Rivera Knucklehead

kent · #1 07-02-2002, 02:41 AM

I know there are some rabid Rivera users in this forum, but does anyone have any hands-on experience with the Knucklehead?

K

Gresh · #2 07-02-2002, 10:18 AM

I am a former Rivera user (therapy is going good, thanks). I didn't have a knucklehead but I have played around with one. What exactly are you wanting to know?

Don't hesitate to call them, their customer service is legendary, and there is a good chance that Paul himself will answer the phone. He always personally responded to my e-mails.

dannybigtime · #3 07-11-2002, 01:02 PM

I just tried on the other day at Rudy's Music on 48th Street in NYC. I used an Ernie Ball EVH guitar they had and compared it to the brand new Hughes & KEttner Triamp MK II. I thought the Knucklehead kind of sounded like the old Peavey Ultra Plus amps. I hate to make such a horrible comparison, but it is how it sounded to me. THe rep and I both thought the Triamp MK II kicked it's butt...

Gresh · #4 07-11-2002, 02:45 PM

In defense of Rivera amps, I'll say this...

It takes a long time to really fully grasp how all the eq and gain structures interact. His designs are horribly complex...at least the TBR, M and S series amps are. No joke, it took me at least a month to really be able to make it do what I wanted...once you invest the time only then can you really hear what the amp can do. This is unfortunate for those who can't really do that and are forced to try it out in shop, but these are not your basic "turn everything to 10 and let's go" amps. Mike Kenneally used to be a Knucklehead user, now he uses another model, but a Rivera nonetheless.

larsmars · #5 07-15-2002, 05:12 AM

On the rivera web site you can audition this amp.
Settings are written down.

vaijem777 · #6 07-15-2002, 12:45 PM

I just got my TBR-1SL on Friday (thanks Chris!), and I'm in love! I took a half day as soon as it got here and spent the rest of the day (from 1PM till about 8PM) tweaking it. It's EXACTLY what I've been looking for! It has all the versatility of my Boogie Mark IV, and then some! From Fender clean to Boogie/Marshall down & dirty, it nails it all. The bells & whistles are many, and I'm sure there is still a lot of untapped potential that I have yet to discover. Out of all the amps I've had, this is one of the only ones that I'd call a true "keeper". Great stuff!

Kremlin · #7 07-15-2002, 03:50 PM

Could you please make some sound samples? I'm a Mark IV owner right now and I'm also thinking about migrating to the TBRSL1.

bob oakman · #8 07-17-2002, 01:36 AM

Now people!! Don't be buying up all the TBRs! They don't make 'em any more and I want another one.

Kent, I heard a friend play through a Knucklehead and I thought it sounded GREAT. like many others here, my experience is with the TBR-1Sl, which is a bit more complex, but I hear that it sounds close to the Knucklehead. if that is the case, I would recomend a test drive... at least.