Rivera-era Fender amps club

Can't believe no one has started this one up yet. I scored a Susan Boyle edition (looks terrible, sounds wonderful) '85 Concert this week.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/JDaveG/1e05926c.jpg

Anyone know where I can get a faceplate for this thing (either original or repro)? Larry Rogers doesn't make them and doesn't know where to get them.

I'm glad you did this man. I started to. I also have the 1983 Concert II. Great cleans,channel switching, and great distortion/overdrive. Strange though, I got mine with 2 Peavey Scorpion 10s. I'm pretty sure those weren't the originals, so put in a pair of Eminence Ramrods. No mods and she is tone to the bone. Would post pics but my computer doesn't seem to want to upload pics or video. Great amp!

I'm glad you did this man. I started to. I also have the 1983 Concert II. Great cleans,channel switching, and great distortion/overdrive. Strange though, I got mine with 2 Peavey Scorpion 10s. I'm pretty sure those weren't the originals, so put in a pair of Eminence Ramrods. No mods and she is tone to the bone. Would post pics but my computer doesn't seem to want to upload pics or video. Great amp!

Mine is the 1-12 version, and I believe it has the Eminence (it says "Fender Special Design" on it, and the voice coil is not vented). I've heard good/bad about this speaker, but I seriously like it in this particular amp.

Can't believe no one has started this one up yet.

Agreed. I have a Princeton Reverb II that I love. I've posted pics before, but I'll post another when I put the re-finished hardware back on it.

Indeed I own a mint Princeton Reverb II that I think sounds wonderful.......

I understand that the Fender 75 was one of the first Rivera designs...it was devised to compete with the Mesa Boogie I believe.

A seriously loud amp... :shock:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/Fender751_2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/Fender751Controls_1.jpg

It came in 1 x 12" and 1 x 15" versions. This one is a 15". :cool:

How would you describe the tone of the Fender75 clean and dirty. Is the clean more blackface or tweed type? Tight or flubby bass? Highs? Do you typically use the dirty channel or a pedal with it?

How would you describe the tone of the Fender75 clean and dirty. Is the clean more blackface or tweed type? Tight or flubby bass? Highs? Do you typically use the dirty channel or a pedal with it?

I think I'd characterise the clean as being Blackface...it's very ballsy and fat. It breaks up pretty early to a really nice controlled crunch.

Like a lot of Fender amps, the distortion channel is pretty hard to control and get a great sound however. I understand from some of the HArmony Central reviews that it can be done, but personally I prefer to run a Tubescreamer in front.

I think I'd characterise the clean as being Blackface...it's very ballsy and fat. It breaks up pretty early to a really nice controlled crunch.

Like a lot of Fender amps, the distortion channel is pretty hard to control and get a great sound however. I understand from some of the HArmony Central reviews that it can be done, but personally I prefer to run a Tubescreamer in front.

I go back and forth a bit, but I prefer pedal dirt with the Concert, too. You can get a nice, tweedy distortion out of it, but it will never be a Marshall or Boogie, and I was used to using pedals over a clean tone with the Deluxe anyway.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/haddybell/DSC_0737.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/haddybell/DSC_0734.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/haddybell/DSC_0736.jpg

I had a Fender 75 1x12 combo for over 20 years. The clean sound was fine, the overdrive channel was horrendous. :sad: The really unique feature was how they managed to get an amp about the size of a Princeton to actually weigh more than most Twins. :roll: It was always funny to watch someone try to pick it up the first time as their arm would nearly get pulled out out the socket.. ;-) I put wheels on mine. -- CS

Awesome, A Rivera Era club!

I have an 83 Twin Reverb II 105W that I've had since 89. A seriously loud amp! I've used it for every style of music I could imagine playing. Some have complained that the lead channel is not useful, I have always liked it just fine. I'll add fuzz or overdrive if I feel like it, but it does fine on its own for most applications unless you play heavy rock or metal.

It came with two 12" Fender JBLs with magnets that weighed more than my car. I swapped in Celestions a few years ago for a bluesier sound, but sometimes I miss the JBL bell ringing clarity (but not the weight!).

I'll post a picture when I get around to taking one.

I also like the amps from that era I have a Fe..nder 75 Fender 30 fender Concert Deluxe reverb II and a Champ II. Great Amps

Princeton Reverb II, also.

D.H.

Twin Reverb II here. Purchased new in 1985, complete w/footswitch and cover. Gave 1/2 price, dealer was closing out their Fender inventory.

I understand that the Fender 75 was one of the first Rivera designs...it was devised to compete with the Mesa Boogie I believe.

