Rivera M60-112

I have no idea when this was made.

Since recieving the amp as a gift I have modified it a bit to suit my needs for country, blues, rock and jazz playing. For metal heads, the high gain side of the head will get you to about the level of either a super hotrodded Plexi or a JCM800 but it wont get you either a Rectifier or KRANK level distortion. Rivera makes other amps for that level of nuttieness.

This two channel foot switch, effects loop moster truely demands an owners manual because it would be near imposible to get the best out of it otherwise. Fortunately Rivera has pdf downloads available on their website. I highly recomend usining these settings as a starting point. I have had this amp for about four years now and I have yet to have used all of this amps recomended presets.

The only two things I wish this amp had was a little nice reverb unit (feeds back when turned up over half way) and a tremolo. In terms of power, shoot... I've got more than enough. I'm glad I can actually DROP the power rating but I have heard this thing cranked through both an extention 2 x 12 and a 4 x 12 cab, yup, it's plenty loud.

I know a lot of other amp makers tout the ability to drop the power ratings on their amps (Mesa and Carr come to mind) and, of course, there are things like the Hot Foot, and Power Break, but correct me if I am wrong but I think Rivera started to mine this area years before any one else.

When I first got this amp about four years ago I wasn't super keen on it's tone... It was a pretty harsh sounding beast (think of the bad years of Fender silverface amps and you will get a good idea what it sounded like). But brothers and sisters learn from my somewhat sorted tale and ye too shall trip into sonic bliss.

1)My first tip is the most costly but is only conditionally recomended. Ditch the stock speaker. A lot of these amps came with either an EV or Eminince speaker do yourself a favor and get rid of them. That is unless you like harsh, middy unfriendly tones. Some M60 112s came with a Celestian Green back in wich case keep it. I pulled out the stock EV or whatever it was and dropped in a Tone Tubby / A Brown Soun 12" alnico speaker. HUGE differnce. Makes your open back combo sound much more like a closed back in terms of bass and mids. People of said that the Tone Tubby is essentially a Green Back clone... eh, maybe but given the new Celesitan speakers are coming in from China and the Tone Tubby's are being done in California who would you rather give your money to?

2)Barring ditching your stock speaker I would highly recomend that if you buy a used version of this amp is to buy a factory matched set of 12AX7 tubes directly from Rivera and have a reliable map tech bias your amp to factory specs. When I got my tubes directly from Rivera I asked if I could get a wiring schematic in case the amp needed any more work and they did, free of charge!

I was quite happy with the results I got from pulling the stock speaker but I was even more please after having the correct tubes and bias being set.

With a little farting around with the factory tone recomendations, the presence and focus controls, Triode/Pentode Power Class switches the Slavemaster, Ninja Boost, the dual power input jacks, the M60 112 is a heady, studio ready, versitile amp. Pretty much everything else Rivera makes, with the exception of their acoustic amps and the ultra high gain Knucklehead, are based on the M series amps.

The M60 112 can best be described as an all tube modeling amp, and in a lot of ways it is has a more accurate tone reproduction of classic tube amps (some Vox, Marshall, Fender settings being options) than say a Line 6, or some Vox or Fender digital amps. It just takes a little more time to get there. This is, however, not the ultimate high gain death metal monster but with any of the ultra high gain stomp boxes out there (the Marshall Jackhammer comes to mind) you should be able to tilt the amp into that direction.

And, with a great deal of messing around I was able to squeeze a Dumble like tone out of the amp (thanks to the mid boost). I haven't, however, been able to replicate a good Mesa tone out of it.

I know this amp has had a rough life, I am the third owner of it. One of the two previous owners treated it like crap so all things considered it has been a real trouper.

Sure, I could have kept the stock speaker but other than replacing some tubes it is rock solid.

Another thought on tubes, EH tubes suck. They burn quickly and sound cheap.

Rivera's customer support is very good, considering they have only one person answering the phone. Yes, it took a couple of days for them to call me back even after speaking to a live person but given people who do internal sales can get over 100 orders a day that ain't bad. They just need more people on the phones.

