Rivera Chubster 55

My review is what I think and would like to read about Chubster before buying it. Maybe it can help you to make a decision.

My Chubster comes from 2006. I'm sure you know all the features:
- open back combo
- 5 x 12AX7 preamp and 2 x EL34 power-amp tubes
- Celestion G12* series speaker
- two channels: channel 1 for all that Marshall-territory sounds and channel 1 for Fender-like cleans
- both channels has booster giving 4 sounds
- active EQ independent for both channels + master presence control
- channel 2 (clean) has bright and notch switches giving more clarity for humbucker guitars
- a tube buffered serial effect loop with send and return level controls
- internal 8 Ohm speakers and a jack output for an external one
- FS7 footswitch input

Pros:
- EQ is very sensitive, small knob moves are very audible; specially treble and mid control can change a channel character
- thanks to FS-7 inut the amp can be controlled by any external footswitch or relay-based system like TC G-Major or Behringer FCB1010
- EL34 for power amp are really nice for clean (!) and gets closer to Marshall-like drive
- effect loop can work with rack gears as well stomp boxes thanks to send and return level controls

Cons:
- factory tubes (my came with JJ EL34 and 5x Sovtek 12AX7WA) are too harsh for bright (especially single coil) guitars when using drive channel; what's more Sovtek 12AX7WA cause microphonic problems
- factory speaker is a mid-range choice, for the amp price it should be a better one
- the big minus: LOOPE SEND IS AFTER THE REVERB (!!!) it means that your external noise gate will cut reverb decay, that you have an external delay fx on the reverb, that your chorus stomp box produces ugly noises on reverb decay; if you need use the loop the only way is buying a reverb stomp box or changing your setup to a rack gear with a complete fx path as I did. That's why I lower the score for features
- volume difference for clean vs clean+ninja boost is too high so using ninja for solos is almost impossible; next minus for the score
- volume difference for drive vs drive+boost is not enough for using it for solos - you get more gain and a little more volume, but for solos you need much more

Both boost problems can be solved by using an external rack fx and setting proper patch level.

I had some problems with its loop (described in Features section) but finally I decided to buy TC G-Major (for the fourth time :D I had three of them already). Also I tested many tubes for the preamp (12AX7: RFT ECC81, Engl - marked, Mesa STR - marked, EH, factory Sovtek 12AX7WA) and the power-amp (EL34: factory JJ, EH, Tesla NOS from 70s). After checking many combinations and recording them finally my ears selected 12AX7 EH and Tesla EL34 NOS.
My setup is very simple: Fender American Stratocaster with 3x SC (stock), Ernie Ball 10-42 strings, Fulltone OCD as a booster, Chubster, TC G-Major in the loop, all controlled by Behringer FCB1010 with UnO chip. TC G-Major switches channels in Chubster, Behringer relay controls fx a box with a loop for OCD (recalled with G-Major presets). I plan a small change ??? Clapton mid booster instead OCD. For a small gigs I take only Chubster, FS7 (foot controller) and BOSS DD-5 (delay).