A seriously loud amp... :shock:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/Fender751_2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/Fender751Controls_1.jpg

It came in 1 x 12" and 1 x 15" versions. This one is a 15". :cool:

I just recently scored one of those in a 15" Combo...did some research on them, and while a lot of folks consider them Rivera era...He actually had nothing to do with it much...they were an Ed Jahns design...least that what I read in the Soul of Tone Amp book ??

Well I thought they were the first Rivera design because I had read it somewhere as well, but as they were pretty much the first cab of the rank when they changed from Silverface back to Blackface in 1980, maybe it makes sense that Rivera was not yet at Fender... :confused:

They are an interesting amp because some people hate them with a passion and some people (like me) love 'em. I guess that could be due to the exact type of sound you prefer. :wink:

This is a fuzzy pic of my 83 TRII purchased in 89. It originally had Fender JBL E-120s, but I have a Celestion G12 and a G12T in it now.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/92BlueSi/Ebay014.jpg

OK, here's another one that may be a Rivera era amp...the Super 60

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderSuper60Amp_1.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderSuper60AmpControls_2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderSuper60AmpBack_3.jpg

UH-OH! The red knobs are sneaking in :shock:

I've read that these are Rivera designs as well (even if they were made after he left). Bought my Super 210 new, around 1990.

Still pretty much showroom fresh, since I'm primarily a living room player and don't take it out much (usually take a smaller/lighter amp, like my 25R, to friend's homes), but I love it! Clean for days, and sweet... and heavy (I put some casters on it).

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt246/tap4154/Super210Front72.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt246/tap4154/Super210Back2.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt246/tap4154/Super210Back72.jpg

I've got a Super 60 head, which has a very nice clean sound but the distortion channel is so much louder that there is no way to switch between them as you're playing, a real shame because other than that I really like it! tt

Actually, I just managed to find a Super 210 as well. I haven't put it through it's paces yet though.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderSuper210_2.jpg

Hello and Happy New Year!
Hopefully I'll be looking at a 1984 Concert 112 this weekend. Never played through one. Any pics or info from anyone would be great as I've never seen one of these before.
Thanks

Marley jr. if you go to Youtube and type "Concert II Clean Channel you will see and hear a clip of a 2x10 using Weber speakers. Then click on "more by Lioncommandking3", and there is a sample of the overdrive channel. Clips aren't that good but they'll give you an idea of what it looks and sounds like.

Oh boy the Rivera's!

I've had a Princeton Reverb II, Super Champ, and a Concert from the era. Wow. Fun amps that were steals used.

I have to disclose that they are all gone now, but I did like them, and if I spot another on CL for a song, I may own another! Ha.

Found a pic of the Princeton:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/knobby17/gibson047.jpg

Can't believe no one has started this one up yet.
Maybe you missed this thread:

The Original Fender Super Champ Club (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-owners-clubs/166657-original-fender-super-champ-club.html) :wink:

/ Tony

4x10 Concert - I believe an '82. Got it from one of Sue Tedeschi's guitarists who was an ES-345 player.

I had a Fender 75 1x12 combo for over 20 years. The clean sound was fine, the overdrive channel was horrendous. :sad: The really unique feature was how they managed to get an amp about the size of a Princeton to actually weigh more than most Twins. :roll: It was always funny to watch someone try to pick it up the first time as their arm would nearly get pulled out out the socket.. ;-) I put wheels on mine. -- CS

A buddy of mine had one for years. I thought it was one of the most God-awful sounding amps ever. Really not one of Rivera's better designs.

Maybe you missed this thread:

The Original Fender Super Champ Club (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-owners-clubs/166657-original-fender-super-champ-club.html) :wink:

/ Tony

Uh, oh!

My excuse is you Super Duper Champ snobs left the rest of us out :lol::wink:

What are some favorite replacement speakers for the originals in the Twin Reverb II?
I'm looking for something tight throughout the spectrum without sounding muddy.


Of course, pics!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/thedj/tele0024copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/thedj/amptub04copy.jpg

What are some favorite replacement speakers for the originals in the Twin Reverb II?
I'm looking for something tight throughout the spectrum without sounding muddy.

I'm interested in this too. I have a 1-12 Concert, but I'm definitely replacing the speaker, and I may re-house it as a head/2-12 cab. Either way, I'd love to hear suggestions. I like the Tone Tubby in my Deluxe clone, so I may go with 2 Cannabis Rex's.