I have delt with other companies, such as Voodoo Lab, and Tone Tubby / A Brown Soun that have an equally great level of customer service. Another effects company that I will not name was just awful to the point I will never buy any of their products ever again.

I have been plodding along like a caveman trying to squeeze music out of wire and wood for about four years now. I'm playing mainly country, jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll but in my heart of hearts I am still a metalhead.

I also own two smaller, more portable amps, a '74 silverface Princeton (also with a Tone Tubby) and an 8 watt Marshall practice amp. I have spent a great deal of time setting my Princeton up so I am able to reproduce my Rivera's tones through it but only in a smaller and lighter package. For my gain I'll use a Barber LTD and a Marshall GUV II.

If the Rivera was lost or stolen would I get a replacemnt? Maybe not a M60 112 but as any one who has tried one the new Clubster / Pubster series just freaking kill. A used M60 sure, but not a new one.

The only other am I've tried that I could most compare to the M60 112 is as F Series Mesa. Classic "American" clean tones on one side, crunch "Brit" tones on the other.

For some one who is looking for a high grade studio amp that has a lot of tone options... wow...

In some ways I'm just updating my updated review but right now Rivera no longer has their user forum on their website.

Its a mid 90's model,versatile? just imagine a tone monster,this amp does it all its just getting to know all the knobs and settings,2 channels,clean and overdrive,each with boost plus effects loop can also be used as a master.My amp so many features in the last 3 years I've used it I've yet to scratch the surface.I've played 40 years plus,all styles and this amp does it all..........

I've found by changing speakers and cabinet config. many sounds available from clean fender to marshall heaven.My tele and strats rip thru you and my gibson are BIG.Very quiet but it needs good power!

Effects send and return and broken shaft on reverb only problem ever seeing in its 4 years I've used it...easy fix........dependable?VERY

Bought it used made my own repairs

40 plus years,boogie mark 1 got stolen this replaced it,tooo heavy for my age time to sell,probable use my 55 bandmaster,1-15 weberor blues jr with weber,overall great amp.

Update 2.

Even though I had dowloaded an owners manual the M60-112 it has taken me years to even scratch the surface of what the amp can do. Heck, if you are a studio musician or do a lot of home recording and can only have one amp this is it. Add some off board effects for some tone coloration (a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive has practically has become welded to my signal chain) and blast off.

I was just reading one of the other reviewers was saying that he had some problems with the onboard reverb unit and I will say I did too but after I bought some factory biased and matched 12AX7 tubes directly from Rivera that problem went away.

I will also say that replacing whatever tubes you may have added throughout the years with a full set of Rivera matched and biased tubes will make nearly as big of difference as adding a new speaker, and a lot less expensive. Having the amp cleaned and biased too will help a lot. I got an amp diagram directly from Rivera when I ordered the tubes so any time my amp needs service I will have every thing reset to factory specs. I believe that most of the amp's noise and reverb problems will be taken care of this way and you may be able to get more gain out of your high gain chanel then you will humanly ever need.

Electro Harmonix tubes suck, do not even think about using them in your Rivera... awful. Your best bet for you amp' s health and well being is to use stock factory tubes.

Rivera seems to have one CSR rep. He's busy but helpful. Considering I am a third owner of this amp I couldn't ask for some on more helpful.

After 30 years of playing ang owning almost every breed of amp on the planet I must say ilove my m60 so much I bought 2. Any sound any time.
A true joy to play through. It has alot of knobs but once you get your sound....it's there. If I had a dime for every compliment I have gotten after a gig I wouldn't have to buy my beer.

I play a Les Paul and a Strat and a old Epiphone hollow body and they handel all of it with ease and grace.

2 month 42 city US tour with mean roadies and never even coughed. Even through the south at scorching temps.

They are very good and have a great sense of humor.

The last amps I will ever own.

