Rivera Rake Head

This is a review for a Rivera Rake 55 head that was built in 1998. It is a 55 watt all tube head. This amp features channel switching via pull-pot switches on the front panel or via footswitch. There are two discreet channels (Channel 1 is 'Marshall' voiced and Channel 2 is 'Fender' voiced) - each with its own volume, tone stack (bass, mid, treble,), switchable boost (via pull-pot or footswitch), and master volume. Channel 2 also has a bright switch and a mid frequency shift switch (pull-pot switches). There is a Presence control and Focus speaker resonance control that affect both channels. On the back panel there is a Modern/Vintage switch that changes the output tube operation between pentode (full power, 55w) and triode (30-35w -warmer, smoother, enhanced even order harmonics). There is also a line out jack, an output impedance switch (4,8,16 ohm), two speaker out jacks, and an active series effects loop with send and receive level controls. This is a feature rich amplifier offering a great deal of flexibility and plenty of clean headroom. I use this amp with a Shawnee Custom 1x12 extension cab loaded with a 16ohm Eminence Red Fang AlNiCo speaker. I would like to have a level control for each channels boost and also the Channel 1 mid shift switch found in the Knuckleheads and Fandangos. Fortunately these are both available as factory mods and I do plan on having them installed in the next few months. I rate this section an 8 out of 10 (with the addition of the factory mods I would bump this to a rating of 9). Nothing gets a ten as there's always room for improvement.

My two primary guitars are: 1989-1990 PRS bolt-on, mahogany body w/carved maple top, maple neck w/rosewood fretboard, PRS trem (locked and blocked), bone nut, 3-way toggle, 1 vol, 1 tone, and a pair of Seymour Duncan Seth Lover unpotted PAF style pickups (4-conductor w/coil tap switch) -- and -- a USACG custom strat, alder body, maple/maple neck, Hipshot trem, bone nut, 5-way blade switch, SD Seth Lover PAF in the bridge (tapped in position 2) and Lindy Fralin Real 54's strat single coils in the middle and neck position. My playing style developed out of constant exposure to my parents musical preferences (blues, brittish invasion rock, 70's rock, and various fusions with blues and rock in popular music). My primary drive as a guitar player has been to learn how to play just what is needed and no more in both a rhythm and soloing context. At some point along the way it became clear that tone is a very important component to this focus and an amp with a singular focus is rather limiting (e.g. a Marshall JMP50 doesn't cover soul, jazz, or clean blues as well as a Fender Super Reverb which isn't as well suited to cover early brittish invasion and 70's hard rock). I have owned many amps - JTM's, JMP's, tweeds, Blackface's, AC's, botique's, etc. and, to be fair, each was almost certainly better at what it did than any current production amp. However, it was never feasible to take any more than two amps to a jam or a gig. The effort necessary to get stellar tones moved to where I wanted to use them was becoming more trouble than it was worth. I did take a quick foray into the rack rig (multi pre's, multi effects, stereo output, etc.) but the results were sonically inadequate in a live setting. I've never had a channel switcher that I was happy with in the past - again the compromise in tone in favor of flexibility wasn't paying off. THIS AMP IS DIFFERENT! I'll be honest here. When I first played the amp I wasn't knocked over by the tone. It sounded great to be sure but I've had Fenders that were better than channel 2 and Marshalls that were better than channel 1 - by themselves played alone. Where the Jake sets itself apart is in a live setting. This thing falls right into the mix live, cuts just where it should, does everything right. Even at it's highest gain settings you can roll back the guitar's volume pot and get a chimey, complex clean without losing useable output. All of the cliche'ic adjectives apply here but I'll try to keep them to a minimum. The Fender voiced channel does clean and overdrive convincingly well. Blackface tones ar it's forte' although the EL34 ouput tubes do impart their character here with slightly more emphasized mids. From crystal clear cleans with bell-like overtones to harmonically rich BF Deluxe saturated lead tones and everything in between. Lots of swirl! Channel 2 is without a doubt my favorite! Clean or dirty - rhythm, comping, or soloing - this channel would make a perfect gigging amp on its own. The bright switch just like a Fender BF's to my ears. The 'tweed' voicing with the mid-shift defeated is not as pleasing to my ears except at specific settings and seems more useful for recording than for live application (the boost level mod mentioned above will make it possible to use this boost on the fly live). Channel 2's boost is significantly louder than without making it impractical for use 'on the fly' via footswitch. Channel 1 (Marshall voiced) isn't exactly spot on 'Plexi' or any other particular Marshall for that matter. Initially I found this a little disappointing. But, again, in a live setting it drops into the mix perfectly and handles many 'brittish' type tones better than any Marshall (or clone) that I've ever owned. Clean tones from this channel are best attained using the volume pot on the guitar (just as with any cranked JTM or JMP) and the results are as good or better than with Marshall tops I've used - again, plent of swirl. This channel is dar

