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Rivera Knucklehead Reverb KR 55T Owner's Manual

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OWNERS MANUAL

Version 1.0
December, 2001
Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 1

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Summary of Contents for Rivera Knucklehead Reverb KR 55T

  • Page 1: Owners Manual

    OWNERS MANUAL Version 1.0 December, 2001 Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 1...
  • Page 2 It's as simple as that. And it's exactly why you bought your RIVERA amp. For that, we thank you, and we're confident that you'll enjoy your amp for years to come.
  • Page 3 Packing Information Unpacking Before you plug in, inspect your Knucklehead Reverb amp for any damage. Your amp was inspected and sound-tested before shipment, but transportation can sometimes be tough. Check that the Head Master MIDI Controller and power cord have been shipped with the amp.
  • Page 4 250V version able to handle higher Mains voltages. For Japan 100 VAC models, all instructions for the 115 VAC models apply. In the event that you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact us at: Rivera Research & Development Corporation 13310 Ralston Ave. Sylmar, CA 91342 USA...
  • Page 5 Quick Start Settings If you're looking for a good starting point, try these settings. Remember that every guitar and speaker cabinet sounds different, so try both inputs, and adjust the Focus and Presence to suit your taste. These diagrams include settings for the Subwoofer. If the Sub is NOT used, set the SUB LEVEL to 1 and PUSH it in.
  • Page 6 Clean Deluxe – Use Low Gain Input PULLED PULLED PULLED PULLED PULL PULL PUSH PULL PUSH PULL NOTCH CHANNEL 1 POWER AMPLIFIER HI-PASS BOOST CONTOUR BRIGHT PRESENCE FOCUS SUB LEVEL MIDDLE TREBLE GAIN MASTER BASS Austin Blues – Use High Gain Input PULLED PUSHED PULL...

  • Page 7: Front Panel

    TREBLE GAIN GAIN GAIN POWER STANDBY RIVERA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT MASTER 3 MASTER SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA USA High Gain input This is a high-sensitivity input. If your guitar has hot pickups, then plugging into it makes it easy to overdrive the preamp section, creating harmonic distortion. Guitars equipped with low-output pickups seem hotter than usual when plugged into this input.
  • Page 8 Gain (with channel-select Push-Switch) The Gain knob regulates the Preamp's volume and works with the Master to set the level and distortion amount. A simple rule of thumb is, the higher the Gain is set, the more distortion you get. Treble (with Pull Bright switch) This Treble control is similar in operation to the one on Channel 2/3.
  • Page 9 Its effect on your overall sound will be different at high and low volumes due to the speaker's characteristics and how much distortion you use. The bass EQ curve has been specially tailored to complement the maximum bass response of the RIVERA Knucklehead 412-Cab (T/B) speaker enclosures.
  • Page 10 Sub Level Output (with high pass Pull-Switch) This control is a RIVERA exclusive feature. This control varies the output level of the Sub Woofer output circuitry the feeds a full range low source impedance signal to Sub Woofer Output jack (see rear panel features) to an external Powered Sub, like our Sub 1 or Sub 2 powered Sub Woofer cabinets.

