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Post by andyhowell on Jun 14, 2013 13:32:07 GMT
A PA is one of the most useful things a man can own :-)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2013 21:46:39 GMT
A PA is one of the most useful things a man can own :-) Only so long as you've got a car to go with it !! I'll do a proper review of my new Rivera in a few days time. I used it for in total about 6 hours in church last weekend, and was incredibly impressed. Most of the parts I play are fingerstyle, slotting in with another guitarist who strums (enthusiastically, but very well) going through a 50 watt Marshall acoustic amp. I have to say this was the first time I felt I could really hear myself, without needing to turn the amp up and upset the other members of the band. I guess this is the valves at work- there was a tremendous punch to the sound that enabled my two Brooks to get through from the back of the church to the congregation without me needing to run it at maximum volume and drown out the fiddle. The volume was on about 5 (this amp only goes up to 10 I'm afraid!). Notes came over well rounded, with what I would say is a sproing'y quality. I guess what I mean is that the guitars had an organic, almost tactile quality, rather than the sterile sound of some solid state amps I've tried. Things I like about this amp: - The EQ is very musical and it is easy to dial in exactly the sound you want
- The anti feedback control is simple and works extremely well
- The 12" speaker is superb at reproducing those low tuned bass strings
- Natural harmonics positively leap from the guitars
- Like all valve amps there is very slight, but musical compression going on when you really dig in
- The amps feels and plays like a real musical instrument, colouring the sound for sure, but smoothing out any discrepancies between the natural sound of the guitar and the pickup
- The build quality is simply outstanding- as clean as either of my Brooks, with superb quality components used throughout
Things I'm not so sure about (yet!) - I can't get over its weight (as yet). At 45 Lbs or so, this is a serious bit of kit that you don't want to carry any great distance
- There is no master volume- not sure why that should bother me, but it would be nice to be able to drive the different valves in different ways. When I owned a very nice Trace Elliot Bonnville back in the 90s the sound of driving the EL34s a bit more was thrilling!
- There is a very loud clunk every time I pull a jack lead out, or engage the (in line) tuner, with the channel volume up- not sure if this is a fault or a feature. If a feature, then its not one I particularly welcome and could become quite irritating before long!
- As much as everyone claims spring reverb is addictive and highly musical, to me it most certainly isn't. I like a bit of reverb on the guitar when playing in smaller venues, but would take a nice hall reverb over spring anyway!
Some pictures to come soon,
Robbie
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 14, 2013 23:50:06 GMT
45lbs! Careful you don't do yourself a mischief there Robbie! Interesting to read your initial experiences though - glad that, for the most part, it seems to be doing what you want it to. Where do you position the amp relative to where you are playing? Looking forward to hearing more, and seeing the pics. Keith
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