First of all: Chubster is very difficult to play. What I mean is you need to spend some time with its EQ controls to know how it changes the sound especially live, at higher volume levels. Also you need to play very accurate especially on drive channel ??? you???ll hear every note very clearly. There are amps when you plug your guitar at the shop and your happy with sound ??? easy playing, sweet cleans etc. Nice till the first gig when you play louder with the band??? My first days with Chubster caused mixed emotions when I played at my room. I wasn't sure its clean channel is what I wanted to get, what's more the drive channel at room level sounded harsh and ugly and no as liquid as some stomp boxes with HRD. I almost wanted to sell it and stay with Fender HRD. I gave it a chance and played a gig. Wow! I was so surprised its clean channel and crunchy drive. Round and punchy. So for the next gig I took both amps and switched a couple times from HRD to Chubster. After that gig I was sure Chubster was my choice. The only choice. Fend HRD is sold out :D
Clean channel. It???s called American channel. It???s very similar to Fender???s but it???s not as contoured (hyped eq) as them and with more flat mid frequencies. I think it???s mainly because of EL34 and a special preamp construction. After buying Chubster the first thought was to change tubes from EL34 to 6L6GC to get closer to Fender territory. But now I???m sure it???s not a good idea and I???m happy I didn???t do that. Chubster with EL34 (especially with my Tesla EL34 NOS) has punchy, warm and powerful clean sound. My channel setting are: volume (gain) at 4, bass at 5, mid ad 4, treble at 6, master at 7-8. My Strat neck pickup sounds sweet and 2&4 quack positions are great for rhythm playing. I didn???t believe that amp could have better clean than my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe... After playing many amps during last twenty years I have to say like others do: the best clean channel at any volume level. Period.
Drive channel. You really need some time to discover its power and complexity. Also I???m sure that it prefers humbuckers for solos or at least high-output single coils. My settings are almost the same as for clean channel: volume (gain) and 5, bass at 5, mid at 4, treble at 5, and master somewhere between 2 and 3. It???s a very loud channel. Non-boosted is a perfect sound for that bluesy rhythm works you???ve been searching for ;) Believe me: it can be sweet clean when playing with your fingers and AC/DC crunched when hard playing with the plectrum. Everything without touching volume level in your guitar. Very, very sensitive channel. When boost is activated it???s perfect for rock riffs. You don???t need any stomp boxes, you can do it with your amp internal booster. Is it Marshall-like? Yes. It???s Marshall-like, not a Marshall. It means that you get more universal amp that Marshall, laying in its sound territory, but with sound heaven ahead than any mid-priced Marshall and similar combos. I didn???t like that channel at the beginning. It wanted me to play very accurate :) and sounded too harsh with single coils. Re-tubing is a matter of one???s taste but after changing factory tubes to that NOS Tesla EL34 plus Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 I???ve got what I???ve been looking for. I???m far away from myths how retubing can change Fender to Marshall ;) It???s still Marshall-like channel but earlier I wasn???t able to get the sound with preamp eq. And now there is no harsh trebles, no boomy lows, just a velvet drive channel. Perfect for rhythm and blues solos. Perfect for me of course. For high-gain lead solos I need a booster because of single coils low output. I???m still using OCD but I???m gonna buy Clapton mid booster to have just a cable from my guitar to the amp. The drive channel is a rock channel, not a metal one so if you play heavy sounds take a look for more modern sounding Fandango or get Boogie DR:) Chubster mixes nice with a rock band leaving and if you play 80s &

It???s not a cheap amp and looks solid, I think you can trust it. Take care of it and as of any tube amp and have a spare tubes for gigs.

Rivera support doesn???t respond emails. I can understand they prefer phone calls but they have users from the whole world not US only. Many people prefer writing than speaking and phone calls outside US can be quite expensive. And btw. we have XXI century and email contact is a basic form of support. You can ask at Rivera forum but you can get an answer from other users??? It???s not OK to pay so much for the amp and not to get a proper support???

I think it doesn???t matter for the sound ;) but most of reviewers write about it: I play the guitar for more than 20 years, I had many amps like Mesa DR, TriAxis + Carvin Tube 100, Mesa Studio, MarkIV, Engl Screamer, custom made amps, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and many others; my guitars were simple Yamaha RGXes, Ibanez RGs, also expensive guitars Music Man Axis Super Sport, Gibson Les Paul, custom shop Telecaster, a couple of mid-priced Fender Stratocasters and finally I???m back with my first beloved guitar ??? American Fender Stratocaster with stock three single coils (plus Graphtech piezo saddles). I play pop-rock-blues music, mostly covers and my own compositions.

I think Chubster is my choice for next years and thanks to its versatility it covers all my needs. I give it 9 because of its high price (as a value for the money).

very versatile amp previous reviewer clearly has no idea what he is talking about

its great can get the classic english and american tones the notch feature is great this is a totally pro piece of gear

very tough indeed

very good

always played rivera amps after buying a fender princeton

Follow up from previous review ( below )
After 3 years of usage........
I was too enthusiastic and ignorant....

