Rivera a good alternative to Fender amps?
- Thread starter james lee
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- Oct 6, 2003
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I've played through a number of Rivera's and I like them. Some of the combo's sound really good with a Tele.
jklotz
Tele-Afflicted
Don't know what your budget is, but check out Red Plate amps. Not cheap, but some of the best I've heard. Oh, & made in the good ol US of A!
I own a Rivera S120-210. I got it to replace a slew of rack gear I used to drag around. I put a delay or a multi-effects unit in the loop and go to town. It sounds especially good with a Tele or a Gretsch. It uses EL 34's rather then 6L6's, so there are some differences. Using the "British" channel, it reminds me of a Hiwatt. I sold a '66 Super Reverb to buy it. Do I have any regrets about that? Not really. (But I also have a couple of other early SF Fenders)
I'd encourage you to try one out and see if it gets the sound you're after.
I'd encourage you to try one out and see if it gets the sound you're after.
twangster2
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May I suggest step away from the pocket book.
There are alternatives that will not break the bank.
Sure Rivera makes a great amp.
But...
Peavey Classic series is made in USA and sound great with teles used you can find these at a price that won't be too hard on your pocket book
There are alternatives that will not break the bank.
Sure Rivera makes a great amp.
But...
Peavey Classic series is made in USA and sound great with teles used you can find these at a price that won't be too hard on your pocket book
BiggerJohn
Friend of Leo's
I think Rivera amps really go head to head with Mesas more than Fenders. Multiple channels, lots of gain, effects loops, etc.
63dot
Friend of Leo's
To me, the allure of Fender amps is the Fender amp tone. There are plenty of great sounding amps, and probably a lot of amps that are built better than modern Fender. However, Fender amps still have a certain tone.
I like the Peavey suggest though. Very nice american made amps.
I like the Peavey suggest though. Very nice american made amps.
fezz parka
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Riveras are swiss army knife amps. Does a lot of stuff in a mediocre way.
Singin' Dave
Friend of Leo's
IMO a Chubster, Pubster, and almost all other Rivera variants blow away a Peavey Classic.
May be my ears, but I agree they're much more in the Mesa Studio camp - darn good BF"ish" cleans (and build quality) that can become nicely rude with a channel switch, a knob tweak, power scaling or a gain stage flip, and most in between. All at your fingers if you know what your doing.
Paul knew what he was doing with the Super Champ, and II series with Fender. He carried it on with his early M series amps, which are HUGE sounding (and heavy!) and have flexibility and tone Hartley cound only dream of.
And they ain't that expensive. A good Riv can be had for $6-700.
Check 'em out is all I say.
May be my ears, but I agree they're much more in the Mesa Studio camp - darn good BF"ish" cleans (and build quality) that can become nicely rude with a channel switch, a knob tweak, power scaling or a gain stage flip, and most in between. All at your fingers if you know what your doing.
Paul knew what he was doing with the Super Champ, and II series with Fender. He carried it on with his early M series amps, which are HUGE sounding (and heavy!) and have flexibility and tone Hartley cound only dream of.
And they ain't that expensive. A good Riv can be had for $6-700.
Check 'em out is all I say.
krisls
Tele-Holic
Oh Dear
I am going to blow a raspberry at Uncle Fezzter.
Swiss Army knife mediocre amp? Sigh.
I have owned and gigged a Rivera R55-112 for over 10 years now. I sold a Boogie Mk111 to get it, I have owned a bunch of amps though I admit no vintage Fenders but I don't count mid 70's as truly vintage.
The Rivera will do almost any sound with a bit of tweaking, so yeah okay, Swiss Army knife of sorts, but mediocre I don't think so. It outplays almost every modern Fender and most other brands and matches the Boogie but not as OTT as they can be. I would not even put a Peavey in the same picture. Quality build and reliability with great sound that can do almost anything you want from Screaming Fender cleans to a rich dark Vox-ish grind.
It won't match every amp in every situation but for me, a play whatever is needed person, it does exactly that far better than any other amp I have found. If I had a whole bunch I might say this is better for that or that one here, but Swiss Army knives have that rep for a reason.