  • Page 11: Rear Panel

    Even though the MIDI connector has 5 pins, only 3 of them are used. The other two are undefined by the MIDI specification and unused by most MIDI gear. The Knucklehead, and all future Rivera MIDI enabled amps, provides DC power on these pins. Warning: This connector should ONLY be used to connect the Head Master or other Rivera MIDI pedal.
  • Page 12 The Knucklehead has two MIDI inputs - one regular MIDI IN and a special Combo MIDI IN and DC Power Out. The special Combo connector is used with the Rivera Head Master. The standard MIDI IN is used with other MIDI controllers.
  • Page 13 The Midi Channel Selector Switch The Knucklehead uses a rotary switch to select the MIDI channel. It is a high quality switch, and is much easier to use than the DIP switches used by some manufacturers. Unfortunately, it is numbered in a way that can create confusion. As shown on the diagram, the switch is numbered from 0-15.
  • Page 14 How far do you have to walk to get to your OWN house? Since you are already standing in front of your house, you have to walk ZERO house units away. Zero is the starting point, you move from zero some number of units. Programmers frequently deal with lists of things.
  • Page 15 The Effects Loop comes after the Preamp section. In addition, it's low-impedance circuitry lets you drive everything from the simplest stomp-box effect to the most sophisticated pro signal processor with excellent results. It's also fully buffered, meaning that it can drive long cords and line-level gear and mixing consoles. (Because the signal is electrically unbalanced, you can use an unbalanced-to-balanced output transformer to connect to equipment requiring a balanced input.) By having a Blend control, you can adjust your effects devices for 100% wet signal, then adjust the Blend...
  • Page 16 Sub Woofer Output Jack This jack is primarily designed to drive a powered subwoofer. The signal produced at this jack has all of the EQ from the preamp, but NO effects. Its level is controlled by the SUB LEVEL control on the front panel. It is NOT low-pass filtered! It provides the Full- Frequency signal to the subwoofer, the subwoofer must handle any low-pass filtering.
  • Page 17 UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ever use a load lower that 2 ohms!. Warning: Loads that are not matched properly may harm your amp. If you aren't sure if your speaker load is correct, contact your RIVERA dealer, or call RIVERA Customer Service. If unequal speaker cabinets loads, i.e.
  • Page 18 Power Output switch Between the use of the High Power/Low Power positions in combination with the use of the Vintage-Modern Switch, 4 different output voltages can be accessed: 100 Watt Versions Power Output Modern Vintage High 100W 50W 25W 12W 55 Watt Versions Power Output Modern...
  • Page 19 T 2A (time-delay, 5mm x 20mm size). Warning: If the Mains Fuse or the HT Fuse repeatedly blows, refer your amp to your local RIVERA dealer or contact us at (818) 833-7066 for further service assistance. Note: Always turn the amp off and wait about five minutes before replacing a fuse.
  • Page 20 Consult your RIVERA dealer for further information. Be sure to use a grounded electrical mains power supply socket whenever possible. These outlets have a grounding pin in addition to the normal line and neutral pin.