The Amp has been great( reliable ), but the distortion channel is not great (Ch1)..
I have used the amp for a few years now, and the Gain Channel has proven to be a cliche'...Every amp I've tried has the same draw-back...
-Read on-
I took it to an amp tech....
Bottom line, once past 3 on the volume ( Ch 1/gain ch ) you end up with square-wave distortion (the bad kind, a'la solid state or digital)
This means Flubby Solid state sounding Distortion ( like most Amps. )
I have tried, literally every amp under $2000.00$
They all make this flubby inarticulate sound..BLLLRRRBLE FZZZ FZZZ
BLLRRBLE FIZZ..
This includes Mesa,Framus,Fender, Marshall... Play a Dm or Cm Bar-
Chord in full gain mode and see what I mean.....
They all make flubby crappy high gain sounds (especially on minor chords)
I seek redemption for the overly glowing , previous review :)
The amp should not be considered for anything beyond a clean
Georgious sound... And it's clean is georgious! High gain is Buzz/fuzzz/ Blirp/ bad... Sorry Rivera....
It gets a 5 due to not having the "Marshall" drive as well as it rates a 5 for a $1700.00 Amp with this flaw.. I expected a lot more!!!!
They should just call Ch 1 Buzzzzzz Channel...
If they get Channel one to do a warm gain tone throughout the sweep of the volume and master knobs then they may have something on Channel one...

This amp cannot be killed.....Reliable, reliable, reliable..
It has been abused upon abused... No issues at all.

Stupendous.. Great guys with a yearnig to listen and help. Thanks.

They should try to re-think the gain channel though....

Played for 9 years( not long), Owned Mesa, Fender, Marshal, Peavey,Framus,Epiphone,Egnater,etc...

If Ch 1 ( The Gain Channel ) Could produce useable distortion, I'd be happy. Even a moderate amount of gain.. It wont....
It's sound is as Buzzy as a buzz saw...
I now use a ReesaFratzitz Pedal to attain Crushing gain. Good pedal !
I use the gain channel for a modified clean boost, as the boost for Ch 2(clean Ch) has too many db's of a boost for a realistic increase. Unless you want to deafen the band and audience.
The reverb should also have a pedal button for bypass ( as mentioned before).. Also, as the Reverb is increased on the Gain Channel so is the BZZZZZ factor.. Increased reverb seems to add buzzy gain & fizzzzzz on Ch.1 .. Sad for a $1700 Amp.... Really..

This Amp should be sold as a No-Gain acheiving, Perfect Clean Machine...
The Cleans are perfect... I am sure of it's clean sounds.. They're great...It gets a 5 because it's half of what it should be.
An incredible Clean channel with a Sorry excuse for a Gain Channel...
Keep working at it ......

To those who own it, and want to get Crushing gain, try the Emma ReezaFRATzitz Distortion box...Nuke droping, Articulate High gain distortion.. I like!
It kept me from selling this Amp....

Chubster 55, 2006 model.
very versatile, perfect effects loop, does all styles of music with aplomb.
A good improvement would be a foot-switch to turn on/off the reverb, so a rating of 9 applies.
2 channels, each with a boost... any clean, any crunch except death metal, goth, grind or other incredibly heavy doom genres...
I gig with a pop/rock/blues/ dance band...

Speaker Sound quality was incredible in the store, but live, the celestion g12
Farted out on the Low E string riffs, so I replaced it with an Eminence Texas Heat
( "without effecting the Warranty" !! Paul Rivera). Problem solved with a minor change in tone. ie: less harmonic overtones with added clean headroom, TIGHTER BASS and an angrier grind to the distortion. I placed the celestion in a Lopo Line 1x12 sealed enclosure which tightened it up dramatically, and the two cabs combined are blissfull... I can gig small to large clubs with the best tone I have ever attained for my taste. When I couple the cabs, yes I'm moving more air, but the efficiency/ output of the amp is utterly un-affected. This little amp could probably push a couple more speakers without losing anything, but gaining.