This amp has more features than you can imagine!!
Mine is mid 90's model, bought from a friend who special ordered it!
It came with a 4x10 cab, a 1x12 cab, and a matching 1x12 extension cab!!
I will say this, I used it for 1 year in the 4x10, it was OK!
I tried the 1x12, it was crappy sounding, very "small"!
Added the 1x12 extension cab, WHAT A BEAST!!
Just like night and day!
I play with 12 other musicians on a regular basis(several other guitarists) and they can't believe what one more 12" Celestion does!

I play mainly Strats,blues(SRV), classic rock, oldies, country, southern rock, some hard rock(Sabbath) this amp easily covers all these styles!
On channel 1, drop out the mids and you could easily play as heavy as you want!!'
The "clean" channel 2 I mostly use, is a good "Skynyrd" tone, the factory preset for a Twin Reverb is so awesome it is scary!! I owned 2 twins, this sounds like them, only better!!
I can go on all day about this TONE MONSTER!!
I'll just say:If Stevie was still with us, I'll bet he would have a Rivera!!

Excellent, only changed tubes once in 8 years!
I run it at 15 watts.
However, it likes to have good, clean power, if voltage is low, it will act up severely!
Trust me, it sounds so good, you will pack a 50 foot #10 extension cord and GET good power!!
I have owned a marshall jcm800 that was even MORE picky about power!
Well, I have never carried a backup tube amp, but I do carry a Behringer V-amp, just in case!
It's never broken down, so it's a 10!! Just watch the power!

Call the number and speak directly to Paul Rivers, How good can it be?
Although, I left several messages this week and got no response!!
They are probably out of town, and usually good!!!

I've played for along time and carried a fender and a marshall to gigs, with this amp, my vibrolux and jcm-800 have been long gone!!
I played and still play different amps all the time, this amp is the Pinnacle of all amps in my opinion!
If you don't mind fooling around with 20 knobs for a year to "find" your sound(my biggest and only gripe) this thing is not easy to use!
Even with the manual there is a learning curve!
Mind you, it was decent as a 4x10, sucked, and still does as a 1x12, and rules as a 2x12!!
We (my bass player of 12 years is a sound tech w/a golden ear) messed with the settings for a total of 4 hours(over 3 days) to set this up!
There are push/pull knobs, notch filters, etc.. I hadn't a clue!!
The last time we experimented with it we hit it on the head!!
Pentode mode, low power, 15w.
I will give you my settings later! You can hear the TONE at
www.thefathenryband.com
Rome wasn't built in a day!

Early 90s valve combo, bought in 1993. Extremely versatile amp thanks to the power switching (P/T), and Hi/Low switch on front panel enabling 60, 30, 25 & 8 Watts of power. I play clean funky stuff through to very heavy and the amp never struggles to come out with the goods. I barely scratch the surface of all the features included, ie I don't use the ninja boost or the slavemaster in practice despite them being killer features. For rehearsals I use Pentode/low setting (15W) and live I use Triode/Hi (30W). I have used it on low Triode (8W)in the past and that gave me plenty of volume!

Pointless to list all the features as they have ben well covered previously

I mainly play a Floyd Rose Redmond guitar through this amp, and the vintage gold pick ups sing wonderfully through it both clean and distorted (despite my mediocre playing!). There is hardly any noise when idle (except when my mobile phone is too close).

This amp can produce any sound I need except for all out shred, for which I use an external unit over the clean channel (between my guitar and amp). I am still able to dial up some amazingly full on distortions and the tone shaping ability on both channels is truly amazing. This is only the second valve amp I've owned, and truly blows away all the others in terms of flexibility and sound quality (even my beloved 70s Marshall jmp master volume). Although able to get shimmering, glassy cleans on the 2nd channel I prefer noodling about with the smooth, spongy distortion on ch.1, for which I have the gain on around 6, both gain bass & treble pots out and middle pot in and the following settings treble 4, Bass 5 and middle 1. The note definition even at high gain settings never ceases to amaze me.

I have gigged many times with this amp without any backup. After all the jam sessions, gigs and practicing I've done in over 10 years of playing with it, it still has the original valves. And they are still very quiet!
It has never broken down on me.

Never needed it.

