Jazz Suprema Recording 1x15" 55-watt Tube Combo Amp Review

Rivera design and quality in a state-of-the-art combo amp

The name Rivera has been synonymous with cutting edge design in the ratified world of top end amplification for decades. Specializing in best of class components for their all tube line, the craftsmanship and commitment to the highest standards is evident in this five star performer. This model was conceived as the ultimate amp match for arch top guitars, hence the name Jazz Suprema.… read more The Recording part of the name has to do with additions to the Suprema model that make this variation the choice for flexible recording. Read up on the specs to learn what is offered feature-wise. As someone who plays an arch top fingerstyle and barehanded, I find the sonic qualities of this amp are superb. With a 15" transducer, the thump on the low end is full, clear and satisfying. Top end is crystalline with Presence dialed up, but without the harsh shrillness that solid state amps have so much trouble taming. While this amp was designed to offer the maximum amount of clean headroom, the EL6 tube configuration has the beefy, harmonic rich overtones that make single lines sustain naturally; never thin or reedy, full chords sound fantastic and the overall balance is almost impossible to screw up. This is an amp that may be overlooked as being a jazz-only choice but anyone who wants maximum clean headroom in an amp that will cut through a mix without sounding tinny may find this worth investigating. Not inexpensive by any means, this is an amp that you are likely going to look at as part of your sound for many years down the road. It is a unique design concept that somehow manages to escape being a one trick pony.

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