The Rivera Bonehead is a Rivera amplifier. Close alternatives include the 1970s Mesa/Boogie Mark I 'Snake King' and the Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube. It pairs well with the Greer Mizuki blue and the Xotic BB Preamp.
Rivera Bonehead
Rivera · amplifier
The Rivera Bonehead is a 100-watt three-channel tube amplifier head switchable to 50/25/12W via rear-mounted High/Low power and Vintage/Modern switches. The amp features 6x 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4x EL34 power tubes with independent controls on each channel and footswitchable boost on every channel. Controls include Presence, Focus, Loslobottom, Master, Treble, Middle, Bass, and Volume. The tone is thick and full with three distinct characters: a very compressed high-gain lead channel, a JCM800-inspired mid-crunch channel, and a British Hiwatt-ish clean channel. The overdrive channels feature vintage Marshall with bright-cap-clipped character combined with substantial gain on tap.
- crunch
- compressed
- thick
- british
- modern
- clean
- preamp
- boost
Good for
- Live
Genres the Rivera Bonehead is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Metal
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Rivera Bonehead
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
24% matchGreer Mizuki blue is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
22% matchXotic BB Preamp is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that
EarthQuaker Devices White Light
EarthQuaker Devices
20% matchRivera Bonehead leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform EarthQuaker Devices White Light wants
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
16% matchMXR Analog Delay is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
BBE OptiComp
Bbe
15% matchInto Rivera Bonehead, BBE OptiComp is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo
Wampler
15% matchRivera Bonehead leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo wants
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
15% matchUniversal Audio Golden Reverberator is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
MXR double-double overdrive
MXR
tonal matchMXR double-double overdrive is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
1970s Mesa/Boogie Mark I 'Snake King'
Mesa Boogie
62% similarityShared character: two_channels, amp, presence
Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube
Blackstar
61% similarityShared character: amp, lead_channel, two_channels
Marshall 1959HW
Marshall
61% similarityShared character: amp, two_channels, volume
Bogner Ecstasy 3534
Bogner
61% similarityShared character: amp, two_channels, higher_gain
Laney Klipp
Laney
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head
amplifier
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar ST. James 100 Head
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Sunn 100s
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
1950s Fender Twin
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS MT100
PRS
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Vox AC-50
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Music Man 410 Sixty Five
Music Man
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Rivera Bonehead (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Rivera Bonehead?+
The closest matches in character are the 1970s Mesa/Boogie Mark I 'Snake King', the Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube, the Marshall 1959HW.
What pairs well with the Rivera Bonehead?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Mizuki blue, Xotic BB Preamp, EarthQuaker Devices White Light — Greer Mizuki blue is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Rivera Bonehead gives it exactly that.