Rivera Quiana 212

I like this amp when it is cranked into distortion, but not at lower volumes. it seesm to sound "honky" and I havent been able to get a glassy fender tone yet."close , but no cigar". my girlfriend says she cant stand to listen to it as it irritates her, but loves the sound of my 68 super reverb fender and I have to agree..I thin I will try different speakers and 12 ax 7 tubes..

blues and rock...I do like the complexity of tone when distorted as it stays focused.. how ever it get "farty" with the bass control on ovee a 3 setting, which sounds awful.it is too hard and honky with the mid control turned on to any degree

power tubes went out in 2 months...they replaced them,...as they should . the amp is very well built

Im not sure what needs to be done to smooth out the "rat noise" it seems to get screechy when over driven in channel 2..I might try NOS tubes...

The features have been described very well bellow.What else do you really need from an amp?

This is one of the SMOOTHEST all around amps I have ever played.I also own a 68 sf twin a 65 bf super and a 70's plexi Marshall plus 2 Peavey Classic 50 212's.All of them sound great but this RIVERA is the only amp I have ever heard with so much versatility AND personality.It is also the smoothest sounding amp I have ever played a tele through,finally I can turn the treble on the bridge pup without killing all the cats in the block!The reverb sounds fantastic (better than my 68 twin!) and both channels can cover pretty much everything.What I really like in this amp is that although it is a modern amp it sounds very warm and vintage (no Boogie "plastic sound" here thank you!).

This is the best built amp I have ever seen.Period

I e-mailed Paul Rivera from Greece where I live.He responded within 2 hours!!!enough said

This is the last amp I will ever buy.It is loud,sounds great,looks even better and is REALLY versatile.The price may be a bit steep but it is the first time that I TOTALLY justify it.I think this amp will become a future classic.Once again I'll say that is full of PERSONALITY.

Two channel, Fifty-five watt 2X12 combo. Ch. 1 is a "British" voiced channel, and Ch. 2 "American" (read Marshall/Fender). Each channel has it's own 3-band EQ. and a footswitchable boost. Other tone shaping features include a pull/ mid-notch control on ch. 2, pentode/triode switch (for cutting the wattage and and emphasizing the even harmonics), speaker damping control (Focus), presence control and a pull/bright switch. High and low gain inputs, a very usable effects loop and a sweet sounding Hammond reverb unit round out the list of features. All housed in a rock-solid deep cabinet covered in Burgundy tolex. Speakers are Celestion Vintage 30s.

Unless you are looking for the ultimate Death-Metal tone, or the latest amp modeling wonder, this amp should suit all your tone needs. I would also NOT recommend this amp if you are looking for something to play in your bedroom (TOO LOUD). But if you play music somewhere on the jazz, country, rock and blues spectrum, this amp should have you covered for most any gig. Virtually every sound from this amp is warm and detailed and very rich sounding. Each channel has a unique take on it's respective role model. This is a very responsive amp, allowing you a great range of picking dynamics. It does seem to favor single coil pups, but I have been able to get great results with humbuckers also. Although it is not a super high-gain amp, there is plenty of gain on tap for most purposes. The Tone/Dollar ratio is one of the best of any amp in it's price range (and better than many more expensive amps).

About as rugged a tube amp as you can buy. Of course the real test is the test of time... No problems here yet (knock wood).

Have not had to have the amp serviced, but have called with various questions. Very helpful and friendly service.

I have been playing for over 25 years and this amp is one of the finest pieces of equipment I have owned. It is quite heavy, but that is the nature of the 2X12 combo beast. A number of amps promise the best of both clean and crunchy. This one goes from twang to singing sustain with authority and class. Welcome additions would be a tremolo unit and an adjustment for the boost function. At anything less than stage volumes, the boost can be a bit extreme, but it adds a wonderful character and range of harmonics to the sound, so a way to tame it would be nice. This amp has made a Rivera fanatic out of me. As close to an overall 10 as I've gotten.

This amp is one of the most versatile I have ever played. You can get a fender clean to a totally nasty distortion. And the Ninja Boost on the clean channel is awesome.

