Rivera?

[BrentSSL]

My old band mate is trying to sell me a older amp I have never seen before its a Rivera Knuckle Head? I've seen and tried the Tre and the Tre reverb but thought the sound was kind of static sounding when I have played them in GC. However this thing sounds different then those in a good way just beefier or something can't place it. I only got a little taste of the sound he is selling for 600 thoughts?

 

[Dave L]

Is it the two-channel without reverb or the three-channel with?

 

[Racerxrated]

My only experience with Rivera is with a TBR 1SL I had, 90lb rack beast. Great amp, Marshally with a great clean and hand wired. Quality stuff, needed a boost though for tightening.

 

[BrentSSL]

Is it the two-channel without reverb or the three-channel with?

2 channel without Reverb

 

[BrentSSL]

The tubes hang like a Mark series also

 

[Dave L]

That´s a very nice amp, I´ve had one in my rig for right about ten years. Best clean channel in any channelswitcher and a very nice JCM800-ish lead channel, great loop and very powerful EQ controls. 600 seems about right, these are total sleepers.

 

[BrentSSL]

How's it do for a metallica sound drowning pool and Godsmack?

 

[SFW]

The Knucklehead is Rivera's take on a hot rodded JCM800. They are built like a tank and loud as hell. You may need to boost it for heavier stuff, but it is a beast of a rock amp. I ran a K-55 head for years during the 90s. It is one of the best Marshall/Fender in one box amps.

 

[BrentSSL]

How would you compare it to your beloved 5150 iii because those amps kick ass too

 

[Deanmachine]

Kickin Ass and ass crapping all over Vh4,wizard,friedman..

 

[dead-pan]

The guy I sold my 5150III to had a Knucklehead 55 for years and just wasn't feeling it. He loves the 5150iii.

 

[Dave L]

The original Knuckleheads are not high gain amps by todays standard, and are not comparable to a Recto, 5150 and so on. That´s what the three-channel Reverbs are for. A slightly modded JCM800 is the best comparison for these, and as such they are metal monsters when boosted but heavy rock amps on their own.

 

[SFW]

How would you compare it to your beloved 5150 iii because those amps kick ass too

I'd say that the lead channel on the Knucklehead is in the ball park of the Blue channel on the 5153 in terms of gain on tap. The Rivera has more of a Marshall flavor though. I think the voicing is similar to the Jubilee.

And for the record, I'd put the build quality of the Knucklehead at the very top of the list. Rivera amps tend to be overbuilt.

 

[Loudness250]

I had one, it was good and loud, I sold it to a friend. He still has it and loves it. He ran his pod xt through it for years. He has since upgraded his rig but he says the Rivera isn't going anywhere! It did have a Marshall type of gain channel , he gigged with it quite a bit and he seems really loyal to the amp. I seem to remember it not having a bias adjuster and when I changed tubes I had to change the resistor even though I was swapping el34's for el34's, but if you know what your doing that's not that difficult.

 

[SFW]

It has an internal bias trim pot. At least my 94 model did.

 

[Loudness250]

Actually, I think it did have a bias adjuster but the sweep wasn't wide enough so I put a different resistor to allow for biasing the tubes I was putting in.

 

[Loudness250]

It's like I couldn't get it above 25mv with the tubes I was putting in and that would have been running at 50% at idle which is weak. So I did some research and got the schematic and figured it out. But it's a good amp sometimes you just have to do some tweaking.

 

[BrentSSL]

I am seeing online that this amp can be used for metal man I gotta try one any more insight would be so helpful

 

[Loudness250]

I would say you should try it out in person or at least listen to clips if any are available, bring your pedals to try it out so you know for sure if you like the amp.

 

[BrentSSL]

Well I'd hate to pull another return at GC but that could be coming lol