Tell me about the Rivera Knucklehead K-100

[vultures]

I was looking around for high gain heads, and I was offered a 6505+ and a Rivera Knucklehead K-100. I haven't really heard anything about the Rivera, I'm reading up reviews, but I can get a clear description on what it can do. Is it a rock/blues kinda head? Can it do thrash and death metal? Anyone got clips?

 

[ianb]

the older knuckleheads (the ones with the grill cloth) will get into boosted jcm800 territory. the newer versions progressively got more gain and more bass.
this is a clip of an early 90's knucklehead with the gain all the way up:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3954917&q=hi

 

[vultures]

Hmm, I don't know what to think of that clip, I can't tell if it will work for me from it. You compared it to the JCM800, should I expect a Marshall kind of tone from it? If so, I might not go through with it. I could never quite get a tone I liked from Marshall's (besides with cleans).

 

[ianb]

:|::QBB:

Hmm, I don't know what to think of that clip, I can't tell if it will work for me from it. You compared it to the JCM800, should I expect a Marshall kind of tone from it? If so, I might not go through with it. I could never quite get a tone I liked from Marshall's (besides with cleans).

well the clean channel will do all manner of fender sounds but with the dirty channel they were shooting for a british type voicing.the low mids are different on the rivera when comparing it to a marshall.it sounds a little more growly compared to an 800.that's an older first gen knucklehead though. the newer ones are more in the mesa camp (but still have rivera's clean channel) and have quite a bit more gain so they might be more up your alley.

 

[vultures]

Hmm, are the re-sale values on it good?

Edit: What I mean is, are they really sought after?/In high demand?

 

[ianb]

:|::QBB:

Hmm, are the re-sale values on it good?

Edit: What I mean is, are they really sought after?/In high demand?

yeah, riveras in general hold their value pretty well.

 

[CaseyCor]

As far as I know, the newer it is, the more gain it has. I'd love to play one sometime, I've never got the chance.

 

[simbasa]

:|::QBB:

Hmm, I don't know what to think of that clip, I can't tell if it will work for me from it. You compared it to the JCM800, should I expect a Marshall kind of tone from it? If so, I might not go through with it. I could never quite get a tone I liked from Marshall's (besides with cleans).

I had a Rivera a few years ago. I can't remember which model but it was high gain. Pretty unremarkable for me -as I just remembered that I owned it! Voiced a little darker and Fenderish, I just could not get into it after a few months and traded it back in. You might like it if you don't care for Marshall style tone.

 

[richedie]

:|::QBB:

the older knuckleheads (the ones with the grill cloth) will get into boosted jcm800 territory. the newer versions progressively got more gain and more bass.
this is a clip of an early 90's knucklehead with the gain all the way up:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3954917&q=hi

NICE TONE! I have a 1998 K-100 with factory gain mod adding more low end and gain. It sounds so rich and throaty.

I also have a Hughes & Kettner Switchblade as my main gig rig but this Rivera may become number 1. I also may look into a more gain heavy River like the KTRE or used Knucklhead II. I am impressed.

I was going to look into an Egnater 100 for all the mods and stuff but I have teken a liking to the K-100.

ONe thing I really like on the Riveras is the send/return level controls on the effects loop. You can drastically change the character of the amp with these knobs! Plus, I use it like an attenuator so I can crank the master more.