I would be gutted if it was stolen and as these are hard to find I'd replace it with another Rivera (I don't know how much it would cost to get another new M60 112 as a special reissue), probably a Knucklehead of Quiana as I imagine they are built to just as high a standard.

The only thing I would change is to add a bit more gain. Thats it.

First, I'm reviewing the 1x12 combo but also have the 2x10 extension cab. Incredibly versatile. The features are detailed a few reviews down and are worth reading because they give this amp so much versatility. Between the hi/lo inputs, hi/lo power switch, triode/pentode mode, very active EQ, two channels, Ninja boost, Slavemaster and effects loops, you can dial in almost anything. OD pedals are not needed in front of this amp (although I still run my pedalboard through it). I'm not a real fan of the Slavemaster (it can be used both as a boost or as an attenuator depending on its settings), but the Ninja boost, effects loop and two channels offer a lot of volume/OD combinations right at your feet with the footswitch. Regarding the EQ, hi/lo power and triode/pentode, you can dial in all sorts of tones from clean, to breaking up to near full metal. Suggest you download the owner's manual from the website as Rivera has provided about 40 suggested settings for different tones

I run a 79 strat (with DiMarzio Virtual Vintage pups) and a 95 335 (57 Classics) and like them both. I can dial in settings suitable for each -- Fendery for the single coils; Plexi-ish for the humbuckers. It's tough to get a good high volume clean, but that's not what I'm looking for anyway. I play classic rock, some blues and Texas shuffle, newer rock and other stuff in the "sweet spot" of OD -- neither crystal clean nor too fuzzy. And I like being able to dial in all sorts of sounds between the footswitches and the EQ. This is the most versatile amp I've played. Definitely NOT a one trick pony.

Seems reliable and built solidly. It was shipped to me and had been handled so roughly the 2x10s ripped out of the mounting bolts. But I plugged in and the amp cranked right up. I have some issues with the standby switch. If you put it on standby and change the power switch or change the triode/pentode mode, the standby doesn't completely kill the sound. It's not loud so there's no real problem but I like a standby to completely shut down the noise. Also, if you change these settings, the impact of the Slavemaster will change. Don't know if this is necessarily bad or good, maybe I just don't understand it.

never had the opportunity

I'm writing this review because this amp doesn't seem to be getting much love on ebay. Nobody is touching these things and I think it's a real travesty. This amp has fabulous tones and a great value for the money. Rivera's more expensive amps are getting snapped up but the M60s are just sitting there. I've been playing 30 years and haven't owned a tremendous amount of gear - currently three acoustics, two electrics, various pedals and three amps (two others are Marshalls which I haven't played much in the four months I've had this Rivera). I've been playing the last year with a bunch of guys and have had the chance to play dozens of amp/guitar combinations (high quality vintage and reissue stuff). This Rivera can produce a lot sounds that compare favorably. Just don't know why the ebayers are turning up their noses on this one.

I want to keep this review simple. This amp has tons of sounds, loads of switches that do useful things when I feel like experimenting. But I'm not really an experimenter with amps, I prefer to experiment with and develop my guitar playing, and that's the real opportunity this amp opens up. Having lots of features doesn't complicate things for me though because my style is basically to turn everything to 10.

I play a Strat with an EMG 81 lead and SD Alnico II Pro in middle and neck positions, and a Hamer Explorer with a Pearly Gates in the lead position. For a while I played a PRS McCarty and that was the best and most soulful sound I've ever achieved. With a Les Paul you sound like a MONSTER OF ROCK.

I've played this amp for about 7 years now, after buying it from my friend who used to distribute Rivera in the UK, this being his demo model. I feel that it simply has MY sound. I don't need to tweak the knobs much, I can just dig deep into my playing technique and the amp rewards me with a glorious sound.

I'm in an AC/DC phase at the moment, and can get a phenomenal rhythm sound, then move to an Angus Young lead sound just by playing harder. I assume it's the EL34's, it gives a real grown up sound for a combo. Not boxy like combos often sound.

I've experimented with a Celestion speaker but quickly ended up with the EV12L because it brings out more treble. Without it the sound is too dull for my ears.

