hi gainer to compliment rivera??

[garfight]

hey guys- i have a rivera that i love (m100) but am starting up a new band and need a good hi gainer to compliment the m100.the budget looks like it will be 1200 bucks or so and im looking to buy used.
it needs to be a head (preferably 100 or greater watts) and one good gain channel is fine.ive been looking at maybe a tremoverb or soldano but hate fizz and like definition---- any ideas ?

 

[Erik]

You know, Tremoverbs and Soldano's can be dialed in without fizz. My first thought was some type of Recto or other lower mid focused amp.

 

[riverastoasters]

Originally posted by garfight
hey guys- i have a rivera that i love (m100) but am starting up a new band and need a good hi gainer to compliment the m100.the budget looks like it will be 1200 bucks or so and im looking to buy used.

The obvious question: What about a high gain Rivera like K2 or KHR? On the other hand, I can see if you want something different to go with the M100.

The next obvious thing would be a Recto.

 

[garfight]

Originally posted by Erik
You know, Tremoverbs and Soldano's can be dialed in without fizz. My first thought was some type of Recto or other lower mid focused amp.

thanks for the input-im in the middle of nowhere and will have to buy it unheard

 

[garfight]

Originally posted by riverastoasters
The obvious question: What about a high gain Rivera like K2 or KHR? On the other hand, I can see if you want something different to go with the M100.

The next obvious thing would be a Recto.

i had a kh2 but just couldnt get along with the gain channel i loved the tonestack just not the character of the gain (if that makes any sense)

are the gain channels on the tremoverb and dual rectifier different? ive read that the tremo is quite a bit smoother and has a better clean - is that the case?

 

[Erik]

No problem...most people complain about the fizz from high gain amps because they don't push the power sections hard enough. Check out a Trem-O-verb, Single Rec, or Dual Rec. Keep the gain below 1~2 o'clock...get liberal with the mids, keep the presence down under 1:00, and get the master to at least 9:00...no fizz. (Just make sure you have ear protection) The amps will let out a pretty good roar and sound nice and pissed off...but with those settings and the volume turned down...it will be fizzy/buzzy/assish sounding.

The Soldano will be less fizzy at lower volumes, but (IMO) lack some bottom end until you get it heated up with volume.

 

[garfight]

Originally posted by Erik
No problem...most people complain about the fizz from high gain amps because they don't push the power sections hard enough. Check out a Trem-O-verb, Single Rec, or Dual Rec. Keep the gain below 1~2 o'clock...get liberal with the mids, keep the presence down under 1:00, and get the master to at least 9:00...no fizz. (Just make sure you have ear protection) The amps will let out a pretty good roar and sound nice and pissed off...but with those settings and the volume turned down...it will be fizzy/buzzy/assish sounding.

The Soldano will be less fizzy at lower volumes, but (IMO) lack some bottom end until you get it heated up with volume.

which soldano do you have experience with? ive been kinda looking at the avenger but but it seems like theres not many of em around.

 

[garfight]

anyone else got any ideas??

 

[TechpriesT]

Randall RM-100, Genz Benz El Diablo-100, Maybe a hughes and kettner warp x...

 

[dinrodef]

Originally posted by garfight
anyone else got any ideas??

Yeah man I own a few riveras including a sedona 100 and the knucklehead reverb. Channel 3 of the KHR is probably what you mean by high gain... but I think you could push that m100 into KHR territory with a nice clean boost pedal. I practice on my sedona with a zvex super duper pedal and can go into Slayer and Lamb of God territory with just the pedal.

Just a thought... but maybe you can finesse that amp you've already got and save some money.

 

[Phil M]

I mostly play a Rivera K-55, but if I felt like I needed more gain and a different sound, I would go for a Mesa Single Rectifier (the 50 watter).

I have never been able to find one to try, but I was always curious about the Rivera Bonehead amps for high gain.

 

[Erik]

Originally posted by garfight
which soldano do you have experience with? ive been kinda looking at the avenger but but it seems like theres not many of em around.

I dug the Soldano with the depth mod.

 

[rwe333]

VHT Deliverance...

 

[aleclee]

I've owned a couple Soldanos and loved the high gain tones I got out of 'em. If you're looking for that "Marshall about to explode" tone, it's a great choice.

Dunno where the 100W requirement comes from but IMO the Hot Rod 50 is a great budget alternative to the Avenger. 100W might be louder but it doesn't sound like you're looking for an amp with a lot of headroom.

 

[Erik]

Originally posted by aleclee
I've owned a couple Soldanos and loved the high gain tones I got out of 'em. If you're looking for that "Marshall about to explode" tone, it's a great choice.

Dunno where the 100W requirement comes from but IMO the Hot Rod 50 is a great budget alternative to the Avenger. 100W might be louder but it doesn't sound like you're looking for an amp with a lot of headroom.

Plus the Soldano (or any "Marshall" type amp) may not compliment the Rivera as much as an amp with a lower mid focus. I love amps with that upper mid voicing, but having a lower mid amp with an upper mid focused amp makes for a huge sound when EQ'd properly.

 

[garfight]

thanks for the help guys- ive decided to go with a recitifier of some sort.i think all the comments about it needing to be a low mid focused amp are right on the money.

 

[Erik]

Just remember one thing...Recto's are not plug-n-play type amps. IMO, that is one of the biggest reasons people hate them...it will take a little time to dial them in. When you dial it in at a certain volume, then change that volume...it will sound like a completely different amp. (Most tube amps are like that, but in my experience the Recto's are exponentially more like that...) If you go the Recto route, try dialing it in at least at practice volume with the rest of the band.

 

[riverastoasters]

Originally posted by Phil M
I mostly play a Rivera K-55, but if I felt like I needed more gain and a different sound, I would go for a Mesa Single Rectifier (the 50 watter).

I have never been able to find one to try, but I was always curious about the Rivera Bonehead amps for high gain.

Bonehead has a lot of gain, but to me it is not really high gain in the "nu-metal" flavor sense like K2 or Uberschall.

It has a lot of gain, but it's more like just bigger and bigger sounding. It has lots of mids. It's fiery and hot sounding.

I suppose if you put the sub on it, it would crush cars about as well as anything though.

 

[Baba]

Originally posted by Erik
Just remember one thing...Recto's are not plug-n-play type amps. IMO, that is one of the biggest reasons people hate them...it will take a little time to dial them in. When you dial it in at a certain volume, then change that volume...it will sound like a completely different amp. (Most tube amps are like that, but in my experience the Recto's are exponentially more like that...) If you go the Recto route, try dialing it in at least at practice volume with the rest of the band.

Actually Erik, I've found that if you follow the manual, it makes it easy, and the tone controls are set up a bit unconventionally, so you have to open your mind a bit when tweaking.

FWIW, I just sold a KH reverb because I'm happier with my 3 channel Dual Rec.

This week!

 

[Erik]

Originally posted by Baba
Actually Erik, I've found that if you follow the manual, it makes it easy, and the tone controls are set up a bit unconventionally, so you have to open your mind a bit when tweaking.

+1. The unconventional setup of the tone controls trips up a lot of people.