I used to own a Super Champ and foolishly sold it. The Rivera Fenders are my faves and this is the top of the line for me, Deluxe Reverb II. It's got the perfect size/weight/sound ratio. I replaced the speaker with a Weber Sig 12B (perfect application) and was doing a little tube rolling when I took this pic :mrgreen:

http://www.visi.com/~sstolle/pics/dr_ii.jpg

I understand that the Fender 75 was one of the first Rivera designs...it was devised to compete with the Mesa Boogie I believe.

A seriously loud amp... :shock:


It came in 1 x 12" and 1 x 15" versions. This one is a 15". :cool:

The 75 (and the 30 and the larger one--135?) are great amps, but Rivera had nothing to do with them--they're Ed Jahns' designs.

OK, here's another one that may be a Rivera era amp...the Super 60

Great amp, but also non-Rivera. Paul was excised from Fender and the red knob amps are clean page designs.

Great amp, but also non-Rivera. Paul was excised from Fender and the red knob amps are clean page designs.


Maybe you could list the models and year that are Rivera era...that would be quite usefull...:rolleyes:

Maybe you could list the models and year that are Rivera era...that would be quite usefull...:rolleyes:

Ask, and ye shall receive:

Rivera was involved in Fender amp design 1981-1985. The tube amps he worked on were the Super Champ, Champ II, Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II, Twin Reverb II and the Concert (confusingly with no "II", although it's obviously the same species, although apparently Bill Hughes had a hand in it--maybe that's the reason). That's it. The Rivera-era solid state amps were designed by Bill Hughes (ex-Ampeg) and Bob Haigler (long-timer who worked on the Zodiac series of Fender SS amps).

Rivera also had a hand in the conception of the solid state amps of that era--the London, Montreux Showman and such, although the design was done by Bob Haigler and Bill Hodges (apparently having the initials "B.H." was a requirement in Fender Amps at that time...). None of the "Rivera-era" amps have red knobs, and none of the RK tube models are left over from that era. While I've never been able to find a specific, explicit mention of who designed the Super 60, the RK Dual Showman and the Champ 12 were done by Mark Wentling, formerly of Music Man, with input by Hughes. Wentling, Hughes and Haigler also did the SS "Fast Four" of that era. Remember, Rivera gets purged from Fender after the buy-out because he was backing a rival buy-out offer. Rivera's designs were old school PTP, were expensive to make, and apparently not very profitable for Fender, although they were well-received.

The name that I've never seen crop up in published history of Fender amps regarding the red knob is "Paul Rivera". What I have seen is that Fender wanted to make a clean break with the Rivera designs, and that the red knob amps were designed by people other than Rivera. If anyone has documentation that suggests otherwise, I'd love to see it. I'm not dissing RK amps, but for the sake of historical accuracy I'd like to stick to what's been documented.

Thanks. :cool:

How can you tell if a Fender amp was made by Paul Rivera?...How can you tell what year a fender amp was made? I have a Fender concert 112 silver grill that I think was made in the early 80s but I just dont know how to tell what year it was made?...

I have a Super Champ and a Twin Reverb II head and 4x12 cab. Both have the footswitch. The Champ is pretty much stock except for a Celestion Gold alnico. I've done a bit of tweaking on the Twin, nothing major; just trying to get a more Blackface sound on the clean channel. The 4x12 cab has Kendrick blackframes.
I just did a cap job on the Super Champ the other day. It sure is close quarters inside. There are a lot of components crammed into a very small space.

Presently own a Princeton reverb II ,that I bought a few years ago used for $279.!
Put an Eminence Red white & blues speaker in it ,sounds awesome.
In 1982 I bought a new Concert, unfortunately I sold it a few years ago, I'm still kicking myself for it!:mad:

How can you tell if a Fender amp was made by Paul Rivera?...How can you tell what year a fender amp was made? I have a Fender concert 112 silver grill that I think was made in the early 80s but I just dont know how to tell what year it was made?...

Rivera was involved in Fender amp design 1981-1985. The tube amps he worked on were the Super Champ, Champ II, Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II, Twin Reverb II and the Concert :cool:

Rivera was involved in Fender amp design 1981-1985. The tube amps he worked on were the Super Champ, Champ II, Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II, Twin Reverb II and the Concert :cool:


Thanks Manolian :cool:

I did a search in the last couple of months and found out mine was made in early Feb, of 84 and it is stock...I love that its ptp!

I am looking to change the speaker to something a little tighter. It sounds pretty darn good with the stock speaker but at high volume levels it gets just a tad flubby.

Thanks Manolian :cool:

I did a search in the last couple of months and found out mine was made in early Feb, of 84 and it is stock...I love that its ptp!