I play a US Strat with Kinmann Alnico Mk 2's with the k-9 option.

This setup is super quiet, and like one reviewer said
" It's The Swiss Army Knife of Amps". I agree. I can play Motown, blues, metal, rock, funk, Jazz.. ANYTHING.. You may not get exactly what your looking for, but the versatility is impressive. I even use it for Harmonica(with outboard EQ) and Acoustic Guitar. Now thats versatility! It just won't make a bad sound.

I have practiced and gigged with it for months with no problem.
Backup-Schmack-up....

X-tra Tubes, certainly...

The longer it's on and playing, the better it sounds... As the gig progresses this thing just gets sweeter with just enough power to get the tubes to sing without deafening myself or the crowd.

I have called Rivera Amplification several times with same day or next day phone assistance from Rich or Paul Rivera.
I asked about Speakers, & Tubes in several calls back and fourth, over and over again to decide how to remedy the low E string farts... The guys were friendly, enthusiastic, helpfull, informative, & respectful. There customer service is second to none!
These guys CARE..

I have been playing 9 years.
I use all DanElectro Effects and the sound of the Effects loop is nothing short of Pristine...
I love everything about it 99.99% The only improvement would be speaker options and a reverb switch. If you dont hit the Low e string on a regular basis, you'll be all set with the G12 70/80. if You DO hit the Low E like it bitch slapped you, research Webber and Eminence Speakers.. Great products and phone assistance with actual Human beings, not tele-prompts and not some Cyber conversation with Dr. Decibel ( celestion ). I hate that phantom shit although replies were within a day or two, but brief.

The lack of a reverb switch is a small price to pay for an amp that has so much. Tone, projection, depth, character, incredible features,
and an overall quality few are providing for less than $2500

On the Speaker Mod. Every Amp will beahave differently in different acoustic environments,Increased volume and increased attack..

Sometimes modifications are needed, and as long as you do your homework you can realy end up with quality results.. The Celestion offers incredible overtones with a spongy quality..
I needed more headroom as the volume increased.. Eminence Texas Heat replaced it with all desired effects and no drawbacks.. Together, as affore mentioned the sound is ammazing... Brick by brick, dollar by dollar, I built my wall of sound... Good luck. Hope this helps..

I don't remember what year it was made in but, I do know that it had been in the store for about 6 months before I bought it a year and a half ago. This us one of the most versatile amps I have ever seen. It covers tones ranging from vintage to modern in both clean and dirty. Heavy metal to country to jazz and blues. There so many possible tones! There are two cannels (clean/dirty) and they both have boosts. Effects loop is standard and you can set the send and return levels to customize your sound! No headphone jack. The only feature that I wish it has is a foot switch for the reverb. There is a cool "presence" knob that can take your sound from a "background" like sound to right up front and abnoxious. I don't usually mess with it much though. I have used this amp in a variety of different venues. Big rooms, small rooms. It definately has enough power to play venues between 300-400 people. The 55 watts of all tube power make this amp sound a lot bigger than it is.

I use a '79 les paul custom, a strat with a hotrails bridge pickup and a PRS custom 22. They all sound fantastic throught this amp! My style of playing is moderate to hard rock so, I use the distortion channel most of the time. However, I do use the clean a lot and they both suit my style very well. The amp is really quite quiet. There is usually no hissing or popping, even when it is turned up. This amp can make loads of different sounds. On the distortion chennel, I have the gain at 10 and I can further manipulate the level of gain by tweaking the EQ. It's really cool! The great thing is, that you can turn the amp up on the clean channel and it doesn't have to distort. If you want it to, it can. Just adjust the gain level. The distortion is not extremely high gain like a marshall or a mesa, it is a little less brutal, but to say that it does the job is an understatement.

This amp has been great for me. I pack it around from place to place, and it never gives me a problem. I did have to replace the power tubes in it about 10 months after I bought it, but tubes are usually only warranted for 3 months so, I consider it wear and tare. I don't have a backup amp and have never needed one. The Chubster has always been reliable.

