Amp opinions needed

I'm looking at a used Rivera 55-12 that's at a local store here in town and it seems to be in pretty decent (not mint by any means), but functional condition. No gig scars but it seems to have been in a damp basement for a while-some corrosion on the jacks ect. in back, the front looks pretty clean. This seems to a versatile little gigger but I didn't ( and probably won't) have a chance to crank it up. What's the info on these? I have ZERO experience with Rivera gear.... It seems to be a little spitfire of an amp, what do you think??

I own a Rivera Rick Nielsen amp which is a 55/12 combo with a black and silver checkerboard paint job on it.. It's a cool amp. Sounds like a Silverface Deuluxe Reverb with a Tubescreamer in front of it. I don't use it for months at a time but everytime I get it out it works and sounds good enough to change my mind about selling it.

Not as good sounding as my Egnater stuff though!

out..

Jeff.

Screw that! Hold out for a Metaltronix!!!

They are great amps!...well built, and sound great!

i am a big fan of rivera amps. i would put my bm60 head up against any booteek amp any day. make sure the rust is superficial and not on the trannies too. download the manual from the rivera web site.

Thanks for the feedback guys- Well, I pulled the trigger and brought it home, spent most of the evening abusing my eardrums in the basement and DAMN it sounds good. This could be (will be) my #1 gigging amp. Shimmering, sparkly cleans and a great crunchy Marshall lead sound. I haven't played such a user friendly amp in a LONG time. I haven't used an el34 amp in ages, guess I should find some spare tubes.... /emoticons/default_blink.png

Can somebody tell me about the build quality of the 55/12? Years ago, I was interested, based on net sound clips. Went to check out a used one, and the speaker baffle was knocked loose inside the combo cabinet. Overall, the cabinet construction looked cheesy to me, and I did not bother to plug it in.

What's the cabinet, chassis, and internal wiring really like?

I'm gonna take it apart this weekend and give it an hour or so of TLC, so I'll post a reply when done.... /emoticons/default_blink.png

I've never been a big fan of "carpet" covered amps...Looks cheap and after awhile they get all "knappy" like a bad afro but it's whats inside that counts and the newer ones are tolex covered but..thats just a cosmetic opinion...great amps!

I don't know when they started using carpet but I had an R-30 that had tolex and was great looking. Excellent build quality inside and out, I ended up selling it because it didn't have a cab extension jack. Probably shouldn't have, but I love my Delta Blues now and the 50 watts is more than enough for me now.

If I ever had the need for a really versatile amp (ie. gigging, which I don't do) I would defintely look at Rivera again but probably go for an R-55 or M60 at that point.

Mine has tolex on it..

Mine may have also been owned by Rick. I took it to TF3 to get it signed (And it was used in the battle of the bands thing there..) and while signing it Rick asked me where I got it and said that somebody had stole some stuff out of their warehouse including two of these amps. I gave him the serial number to check it out but either way he said he said not to worry about it and that he was glad it was in a good home.

And it's not for sale now Kilroy but I will remember you if I change my mind.

out..

Jeff.

Eric,

Nice score. I used to have an R-30 and Chubster (wish I still had the Chubster sometimes). The R-55 will give you nice Fender BF & Marshall modded tones in one box.

For tubes, call Rivera and they'll set you up. Many times Paul himself will answer the phone. Or, you could just head on down to Savage and Jeff & Casey @ Savage Audio will take care of you.

If you have any questions about settings, let me know. I remember how to use those amps well (but my playing still sucks).

Edited to add: as far as the cabinet, Rivera contracts their cabinet building to the same maker as Bogner, FWIW.

I'm still waiting for my S-120 head to get back from Rivera. I am having it gone through and brought up to current specs but it sounded great even before I shipped it off and should sound even better when I get it back!...I got it from a fellow HFC'er but I'll be damned if I remember his monicker here....frickin "oldtimers" disease I guess? /emoticons/default_blink.png

Well, I pulled the tubes and vacuumed out the 1/2 inch (WTF?) of dust that was in the bottom of the amp and found the reverb bag and a little eight legged resident, I cleaned out 8 yrs of cobwebs from around the transformers, I know its gotta be around 8 cuz the chassis has 2/97 inked on it and the amp shows almost no signs of use, only a couple of scuffs on the metal corners. The black tolex cleaned up like new. I don't think that the chassis had ever been removed (before today) and it has- not 2, or 4, but 8 bolts holding it in. She's a brick house, baby. The only disappointment was seeing all the jacks, pots and tube sockets are pcb mounted, but the pcb is rock solid in there and all the pots were right out in the open, easy to spray out with a little contact cleaner. It didn't need it but I was already in there, so why not? All in all, I think Rivera may be to the amp world what Hamer is to guitars- professional quality gear and hardly anyone knows it.

I think that I may need an attenuator though, like most tube amps it sounds better and better as you turn it up. Last night I had it crankin' with the master at about 6 or 7, the gain dimed (of course) on the brit channel and my wife was at the top of the stairs SCREAMING ( I didn't notice for a while , she wouldn't come downstairs with it so loud) yes, screaming at me to turn it down because all the pictures were vibrating off of the walls, the baby was having a fit, and /emoticons/default_blink.png "GODDAMN IT- WHAT HAS GOTTEN IN TO YOU!!!????" HAHAHHAHAHHAAAAAAA!!!! My ears are still ringing....and she's still pissed off....but it is SO worth it

EXCELLENT! Mia is being raised on good tone. Now I gotta hear this Rivera, shall I bring a box-o-beer over soon?

Joe