Pipster Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Can't decide between these 2 for a possible purchase. Always wanted a Sheraton but this Red Riviera with a B70 Bigsby has really caught my eye. GAK in the UK have a sale on Epiphone. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-limited-edition-riviera-custom-p93-wine-red/74679 http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-sheraton-ii-pro-natural/116458 What are people's views? I do own a casino and a Les Paul but would really like a semi hollow compared to just the full hollow.. I know the best idea would be to play them and decide but both would be bought from the net and delivered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natty Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Can't decide between these 2 for a possible purchase. Always wanted a Sheraton but this Red Riviera with a B70 Bigsby has really caught my eye. GAK in the UK have a sale on Epiphone. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-limited-edition-riviera-custom-p93-wine-red/74679 http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-sheraton-ii-pro-natural/116458 What are people's views? I do own a casino and a Les Paul but would really like a semi hollow compared to just the full hollow.. I know the best idea would be to play them and decide but both would be bought from the net and delivered. Well try the guitars out at Windows, see which one you like best, obviously not the same as trying the actual guitar but it will help. I should also say when I was looking at similar guitars the guy led me away from the Riviera, he didn't say they were troublesome but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I'd lean towards the Sheraton II since you have a Casino with P-90s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipster Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 I'd lean towards the Sheraton II since you have a Casino with P-90s Does the Riveira have similar tones to the Casino? I haven't played either but would like a semi hollow guitar to get different tones, so don't want something that sounds like what I already have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Does the Riveira have similar tones to the Casino? I haven't played either but would like a semi hollow guitar to get different tones, so don't want something that sounds like what I already have you'd probably get something a lot different from the Casino out of the Sheraton II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 The construction of the two guitars is almost the same --- the Riv90 has a mahogany neck, while the Sheraton is laminated maple. This gives the Sheraton a brighter tone than your LP with humbuckers (and a mahogany neck). The neck on a Sheri also feels (and is) stiffer, with less flex. P-90's tend to sound different on guitars with different construction, so the semi-hollow Riviera brings out different tones from the same pickups than the fully-hollow Casino. The plastic covers also sound different than the metal ones on the Casino. All this is theoretical --- until you hear them with your own ears, these comments are only general, and may not really give you the definitive answers you're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipster Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 The construction of the two guitars is almost the same --- the Riv90 has a mahogany neck, while the Sheraton is laminated maple. This gives the Sheraton a brighter tone than your LP with humbuckers (and a mahogany neck). The neck on a Sheri also feels (and is) stiffer, with less flex. P-90's tend to sound different on guitars with different construction, so the semi-hollow Riviera brings out different tones from the same pickups than the fully-hollow Casino. The plastic covers also sound different than the metal ones on the Casino. All this is theoretical --- until you hear them with your own ears, these comments are only general, and may not really give you the definitive answers you're looking for. Thank you Parabar that is a huge help. I'm leaning towards the Sheri if it's a brighter sound. I'm thinking of going to guitar guitar in Newcastle armed with my casino and plug the Sheri into a few different amps and compare it to the sound of the Sheri in the same amps and look at doing the same with the Riveria. I want something different to the Casino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve112 Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Thank you Parabar that is a huge help. I'm leaning towards the Sheri if it's a brighter sound. I'm thinking of going to guitar guitar in Newcastle armed with my casino and plug the Sheri into a few different amps and compare it to the sound of the Sheri in the same amps and look at doing the same with the Riveria. I want something different to the Casino You will get a big difference in tone in the Sheraton. There is a distincly different tone between P90s and Hummers. As well, a fellow on youtube compares a Gibson ES335 and a Sheraton with ProBuckers and the Sheraton's tone is virtually indistinguishable from the far more expensive Gibson, the best "Gibson" tone I've heard from a stock Epiphone Sheraton. Even in a studio recording the Sheraton would be perfectly at home. My old ES330 with dog ear P90s sounded very different to my ES335 with humbuckers. If you enjoy the nice full Gibson 335 tone with its round bell-like chime and nice sparkly sound, you'll very much like the Sheraton with the really good sounding ProBuckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipster Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 