I am playing a fender strat plus & a PRS McCarty. This amp delivers with both ends of the spectrum. I love being able to clip the mids and add highs on the clean channel this lets you realy control the tone.

I have owned a couple of Rivera's. Never had a problem. This amp is built like a tank.

I have never had to deal with them.

This amp is very versatile. You can gig with it and hit every song without adding overdrive boxes. I use a delay and that is it. This is the best Rivera I have ever owned. It is a keeper!!

I've been looking for a good amp for about 1 year and I've tried everything (Bogner, Top Hat, Mesa, Narshall, Fender, Budda, Demeter Randall, Johnson, Line 6, Yamaha and on and on). I carried my Gibson Historic Les Paul with me every where and I asked all of my industry friends if I could play for a while through there amps and most agreed. The problem is each amp did one or two things well, but if you plan on truly discovering the range and styles of the guitar then you need an amp that can take you there without effects. I finally decided on the Rivera based on a recommendation from a friend who had 2. When I finally received it I loved its look and solid (heavy) feel. But I didn't like the setup of the knobs on top. I use a few pedals and I like amps like Johnson, Yamaha and Line 6 amps that let you completely reconfigure the whole sound in an instant that way I don't have to do the jig to get all my pedals and channels right. I'm 24 and I play with a few different groups doing all originals (including Metal, Alt, Funk, Blues, and Jazz sometimes) and this amp has enought power to do all but not the right sound, see below.

This amp was pretty steep, I paid $1,200 and found that its a one trick pony. If only someone can put together the ease of a Hybrid amp like Johnson or Yamaha DG series into a worthy all tube amp. Johnson comes close with its 2 tubes in the preamp section but I would easily pay $4,000 for an amp with switchable tubes (6L6, EL34, 12ax7, rectifier) in one amp with digital ease. The Quiana is good but it does just one or two things well. When I received it I pulled out all my guitars, vintage strats, Les Pauls, PRS, Gibson hollow bodies, and even my Taylor acoustic, to see if it really kicked me in the a#^. But it didn't. In order for me to get the sound I want across all my gigs I have to reset everything by hand, and have a hundred pedals, and set those by hand too. For the amount I paid, its ok but if you have to sell any of your favorite guitars to get this, DON'T DO IT. I'm sure someone will come up with something soon, they can't deny the marriage of the two technologies.

This thing is solid, except for the tubes. I had to check them every so often. The cabinet is really well done.

I had heard Rivera was great with customers, and when my tubes went out he sent me a few the next day, pretty sweet, I guess that where the money went (sarcasm).

I've been playing since my dad bought me my first guitar at 6 years old. I have a few things I really like and I've noticed that everyone is looking for pretty much the same thing but wrapped differently. Great tone and feel. Advertising really pushes people into making bad decisions. I already have 2 amps (Fender, and Bogner) But I want one amp that does everything!!!!! I don't want to carry two amps!!!! somebody do something!!!!!

Made in January, 2000. I can't improve on the detailed postings before mine, so I will simply say that for my style, blues/rock with jazz/improv leanings, this amp is fantastic, now that I have modified it to suit my particular tastes. Stock, as is, if I am rating the whole package, I have to give it an 8.

My mods:
Replaced the Celestion Vintage 30's with Weber C12CH's.

Added gain boost controls through the shop--the boost jump as set in the shop was just too much unless you are playing gonzo, balls to the wall hard rock.

Complete retube to NOS. Sovtek 12AX7's are just too harsh for my ears.

With these key tonal mods in place, the great features of this amp really shine--the vintage/modern watt switch, mid notch in channel 2, and the presence/focus/warm controls.

I completely agree with the other posters that this is a wonderfully versatile and authoritative amp. My amp tech looked at the chassis when I retubed it and he complimented it on the superb construction and components. It is a PCB board, not PTP, with a solid state rectifier, and so far, all I miss is the sag feel of a tube rectifier.

First, I want to say that I found the Vintage 30's to be very ineffective for my style of music. I need speakers that are very 3-dimensional, complex and able to handle the full tonal spectrum with just the right amount of breakup at higher volumes--I need a very musical, alive warm tone that can go from soft, breathy jazz to crotch-rocking gutsy punch and wail, and exceptional lead finesse at high volume and intensity, with all the overdrive I can find.

