United States · Est. 1984
Rivera Amplification
American boutique amplifiers with roots in Fender. Paul Rivera designed some of the most appreciated amplifiers by jazz, blues and rock musicians of the 80s and 90s.
About the brand
Rivera Amplification was founded in 1984 by Paul Rivera in Chatsworth, California. Paul Rivera was previously the head of Fender's amplifier department between 1978 and 1983, where he redesigned much of the Fender range including the Princeton Reverb II and the Concert. When he left Fender, he applied all that knowledge to creating his own designs.
The first Rivera amplifiers distinguished themselves by their robust construction, high-quality electronics and versatility: capable of sounding with the warmth of a Fender on the clean channel and with rock aggression on the distortion channel. Carlos Santana and Joe Walsh are among the artists who have used them.
Rivera continues to manufacture in California and its catalogue includes the Knucklehead, Venus and Pubster, among others. The brand maintains a boutique profile with emphasis on artisan quality and direct customer relationships, and enjoys great respect among connoisseurs of American valve amplifiers.
Key facts
- Founded in 1984 by Paul Rivera, former head of Fender amplifiers
- Artisan construction in Chatsworth, California
- Carlos Santana and Joe Walsh among its known users
- Direct continuity with the Fender amplifier tradition of the 1970s
Iconic models
Knucklehead
An American boutique two-channel amplifier designed by Paul Rivera, with a high-headroom clean channel and a musical, articulate overdrive channel.
TBR-1
A high-gain rack preamplifier that was one of the standards for session musicians and studio players in Los Angeles throughout the 80s and 90s.
Venus 3
A 35-watt Class A three-channel amplifier with EL84 valves, capturing the essence of vintage British tone with modern refinement.
Quiana
An elegantly designed combo oriented towards jazz and blues, with an exceptional clean channel and EQ controls that allow a highly personal tone to be sculpted.