tones. It also weighed a ton.
If you have the funds (cos they're really not cheap) and you can find one you should check them out.
I've only tried the quiano studio, which had some absolutely fantastic clean sounds, but the sovtek valves that was loaded with sounded a bit fizzyy for my tastes once overdriven.
They are built like tanks mind and have a good range of tones. It also weighed a ton.
If you have the funds (cos they're really not cheap) and you can find one you should check them out.
kjrocks
New member
Re: Rivera amps
Love mine! They seem to be hit or miss with a lot people though. Some love one channel or the other but not both. I've played a few and liked them all and I think there are a great live or gigging amp. Not many will disagree that they are really well built and very few issues.
Love mine! They seem to be hit or miss with a lot people though. Some love one channel or the other but not both. I've played a few and liked them all and I think there are a great live or gigging amp. Not many will disagree that they are really well built and very few issues.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: Rivera amps
I have played a few Riveras. My overall impression of them is rather good but I don't really desire to own one. I played a 40w Chubster combo which I thought had really nice mild overdrive tones but the cleans and heavy overdrive were ok. It was my same experience with the Knucklehead and Pubster 45, though the Knucklehead had a really great sound for thrash rhythm.
I have played a few Riveras. My overall impression of them is rather good but I don't really desire to own one. I played a 40w Chubster combo which I thought had really nice mild overdrive tones but the cleans and heavy overdrive were ok. It was my same experience with the Knucklehead and Pubster 45, though the Knucklehead had a really great sound for thrash rhythm.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Rivera amps
I've only heard one in person. I wish I knew which model it was; it was a half-stack with a metal-plated head. It was unbelievable, actually. I wish I could try it now that I've had a lot more experience playing different things. I'd pay three grand for that sound, or whatever it costs. If my idiot hands could wring it out of the thing.
I've only heard one in person. I wish I knew which model it was; it was a half-stack with a metal-plated head. It was unbelievable, actually. I wish I could try it now that I've had a lot more experience playing different things. I'd pay three grand for that sound, or whatever it costs. If my idiot hands could wring it out of the thing.
Sprinter
New member
Re: Rivera amps
I had a Venus 3. It sounded great when it worked. The amp would eat a set of power tubes after an hour of playing. One tube would go dim and the other one looked like it was on fire inside. Rivera, wasn't helpful in resolving my problem. They placed the blame on the quality of modern tubes.
oed:
Sprinter
I had a Venus 3. It sounded great when it worked. The amp would eat a set of power tubes after an hour of playing. One tube would go dim and the other one looked like it was on fire inside. Rivera, wasn't helpful in resolving my problem. They placed the blame on the quality of modern tubes.
oed:Sprinter
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Rivera amps
Wow. Did they recommend or offer to sell you a set of tubes that would work well in their amp? Or did they not even care that much?
There are a lot of companies that make terrific high-performance products, but they stay small because they are just a pain to work with. They're always cutting off dealers and starting up new ones, because the dealers and their customer bases basically get it out of their systems after so many years.
I had a Venus 3. It sounded great when it worked. The amp would eat a set of power tubes after an hour of playing. One tube would go dim and the other one looked like it was on fire inside. Rivera, wasn't helpful in resolving my problem. They placed the blame on the quality of modern tubes.
Sprinter
Wow. Did they recommend or offer to sell you a set of tubes that would work well in their amp? Or did they not even care that much?
There are a lot of companies that make terrific high-performance products, but they stay small because they are just a pain to work with. They're always cutting off dealers and starting up new ones, because the dealers and their customer bases basically get it out of their systems after so many years.
J Moose
New member
Re: Rivera amps
My own Rake has slowly eaten away at least a half dozen other heads to be the last one standing!
Riveras are killer amps. Like anything they take a little effort to get the best out of 'em but they're great out of the box and are built to withstand a nuclear assault. One of my friends gigged an M60 head for at least 10 years... dragged it all over the country and there were only or two failures. Its still going... sold it to a guy on this forum actually...
Kinda expensive new, they were always great deals on the used market here in the States. On par with a new fender hotrod... get a head for $500-800 from the classifieds.
The voicing is marshall/fender channel, usually each with a boost. One buddy made the observation years ago that a Rivera is that combo through the ear of a Fender guy while Bogner is the marshall/fender thing voiced by a Marshall lover.
My own Rake has slowly eaten away at least a half dozen other heads to be the last one standing!
Riveras are killer amps. Like anything they take a little effort to get the best out of 'em but they're great out of the box and are built to withstand a nuclear assault. One of my friends gigged an M60 head for at least 10 years... dragged it all over the country and there were only or two failures. Its still going... sold it to a guy on this forum actually...
Kinda expensive new, they were always great deals on the used market here in the States. On par with a new fender hotrod... get a head for $500-800 from the classifieds.
The voicing is marshall/fender channel, usually each with a boost. One buddy made the observation years ago that a Rivera is that combo through the ear of a Fender guy while Bogner is the marshall/fender thing voiced by a Marshall lover.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Rivera amps
Interesting thought. And based on my experience (I own a Shiva, and gigged a Quiana once), I think he's totally right. The Quiana had some great cleans, but I just couldn't bond with the OD at all, because I always seek Marshall-ish OD when I'm dialing-in MY personal tone preference. The tolex on the Quiana was also VERY fragile. So easy to nick. But it was a good amp, as well as the other Riveras I've played through.
I will admit, that after all these years I'm still fascinated by the Jake Studio model (even though I've never tried one) and would like to have one -- at least to try for a while. I've read good things about that amp.
Interesting thought. And based on my experience (I own a Shiva, and gigged a Quiana once), I think he's totally right. The Quiana had some great cleans, but I just couldn't bond with the OD at all, because I always seek Marshall-ish OD when I'm dialing-in MY personal tone preference. The tolex on the Quiana was also VERY fragile. So easy to nick. But it was a good amp, as well as the other Riveras I've played through.
I will admit, that after all these years I'm still fascinated by the Jake Studio model (even though I've never tried one) and would like to have one -- at least to try for a while. I've read good things about that amp.
Sprinter
New member
Re: Rivera amps
The only info Rivera gave me was to buy a matched set of tubes. After burning through three more sets of power tubes and a set of preamp tubes I gave up. I replaced the amp with a Peavey, Delta Blues and couldn't be happier!
Sprinter
The only info Rivera gave me was to buy a matched set of tubes. After burning through three more sets of power tubes and a set of preamp tubes I gave up. I replaced the amp with a Peavey, Delta Blues and couldn't be happier!
Sprinter