I am looking to change the speaker to something a little tighter. It sounds pretty darn good with the stock speaker but at high volume levels it gets just a tad flubby.

Which model do you own?

Which model do you own?

:lol: I guess the model name might help!......I have a Fender Concert.......

:lol: I guess the model name might help!......I have a Fender Concert.......
Great one, I used to have one I bought new in 1982,regrettably I sold it a few years ago.:sad:

I've got a 83 Fender Concert 2x10 and a Champ II. Did the Torres mod to the Concert and put 2 10" Red Fangs in it, making this one of the most versatile amps I've owned. The Champ II is a great little amp that is stock except for the speaker. Installed a Weber 10a125. Had a red fang in it temporarily. The Red Fang made it loud enought for gigs if your drummer is not a banger bonehead. Rivera amps are very good amps and great platforms to taylor your tone with PTP wire and very good transformers, perfect for slight mods.

Ask, and ye shall receive:

[B]While I've never been able to find a specific, explicit mention of who designed the Super 60, the RK Dual Showman and the Champ 12 were done by Mark Wentling, formerly of Music Man, with input by Hughes. Wentling, Hughes and Haigler also did the SS "Fast Four" of that era. Remember, Rivera gets purged from Fender after the buy-out because he was backing a rival buy-out offer. Rivera's designs were old school PTP, were expensive to make, and apparently not very profitable for Fender, although they were well-received.

The name that I've never seen crop up in published history of Fender amps regarding the red knob is "Paul Rivera". What I have seen is that Fender wanted to make a clean break with the Rivera designs, and that the red knob amps were designed by people other than Rivera. If anyone has documentation that suggests otherwise, I'd love to see it. I'm not dissing RK amps, but for the sake of historical accuracy I'd like to stick to what's been documented.


I have a Guitar Player mag that has a review of the Super 60 combo and states the designer as Mark Wentling. I managed to track him down on the net and he was kind enough to let me have this info...also there is a Youtube interview with him and he names all the amps he designed during his time at Fender..


Thank you for your email.

I’d be happy to answer any questions about the Super 60.

It followed the Champ 12, and The Twin, all made during my time at Fender from 1985 to mid 1989.

Paul Rivera left Fender prior to the management buyout from CBS by Bill Schultz and team, which occurred in March of 1985. I’m not sure of Paul’s actual departure date, but it may have occurred in late 1984, as there was an exodus of people when CBS put the company on the block for liquidation.

I designed the tube amps during this period, including a couple models (early 90s) after I left Fender in the summer of 1989 to become a partner in an export distribution company.

I came to Fender from Music Man, and all of the amp designs from 85 onward were unique from Paul’s designs that were produced prior to that time. Paul actually worked in Fender marketing, and spent much of his time specifying the product designs, while other design engineers in Fender R&D performed the actual product development work. Regardless, Paul always had a hand in the final signoff, and the tweaking of any products produced during his time.

I arrived just in time to move everything from Fullerton to Brea. Mostly sorting out the offices, and packing boxes, while doing a little work on the Champ 12 in between. The original concept for the Champ 12 came from Bill Hughes, (creator of the Ampeg SVT), but I had to heavily modify it to reduce parts count and cost. It needed to be a bare bones design. Bill left Fender in 85 to try working at Peavey in Mississippi, but he returned about a year or so later to rejoin me in R&D.

In the first several months immediately after the buyout from CBS, we had a fair number of CBS built chassis, that were Work-In-Process (WIP) units that came out of the CBS factory just prior to the Fullerton shut-down.

We purchased cabinets locally in Placentia and people in our Brea warehouse set up a small assembly line where they completed some Concerts, and I believe some Deluxes, and Champs. These were Rivera amps, with black faces and numbered knobs. They were sold in 85, maybe some still left in 86, however the chassis’s were actually built back in 84 before CBS closed the Fullerton factory. These amps were sold through our distribution channels to generate cash flow, but I don’t believe that they were ever actually marketed as our formal product line-up. I’m not sure.

We also scrapped a lot of WIP electronics because we did not have the space to hold all of it. Various amplifier chassis, ARP Chroma Synthesizers, Rhoads Piano parts, etc.

Paul is a good friend of mine. He actually spent time tutoring me on amp design when I first arrived at Music Man from MXR Innovations back in 1979. However, he had no involvement with any amplifier designs from at least late 1984 onward.

The red knobs were also the result of a cost cutting effort. The molded knobs were made in Garden Grove and cost about a nickel each ($0.05). The traditional black numbered knobs were about $0.40 each. This could multiply out to a good cost savings on the bigger amps. We were tasked by marketing with coming up with a unique cosmetic look that would differentiate the new Fender amps from the old Fender amps. In part due to the pervasive quality issues of the CBS made stuff.