I have never actually talked to the company over the phone. I have sent them emails, but they have never gotten back to me. I think they have shut the email department down though.

I have been playing for five years, and I own a variety of pedals and guitars. If this amp were stolen or lost, I wouldn't replace it simply because I am wanting to upgrade to the Rivera Quiana. It has 2 12" speakers and 100 watts. I love the amp's versatility. I have never heard a better sounding amp that can encompass the range of tones that the Chubster does. I can't say that I hate anything about this amp. It's my favourite! I have compared this amp to peavy, marshall, mesa, fender, you name it. The rivera amps beat them all in versatility, tone, maneuverability and features. If you are thinking about getting a new amp with lots of balls that won't let you get bored this is the one for you!

This amp fits me perfectly. I play classic rock mostly. I've bought a lot of amps over the four or five years that ive been playing and never found the right sound. Now i'm selling all my amps accept my Rivera. It has the perfect clean channel and the perfect overdrive channel for my taste. It sound is the most concentrated sound ive heard out of an amp. Its 55 watts is an understatement. It can really crank loud even with just the one speaker. Plug it into a four twelve and it is really unbeleiveable.

I use a les paul guitar. and a strat and it works well with both.
I've never heard an amp sound this good.

IN the two years ive had this amp it has never given me a problem.

ive never had to deal with them on service because nothing has gone wrong yet.

Ive played and owned peavey, fender, marshall, crate, and never been 100% happy. There has always been something about every amp that I did not like. This amp is perfect for my taste. It is exactly what ive been looking for. If you have been searching for an amp that has a great clean channel and a great distortion channel this is it. I would recommend trying out a rivera before you buy anything elese. I wish that I would have. It would have saved me a lot of time and money. THese things are expensive but remember, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

Great amp. Celestion speaker. 2002 model. 55 watts of pure tubes sound. Very versatile from heavy-rock to jazz to country. The amp got 2 channels with an extra boost (NINJA).

I play through this amp with Gibson ES-335 and G&L Comanche and have all the sound I want. The amp is a little noisy, and the reverb colors the sound a little (that's the only complaint I have about this amp). At high volume, the amp create a nice od sound on the clean channel.

It seems to be solid! They don't include an amp cover... it's so bad ...you have to pay an extra to get the cover... bad for an amp of this price ;(

3 years warranty...

I would replace this amp immediately if it were stolen. Great clean and OD sound... fantastic

The chubster-55 is a fairly new amp ,ihave heard that it is one of there older models just revamped with a more heavy duty speaker an a active effects loop.Very vesatile amp i play country to old rock standards and it dose it all.Two channels(clean and dirty) just a GREAT amp I use this amp for gigging and recording , I went for the 55 version not the 40 watts cause i need the headroom fot clean sounds at high vol.

I play it with a G&L strat and a tele. IT suits my playing perfect,The reverb is just a little noisy,the clean sound is very fender like and the dirty channel rocks great,When you really crank the clean channel it breaks up a little just like a good tube amp should and the dirty channel really rocks at high and low vol.

I have had this amp for about 1 year and i go to gigs with no backup amp,it really a rugged amp so far.

I called the company once a had a good conversation with Paul Rivera himself seems like a nice guy,it has a 1 year warranty,the amps are kinda hard to find here ,(Canada) Maybe cause of our dollar
being so low. making this amp very expensive!

have been playing for about 34 years and my other amp is a fender princton,if my chuster was stolen i couldnt afford another one but its the amp of my choice.I love the sound of the amp,but, at first it took me a while to tweek it the way i wanted it to sound(thats part of the fun tho!!!)I tried many amps befor i found this one and it sounder better than all the amps i tried, i looked for about 5 years.Its the kinda of amp you grow into not out of the longer i have it the more i like it.One thing that happens alot is when we(the band)gig the sound man will come up to me an tell e that is one of the best sounding amps he's ever heard,that happens quite a bit So if your looking for a GREAT amp have have a big wallet you should most def. try one.They have a few models to chose from also.