Anyone here use or played through a RIVERA S120? M100? m60?

[Firebird V]

What is the Gain like on these? Can it do metal?

[sl2lover]

I play KR100 and its good with metal! Though I'm getting a Ktre next! Those are evil!!

[markD]

i have used an s120 and an m100 since 1990. i have never felt the need to replace them. they have outlasted all my boogies, marshalls, and soldanos. the gain is perfect to me, but a lot of people say there isn't enough for metal. i disagree. listen to skid row's "slave to the grind", the scorpion's "savage amusement", everything by saigon kick. i love my rivera's!!!

[markD]

oh and i plug straight into the front of the amp. no extra gain pedals.

[Firebird V]

Yeah Slave To The Grind is the one album i know they used these on but I was not sure if they used any pedals in front or in the loop.

Hey Mark. Does it have more gain then the Marshall 3203?

[markD]

yes. but it is different. the gain on the rivera stays VERY tight. it doesn't get that mushy. i can play an open Cadd9 and i can hear every note clearly, but then do a solo and have the needed sustain to make the lead sing.

but, i do NOT shred. i am more of a player like michael schenker.

[Firebird V]

cool. it sounds like i am going to like it. thanks! I will keep you posted.

[markD]

awesome. keep me posted.

[toejam]

Saigon Kick! Didn't Jason use some kind of Boss OD pedal with his?

[markD]

when they were recording "water" i talked with him in depth about his rig. he used the SD-1 for a solo boost, but it was not always on.

[toejam]

Cool. I knew I remembered some kind of yellow Boss pedal in his rig.

[fuel0707]

Another M-60 user here. I've had mine since about 1997 (got it used) and it's been a great amp. All I've done is replace a few tubes.

As for tones, I don't think it would really do the heavy scooped-mid thing but I think it could cover a ton of different rock/metal bases. If you want a true, balls-out made-for-metal Rivera, you should check out the new Knucklehead Tre. That amp was specifically voiced for metal and to top Mesa's Dual and Triple Rectos.

But if you aren't looking for that super-extreme, non-dynamic metal tone, I think the M/S series amps would be a great choice. Plus, you'd get a clean channel that actually sounds great.

[Firebird V]

Cool. I am really looking for it to do 80's metal tones.

[fuel0707]

If you want an '80's rock/metal tone, go to Rivera's site and look through the owner's manual for the M/S-series amps and look for one called something like, "Plexi" or "Modded plexi". With just a little more gain dialed in from Rivera's setting, it really gives you a good tone for '80's style stuff. At least it sounds that way on my M-60 and I would think that it would be similar for the bigger amps in the M/S series.

[Firebird V]

yeah i have the pdf manual and i see that setting. cool. thanks.