The V30's could get a good amount of that sound, but specific frequency/volume zones just broke up too easily, especially with Barden pickups, which are 'hotter', and a staple of my sound. I found the V30's more 2-dimensional, held back, and overall quite frustrating until pushed hard, and then half my guitars didn't really work. I was spending way too much time adjusting the EQ.

I have a 65 Deluxe Reverb RI with a Weber C12N in it right next to the Quiana at home, and I finally admitted to myself that I have always preferred the tone of that amp/speaker over the stock Quiana. At $1795, I wanted the Quiana to be the Holy Grail out the door. But it just wasn't; there are happy endings though, and the new Weber C12CH, 80-watt Weber-design speakers (based on the C12N), are EXACTLY what I was wanting. They are designed to create the "Chicago" blues sound--I tipped the tonal scale back to America/Fender and damn, is it good.

Now, this amp is so alive that I can use very guitar I have and dial in all the sounds I have been dreaming of. I want to list what I play, because it demonstrates just how versatile and good this amp is now:

-2 '94 Strats--one with Bardens, the other with Van Zandts

-3 Teles--a '94 with Bardens, a new Deluxe Nashville with Harmonic Designs, and a stock '76 with unforgiving, strident pups

-a '63 ES 330 with Gibson '57 Classics

Every guitar has a very unique EQ identity, and the Quiana can now handle all of them with great character and depth. I am very impressed. I can go from very clean Jerry Donohue/Richard Thompson finesse to full-bore Jimmy Thackery/SRV/Luther Allison very confidently. The string definition is exceptional. The amp is very quiet, very responsive to playing technique. The Quiana really is an instrument now. The gain boost mod also has made the boost a musical choice, rather than the heavy-handed punch it was before, and I use it a lot now with great results.

The distortion with the new Webers is that gut twisting, exquisite 'just to the edge' rich tone, with out losing definition. At 80 watts each, and with Ted Weber's genius creating very sensitive, efficient speakers, these beauties and the Quiana just sing, from raunch to angelic.

Finally, I use channel 2 almost exclusively. I'd like to fatten up channel 1 just a tad, though at lead-wail volumes, it is truly gorgeous.

Apart from 4 shop-installed tubes that failed, rock solid.

The shop, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. have all been great.

I have been playing 32 years, having owned or borrowed various Fenders, Boogies, Ampegs, Carvins, Gallien-Kruegers, Marshalls, Crates, Matchless, Pignose, Line 6, Victorias and Vox. I haven't hit the K&M/Top Hat/Dr. Z/Egnator/Budda circuit yet. So far, I'll take the Quiana as modified.

I currently own the Q212, a BF'd 73 Super Reverb with original Jensen AlNiCo's, and a 65 Deluxe Reverb RI. The Q is the most versatile, by far. Great, great depth available to me as a player. I bought it off the Guitar Player review, and just gut instinct, and have had an early phase of speaker discontent. Problem solved now, and I've got one great amp.

