REVIEW
RIVERA MINI ROCKREC GETS SMALL Eric Dahl
Key Features
6 Speaker Voicings
Voicing Bypass Switch
Balanced XLR Output
Headphone Output
Built to handle 300 Watts so you
can tame your favorite amp
Paul Rivera launched Rivera R&D in California
back in 1976 and he is credited with being
a visionary for some other major amp
manufacturers in the 1980’s and beyond.
Besides amplifiers, cabinets and pedals, Rivera
has also forged a path with their Cabinet
Simulator and Attenuator division. Original
offerings included the Rock Crusher and
Rock Crusher Recording units but players
also want gear to be small and portable. The
newly released Rivera Mini RockRec has some
killer features in a pint sized package and it
is designed to protect your amplifiers (and
hearing) since it acts as a load box and speaker
simulator. Now let’s get down to the specs… the
Mini RockRec has 6 speaker voicings, a voicing
bypass switch, phase selector, balanced XLR
or HP headphone output (for silent practice).
The back panel provides amp in and speaker
out jacks, 4, 8 or 16 Ohm impedance, line out,
direct out, XLR out and a ground lift switch. It’s
created the Mini is, “We wanted to provide the
built to handle up to 300 watts of power so you
safest load possible for your most coveted tube
can tame your favorite amp head or combo
amp while getting the best of its tone direct to
and play them at a reasonable sound level or
FOH or studio at home.” It’s made in the USA,
record with them. This is a big win for many
built like a tank and has a street price of $399.
of us as I have found myself lessening the use
The big brothers in this series have been a hit
of my higher wattage amps since I can’t drive
with big touring bands like Rush and the Foo
them loud enough to hit the sweet spot. The
Fighters. The Mini RockRec only weighs in at
Mini RockRec also allows you to bring down
6lbs so it’s easy to stow in your accessory bag
the stage level on your amp and still send a
too. Rivera took a great product and decreased
lineout to the PA system for the front of house
the size and cost so more of us can get our
mix. Paul Rivera Jr. says the reason they
hands on one!
10
Sep Oct 2016
CollectibleGuitar.com