Kristina
I am going to blow a raspberry at Uncle Fezzter.
Swiss Army knife mediocre amp? Sigh. I have owned and gigged a Rivera R55-112 for over 10 years now. I sold a Boogie Mk111 to get it, I have owned a bunch of amps though I admit no vintage Fenders but I don't count mid 70's as truly vintage.
The Rivera will do almost any sound with a bit of tweaking, so yeah okay, Swiss Army knife of sorts, but mediocre I don't think so. It outplays almost every modern Fender and most other brands and matches the Boogie but not as OTT as they can be. I would not even put a Peavey in the same picture. Quality build and reliability with great sound that can do almost anything you want from Screaming Fender cleans to a rich dark Vox-ish grind.
It won't match every amp in every situation but for me, a play whatever is needed person, it does exactly that far better than any other amp I have found. If I had a whole bunch I might say this is better for that or that one here, but Swiss Army knives have that rep for a reason.
Kristina
StephaninMelb
Banned
Peavey Vintage 410
The early 70s Peavey Vintage 410 is a good alternative as an amp coming close to a Fender Twin. The best version are the 1st release with all tube pre-amp. They are an under-valued amp and one in good condition is killer. Better than the later Peavey Classic combos. Vintages are starting to get hard to find. They came in a 2 x 12 combo (212), 4 x 10 combo (410) and 6 x 10 combo (610) versions. They are known for their over-size Shumacher transformers. Vintages were used by players like Pete Townshend and Gary Rossington (Lynard Skynyrd), who also used the earlier Peavey 150W MACE (6 x 6L6) tube heads. Peavey tube amps were pretty much the standard @ that time with performers in Southern rock, but also common in classic rock. Note that the Vintage tends to get confused with the Peavey Classic, which was produced in the 80s. Some Fender amp owners ratbag them, but checking with any owner and you'll find they really are very nice amps. (the old Fender - Peavey competition)
There are a few for sale on eBay at the moment:
(1) Peavey Vintage 212 - Buy It Now $599
(2) Peavey Vintage 212 - Buy It Now $700
(3) Peavey Vintage 410 - Buy It Now $600
Peavey Vintage 410 Short Specification
Narrow panel, diagonal tweed covering
4 x 10″
110 watts
Power Tubes
....4 x 6L6GC
Pre-amp Tubes
...3 x 12AX7
Four inputs (two normal, two bright)
Controls: Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, Master, Reverb
Spring Reverb
The early 70s Peavey Vintage 410 is a good alternative as an amp coming close to a Fender Twin. The best version are the 1st release with all tube pre-amp. They are an under-valued amp and one in good condition is killer. Better than the later Peavey Classic combos. Vintages are starting to get hard to find. They came in a 2 x 12 combo (212), 4 x 10 combo (410) and 6 x 10 combo (610) versions. They are known for their over-size Shumacher transformers. Vintages were used by players like Pete Townshend and Gary Rossington (Lynard Skynyrd), who also used the earlier Peavey 150W MACE (6 x 6L6) tube heads. Peavey tube amps were pretty much the standard @ that time with performers in Southern rock, but also common in classic rock. Note that the Vintage tends to get confused with the Peavey Classic, which was produced in the 80s. Some Fender amp owners ratbag them, but checking with any owner and you'll find they really are very nice amps. (the old Fender - Peavey competition)
There are a few for sale on eBay at the moment:
(1) Peavey Vintage 212 - Buy It Now $599
(2) Peavey Vintage 212 - Buy It Now $700
(3) Peavey Vintage 410 - Buy It Now $600
Peavey Vintage 410 Short Specification
Narrow panel, diagonal tweed covering
4 x 10″
110 watts
Power Tubes
....4 x 6L6GC
Pre-amp Tubes
...3 x 12AX7
Four inputs (two normal, two bright)
Controls: Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, Master, Reverb
Spring Reverb
Attachments
Fret Wilkes
Friend of Leo's
Love the handle on the TOP of that 6 x 10!
