Rivera preamp sounds great compared to JMP1

[rabies]

So I usually play at home (pretty loud) along with the stereo nowadays. I have a 2x12 GBenz cab (I only use one spkr), a Rivera S120 stereo cab, running one side only in triode or pentode in low voltage power setting, JMP1 into effects return with GMajor.

So I tried the Rivera preamp with the GMajor and it sounded more reponsive and organic and "tube-ish" to me than with the JMP1. Now I understand why so many people don't like the JMP1 preamp, although it does sound pretty **** mean with the dual monobloc power amp.

 

[madryan]

So I usually play at home (pretty loud) along with the stereo nowadays. I have a 2x12 GBenz cab (I only use one spkr), a Rivera S120 stereo cab, running one side only in triode or pentode in low voltage power setting, JMP1 into effects return with GMajor.

So I tried the Rivera preamp with the GMajor and it sounded more reponsive and organic and "tube-ish" to me than with the JMP1. Now I understand why so many people don't like the JMP1 preamp, although it does sound pretty **** mean with the dual monobloc power amp.

IIRC the JMP-1 was all diode clipping and whatnot. They could sound pretty good but not as "tube like" as a true tube circuit like the ADA MP-1 or similar MIDI designs or a straight up preamp.

 

[stephen sawall]

The Rivera preamp is a very good one.

 

[madryan]

The Rivera preamp is a very good one.

It's funny...

Rivera uses a plate driven tone stack like a Mark series amp. They don't do it quite the same tho and as a result alot of Rivera's just have this huge flubby *** end. I can't personally stand them. My Marshall just craps all over anything I've ever played from Rivera, but then my Marshall is older than me and is thus one of the good old ones. I'd take a Mark IV or V or a modded Marshall design over most of the Rivera's any day. They're good quality amps. Weird designs tho...

 

[gonzo]

i had a JMP-1 for several years.

also had a peavey rackmaster, and i liked it better.

 

[stephen sawall]

I know what you mean .... it is more like the Fender tone stack.

Paul Rivera ~ I believe worked at Fender and Mesa Boogie before making his amps.

I still have my Mark IV. My favorite amp is my THD Series one Plexi. It is just a classic non master volume Marshall JMP made by THD. When it comes to modified Marshall sounds .... I like Fryette's work.

My JMP 1 was stolen in 1997 ..... I never felt any need to replace it. It was kind of cool for what it was.

 

[madryan]

I know what you mean .... it is more like the Fender tone stack.

Paul Rivera ~ I believe worked at Fender and Mesa Boogie before making his amps.

I still have my Mark IV. My favorite amp is my THD Series one Plexi. It is just a classic non master volume Marshall JMP made by THD. When it comes to modified Marshall sounds .... I like Fryette's work.

My JMP 1 was stolen in 1997 ..... I never felt any need to replace it. It was kind of cool for what it was.

I just had my JMP gone over by Zach Stephens of Titan amps and he's a huge fan of Steve Freyette's design work. He's also a huge fan of Mike Soldano. I had him do a modified Jose mod to mine and do all his power amp magic as well. So basically I've got a classic JMP on one channel (Mine's a 4 holer but he internally jumped it) via push pull gain pots and the Jose mod on the other side with Contour, Resonance, Presence, etc. as well.

Basically it's all fixed up (it's 36 years old) with all new caps and whatnot and I can get all the same sounds I could get before but I can also go into modded Marshall 80's and 90's sounds and it's killer and I don't lose the JMP's original touch sensitivity or dynamics. It reminds me alot of my VHT Deliverance 60 but with more modern modded Marshall flair.

 

[stephen sawall]

Well we are getting pretty OT here .... but that sounds killer.
I have been think about asking Dave Friedman of Rack Systems Ltd if he can do a Kitchen Sink on my Stiletto Trident with all the bells and whistles. I know FJA does mods to the Stiletto. I did not know Titan was doing mods. I have been wanting to check out some of his work.

Is the contour like the gain one / voicing on the Deliverance ?

 

[madryan]

Well we are getting pretty OT here .... but that sounds killer.
I have been think about asking Dave Friedman of Rack Systems Ltd if he can do a Kitchen Sink on my Stiletto Trident with all the bells and whistles. I know FJA does mods to the Stiletto. I did not know Titan was doing mods. I have been wanting to check out some of his work.

Is the contour like the gain one / voicing on the Deliverance ?

The Contour is like having a secondary PEQ built in so yeah, alot like the voicing on the D-60. Dave Friedman does good work for sure.

I just know Zach from HCAF and one day he PM'd me and offered to go through the JMP and fiddle with it for more or less the cost of shipping and parts. He was wanting to do some development work and work out some ideas for his new 3 channel head that's coming out. Basically his new 3 channel head has a crunch channel based on my JMP after he modded it.

Since the original Titan 2 channel was kind of a SLO modded to do metal better I was intrigued because I'm a huge fan of the SLO. I just told Zach I wanted the JMP to be able to do everything from classic Plexi/JMP to absolute killer modded Marshall and he delivered.

 

[gonzo]

and i was suprised out how much rawer and crunchier the rackmaster could get...
tones i could not find in the jmp-1.