I've not had this amp long enough to comment but based on my past experience with Rivera designed Fender amps and Rivera's reputation for tough, roadworthy amps I expect that it will perform without issue for years to come. That said, I always keep a backup amp on hand and this is my backup amp for my Rivera Jake Studio combo (the Jake is a 1x12 combo vwersion of the Rake with reverb).

I've called Rivera several times with questions and they're a pleasure to deal with! With only limited experience here I'll rate this one at 8.

I've pared my amp collection down to just the Jake combo and the Rake head. I have friends who will loan me a specific amp if needed for a specific recording so I chose to cut the collection loose to make room for real furniture in my house :-). I have been on a constant buy, sell, trade tone quest and I've been through 8 amps in the last 6 months trying to find a do-all amp with killer tone. I believe I found exactly what I set out to find. It has yet to do anything that I don't like. I'm lucky enough to have a near match backup on hand but if it were stolen I'd have to find a replacement. For me this is the 'Swiss Army Knife' of amps with no corners cut in tone and feel. I'll rate this amp as a 8 out of 10. This is definitely the best guitar amp I've ever owned!

I bought my Rivera Rake Head about a month ago, and have been gigging with it 3 times a week since. Overall it is a very impressive amplifier...probably the best tone I've ever gotten with ANY amp. But I'll get to that in "Sounds" section. My amp was made in 1998, and was hand signed by Rivera. The effects loop is awesome...very transparent, and actually showed me that my volume pedal was sucking some of the tone out of my signal! The Ninja boost is a boost on Chan.1...and it is too loud for the all of the clubs I've played in. I've experimented with turning it on...and I was like, "whoa", WAY to much gain in volume. Kinda scares the band...did Paul Rivera put it on there to intimidate drummers? Is that why it's called, "Ninja"? That is about the only fault with the amp, this control needs to be adjustable. PLENTY of power at 55 watts...a LOUD 55 watts. It is so much louder than my 50 watt Marshall JCM 2x12 combo, that it's not even funny. Seriously, the master volume on both channels has never been over 4 or 5. 5 was for an outdoor gig, on a full size huge stage, and they miked my amp anyway. Clean headroom is very good, in a sweet non-piercing kind of way. I have Svetlana EL34's in the power section, and Chinese tubes in the preamp section. Brilliant sound. Has been totally reliable so far. The 1/2 power switch is okay...but it really cuts down on the clean headroom with single coils on my strat...so I use full power at all times.

I am in an original rock band, that plays blues and funky stuff too. This amp covers it all. It would do fine in a Country band, and I've been in a couple of those too. Just because the clean tone is so...spanky. Great note definition, in fact the best I've ever played through. Many of my rock solos, I can take on the clean channel 1, just because it sounds so sweet. Channel 2's distortion is excellent...definitely amazing with the boost on. With boost off...you get a nice crunch...with it on...holy moly...total Gary Moore tone!!!!! Sings very well with amazing overdrive. Throw your distortion pedals away while on this channel. If you like Randy Rhodes to Steve Lukather to Larry Carlton tones...there all just waiting for you.

So far...absolutely perfect, and I did an outdoor gig in the heat with it last week. Very impressed. I don't usually gig with a backup...I just bring a preamp rockman just in case I had to run through the board. Lugging 2 amps sucks bigtime...

Don't really know, but I will give a 9 here because of the Message board on the Rivera site...a very helpfull source of info. I think any amp tech could work on this baby.

I've been playing for 27 years. I own a Marshall JCM combo, Tom Anderson strat etc, etc. If it was lost or stolen, I'd get another one asap. The most versatile amp I've ever owned. With the Rivera Rake, you basically get an amazing Fender Twin Reverb, and the hottest hot-rodded Marshall, all in one amplifier, with some awesome extras built in. Buy it, love it, and thank me later!

Ok, don't let the 7 fool you here. This is the only category in which I will give anything less than a 10. The only reason I'm giving this rating is the lack of bells and whistles, but that's a good thing.

