NAD!!! Rivera 55 Twelve

[jgcable]

I had to buy it. Rivera Fifty Five Twelve. 55 watts. 12" speaker, 2 channels, reverb. 3 button footswitch with channel switching, clean boost and ninja boost.
I have had a few Rivera amps over the years. An R100-212 and a Suprema. I sold the R100-212 for only one reason. It must have weighed 80lbs. I sold the Suprema for the same reason. It was a 1 x 12 combo but it was huge. It was so heavy it had recessed handles on the sides. I dreaded taking it to gigs because I had to carry it up the stairs from my basement.

The 55-12 is small and portable. I would say it weighs about 40 lbs. It sounds fantastic just like all the R series amps. The perfect amount of gain for 80's metal and the clean channel has 2 modes. I would call them American and British. The clean is as good as just about any Fender tube amp. The gain channel reminds me of the Mesa Mark III.

Rivera amps have a really nice build quality and nice features. They are a few steps above most of the amps currently in the market. I would say the build quality is on par with Mesa Boogie. They are hand built in California too.

Its a cool little "boutique" combo that won't break your back.

[zeegler]

From what I understand, the R55 was essentially the combo version of the Knucklehead. The R55 later became the Chubster series of combos. I've been using a Knucklehead II for a number of years now and it is THE amp for me. I can't imagine ever needing anything else. At some point I'd like to pick up either a Chubster or an R55 so that I have something a little more portable.

[markD]

Right on!!!!

Zeegler is right - the R55 became the Chubster....with one BIG change. The R55 lacks a bit of bass response, so when the did the Chubster Rivera increased the depth of the cabinet.

The R55 is a very cool amp. MUCH easier to dial in than the previous generation of Rivera amps - the M/S and TBR (the one I use). I was SOOO pumped when I got my first R55. Enjoy it, John - it's a straight up KILLER amp!!

[Firebird V]

Awesome I miss my Rivera a bit but the Randall MTS stuff just does it for me.

[neilli]

I had the R100 and never liked the sound at all - too fendery for me, just not enough gain..

[markD]

Yeah, the older Riveras - TBR. M/S. R series - are not modern high-gain amps. The TBR is based on Paul's modification for a Fender Deluxe Reverb. He also worked on a pre-amp/power-amp rig for Fender that never went into production. The TBR is essentially that design brought to life. When Rivera developed the "SL" channel for the TBR, it was claimed to be a modded Marshall-type tone. I find it to be still "Fender" with higher gain options, but still it only goes as far as 80's metal....and is more compressed than distorted. The M/S series is a simplified TBR circuit in a standard head/combo format. It added a couple features, but none that took it past 80's metal.

The "R" series was Rivera's attempt to further simplify their circuit while accepting the burgeoning "vintage" amp resurgence in the early 90's. The cleans are FIRMLY based on Fender, and with the added "boost" (ninja boost on the M/S) it gives the opportunity to "drive" the power stage for a "class A" (not really since the amp ALWAYS stays class A/B) type response. The drive channel lost the gain1/gain 2 push-pull functions and went to a single "gain boost" to add extra drive. Again, the drive channel claimed "hot-rodded British" tones, but still reminds me of an overall Fender-type tone.

The difference? As we know, Marshalls use EL34 tubes and Celestion speakers. Fender uses 6L6 and "American" speakers - Jensen, Eminence, etc. Rivera brings some Marshall elements into a Fender-type circuit - EL34 tube and Celestion speakers. It works, but it makes for a tone that is neither Fender or Marshall. It's a tone that EXCELS for studio work, but comes across as "off" to a traditional guitarist.

When Rivera designed the Knucklehead II - THAT is when they entered the "modern high-gain" world. The KH Reverb, a K 'tre took it further.

[jgcable]

I just picked up a Rivera 1 x 12 cab loaded with a Celestion Gold. It has a very heavy metal grill on it and black carpet cover. Partially open in the back. Its not the matching cab for the R55 but they sure look nice together. I only am using the amp at home currently. When the cab came up I snagged it even though I don't need it. Rivera stuff is pretty hard to come by locally.

[jgcable]

Yeah, the older Riveras - TBR. M/S. R series - are not modern high-gain amps. The TBR is based on Paul's modification for a Fender Deluxe Reverb. He also worked on a pre-amp/power-amp rig for Fender that never went into production. The TBR is essentially that design brought to life. When Rivera developed the "SL" channel for the TBR, it was claimed to be a modded Marshall-type tone. I find it to be still "Fender" with higher gain options, but still it only goes as far as 80's metal....and is more compressed than distorted. The M/S series is a simplified TBR circuit in a standard head/combo format. It added a couple features, but none that took it past 80's metal.

The "R" series was Rivera's attempt to further simplify their circuit while accepting the burgeoning "vintage" amp resurgence in the early 90's. The cleans are FIRMLY based on Fender, and with the added "boost" (ninja boost on the M/S) it gives the opportunity to "drive" the power stage for a "class A" (not really since the amp ALWAYS stays class A/B) type response. The drive channel lost the gain1/gain 2 push-pull functions and went to a single "gain boost" to add extra drive. Again, the drive channel claimed "hot-rodded British" tones, but still reminds me of an overall Fender-type tone.

The difference? As we know, Marshalls use EL34 tubes and Celestion speakers. Fender uses 6L6 and "American" speakers - Jensen, Eminence, etc. Rivera brings some Marshall elements into a Fender-type circuit - EL34 tube and Celestion speakers. It works, but it makes for a tone that is neither Fender or Marshall. It's a tone that EXCELS for studio work, but comes across as "off" to a traditional guitarist.

When Rivera designed the Knucklehead II - THAT is when they entered the "modern high-gain" world. The KH Reverb, a K 'tre took it further.

I agree Mark, the more and more I play this amp it reminds me of Fender all the way. The cleans are Fender, at low to moderate volume the gain channels sound more like hot rodded Fender than hot rodded Marshall to me until you turn the amp way up. It gets more and more Marshally the louder it is. Its an absolutely beautiful sounding amp in very respect. Boutique sounding all the way.

[markD]

I just picked up a Rivera 1 x 12 cab loaded with a Celestion Gold. It has a very heavy metal grill on it and black carpet cover. Partially open in the back. Its not the matching cab for the R55 but they sure look nice together. I only am using the amp at home currently. When the cab came up I snagged it even though I don't need it. Rivera stuff is pretty hard to come by locally.

John - I call dibs on that cab if you ever sell it. My Riveras are the black carpet/metal grille - and those 1x12 cabs are HARD to find!!!! In the meantime, enjoy it. They sound great!!!

[markD]

I agree Mark, the more and more I play this amp it reminds me of Fender all the way. The cleans are Fender, at low to moderate volume the gain channels sound more like hot rodded Fender than hot rodded Marshall to me until you turn the amp way up. It gets more and more Marshally the louder it is. Its an absolutely beautiful sounding amp in very respect. Boutique sounding all the way.

Oh, for sure. Rivera is like a weird Mesa MK meets JMP - in a way. I totally dig the tone Paul developed. I feel bad because they amps are SOOOOOOO well built, but they are their own thing and a ton of people don't "get" the Rivera sound.

If you haven't seen this, check it out. I am REALLY considering getting one. This is really the Rivera recipe crystal clear. My M/S can draw a more direct line to this amp (via the TBR) the R-series began a slight departure but you'll still hear it in this beast....

Check out the videos too....

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Rivera68Dlx