First of all let me state that I am a guitar player that also owns a store. I am a RIVERA AUTHORIZED DEALER. I am also a G&L AUTHORIZED DEALER.My store specialises used gear and these are the only brands we carry new. I am a guitar player that owns a store not a store owner that plays guitar,and I make these comments as a guitar player. RIVERA is unaware that I am sending this. I have the choice of product I can own and I did not receive any extra discount on the amp I have over regular dealer cost. If you would like to submit me as anonymous or delete my e-mail address I have no problem with that. If you find my review biased, please feel free to discard it, but it is not meant as unfair.The price I quote in the section is what we sell it for and is not meant as a solicitation of purchasers. Brand new year 2000 Quiana 2x12 in ruby red tolex. I play a wide variety of styles including Iron Maiden/Judas Priest style metal, Sheryl Crow style pop rock and classic rock. I play a 76 Les Paul deluxe with Seymour Duncan hot mini-humbuckers, 98 G&L Legacy Special with stock single coil size mini pickups, a 64 Rickenbacker 360, a U.S. flametop Hamer slabbody, and an original 76 Gibson Firebird. This amp is so awesome I rarely adjust the controls for the different guitars, just plug them in. I also often use it with the RIVERA 1x12 300 watt subwoofer.This review is done as the amp only, no sub. It is extremely versatile and while I have read reviews that say it doesn't have enough gain for metal I can't agree even when not using the sub. It's versatility comes from the two different channels and I might add the e.q. sections have bass/mid/treb for Marshall channel (channel 1) and treb/mid/ bass for channel two(U.S. style). This is where the real flexibility shows through. Channel two also has a manually activated BRIGHT switch a la fender and a MID that switches from blackface voice to tweed voice for ultra sexy blues/country dialing.Each channel also has a footswitchable gain to boost output and slight e.q. compensation allowing for a wide range of tones at your feets easy access. Try engaging the channel one extra stage with a humbucker rear pickup, and turn your volume down low. It cleans up in an amazing way,roll your volume back up and you have power chord heaven or brutal wicked lead tone. Even at punishing gain levels there is an incredble complex definition in the notes that will blow you away.The fx loop has separate control for send/return and running my older MXR phase 100 through it will swirl you away like a tsunami wave.High/low input is useful for keeping clean tone immediately at your reach just by switching inputs. As most of the other reviews have noted the 6 spring Hammong long pan reverb is one of the most lush and cathedral sounding available. No headphone jack but if you spent your hardearned $$$ for, this buy a small amp for your living room with that feature if you need it. I don't miss it. I use the amp in small clubs and at rehearsal and yes it is heavy. Although it has side handles that are roadworthy and comfortable to list, top handles like a Vox would function better. I would also encourage installing pop-out casters to facilitate moving this amp, although for this calibre of amp they should be already on when you get it. Part of what makes it heavier is the fact that it is 12" deep, but this is an integral component in its heavenly tone,so eliminating weight is probably not an option.There is also a 1 x 12" version available.The pentode/triode switch at the back is great,I had that feature on my RIVERA RAKE head which I sold to buy this amp.It allows that desirable power tube grunt (in triode mode) when you have volume restrictions or crave a darker,creamier tone. Used in conjuction with the focus (speaker dampening) which has a push/pull feature to alter the e.q.,you can access a huge palette of output function control.I received my amp without a manual, and with a lesser amp this would not be

I should have scanned the questionaire a bit more before I started because I answered a lot of these questions earlier, but onward!!!!I have played a lot of instruments and amplifiers and why this suits my style is that it has a large range of tones that are easily dialed up but still retains its own audio logo. The best way I can describe is that it is totally responsive to picking variations and you can go from warm clean to smooth crunch just by increasing volume and/or picking attack.Because I use a large range of instruments and musical styles it's perfect because I set up the tone style ie: clean/dirty clean/chunkgrunt/meltdown then just switch instruments, usually only adjusting focus/focus push/pull.Any volume differences are adjusted by an MXR MICROAMP used in the FX loop.In regards to noise, when the gain/highgain channel is engaged and you aren't playing there is a noticeable amount of floor noise but it of course is gone when you play. When you aren't playing you would switch to the clean channel and it is silent. Even though the amp is loaded with SVETLANA 6L6 tubes the gain is even more than my Rake head which had even more than the Knucklehead 55, both loaded with EL34 power tubes. The clean sound is a fender style and by using the push/pull mid you get a wide scope of usable clean sounds that are CLEAN. You have further control over this by choosing the low gain input. Add the footswitchable NINJA feature and you increase the gain but if you keep the input gain low you maximize the sparkle and setting your volume lower than full allows you to splank the country plank. If you prefer your clean sounds slightly dirtier use either humbuckers, the high gain input or dial the input gain on the channel up higher. As I've stated earlier, I can't imagine needing more gain than using the high gain input with a humbucker,extra boost function engaged on channel one, but I'm sure someone somewhere does!!! For most players the gain is more than ample, and it has excellent articulation even then.