This amp features two channels: most people say the Fender channel and the Marshall channel. But this amp has EL34s. So I don't think it's a fair comparison to throw Fender into the mix. Now the reverb sounds a lot like a Fender, but this amp has more character.

It features a 3 button footswitch with channel switching and boost selects. The controls on the amp are simple: treble, bass, and mids for the both. The clean has a bright, and a notch filter. In addition to the aforementioned controls there is also reverb and presence.
There is an effects loop, but I like to run my effects through the front of the amp. My effects, like the amp are simple?an EH Small Stone phaser(Russian), a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde overdrive, a Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, and an Ibanez Tubescreamer TS9 reissue.

Probably my favorite feature on this amp is the half power switch. I won't ever own another amp over 30 watts without this function. How many times has anyone who owns a 100 watt amp been able to crank it without killing someone? You can't turn those things past one. Forget finding the sweet spot on those things.

Sounds amazing. Both channels are great. I play a recent ES-335, and I'm eagerly awaiting my Artinger Custom right now. I can't nail down a style I play With my effects, I can get just about any sound I want or need. I can get everything from John Scofield to Metallica. I've spent the last few months digging for an amp that will allow me the opporunity to play an type of music and sound great: this is that amp. I've owned a Twin Reverb RI, a Mesa Mark IV, and a THD Bivalve. This amp can do everything those amps did and more. None of those amps came close to this. The Fender had great reverb--that was it. The Mesa had a ton of features, but the overdrive was over the top and you'd need an engineering degree to figure it out. The THD could use any tube in the world, but it was a one trick pony.

The Rake produces a shimmering clean--almost tranparent and free of noise, while the distortion channel is very articulate with each string having a voice in the character of your strumming. Can this amp sound like crap? Yep. I bet I could make a Dumble sound like crap if I had enough time to screw around with it. But if you take the time to work with it, you can find any sound you need.

Never gig without a backup. I can't say how reliable this is, haven't had it long enough. But Rivera has a reputation for building quality products.

They respond well to email. Calling the factory never yields results no matter what company it is.

I love this amp. It sounds great. I can't wait to try it through other speaker configurations. If it was lost I would buy another one without question. Since this amp is out of production, I would probably go with the Fandango, which is closest to the Rake.

See others comments. I don't understand the conceput of "FORCUS" control. I think "NINJA Boost" is a little bit strange in its naming in Japanese sense.

I use TYLER Classic(ordinary fender ST type with Lindy's PUs).

2nd CH(Fender CH)is much more usefull than 1stCH(Marshallish CH) in terms of its overdrive sound. 2ndCH has silky tone like old blackface fenders. I really love it! 1stCH is too harsh for me.

N/A I am using this in JAPAN.

Much like the Rivera Knucklehead 55 it is based on in terms of features. Two Channels, Marshall/Soldano on Channel One and Fender Twin/Super on Channel Two.
Tone controls for Channel one are Bass, Middle, Treble ala Marshall. Tone controls for Channel two are Treble, Middle, Bass ala Fender. Paul Rivera is the only amp builder out there that understands how important that the tone controls/preamp tubes and signal path are laid out this way for a reason. Effective design that works magic on the sounds available.
Boosts on each channel are footswithable. In effect you have a four channel amp. All sounds are usable and different enough to give you an enourmous palette of sound to work with.
Vintage/Modern switch (Triode/Pentode) lowers power by 1/2 and darkens tone -- takes the edge off. Smooth is the word that best describes amp, Vintage mode enhances that aspect of the sound.
Serial effects loop, Focus (speaker dampening) and Presence controls.

I play PRS, a 91 Custom 24 and a 95 Custom 22. Both excel with this amp. My style is two-guitar rock/alternative/blues/funk/groove/pop stuff.
Sounds very similar yet very different to my Rivera Knucklehead 100. In "Vintage Mode" it is completely a different amp. "Sweeter" and not as edgy sounding. Channel One (marshall-ish) has more preamp gain available than the Knucklehead, more complex, yet not as "aggresive" or "raw" as the K-100. It "sings" more, sounds more "refined."
In "Modern Mode" it is much brighter and more aggresive sounding -- much more like my K-100. Channel One (marshall) is voiced different than the K-100, more gain, yet not as "brutal." "Sweeter" sounding, but not overly so. This amp can rip if needed.
As with my K-100 (see my review) great in studio and with band. Sounds huge through any cab, I have rear ported 2x12 with Naylor Special Design 50's, Rivera Q-Cab front ported 2x12 with EVM-12L and 4x12 sealed back with Celestion Vintage 30's. Voiced for Celestion G12T-85's according to Rivera. I have matching 2x12 coming, we will see.
No reverb, so it seems "bigger" than other guitarists I play with -- especially those who use effects. Sound just fills room. I only use wah, and only plug it in when I am using it, otherwise guitar-->amp. Real and honest tone. Serious and complex. Very responsive to pick dynamics and works very well with volume and tone knobs on both PRS.
Even under full distortion with Channel one and boost on, complex voicings and chords that muddy up on other amps remains "clear" and "defined". Very impressive to hear and inspiring to work with.

