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Epiphone Ltd. Ed. Elitist "1966" Custom Riviera Outfit


Jeffery Smith

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Jeffery,

 

Here's what's listed for my state, and (on the Right Side) listed "OnLine" dealer's, as well.

 

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Ltd-Ed-Elitist-1966-Custom-Riviera-Outfit/Buy-Now.aspx?mappath=/Support/Dealers/North-America/United-States/Kansas

 

 

So...??? Hopefully that's true, and they'll be available in all those dealer's listed.

 

Time will tell... [tongue]

 

CB

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They have my local Guitar Center listed as a place to buy them. I really hate going there. When I have gone there before, most of the staff are early 20s and primarily interested in helping customers who look like Dave Navarro. I assume that they think I wandered in for directions to the nearest bus stop.

 

Sweetwater gave me a price of $1,899 for the guitar, so they have at least looked into getting them.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All,

 

Just got an e-mail, on Friday last, that the Epi Riviera "outfit," and the Texan,

recently announced are (for now) ONLY for the Japanese Market! [crying] My dealer's Epi

Rep, did say there has been a LOT of interest in those models, so they may release

them, at some future time, here in America, and possibly Canada and Europe, as well?

 

Time will tell, but I certainly hope they will do that! [-o<[biggrin]

 

CB

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Very interesting. So this one seems to virtually be bringing back the pre-"Revolution" version of the earlier John Lennon USA Collection (AIUSA) '65 Casino. As with the recently released Riviera, the nitro finish, two-hole TRC, and plasticy saddles are nice touches.

 

We can only hope these new Elitists see the light of day worldwide.

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I had the foresight a few years ago to order an Elitist Casino when I sensed that the Elitist line was being phased out

I did the same thing in '09 when all the other Elitist models were disappearing, and the Elitist Casino was very hard to come by. I eventually found a regional dealer who had three in stock, so I was able to select the best of the bunch, and in a natural finish, which I prefer on this model.

 

In 2012, Gibson's ES-330 VOS was released. Similarly, I found three to compare side by side, and a natural finish example completely stole my heart both in tone and playability. Even still, the Elitist Casino remains with me, and it's a wonderful instrument.

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Very interesting. So this one seems to virtually be bringing back the pre-"Revolution" version of the earlier John Lennon USA Collection (AIUSA) '65 Casino. As with the recently released Riviera, the nitro finish, two-hole TRC, and plasticy saddles are nice touches.

 

We can only hope these new Elitists see the light of day worldwide.

 

I asked a friend of mine that works at Epiphone and they said that the new Elitist models WILL be sold in the U.S.

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  • 1 month later...

UPDATE: Sweetwater called today to confirm that this will not be available in the future. Looks like the "Japan market only" reports were true. [angry]

 

 

My Sweetwater rep told me the same thing.

 

Fine by me as I have been replacing most of my Epiphone's with the faded Gibson's lately $449 for an SGJ is just a stupid price for a Gibson.

 

Except for stuff like my 61 Casino reissue and the 62 Sheraton RI if they don't offer something that can stand up to a Gibson again going to have to take a pass.

 

The Japanese market demands accuracy and quality so they get it, should be a lesson to us here.

 

They will offer what sells in what market and if no problems with what they are offering us here then no changes.

 

Kind or our own fault in my opinion.

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I think that the Epiphone marketing department needs to synchronize their announcements more accurately with the rest of the company. In my state, colleges are not allowed to advertise the existence of an academic program before the program is actually "in place". Announcing a great new guitar or amp a year or more before it is realized is inviting disappointment.

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I agree that they should synch their announcements a little better but the fact is they deal with factories an circumstances that are sometimes beyond their control. releasing of any item for retail is completely different from a college announcing a course.

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I agree that they should synch their announcements a little better but the fact is they deal with factories an circumstances that are sometimes beyond their control.

True to varying degrees I'm sure, but in the case of this new Elitist Riviera (and possibly the new Elitist Texan as well), the instrument has been included on the USA website while dealers are saying it will not be available for purchase.

 

I believe Gibson/Epiphone can do better than that.

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I agree that they should synch their announcements a little better but the fact is they deal with factories an circumstances that are sometimes beyond their control. releasing of any item for retail is completely different from a college announcing a course.

 

I didn't say announcing a course. I said announcing a new program. A new program requires approval all the way up to the Board of Regents level. You can do all of the preparatory work leading up to it, but if the Board of Regents won't fund it, it is dead in the water. Think of it as a 3-year investment of time and energy that may be ultimately rejected in the state capitol.

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