Product: Rivera S120-210
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
06/29/2003
at
08:38pm
by
Paul Honeycutt
Features
:
No Opinion
This is an update on the post below.
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
See post below
Reliability
:
10
I've had this amp six years? Time flys. It's been a workhorse. Not a problem ever.
Customer Support
:
10
They always answer my e-mails and have been nothing but helpful.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is my "do-all" amp. I have other amps for other sounds, but when I need a lot of versitilty, I grab the Rivera. Most of the time I just stick a Roland Space Echo in the loop and go. If I use pedals it's usually just a comp for the 12 string and an overdrive to push the front end a little more. With a Tele or a Gretsch and a little slapback it's Rockabilly Heaven. With a Les Paul, longer echos and a wah, I can get convincing Jimmy Page tones (think Dazed and Confused). This is the most expensive amp I ever bought and it's been worth every penny. The only changes I'd make is a to make the distortion a little smoother on the "British" channel, have a little less mud in the "Slavemaster," a little less "Ninja Boost" and maybe a couple of Weber California 10" speakers. I've never liked the "Rat Fur" covering, but a little spray carpet cleaner and vacuuming keeps it looking nice and smelling fresh!
This amp is a keeper. What more can I say? Thanks, Paul Rivera for building it!
Product: Rivera S120-210
Price Paid: US $1450
Submitted
03/26/1997
at
12:27pm
by
Paul Honeycutt
Features
:
9
This is a switchable preamp amp with a stereo power section. It includes stereo chorusing and is a TUBE amp. The channels are the SL channel for distortion and sustain effects along with two boost modes and mid shift. Channel 2 is the "Fender" style preamp with bright, mid shift and "Ninja" boost. Both channels have masters There is a switchable effects loop with stereo returns and a "Slavemaster" boost/loop. There is a chorus and a two position presence/damping switch. There is full and half power switching on the standby switch. Rear pannel has loop jacks with level controls and pentode/triode switching for each power amp. And impedance switching for the speaker outs along with post-power amp line outs.
Sound Quality
:
9
This thing can get about any sound you can imagine. I bought it for the clean rhythm sounds, but the distortion has grown on me. I use the amp with Strat's, a Les Paul, a Tele, mutant solid bodies and an old Gibson electric mandolin. I'm still discovering new sounds. I haven't tried it with different speakers yet.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I haven't given it the torture test, but I was in touch with Little Feat's guitar tech who told me they never had to take the back up amps out of the road cases. They use the "head" version of this amp. The amps get checked over and re-tubed for each tour.
Customer Support
:
9
I sent the company an e-mail to ask questions and get a catalog and I got a reply from Paul Rivera himself! He's been great in answering my questions and helping me out. (The dealer on the other hand has been there to take my money and that's been about it. I called to see if they had this model in and I was told they didn't and they didn't know what the price was. When I went in the amp I played earlier in the year was still there! I'm still waiting for the foot switch.)
Overall Rating
:
9
In spite of the problems with the dealer, I'd buy another one. I'd just buy it somewhere else! I really love this amp. I wish the effects loop was parallel but I can switch it out of the circuit. I was going to have a Super Reverb modded, but this amp has all the mods and more. Plus it's a tube stereo chours amp. I believe it's the only one out there. If you haven't played a Rivera, check one out!