I have taken this amp to a country and western gig and it didn't really look or sound the part, you'd be better of with a Fender for that sort of thing.

I have gigged with it. Years ago it went through a phase of blowing fuses, but then it stopped, and I think it might have been because I was using the wrong fuses. I've never replaced any valves. I thought it had broken for a couple of weeks, and then it turned out to be a loose wire on the pickup selector on my Les Paul. I feel like it's going to go on for a long time before it breaks, unlike the Marshalls and Fenders I've had in the past, which broke every once in a awhile in irritating ways.

Something to remember - it's a heavy amp to cart around. If I were buying it again I'd prefer a head and a 2x12" cab.

I only know from what my friend who sold the amp to me has said, but I know Rivera are a rock solid company.

I've been playing like I do now for 25 years. I would buy another Rivera without question. If I end up doing more country and western gigs I'd buy a second amp. I've had some of the happiest times of my life playing through this amp, it's very fulfilling.

Update of a previous entry, after owning this amp for nearly five years....
This amp is feature laden, but each of it's features are meaningful and useful once you understand this amp's vibe. Nevertheless, I've come to wish this amp had a tube rectifier, which I believe would make it a bit better. Rivera claims thatthe way they wind their output trannies helps to simulate tube rectifier sag, but there is nothing like true tube rectification. Still, plenty of great amps are built around solid state rectifiers (marshalls, bassmans, mark Is, plenty of others). So that is more a matter of feel and personal taste.

Otherwise, this amp has so many features, as deliniated in other entries, and all of them are sonically useful. This is a feature laden amp for those who sculpt tones, as countless classic tones are on tap in this amplifier. The features here are not simply for their own sake. This is more than just an amplifier.

After using this amp for a full five years, I've gotten to know it fairly well. I tend to think of channel one as a JCM 800. This really is a Marshall amp (channel 1 that is), and classic Marshall tones are here. You can dial in the master volume plexi sounds with the gain switches of, and with the gain swiches on your dialing in JCM 800 levels of distortion. Yet it's quite flexible...I've learned how this amp responds, and any album I turn on, I feel as if I can get that tone. This channel is a rhythm player's dream. The idea that you can't thrash with it...anyone hitting hard with a marshall has all the gain nessisary on tap here, because this amp maintains a heavy definition at high gain levels instead of the fuzzed out over-compressed tone some metalheads call heavy, which is just fuzzy mud on a band context. With the gain switches off, Channel one has a volume (distortion) that from 1-10 seems alot like the volume of a non-master volume marhslal, only with a master volume level. That means with no gain switches on, the gain set from eight to ten is gritty but still heavy overdrive land, not really distortion. Back up the volume (distortion) knob, pull a gain switch or two, and the amp responds quite differently, going into JCM 800 land and beyond. This channel, like a maarshall, definitely has sweet spots. The volume knob is at it's best between 4.5 and 8, 8 being saturated, 4.5 being dirty and defined. Bass is best when it's below five, and at times, like a cranked Marhsall, is best, thickest, and most defined when around 2.5 or 3. The treble rarely should go below 5 or beyond 7 (there is a lot of play in this region). The mid range is very powerful-- from three to six. And by the way. You need to be working the power amp to hear this thing in it's glory. You need not dial it to ten, but your not hearing the warm push of the tubes and the true sound of the amp if your not past three, four, five... On this amp, much like a marshall, bass warmth comes with volume, not with bass EQ.

One sound this does not duplicate is the endless-sustain lead sound. I'm more of a rootsy or Eric Johnson, thick-and-bluesy sort of lead player than an 80's shred it up with liquid sustain kind of player. When I want more sustain I've always used an overdrive pedal into the amp. In fact I've found some of the best varieties of sound have come with channel one set up like an edgy plexi along with a fulldrive (tuibe screamer type of overdrive pedal) plugged in. I set the channel for a dirty rythms and chording, just breaking up, and then some added grit and compression from the fulldrive makes it lead territory, the extra boost level then puts it in all out drive, with the option of my guitar knob to back it off for a smoother sound at any point if need be. This is near tonal bliss, each tone sounding quite professional, thick, clear, articulate, and usable.