No one, and I mean no one could agree on the new look. We built up many prototypes, and eventually ran out of time. Finally the word came down to engineering from marketing that we would use the Fender corporate colors of that time which could be found on the business cards and stationary. Red, Grey, and Black. The knobs naturally ended up being red, and we used grey grill cloth. The first protos were airbrushed in red guitar lacquer and looked pretty good, but the production knobs could never match the painted look, and we finally had to move on.

I hope that his information is helpful.

I forgot to mention that the Super 60 itself was a very cost conscious
product.

We were under great pressure to build a tube amp for minimal cost, as one of
our leading competitors was Peavey, and Peavey had a very vertical factory.
Fender only had the SUNN factory which relied on outside vendors for most
component parts, so our costs were higher right from the start. (An
identical amplifier could be made and sold for less from Peavey.)

So the Super 60 could only have the five tubes which was pretty much the
minimum for a 60 Watt amp with switch-able overdrive. Three of the tubes
were for the power amp, leaving only two 12AX7s for the preamp with
switch-able overdrive.

It was difficult to get consistent performance out of so few parts. So there
is some variation from unit to unit, and there are also a couple of parts
that are hand selected at the time of manufacture to compensate for
tolerances in the VACTROLS, potentiometers, and to a lesser extent the
tubes. (Not the most ideal engineering design, but a compromise to get by on
the price.)

So some Super 60s will work better than others.

There was also a rack mounting head version of the same amp with a fan and
and LED level readout, but no speaker.

The Super 60 speaker was the same as the one used in the Twin of that time.
It was our design developed together with Eminence. We only had two 12 inch speakers then, the heavy duty (used in the Twin etc.) and a light duty (used in the Champ 12), both from Eminence.

Best regards, Mark


Hope this info helps you people!!!
Cheers!
Glenn

kitschking ,Thanks for posting this info !

Here is a great example of the great sound of the Super 60.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0gd683CysA&playnext_from=TL&videos=IWhzg8qXOic

On another forum somebody gave me this link of their site, which may be of interest to members here and perhaps you can help him....
Cheers

http://www.stratopastor.org.uk/strato/amps/twoseriesfenders/twoseriesfenders.html

I purchased a 1986 Concert II 2 x10 about 4 years ago. Played it for a while - sounded great, but then I got a tax refund and popped for a 69 Super Reverb. Then I realized that I was getting old and my back was getting weaker and 60-pound amps were just no fun on the stairs.

I now have a 65 DRRI and two handbuilt single 12 amps running 6V6's AB - loud enough for my needs and loaded with neodymium magnet speakers, they're all nice one-handers at 36 pounds or less.

The Concert was recently repaired with a new power tranny and Varitrol, so the Drive Channel works properly. I purchased a Pharoah amps footswitch and stereo TRS cable. The tubes are TAD 6L6 GTR's with low hours. There's a cover - black with white Fender script.

I'm presently using the amp at practice only, just to keep the caps in shape.

Anybody care to make an offer? It really is a great amp - just more than I need.

PM me if you're interested. Thanks.

After some fairly pathetic and abortive attempts to join this exclusive club, i believe that I am now a genuine member. May I present the Twin Reverb II Head...

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderTwinReverbIIHead_4_1.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderTwinReverbIIHeadBack_3.jpg

I understand that these are not very common. :wink:

After some fairly pathetic and abortive attempts to join this exclusive club, i believe that I am now a genuine member. May I present the Twin Reverb II Head...

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderTwinReverbIIHead_4_1.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderTwinReverbIIHeadBack_3.jpg

I understand that these are not very common. :wink:

Nice! As an owner of a combo Twin Reverb II with 2 JBL E120s I can say I have been tempted on many occasions to take a saw to mine and make it into a head and cabinet. :lol: That is one heavy sucker.

Nice! As an owner of a combo Twin Reverb II with 2 JBL E120s I can say I have been tempted on many occasions to take a saw to mine and make it into a head and cabinet. :lol: That is one heavy sucker.

That would sure be the truth, the head is a heavy sucker all by itself! :shock:

Hi all, not to be too spammy... but I am just in the process of moving and downsizing little. I have a Princeton Reverb II in good condition, all original with the exception of the bias knob and baising point upgrades.
I find it to be an excellent recording and gigging amp on par with a Deluxe Reverb. Beautiful PtP wiring and solid wood construction. Feel free to contact me with any decent offers. Solid references available and please PM me for pics, telecon or anything else you might want. I am in Canada .
Thanks,
Brian

Twin Reverb II here. Purchased new in 1985, complete w/footswitch and cover. Gave 1/2 price, dealer was closing out their Fender inventory.