I have never had a reliability problem with any RIVERA product I've owned but a couple of acquaintances have had noisy power tubes upon receipt of amps.However they received a replacement quite promptly after speaking to PAUL RIVERA SR. on the phone.Quite frankly,I would NEVER play without a backup no matter who's amp I used because I am anal beyond belief but aside from my younger days when I actually did something as stupid as putting a beer ON TOP of my HIWATT head resulting in a substantial repair bill I have never needed to use a
backup. I always have spare fuses and tubes on hand, (doesn't everybody???) because of the unstable current in older or poorly wired venues,and if you can afford this amp you probably won't neglect it. However they are built very solidly and even if you did play the bad dog it would probably take a whilr for it to show in the amps performance.

I find speaking to any boutique builder whether LANE POOR, SHELDON DINGWALL, or the Repair Staff at MESA-BOOGIE, results in quality knowledgable information. RIVERA is no exception and although I find MIKE is friendlier than PAUL RIVERA,SR. the results are quick and service-oriented.Repair service centers for RIVERA (because of its smaller company size) are not as easy to find. Warranty is one year, tubes and speakers 90 days and with a product of this price I feel the warranty on the amp should be 5 years and longer than they currently are on tubes and speakers.

I have been playing about 20 years, and own the guitars listed in the first section plus a G&L ASAT JR. LIMITED EDITION, a 92 GIBSON FIREBIRD w/Bigsby trem, a 67 Gibson J-45 with EMG ACS soundhole pickup, an 82 LARRIVEE L-09 acoutic dreadnought, a ZOOM 9030 FX processor for home recording use, a WARMOTH strat with EMG tele front and rear,S in the middle and various older pedals that I collect, especially MXR. On my SKB pedalboard I plug into an MXR DYNACOMP to a DUNLOP WAH into the QUIANA. I run a MXR PHASE 100, MICROAMP and a DUNLOP ROTOVIBE in the FX LOOP.Yes I would replace it if it was missing.I am truly awed by the stunning pure tone and responsiveness of the amp,the huge lush reverb, and it looks so incedible too. I don't like the weight, but don't want to give up the tone. I think that pop-out casters should be mounted and included in the price of this or any amp that exceeds fifty pounds,especially at the price. And no manual is definitely bogus.I compared it to MESA-BOOGIE, FENDER, MARSHALL,TRACE ELLIOT and even a used MATCHLESS, but feature for dollar nothing was as great sounding with the flexibility as the RIVERA.Quite frankly, as a player who has tried many,many different products over the years I would have to say that this is the ultimate amp, even amongst other RIVERA products. Not cheap, and if you want lighter buy the new 1x12 version but 2x12 rocks and you will enjoy this amp for the rest of your playing career, no matter what style or venue you are in.I also do not like the input connector for the footswitch as it is a multi d.i.n. and if you needed it replaced,especially in a hurry it could be difficult. I would prefer the three 1/4 input style which is more industry standard. The footswitch itself is basically bulletproof with excellent switches but you can sometimes push the light down. Although it is simply a matter of going inside and pushing them out again,the problem could be soved in a more efficent manne , in line with the rest of the quality of the amp.

The Quiana is basically a vintage Fender amp on steroids. It doesn't
have a zillion controls for every possible occasion. But what it
does have does the trick. I'm a classic rock/blues player and for
this style its a perfect fit. There are two basic channels each
with its own boost capability (but no way to control the level
of boost); one a Fender-ish sound and the other a
Marshall-ish sound (as close as one can get with 6L6's).
The effects loop is a serial loop, so you cannot
set the wet/dry from the Quiana; however on the flip side, you
can put a patch cord in the FX loop and get a little more
zip/gain from the amp. There's also a Modern/Vintage (Pentode/Triode)
switch that cuts the 50 watts in half and gets a little more
sweetness... nice touch.

Warning... its a heavy combo amp, about 75 pounds.

So my rating is on versatility. If I were to rate the quality of
the features, I'd give it a 10.

The Quiana is not a modern, gain-ful amp. Its more of a vintage vibe.
But there's quite a bit of gain for classic rock and modern blues.