You will get a big difference in tone in the Sheraton. There is a distincly different tone between P90s and Hummers. As well, a fellow on youtube compares a Gibson ES335 and a Sheraton with ProBuckers and the Sheraton's tone is virtually indistinguishable from the far more expensive Gibson, the best "Gibson" tone I've heard from a stock Epiphone Sheraton. Even in a studio recording the Sheraton would be perfectly at home. My old ES330 with dog ear P90s sounded very different to my ES335 with humbuckers. If you enjoy the nice full Gibson 335 tone with its round bell-like chime and nice sparkly sound, you'll very much like the Sheraton with the really good sounding ProBuckers. wow that is a huge help, thank you. The Gibson ES 335 is my dream guitar but out of my price range with having a young family with 3 boys aged 4, 5 and 8. Always something more important to pay for. I just couldn't justify buying it. I still want to go try it but think the Shearton its going to be. Plus it's my birthday in September and the missus is bugging me as she is lost of what to buy me so maybe ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillybilly Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I've played that Riviera at a shop and was unimpressed. Could have been the setup or lack thereof but it seemed quite dull and lifeless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Sheratons are excellent guitars. I think you'll be pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacongrease Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 My initial thought is hb vs p90 that's the biggest difference. You should also consider that middle pickup it's in the strike zone for me. It gets in the way. Sheraton was heavy the Riviera doesn't seem heavy at all. That isn't detailed but my impression. Which sound do you want? I would go by that. Both are beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidgarden Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Sheraton sounds much better. The Riviera although more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, has weaker pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Hmmmm. Well, to each his/her own, but the P-93 "Riviera" is in a class by itself, really. It's like a 3 X P-90 equipped 335, being a semi-hollow body. And, the way it's wired, gives more tonal options, than the Casino, Dot, or Sheraton. Whether or not you LIKE/LOVE those options, you'll have to decide. I had a P-93 Riviera, several years ago, and traded it in, on another Gibson LP. I wish now, that I had kept it, and just come up with some more cash, for the LP. There's a reasonably serious chance, I may buy another P-93, in the future! My Sheraton, is a 2005 AIUSA version, with "Mini-Humbuckers," which is somewhat different in tone, than the full sized Humbuckers, on the current Sheratons. I also own a Gibson "Lucille," so my tonal needs are met, pretty much across the board, these days. You might want to look into a "normal" Riviera (with 2 mini-humbuckers) as another option? Just a thought... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nateMN Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 You've already gotten fantastic advice from the gentlemen here, I'd just like to chime in and say that I purchased the Sheraton II as my first (and only) guitar a year ago this month and I've been happy with my choice every single day. I'm a beginning player, teaching myself to play, and I'm continually amazed by the beautiful tones the Sheraton II gives me. It's just plain fun to play, and I wanted to throw my vote out there. Have fun with whatever model you choose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiekiduk Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I've played that WR Riviera 3xP90 with Bigsby, personally I thought it was junk! The input jack fell off. The new Sheraton II PRO might be OK if it has a slim profile neck. If not then you are better off with a Les Paul much more playable. The best arch-top Epiphone has made is the Sheraton 1962 reissue because it has the thinnest neck they've ever made. Dot, Riviera P90, Sheraton, ES-355 all unplayable in my opinion, and I even have quite big hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Dave Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Can't decide between these 2 for a possible purchase. Always wanted a Sheraton but this Red Riviera with a B70 Bigsby has really caught my eye. GAK in the UK have a sale on Epiphone. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-limited-edition-riviera-custom-p93-wine-red/74679 http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-sheraton-ii-pro-natural/116458 What are people's views? I do own a casino and a Les Paul but would really like a semi hollow compared to just the full hollow.. I know the best idea would be to play them and decide but both would be bought from the net and delivered. I recently got the Sheraton II Pro in wine red and I love the tone. The coil tap gives you more tone choices. That being said, I have an elitist Casino and the hollow vs semi-hollow are two different birds. In a small room more chance of feedback with the hollow. If you own a Casino and Les Paul then I'd get the Sheraton. Epiphone is making some excellent guitars at reasonable prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 GAK never seem to have anything in stock. When I wanted to try out a high end Godin, they told me I had to pay a 20% stock order down payment whether or not I bought the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.