Are You Selling this amp???

Are You selling this Amp????

The latest glam-shots of my TRII with JBLs installed:


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/92BlueSi/Fender%20Twin%20Reverb%20II/Twin_Front.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/92BlueSi/Fender%20Twin%20Reverb%20II/Twin_Rear.jpg

The latest glam-shots of my TRII with JBLs installed:


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/92BlueSi/Fender%20Twin%20Reverb%20II/Twin_Front.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/92BlueSi/Fender%20Twin%20Reverb%20II/Twin_Rear.jpg

:shock: Holy crap! Now that's a beast! I bet it sounds great and will take all comers with a small pedalboard.

:shock: Holy crap! Now that's a beast! I bet it sounds great and will take all comers with a small pedalboard.

A beast, it is. When I was 22, I didn't even know it was heavy, or loud. I used to lug it up a flight of steps like a suitcase and in and out of a VW Rabbit on the weekends. At 44, my last gig cost me 8 weeks of physical therapy. I thought about selling it, but I'm exercising and staying in shape instead.

And, yes, it loves pedals!

Cool site. Got mine new in '85. I had ordered one in early '85 from a music store, put down a deposit, $750 total when it got it. Waited a month and no amp; the store said they were back-ordered ( this was when Fender was being sold). Waited another month, the store called the factory and They were told that it wasn't even built yet. While I was waiting, I came across 2 heads, brand new at another music store; they had been sitting there for over a year. Nobody wanted them. Best part, they wanted $350 for the head. Needless to say, I got my deposit back from store 1 (which just happened to be $350) and snatched it up. Had it since. Love it, although I would like to tweak it. I have been offered twice what I paid for it in recent years, but I would pay 2-3 times more to replace it with a new hand wired all tube amp. Any mods, tube swaps, etc. you have will be greatly appreciated, especially any that can make it sound more "Marshall-y ". ( and don't tell me to go buy a Marshall )
Thanx
JeffVincent

I'm joining. I have a 1982 Champ II and a 1983 Princeton Reverb II both close to mint. I just purchased the PR II today. I love these amps as much as any of my Silverface amps.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3373/cimg0679.jpg
By dada1952 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/dada1952) at 2011-09-03

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/7188/cimg0795d.jpg
By dada1952 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/dada1952) at 2011-12-23

I'm in. I have recently purchased a Concert, not sure of the year? Any pointers on how to find out?

Also does anyone have any good suggestions for replacement speakers? Was looking for an Alnico one but they don't seem to have power ratings high enough and mine's a 1x12.

Anyone have any feedback about the footswitch for these? I've read about a little and people say that change the sound of the amp quite a lot? Mine didn't come with one but I'm thinking of making one as there are schematics out there.

I'm in. I have recently purchased a Concert, not sure of the year? Any pointers on how to find out?

Also does anyone have any good suggestions for replacement speakers? Was looking for an Alnico one but they don't seem to have power ratings high enough and mine's a 1x12.

Anyone have any feedback about the footswitch for these? I've read about a little and people say that change the sound of the amp quite a lot? Mine didn't come with one but I'm thinking of making one as there are schematics out there.

Lucky you, I had one that I bought new in '82, unfortunately I sold it,great amp, my suggestion for a speaker? Eminence red ,white & blues.:wink:

Ask, and ye shall receive: Rivera was involved in Fender amp design 1981-1985. The tube amps he worked on were the Super Champ, Champ II, Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II, Twin Reverb II and the Concert (confusingly with no "II", although it's obviously the same species, although apparently Bill Hughes had a hand in it--maybe that's the reason). That's it. The Rivera-era solid state amps were designed by Bill Hughes (ex-Ampeg) and Bob Haigler (long-timer who worked on the Zodiac series of Fender SS amps).

Rivera also had a hand in the conception of the solid state amps of that era--the London, Montreux Showman and such, although the design was done by Bob Haigler and Bill Hodges (apparently having the initials "B.H." was a requirement in Fender Amps at that time...). None of the "Rivera-era" amps have red knobs, and none of the RK tube models are left over from that era. While I've never been able to find a specific, explicit mention of who designed the Super 60, the RK Dual Showman and the Champ 12 were done by Mark Wentling, formerly of Music Man, with input by Hughes. Wentling, Hughes and Haigler also did the SS "Fast Four" of that era. Remember, Rivera gets purged from Fender after the buy-out because he was backing a rival buy-out offer. Rivera's designs were old school PTP, were expensive to make, and apparently not very profitable for Fender, although they were well-received.