  • Page 21: Midi Control

    The amp responds to MIDI Program Change Commands only. It can be controlled by the Rivera Head Master foot operated MIDI controller or by any standard MIDI controller. You must, however, choose one or the other. The amp cannot be controlled by two controllers at one time.
  • Page 22 MIDI Program Change Charts Channel 1 Combinations PROGRAM CHANNEL BOOST 1 BOOST 2 BOOST 3 REVERB CHANGE Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 22...
  • Page 23 Channel 2 Combinations PROGRAM CHANNEL BOOST 1 BOOST 2 BOOST 3 REVERB CHANGE Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 23...
  • Page 24 Channel 3 Combinations PROGRAM CHANNEL BOOST 1 BOOST 2 BOOST 3 REVERB CHANGE Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 24...
  • Page 25 For the best tone and maximum output, we recommend using a RIVERA K212 for the 55 or 100 Watt Top, and K412 speaker cabinets for the 100 Watt versions. Although the K212 is rated at 140 Watts (2 Vintage 30 Celestion 12”...
  • Page 26 Note: Regardless of the type or number of speaker cabinets you use, always make sure that the Impedance Selector is set to match the speaker cabinet's total impedance load. Driving two speaker cabinets 100W. RMS IMPEDANCE SPEAKER JACKS SELECTOR IN PARALLEL 8 Ω...
  • Page 27 Running two amps in parallel without a Y-cord INPUTS INPUTS HIGH HIGH GAIN GAIN GAIN GAIN FROM GUITAR The Preamp and output amp sections, as well as all controls, function normally in this setup. Use a shielded cord. Note: Make sure that at least one speaker cabinet is connected to both amps unless you desire to use the Preamp sections only, in which case leave the Standby switch in the “Off”...
  • Page 28 Other approaches: If you are using the Effects Loop for effects, try the Sub Output. If you are also using a subwoofer, try the Recording Output If the second amp is a separate power amp or has power amp inputs, you can use them instead of the Effects Return.
  • Page 29 Using a Stereo Signal Processor with Two Amps MASTER PLUG YOUR GUITAR HERE SLAVE STEREO EFFECT EFFECTS LOOP RETURN LOOP BLEND SEND EFFECTS LOOP RETURN LOOP BLEND SUB OUTPUT LEVEL LEFT LEVEL RIGHT INPUT LEVEL SEND RETURN SEND RETURN OUTPUT OUTPUT Z OUT Z IN...
  • Page 30 Sending a direct signal to P.A. or recording gear 100W. RMS RECORDING IMPEDANCE SPEAKER JACKS OUTPUT SELECTOR LINE INPUT IN PARALLEL SPEAKER 2 SPEAKER 1 USE FIRST Z OUT TOTAL 560 Ω MIN. Z 4 Ω TO SPEAKER CABINET Using a shielded cord, connect the 's Recording Out to the line input or channel input of a mixer or recorder.
  • Page 31 If you don't have a flight case for travel, use the box it came in, or wrap it in something thick, soft, and protective. RIVERA amps are built to take a lot, but why push it? If you treat your amp well, it will treat you (and your guitar's tone) well.
  • Page 32 Clean your amp once in a while. You can use a damp but not wet cloth, or one moistened in a weak solution of dishwashing detergent and water to wipe off grime, dried Pepsi, Beer, and whatever else accumulates on the vinyl covering. If you use Gaffers or Duct Tape to hold Picks on the surface of the Knucklehead Reverb and you need to remove the adhesive, use a small amount of Rubbing Alcohol on a soft cloth, then wipe off the residual with a soap/water solution.
  • Page 33 Note: On SEMKO-CE 230/250-volt models, there are two additional T 1.6A (250-volt Slo-Blo type, 5mm x 20mm) fuses and one T 10A (100 Watt Version) or one T 8A (55 Version) (250-volt Slo-Blo type, 5mm x 20mm) fuse located internally. These protect the amp's output tube filaments and should only be replaced by qualified service personnel.
  • Page 34 Here's a brief description of what each tube does: V1 Input buffer and tone control driver for Channel 1, and also the first Preamp stage of Channel 2 and Channel 3 V2 Tone control follower for Channel 1 and an additional gain stage for Channel 2 and Channel 3.
  • Page 35 Turn off the amp, and allow the tubes to cool. Now pull out the troublesome tube and replace it with one of the same value (that is, if you're pulling out a 12AX7, replace it with a 12AX7). Make sure that the tube is oriented correctly when pulling it out or putting it back in. If you look at the end of the tube and the socket, you'll notice that the nine pins are arranged in an incomplete circle.
  • Page 36 It is also indicated in the last 2 digits of the serial number. The Tubes are graded and matched. The value is labeled on the base of the tube. If you order a replacement set of Rivera tubes of the same value, you will not have to re- bias the amplifier.
  • Page 37 6L6GC Tubes. We use mostly Svetlana, and advise you replace your 6L6GC tubes with this brand. You can use Rivera matched 6L6GC Duets or Quartets, and replace with the same rating number (found on the label at the base of the tubes) with re-biasing not required.
  • Page 38 Amplifier Biasing information. All Rivera amplifiers except for our 25 Anniversary model (this model is cathode biased) are class AB. These amps have a bias adjustment potentiometer located on the motherboard in the chassis. This requires removal of the chassis from the cabinet. This must be done by a qualified technician or authorized repairman.
  • Page 39 Biasing Instructions: Bias Adjustment Pot Test Points Black and White Wires Place amplifier on a stable surface. Remove rear Tube Grille on cabinet. Disconnect Reverb Cables plugged into the Jack on the chassis surface. Remove the 8 chassis mounting bolts from the bottom side of the cabinet. Place the chassis open side up on the workbench.
  • Page 40 Make sure that nothing is plugged into speaker Jack #1. Place a appropriate load on Speaker Jack #2 if this is possible. If not, you will be ok as there will be no signal present. No signal of any source should be plugged into the front panel input jacks or the rear panel effects loop jacks.

  • Page 41: Specifications

    Specifications High-gain input impedance: 1 Megohm Low-gain input impedance: 33k ohms Output impedance: Selectable, 4 ohms, 8 ohms, or 16 ohms Recording Output impedance: 560 ohms minimum Sub Woofer Output impedance: 560 ohms minimum Effects Loop Send Output impedance: 560 ohms minimum Effects Loop Return Input impedance: 10k ohms minimum Total harmonic distortion: 5% at rated power Bandwidth: 50 Hz to 20kHz...

  • Page 42: Dimensions And Weight

    Dimensions and Weight Height: 10" Width: 27-1/2" Depth: 11" Weight: 60 lbs for 100 Version, and 53 lbs for 55 Version. Cabinet material: 3/4" and 5/8"-thick Birch Plywood Cabinet thickness: 3/4" Construction: Dadoed joints Covering: 30-oz. viny Cleaning of vinyl covering: Moist cloth, dishwashing liquid Knucklehead Reverb 1.0 p 42...
  • Page 43 The warranty period commences on the date of purchase by the original user. Performance under this warranty must be obtained at one of the following: a RIVERA Authorized Service Station, by returning the unit to the RIVERA factory with prior authorization, or (in countries outside of the United States) by a representative RIVERA distributor.
  • Page 44 Please contact the RIVERA distributor or dealer in your country for more information. 7. The foregoing is in lieu of all other expressed warranties, and RIVERA does not authorize any party to assume for it any other obligation or liability. In no event...

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