Who's got/played a Rivera?

[Seraphial]

Hey guys, am seriously considering picking up a Rivera 40w Chubster for play at home/jamming and wondered if anyone had played these or similar? All the reviews I've read rave about them, and they seem a great combo to get into Fender/Marshall territory. Will be picking one up later next week, bt always good to get other people's thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

The Chubster is a great little amp. The cab can sound a little boxy on the Marshall side but that's nothing that can't be fixed with an extension cab. Even so, I don't know of a grab & go tube amp that has the versatility of the Chubster.

Congrats!

 

[MetalWarrior]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

i played the Suprema 55 a couple years ago at a store a couple times, and was quite impressed.

 

[Jonny R]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

The one on TradeMe, Seraphial?

Looks like a nice little amp. A friend of mine has one of the bigger ones, and it does some pretty nice sounds Quite a different amp to that one, but the things that stand out are the build quality, and the sound overall.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I've never played a chubster but I did have a Knuckle Head... It was a good amp good tone did its on thing... I know its suppose to have fender and marshall sides... To me it did a decent apparoxamations of both but the amp was really at its best when you quit trying to dial in the fender jangly clean or the marshall crunch and let the amp be itself... Had great tone... My only complaint was the bottom end did seem to be kinda flubby no matter what cabinet... But overall i think Rivera makes great amps

 

[Seraphial]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

The one on TradeMe, Seraphial?

Looks like a nice little amp. A friend of mine has one of the bigger ones, and it does some pretty nice sounds Quite a different amp to that one, but the things that stand out are the build quality, and the sound overall.

Yeah Jonny - I tracked down the seller and he sent me a list of what he had. When I saw what he had for how much I went into GAS overload. Truly amazing amps for the price he's selling at (in NZ dollars).

 

[Jonny R]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Yeah, Simon's a good bloke. Really trustworthy guy. I haven't yet bought anything off him - maybe in the future. But everyone I know who has dealt with him has only good things to say.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Ben will be here in a minute

I haven't played that particular amp, but AFAIC Rivera makes an awesome amp. I was not terribly impressed with the low end pubster models, but all of the higher end stuff (r series, fandango, etc) are excellent products.

 

[Justice4all]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Yeah Jonny - I tracked down the seller and he sent me a list of what he had. When I saw what he had for how much I went into GAS overload. Truly amazing amps for the price he's selling at (in NZ dollars).

Hi there Seraphial, Im from NZ as well. I have dealt with Simon twice now, hes a GREAT guy and does some amazing prices on Rivera gear. I have bought 2 Rivera Knucklehead Reverbs and a Rivera 4x12 cab form him last november, best amps i have ever played! I havent played the chubster but im sure it will be a great litttle amp!

 

[bgood]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I just got a r series 55 112. It is great so far. I have to re-tube it for sure but even with 10 year old power tubes and a mixed bag of chinese and russion preamp tubes is sounds really nice. I have just dialed in a great tone for my Les Paul (literally 10 minutes ago). Channel 2 for bluesy breakup rhythm and over to channel one with the boost on for leads. Now to test it at a gig tomorrow night. I like it! Once I get my JJ's in it I think it will be love.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Ben will be here in a minute .

LOL ...
Yeah, it's a great little combo. Buy it!!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I had a KH55 running into a closed back with a v30 and g12h30 in it. Great tone.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Hi there Seraphial, Im from NZ as well. I have dealt with Simon twice now, hes a GREAT guy and does some amazing prices on Rivera gear. I have bought 2 Rivera Knucklehead Reverbs and a Rivera 4x12 cab form him last november, best amps i have ever played! I havent played the chubster but im sure it will be a great litttle amp!

Yeah, Simon seems pretty good on the service. My mate bought a Gmajor off him and says his service is up there.

Yeah, it's a great little combo. Buy it!!

Twilight - could you give me some idea about it? How are the cleans next to say a Fender? Is there a big difference in voicing between the Chubster and Clubster? Will be trying them out next week, but wanted to get other players feedback.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Twilight - could you give me some idea about it? How are the cleans next to say a Fender? Is there a big difference in voicing between the Chubster and Clubster? Will be trying them out next week, but wanted to get other players feedback.

I personally prefered the Chubster to the Clubster.

The Clubster really isn't my kind of amp: it has a more vintage style voicing, reverb, only 2 preamp tubes, if memory serves,uses either 6V6 or 6L6 6tubes, and only has a 10" driver. The gain was pretty good, and it gets really loud, but I'm not a blues guitarist, which is what I think that this amp is really good at doing, or if you want to run a vintage Strat and keep it really clean.

The Chubster is a great little beast: 5 preamp tubes, just like it's big brother, the Knucklehead, only 1x12, (which I wasn't digging, but only because I'm used to playing a Knucklehead full stack). However, I was able to get this amp loud and it did high gain stuff with relative ease. It also has boosts for both channels, just like the Knucklehead, which is essential for getting a really high gain sound.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I personally prefered the Chubster to the Clubster.

The Clubster really isn't my kind of amp: it has a more vintage style voicing, reverb, only 2 preamp tubes, if memory serves,uses either 6V6 or 6L6 6tubes, and only has a 10" driver. The gain was pretty good, and it gets really loud, but I'm not a blues guitarist, which is what I think that this amp is really good at doing, or if you want to run a vintage Strat and keep it really clean..

Exactly my issues. While I don't mind the vintage voicing per-se, my prob with the Clubster/Pubster was the 2 (only) pre-amp tubes. Makes for a very muddy sound when you crank the gain up. At crunch to just barely breaking up it sounded very nice, and I'm not usually a 6v6 fan either.

Note that the 25 watt clubster/pubsters use 6v6's and the 45 watt versions use El34s. There was not much difference in the "mud"....even vintage Marshalls have 3 pre-amp tubes. Not sure what Rivera was trying to do other than make for a more affordable amp.

My opinion is to spend a bit more and grab a Fandango or R series, KH, etc

 

[sweet_lou]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I have the Old M100 it is great. I have heard the chubster at the local shop all the employees are messing with it It is a really nice combo.

Check this out

http://www.rivera.com/board/?topic=topic1

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Had a rake head...sold it to my cousin...
Rivera is really not my thing

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Had a rake head...sold it to my cousin...
Rivera is really not my thing

That's because you have a plexi, you bastid!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

Ah I wish I had a Plexi

 

[Seraphial]

Re: Who's got/played a Rivera?

I personally prefered the Chubster to the Clubster.

The Clubster really isn't my kind of amp: it has a more vintage style voicing, reverb, only 2 preamp tubes, if memory serves,uses either 6V6 or 6L6 6tubes, and only has a 10" driver. The gain was pretty good, and it gets really loud, but I'm not a blues guitarist, which is what I think that this amp is really good at doing, or if you want to run a vintage Strat and keep it really clean.

The Chubster is a great little beast: 5 preamp tubes, just like it's big brother, the Knucklehead, only 1x12, (which I wasn't digging, but only because I'm used to playing a Knucklehead full stack). However, I was able to get this amp loud and it did high gain stuff with relative ease. It also has boosts for both channels, just like the Knucklehead, which is essential for getting a really high gain sound.

How would you say the cleans were on both amps? I'm really looking for a great clean sound (I can always boost with pedals later), and since I'm starting to concentrate a bit more on blues/classic rock ala Hendrix/SRV I'm not too sure I need too much gain. Will the lack of preamp tubes be really obvious down the road when I try to crank it up?