The name that I've never seen crop up in published history of Fender amps regarding the red knob is "Paul Rivera". What I have seen is that Fender wanted to make a clean break with the Rivera designs, and that the red knob amps were designed by people other than Rivera. If anyone has documentation that suggests otherwise, I'd love to see it. I'm not dissing RK amps, but for the sake of historical accuracy I'd like to stick to what's been documented. Fantastic info, TicTok.
Question. I just saw Paul Rivera interviewed and Paul stated he started
at Fender during May, 1981 and left in May 1984. Basically three years.

You listing to 1985 is a bit off. The reason I am making a point of it,
is that I see on EBay Fender amps from 1979 1981 1982 1985 1986 1987(+)
all incorrectly claiming Paul Rivera design.

Paul Rivera was initially courted by Fender during December 1980
and came on board at Fender in May. He felt squeeze in many ways
during early 1984 and left Fender before Summer, 1984.

So, if you or anyone might know about the amps that Paul worked on,
but also the last year of that amp's Rivera influence. Thank you. Toppscore :cool:

=====================================
I just purchased my first Rivera Designed amp:
1983 Fender 60w 1x12 Concert II ~ heavily modded to an expreme perfection.
Check it out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Concert-Rivera-Marshall-Guitar-Tube-Amp-Amplifier-Celestion-G12-Leather-/300648476303?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46000bae8f
Here's hoping to play with you guys, some day soon :grin:
Toppscore :cool:

How would you describe the tone of the Fender75 clean and dirty. Is the clean more blackface or tweed type? Tight or flubby bass? Highs? Do you typically use the dirty channel or a pedal with it?
The Fender 75 was before the Paul Rivera era.

I had a Fender 75 1x12 combo for over 20 years. The clean sound was fine, the overdrive channel was horrendous. :sad: The really unique feature was how they managed to get an amp about the size of a Princeton to actually weigh more than most Twins. :roll: It was always funny to watch someone try to pick it up the first time as their arm would nearly get pulled out out the socket.. ;-) I put wheels on mine. -- CS

IMHO, is not the Fender 75 and the Fender 140
designed by engineers before Paul Rivera arrived during may 1982?
and both the 75 & 140 shipped starting in 1979?
I could be wrong. PLMK. Thank you.

I just recently scored one of those in a 15" Combo...did some research on them, and while a lot of folks consider them Rivera era...He actually had nothing to do with it much...they were an Ed Jahns design...least that what I read in the Soul of Tone Amp book ??

+1. They were shipped from 1979-1982 before Paul Rivera went aboard Fender. I believe
that Rivera influenced his modifications on about five major production amps from 1983-1986:
Fender Twin Reverb II 2x12
Fender Twin Reverb II amp head
Fender Concert II 4x10
Fender Concert II 2x10
Fender Concert amp head
Fender Champ II
Fender Super Champ
Fender Princeton II
Fender Deluxe Reverb II
Fender Harvard Reverb II
Fender Yale Reverb II

I do not own any of the above, but have been searching for a good
amp from the Fender Paul Rivera 1983-1986 era.
I may be inaccurate regarding all of the models, but I was seeking
the models that Paul Rivera actually had influence over. I have read
that some amps were more "hands-on" for Paul Rivera, and other amps
were still under his direction.
================================

Fender 30
Fender 75
Fender 140

Reading amp listings, owners of the above 3 amps constantly claim their amp is from
the Fender Paul Rivera era, but these three were designed by the Ed Jahns engineering
and amp design group. There are other amps from the Ed Jahns group, as well,
but IMHO, I believe that the "Push/Pull" control technology was introduced by Ed Jahns
in 1978; and that technology later was enhanced by Paul Rivera in 1983-1986.

===============
Check out the three ten minute interviews of Paul Rivera on YouTube.
Paul Rivera clearly states what he did before, during and after Fender.
Paul states that he joined Fender during May 1982 and left in May 1985.
His influence towards Fender amps were specifically Fender 1983-1986 model years.