Based on past experience and ownership of three prior Riveras, I can say yes.
I do not gig or go to the studio with out a back-up, but Rivera has never let me down.

Based on past experience, I have complete confidence and am very happy with Rivera support. You can call and get Paul Rivera on the line. Very helpful and always polite. Returns calls and email.

I have been playing for 18 years and bought a Rivera TBR-1SL two years ago. That sold me on Rivera and now have a TBR-2SL, Knucklehead 100 and this Rake 55.
I know most hate 10, 10, 10, 10 ratings. But quality and sound speak for themselves. This amp is of the highest order and will hang with all the point-to-point I-am-cooler-than-you-cause-I-cost-mucho-$$$ amps going.
Rivera is small, and honestly I hope it stays that way. Paul understands tone, player's needs and serves them in dependable and cost effective packages. Real amps for real players. This Rake 55 is a refined Knucklehead 55 and is more a players amp than many one sound amps. It has four refined sounds in one unit. Egnator and Bogner are the only ones that compare and for my money, I have the Rake. Sweet and smooth, complex and rich on both channels.
I cannot understand why the guy who sold this to me let it go. But mine is not to question why, just enjoy the amp.
I have insurance through ASCAP on all my gear and would buy another Rake in a second if anything happened to this one. It was the 99th one built though, which is kind of cool.
There are only three companies I believe in enough to endorse (minus strings, picks and accessories): Taylor PRS Rivera

This is the most versatile amp I've ever owned. I'm extremly particular with the tone of an amp. I play contemporary country, classic rock and blues. This calls for all kinds of tone. the Rake gives me the clean I need and the lead tone. It has 2 channels one clean one dirty each channel has a boost which makes this a footswitchable 4 sound amp. The best thing is each sound is great. great effects loop.

Sounds great with any of my guitars. The clean channel sounds like a vintage fender twin reverb (which I have). The lead channel has a very soldanoish tone. I have a HR50 soldano that I havent played since I got the rake. The tone controls really work on this amp. Because of this it takes a little tweaking of knobs get your sound. I love this amp. It is the most articulate amp I've ever heard.

Great so far

I've been playing some 30 years and used all kinds of amps. I would buy it again in a heart beat. If your looking for the closest thing to a vintage fender clean tone and a hot rodded marshall/soldano lead tone in one amp this is it you need to check it out.

This is a quick update to my previous posting. Features: Front panel Channel 1 (overdrive): Gain, bass, mid, treble, volume (with pull pot for gain boost) (I always have the gain boost on)
Channel 2 (clean: Gain, bass, mid, treble, volume (with pull pot for Ninja boost) pull pot on treble for bright, pull pot on mids for a mid frequency shift (blackface vs tweed) (I prefer the clean with all pots in, "standard" Fender clean mode)
master prescence control master Focus control: controls speaker damping, at low setting the amp is warmer/looser, as you increase the control the amp gets tighter in the lowend and has more attack on the topend, think of it as a (when in overdrive mode) as a "definition" knob, lower settings are more "bluesy" and higher numbers yield a more aggressive "hard rock" vibe (note: this amp is really not intended for metal)
on rear panel: FX loop (series), send and return jacks with level control for each, (set both to 6.5 for unity gain) Impedance selector switch for speaker outs. Modern/Vintage switch, (pentode/triode mode, 50/25 watts, the latter being softer sounding/feeling)

