Where does the Rivera Knucklehead k100 belong? what kind of amp is it? what amps (from other manufactures) would you compare it to?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DensePlant
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DensePlant said:
Any advice on settings for the fx loop? I think my send is at 3 and my return is at two.
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Yeah, that's nice and low. I run my KII with the send and receive levels both at 3. Keep in mind that even when you do this, it still wont sound as good as it does at higher volumes, but it's still a vast improvement.

I suggest boosting the front end with an OD pedal. I use mine with a TS-9 level all the way up, and the drive all the way down, tone set to taste.
 
DensePlant said:
how does it compare with things like the slo100, shiva, buddah, be-100 or otehr hot rodded marshall types?
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It´s definitely not as hot rodded as some of those. It has enough drive for rock soloing but that´s about it.

You are already turning it down with the loop, by the way. I must have missed that you already have one of these?
 
ZEEGLER said:
Yeah, that's nice and low. I run my KII with the send and receive levels both at 3. Keep in mind that even when you do this, it still wont sound as good as it does at higher volumes, but it's still a vast improvement.

I suggest boosting the front end with an OD pedal. I use mine with a TS-9 level all the way up, and the drive all the way down, tone set to taste.
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I'm running a klon type (tumnus deluxe)
Dave L said:
It´s definitely not as hot rodded as some of those. It has enough drive for rock soloing but that´s about it.

You are already turning it down with the loop, by the way. I must have missed that you already have one of these?
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Yes, but I wanted to get more information on it, as British voiced amps are new for me (usually use American), and I wanted to know how it compares to amps people say similar things about.
 
I personally wouldn't put the Knucklehead drive channel in the Marshall or JCM800 bracket, or anywhere near really. If anything it's closer to an Orange Rockerverb circuit-wise, with a fairly unique tone-stack that gives more mids and a much more extended low end/deeper low bump.
 
DensePlant said:
I'm running a klon type (tumnus deluxe)

Yes, but I wanted to get more information on it, as British voiced amps are new for me (usually use American), and I wanted to know how it compares to amps people say similar things about.
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What power tubes are you running? Most Knuckleheads seem to be available in either EL34 or 6L6 versions.
 
^ Wait. You already have one?


Kelly said:
Mick uses the KR7. He used the Fryette/VHT Ultralead until he teamed up with Rivera and helped design his own amp.
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Thanks for correcting me Kelly.
 
Nolly said:
I personally wouldn't put the Knucklehead drive channel in the Marshall or JCM800 bracket, or anywhere near really. If anything it's closer to an Orange Rockerverb circuit-wise, with a fairly unique tone-stack that gives more mids and a much more extended low end/deeper low bump.
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This can definitely be the case, I've never played the Rockerverb but it feels like we're describing the same thing but starting from different points.
 
I have a K100 and a K-Tre. The K100 The very sensitive to small changes in EQ. The bottom end is massive, mine like Celestion K85's. There is enough gain for Marshall territory. you really have to get it a little loud, and adjust the volume of the loop. The voicing is definitely British, but not exactly like a typical Marshall but it is in the hotrodded Marshall cagegory as a lot of others.

the cleans are 100% awesome. Fender cleans for sure and they can be pushed for a decent drive with the knobs and a boost.
 
I gigged a K55 for a yew years in the late 90s. As stated several times already, the clean channel is outstanding. The dirt channel is more along the lines of a Marshall Jubilee. A little darker and sweeter than your typical JCM800. With the boost off you can get good ACDC levels of gain. With the boost on you get slightly more that the Marshalls of the time. It takes pedals extremely well. If you listen to the second Brother Cane album, that is the sound of the Rivera K100.
 
SFW said:
I gigged a K55 for a yew years in the late 90s. As stated several times already, the clean channel is outstanding. The dirt channel is more along the lines of a Marshall Jubilee. A little darker and sweeter than your typical JCM800. With the boost off you can get good ACDC levels of gain. With the boost on you get slightly more that the Marshalls of the time. It takes pedals extremely well. If you listen to the second Brother Cane album, that is the sound of the Rivera K100.
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any advice for the clean channel? (it keeps getting extremely gainy)
 
Im sorry I don’t remember which model Rivera it was, but I played a show back in the day with another band at one of the larger local venues and their guitarist had a Rivera head and 4x12 and his tone was just spectacular. That was back in my Mark-III days and I liked my tone a lot. The Rivera had plenty of gain to plug straight in - no front end boost necessary. But it was definitely less compressed, more open, and just plain ‘bigger’ sounding. That was the first time I had heard anything live in person that really got my attention and started the never-ending tone quest!
 
I've jumped the loop with mine and used the return as an attenuater with great results on mine. It's a tube buffered effects loop, so pushing it can add some magic. Other than that, it's a Fender clean and Marshallish lead. The original Marshall circuit's were based on the Fender Bassman, so there is common ground on all of them. The Rivera favors the American side of this circuit in voicing, but is pretty close.

The K-cab I have from this era is amazing also. It has pre-bullshit Celestion Vintage 30s and really works well with this amp. I feel like this amp was designed for V30s, unlike Marshalls. I wish I could find the bottom K-cab to complete the stack!
 
PDC said:
it was definitely less compressed, more open, and just plain ‘bigger’ sounding. That was the first time I had heard anything live in person that really got my attention and started the never-ending tone quest!
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That's the first descriptor I would use for my Rivera amps. I frequently have 4 amps going at the same time, and just switch back and forth between them all, and the Riveras just sound way more up front and definitely BIGGER than the others.
 
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ZEEGLER said:
That's the first descriptor I would use for my Rivera amps. I frequently have 4 amps going at the same time, and just switch back and forth between them all, and the Riveras just sound way more up front and definitely BIGGER than the others.
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YES!! And although the overall EQ and tone are very different, I get the same sense when I hear Splawn amps. Less compression, more open, and just a ‘Big’ sound. I am now a Splawn player. But I’ll never forget that guy’s tone through his Rivera. It helped that he was also a very good player, great sense of groove and really in the pocket. He really had his rig and his style dialed in. Sent me to the woodshed!
 
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