Channel two is clean-minded. It too can get nasty, and when set properly (with deluxe reverb or plexi style tone settings in mind) with a higher gain level dialed in, it can also do well to act as an overdriving clean amp. But I tend to set it for a bluesy fender clean sound, at the point before break up sets in, and use the overdrive pedal when additional grit is desired. Spanky blues sounds as well as edgy twang and pristine cleans are all here to be dialed in.

I use all of the above kind of sounds at some point, depending on what I need at the time, and no matter what I dial in I never feel as if like I'm getting a half-baked tone. This amp is by some considered a swiss army knife, said to imitate much but shine at nothing. I see this as based on classic amps yet with customizable gain options. It's based on classic that transend most genres - the classic marshall and the classic fender. If you learn how to set the above amps and understand how to get classic tones, this amp will hold them for you to play, quite easily I might add. If you plug in to most amps th

This amp has never so much as hiccoughed. Same tubes as I began with - in fact it might even benefit from a biasing or a retube, but my ears tell me that all is still quite well. I've never lugged it around the coutnry, but I've brought it here and there, back and forth to various locations many times, and It's always so solid. I've never treated it as if it were fragile, and the only word I've done on it is dusting it and cleaning the covering from time to time. Very, very solid.

I've e-mailed and phoned Rivera with questions, and ususally they respond promptly, when my inquiries waranted it. I think they would be there and ready to help were I to need further assistance, but I've never truly needed it, so no rating.

I would certainly buy this amp again in a heartbeat. In fact, were I able to afford two or three amps, I don't think I'd ever, ever consider getting rid of it. I think I would rather have this amp than a JTM 45 or JCM 800 because of the richness the Rivera has. I'm certain that a classic deluxe reverb offers a little sweeter clean than the Rivera, but I could never live with only a deluxe, particularly as I doubt I could achieve the lead sounds I like with it.

I've owned thee other amps before this and demoed and ed countless other amplifiers along the way of my eleven years of playing. This is the amp by which all other amps I play are judged by. It's that amazing.

Updating review...

Much improved.... I read some one elses review in this stream concerning the M60112 and I had completely forgotten that this amp had a multiple power rating on the back.

I live in a small apartment in a large city so I can only crank up the amp so loud (sound familiar?) but when I dropped the power rating on the back of the amp it got rid or the annoying mid range hump I had mentioned in my previous review.

I had also gotten more of a chance to explore the slave/master function of the amp. The slave/master is a pretty interesting feature because not only can that be used in conjunction with the either the gain or the clean channels of the amp as a post gain boost (with or without the using it's own stand alone reverb setting) but it can also be used as a third independent channel for the head. Finally you can use the slave / master feature even with the ninja boost to produce even more gain or volume depending how you set it up.
I have set the slave / master up to serve as a stand alone channel and it absoluely pegs the sound of a totally cranked 50 watt Marshall head, exactly the tone I was looking for. If you want to send your guitar into sonic overload stomp on the ninja boost and you'll see god.
There is still one minor quib about the amp, especially while playing with a high gain setting is that when you turn on the reverb you will loose almost all of the bass end of the tonal spectrum. For that reason alone the amp gets a 9 instead of a 10. Yes, even with the slave / master and ninja boost running.
Now I'm on a quest for a good stomp box to boost it up with the reverb running. I'd love to find an original Boss HM2 (from the eighties) or a Marshall Guvnor.

I can't say enough good things in terms of the reliabilty of the amp. I know it's been dropped, stuffed in a trunk of a car for months on end, served to power both a 2 x 12 and a 4 x 12 cabinet and with the exception of replacing two of the power tubes it's been a real champ. I've heard that tube amps were fussy and high maitinece but obviously they've never gotten a chance to play a Rivera.

N/A

I'm glad I could make use of other people's suggestions from this site and take what I've learned and really apply it to a "real world" situation.

Now... quest for stomp box.