I have played my PRS McCarty and Les Paul (with Duncan 59's) and my
brother's late 70's Strat through the Quiana. The McCarty sounds
great through both channels, especially for blues. But for my
tastes, I added a Full-Drive to get a little more sustain.
My Les Paul is much louder through the Quiana and the Duncan's
give it a more aggressive edge; a real ballsy sound, especially in
Channel 1 with the boost engaged. I don't use the Full-Drive
engaged when I play with my LP. The Strat sounds excellent through
the Quiana. You can easily get close to a SRV/Duarte sound and
also an Eric Johnson sound by quick tweaks of the controls. The
reverb is one of the richer ones that I've heard.

Even at loud volumes, every note is articulate and clear. My drummer
announced that for the first time, he heard every note that I played,
which wasn't true when I played through other amps. Its easily
a 10.

Since I've only had it for a few months, its hard to judge.

When I first got it, I had to replaced a bad tube for the reverb
and I'm awaiting a replacement for a noisy 6L6 tube.

There was no manual with the amp; I was told that it was online
and I could download it. Not true. The manual for the Quiana
is not online. I've emailed and called Rivera several times to
get a copy. Paul Rivera emailed an incomplete manual written
in HTML (but curiously tagged a Microsoft Word file) to me but
the 'suggested settings' section was missing... so were the images.

I've been told that Paul Rivera answers email quickly, but I have
not found that to be true. I got a 2 week turnaround on the manual
via email and its been 2 weeks waiting for the replacement 6L6 tube.
I've found its easier to just call them. Warning, the contact numbers
on the warranty form are very out-of-date and incorrect.

I have been playing over 20 years and have used Marshalls, Fenders,
Boogies and Peavy. The Quiana is a great-sounding amplifier that
leans towards the vintage Fender area.

If it got ripped off, I would definitely find another one. Except
for its weight, its a great amp for my style of music.

My amp is an all tube 1999 model with 2 Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers and I am told Svetlana 6L6GC power tubes. The amp is a two channel, footswitchable design with footswitchable gain on both channels. One channel is designed to feel like a Fender and the other has a Marshall character to it. The amp has an effects loop and is switchable between a vintage and modern tube bias, which means low-power springy vs higher power more articulate, I like em both. I find the amp plenty loud enough for what I do which is Small Combo, Small Venue type work, I have never really opened the amp up other than to see what would happen (It's almost worth the hearing loss). I use all the features although its really easy to get lazy and just plug-in and play because it always sounds great. I can't think of anything I would add but it certainly is heavy, lighter would be nice.

I find the amp amazingly versatile and always very musical sounding. I spent some years and a considerable ammount of money persuing high-end home-audio systems and have developed a very critical ear for natural/musical sounding components, this particular company and more specifically this amp really does it for me. I play a variety of different styles of music from jazz to fairly hard rock and blues and find this product brings out the best in my playing, there is always a new, useful tone just one tweek away. The best I can do to describe the tone variations would be to list the areas you can effect, bass, midrange, treble, treble boost, mid notch, American (Fender) channel, British (Marshall) channel, reverb level, Speaker damping (tightness), Presence, and gain, both pre and master. You could spend a lifetime trying all the combinations and never come up with a bad one. The reverb is particularly warm, lush and usable one of the very best I have heard. I don't want to sound like an advertisement but I spent a considerable ammount of time and energy driving around and trying out different amplifiers and came close to purchasing a couple of them but for me, this particular amp has it all and is quiet to boot. I mainly use a couple of custom tele's with Lindy Fralin or Duncan Alnico II pickups and a PRS Custom 22 with dragon pickups, all sound very diferent but heavenly. Very quick and dynamic with a truely natural bloom to each note.

I do have spare tubes but I have not needed them (remember less than a year old. I have asked around and feel really good that the product will be a long term good deal. I don't gig with a backup if that says anything.

I have had several questions but the dealer was very helpful so no manufacturer contact yet, but I hear good things from other owners. My dealer is really great so I probably won't have much need for direct contact with Rivera.