The tone: ah....
For reference: I use a PRS CE22, solid mahogany body, bolt on maple/rosewood,wide/fat neck, a Tom Anderson H2 in the bridge and a Duncan Alnico II Pro in the neck. I have an older Roland DEP5 MIDI FX unit in the loop, it is simple, basic, primitive by todays standards (and I have had Intellifex's, DP2, etc..) you can only do Delay or reverb, not both at the same time, but, it is absolutely transparant in the _series_ loop (VERY CRUCIAL)and the delays and reverbs are very nice and warm sounding. I also rack mounted the head, there is no rack mount kit for it, it required some ingenuity and creativity on my part :) I also have it controlled via MIDI via a Lake Butler MSI8 box which does 1/4" switching functions under MIDI control (like a Scholz Otcupus) Cab: Bogner 2x12 with a Vintage 30 and a Boogie/Celesion 90
This replaced a modded Soldano HR50 which replaced a Tremoverb. I like the Rake a lot better than either (or the numerous rack setups I had previously) The overdrive (with the boost on, don't like it without the boost) is very Soldanoish, but is warmer and smoother, more of the "brown" tone, early Billy Gibbons "Tush" tones are easy by rolling back the guitar volume, to EJ woody violin solo tones, it is old Marshall hotrodded tones, the Marshall you hear the big guys using, not the Marshalls you plug into at the guitar shops....
I run the boost on, gain at 7, bass at 10, mids at 2.5-3, treble at 4, level 2 for "loud" house practice (sounds great a .5 though too) 3-3.5 is plenty loud to hang with a loud drummer/bassist. I basically dial in the overdrive channel for solos, then back the guitar volume back to 5-7 for rhythm stuff, it cleans up nicely, I also have a DOD BiFET preamp box that's in the FX loop set to a subtle level/bass boost for solos, since it's in the loop it's post preamp, the guitar going from 7-10 provides the gain needed and the boost box provides the volume boost, the box has a remote switch jack I installed that is controlled via the Lake Butler MIDI interface.
the clean channel is classic Fender Twin mode... 'nuff said.

had it a year, not a single hickup. I did replace all the preamp tubes (comes stock with a Sovtek 12AX7WB (low gain) in the first gain stage and standard Chinese 12AX7s in the remaining sockets, I installed a set of new Ruby STR 7025s, these are great, the gain of the Chinese but aren't as harsh, very round sounding, nice, these are all screened and tested by Ruby. The powertubes are stock Svetlanas, I have always been a big NOS fan, I am VERY impressed with these....

As good as it gets. You call Rivera and chances are you talk to "the man", Paul sr. great guy, very friendly, down to earth...

Buy it again in a hearbeat. for me, nothing even comes close. especially for the price.... I would have paid more...

Well, I decided I wanted a new amp. I went testing. (my guitar, PRS CE22, alder body, with Tom Anderson H2) I wanted 50 watts, 2 channels, good clean tone but primary need was a fat, singing, warm, liquid sustain overdriven tone that could also be backed off to provide an old hot rodded Marshall type of "brown" rhythm, backed off some more and get an almost overdriven Vox/Matchless type of thing, (think early VH rhythm tone for the more distorted "crunch rhythm and an Edge/Vox, Peter Buck slightly overdriven tone, and EJ meets Vai meets Brian May solo tone)
shwew. :) Oh yeah, I wanted a 2x12 combo or head and 2x12 cab, tired of dealing with a huge rig :) OK, spent about 4 hours with a BUNCH of Boogie, Marshall, Soldano, Rivera combos and heads, Matchless and alot of the much talked about "boutique" amps don't have enough gain in the lead channel, and most amps that do sound buzzy and harsh. arg.
I ended up with a new Rivera Rake head. 55 watts, 2xEl34s (German Siemans, stock!, cool) 2 channels, clean and dirty, boost mode for each, footswitchable) adjustable focus control (controls how tight/loose the feel of the amp is and also affects the mids/low mids) a very cool feature Modern/Vintage switch (Pentode/Triode) another tight/soft/warm control
I really, really dig this amp. I like it better than the last two heads I have had, a Soldano and a MESA Tremoverb, plus a shitload of rack preamps/poweramps.
This amp kills. it is warm and organic sounding, it glows... highly recommended. be sure and check it with a 16ohm, Celestion loaded cab, for best results check with the matching Rivera 2x12 or 4x12 I am running it with two Boogie Theile 1x12s loaded w/90w celestions that I have rear mounted (surprising difference vs front,warmer/smoother)
happy hunting... PS. (no offense to the Rivera folks, but their amps never really did it for me, but this thing is amazing)

see above.

From everything I have seen Riveras seem to be very well built

I have talked with Rivera several times and it is like dealing with a small shop with people that really dig amps and love what they are doing. Very helpful and friendly

But it again tomorrow. I LOVE it