Well I thought they were the first Rivera design because I had read it somewhere as well, but as they were pretty much the first cab of the rank when they changed from Silverface back to Blackface in 1980, maybe it makes sense that Rivera was not yet at Fender... :confused:

They are an interesting amp because some people hate them with a passion and some people (like me) love 'em. I guess that could be due to the exact type of sound you prefer. :wink:

They are quite loved as the Paul Rivera era and the Ed Jahns era of amps
utilized the Push/Pull gain technology. This technology and design circuit
is very easy for knowledgable amp techs to modify in many ways.
Plus, it is/was easier to modifiy a 1980s amp than the vintage amps
from the 1948-1973 Fender era. That is sacrileges!!! :lol:

Like me, some like the Fender modded Paul Rivera & Ed Jahns era amps,
and also like the straight ahead vintage Fender amps. I have the older,
and am looking for something different.

UH-OH! The red knobs are sneaking in :shock:

I've read that these are Rivera designs as well (even if they were made after he left). Bought my Super 210 new, around 1990.

Still pretty much showroom fresh, since I'm primarily a living room player and don't take it out much (usually take a smaller/lighter amp, like my 25R, to friend's homes), but I love it! Clean for days, and sweet... and heavy (I put some casters on it).

Actually, the Rivera era ended quite quickly as the CBS sold out in 1985 to
an employee group. Paul Rivera did not fit in. By 1987, the post-Rivera
design amps began to have different circuits and features.

Many amp owners want to cling to "more Fender amp value" by claiming their amp
is a "Fender Paul Rivera Era Amp", and from what I have read,
there are "Fender Rivera Era Amp" claims from 1975-1995 :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Just think 1983-1986 and you will be safe.
Ultimately, all amps came from Leo Fender, and before that, Thomas Edison :shock:

Rivera was involved in Fender amp design 1981-1985. The tube amps he worked on were the Super Champ, Champ II, Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II, Twin Reverb II and the Concert (confusingly with no "II", although it's obviously the same species, although apparently Bill Hughes had a hand in it--maybe that's the reason). That's it. The Rivera-era solid state amps were designed by Bill Hughes (ex-Ampeg) and Bob Haigler (long-timer who worked on the Zodiac series of Fender SS amps).

Question, TikTok.
If Paul Rivera started at Fender during May 1982
and his designed amp influences started shipping in 1983,
how is it that your statement claims 1981?
I could be wrong, but I have been interested in this subject.
Thanks. Swingville

Swingville may want to read the entire thread before responding to old news.

Swingville may want to read the entire thread before responding to old news.

Hello. I am sorry. What did I miss?

Hello. I am sorry. What did I miss?

No biggie, but you were responding to a post from 2009. I, and most others, have long since been well informed that the red knob amps are not Rivera designs. In fact in the Super 60/112/210 thread one of the designers of the RK series provided a bunch of great info.


The RKs are great amps IMO, no matter who designed them :grin:

Just joined so this reply is probably way too late to be of any use but about a year ago I put a Celestion G12K100 in my Concert and cranked up my Valley Arts Bent top through it and the sound was unbelievable and loud. It still had the rich mid tones and that wonderful warm, bluesy clean sound that I have always wanted (controllable too) but when I put an 808 Tube Screamer in front of the clean channel I get a classic 70's lead sound.

If your still out there - hope it helps

I acquired a 1983 Fender Concert 1x12 in a trade. The grill cloth was missing and the speaker had been replaced, but it was otherwise all original and in good shape.

I swapped out the Cannabis Rex speaker that was in it with a Vintage 30. Has a great clean tone. Sounds good with a boost / od on the clean channel. Not liking the od channel much. Reverb is sweet.

C'mon, let's keep the Rivera train rolling! I have a Concert II 2x10 with stock EVs. Definitely heaver than and Eminence 1x12 model, but does that big twin speaker mid-bass thing! I thought I'd found my ultimate gigging clean amp, until I tried a SF Twin with JBLs today...does it ever end?

Here is my Deluxe Reverb II. Really like the amp

I've got the earliest of the Princeton II's see here (scroll down to the one in the "pink" room) http://www.stratopastor.org.uk/strato/amps/prii/gallery/modified/modified.html#top
It had the EV/Fender 12F when I got it, but have changed it out for a Greenback.** Paul Rivera didn't really "design" these amps in a literal sense. He was the sales and marketing director and it's probably more accurate to describe his role as "conceptual" as opposed to "design" Ed Jahns was responsible for the actual design of the amp(s).

Here is my Deluxe Reverb II. Really like the amp

My absolute fave of this line! I've had the Super Champ, Princeton Reverb II and the Deluxe Reverb II.

The DR II is the perfect size, weight and power for a big sound. I ran a Weber Sig 12B in it and it matched up very well with the amp. Cleans are superb as is the reverb. The OD can get a bit '80s buzzy but if you keep the gain lower it makes a terrific crunch sound.