I have been playing for 15 years and this is the first time I have ever been consistantly happy with my guitar amp. I auditioned Top Hat, Mesa, Matchless, Speedster, and a lot more brands but this was an obvious winner for me. All of the other products were capable (to varying degrees) of producing great tones but the Quiana was natural and very unforced sounding, just musical. I would definately buy another one of these if mine was stolen.

The Quaina 2x12 is a new model offered this year by Rivera. It?s a 55 watt combo loaded with Celestion Vintage 30?s, powered by two Ruby Tubes 6L6GC output tubes. It?s a two channel amp that?s essentially a four channel amp with volume boosts for both channels located on a very heavy-duty footswitch, along with a channel switch, as well. The first channel is a Brittish voiced ?Marshall? tonality, while the second channel is voiced ?American? for lack of a better word ?Fender? tonality. Both channels have a Bass-Mid-Treble EQ which are very responsive to the tone of the amp, as well as a Volume and Master to dial in the desired amount of distortion. For additional tone enhancement, the Quiana has both a ?Presence? knob to add in brightness in the EQ, and a ?Focus? knob to adjust the ?tightness? or ?looseness? of the speakers (think open-back vs. closed-back cabinet sounds). Also, the Focus knob can be pulled out to throw a bit more ?warmth? in the EQ for even more tone enhancement and very suitable for jazz. This amp is loaded with smart features. On the back panel, it has a MODERN/VINTAGE switch, when switched to ?Vintage? the power is cut and the harmonics are balanced to get a ?sweeter? tone. I love this switch. You can select HIGH or LOW inputs (easier to distort on ?high?, more clean headroom on ?low?). From my many amp trials, I believe Rivera?s 6-spring Hammond Long Pan Reverb is the best I?ve heard?very smooth, easy to dial in without so much useless splash as you find on a Fender. It has a Serial Effects Loop with Level controls. And this amp is beautiful. The construction is rock-solid and covered in a very classy deep burgandy ?ruby red? tolex, highlighted by a beige grill cloth. It?s very reminiscent of a Matchless in look and vibe. The cabinate is probably the deepest 2x12 I?ve seen recently, which I think contributes to the warm tone. This thing is heavy. Put your chin-strap on when you road it around. This is not an amp for metal or Shred, so I feel the 55 watts with Volume Boosts is the perfect power combo for clubs or large halls. The Quiana is gorgeous, loaded with features, and if you can?t find a tone with this amp, maybe you should grab an acoustic, go to a coffee house and do old Dylan covers.

While I find the features of the Quiana extremely versitile, I find the tone to be stunning. I primarily use a Don Grosh Retro with Lindy Fralin single coils, and a Tom Anderson Hollow-T Classic with stacked humbuckers. Both guitars sound pristine through this amp. There?s too much variety of sounds not to get what you want. All good. The ?Brit? channel has a realy nice grit to it with nice sustain and can really get dirty when you hit the boost. The ?Fender? side is a perfect combination of clean and warm. All the sound of a vintage tweed without the sizzle on the high-end. I find Rivera amps to have a certain ?tightness? or compression to the tone, which I find very pleasing. The distortion is extremely smooth and very ?musical?. I can?t say enough good things about this amp. I will preface this review by saying after drumming professionally for over twenty years, I have been a full-time guitarist for the past five. One thing I?ve always prided myself on was understanding quality tone in a musical environment. I?ve played alongside many great musicians and have developed a keen ear for tone in a live music setting, and for me Rivera amps have a beautifully musical tone. And the biggest plus is how extremely quite it is.

I?ve had this amp only a short time, but feel very confident in Rivera quality.

When you e-mail Rivera, Paul Rivera replys. Enough said.

I?ve tried every Fender (too noisy), Dr. Z, Matchless, Bogner, Groove Tubes, Marshall, and many others. For me I find Rivera to be the most musical tone of all the high-end amps. I also have a Rivera Jake Studio Combo and have nothing but 10?s to give it despite a couple sets of bad tubes. For guitar players who think of themselves as ?musicians? first and foremost, I think the Quiana is an absolute must for a trial run. I think as soon as you see it, feel the vibe and plug in, it?ll be a done deal.