jmm555 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 What's the story on the Epiphone Riviera guitar? Are they still in production, or just the Limited Edition is -with the 3-P90's. Is it a step above the Casino's? Is it also a true hollow-body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 What's the story on the Epiphone Riviera guitar? Are they still in production, or just the Limited Edition is -with the 3-P90's. Is it a step above the Casino's? Is it also a true hollow-body? The Riviera was originally Epiphone's version of the ES-335. It has the same semi-hollow body, center block, but with Mini-humbuckers, and of course, Epiphone headstock, with oval inlay. There are versions, available, for Canada, and Europe, and some special dealers, here in the States, that have those same spec's. So, yes...it's a model "above" the Casino, as the ES-335 is above Gibson's ES-330. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 The riviera and casino are pretty much side by side models. The 335 is more popular than the 330 and the casino more so than the riviera. In terms of quality, the modern rivieras and casinos are pretty much identic in quality depending on if you're comparing standard models or the better quality electronics of the ltd edition anniversary models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I DO wish Epiphone would include the Original (2 Min-humbucker) Riviera, in their normal production lineup, with all the correct spec's, and color options. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmm555 Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Yes charlie, that would be another one to buy, a kind of an original style 2 mini-pup style Riviera. Anyway thanks charlie and clark. I'm not that aware of all the Epiphone model history. Just saw a clip of Robben Ford playing a Riviera on the internet. Not that I'm a fan of Robben Ford, the guy does know some music, but I liked his guitar, looked like an older Epip Riviera, minus the pick-guard. Lots of people have Casinos. Just thought the Riviera model would be a little different. And clark mentioned the Limited Edition Riviera does have better electronics, mmm interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmad dog Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 The Casino and original style Riviera are rather different instruments. I have both, a turquoise, Peerless made casino and a red Elitist Riviera. The casino is fully hollow, looks sort of the same, but much lighter, neck set deeper into the body. The Riviera has minihums, not P-90s, and except for that and the tailpiece is very close to the ES-335. Upgrade or not, they are different enough so that they're not really comparable. I love 'em both. The Riviera is strangely overlooked IMO. It is absolutely the equal of the 335 in versatility, feel and responsiveness, but has achieved nowhere near the acceptance. Tonally, it goes someplace a bit different than the 335. Hard to explain, easy to hear. On regular HBs, easy to mud out on the neck p/u, easy to get volume at the expense of clarity. Which is why the lower wind, PAF types are so ever popular. The original style Gibson minihums take that clarity even further. No mud at all in the neck only position of my Riviera. A resonant, warm kind of twang in the middle, stings on the bridge. With the most beautiful, liquid edge and drive when you push it. The more I play this Riviera, the less I understand why you see so few of them. MD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I have an Elitist Casino and a P93 Riviera Custom...different animals. Casino has 2 P90's and is a full hollow body guitar that has 16 frets clear of the body, while the Riv is a center block semi hollow body, with 18 frets clear of the body. The P93 Custom has gold hardware, Bigsby, and 3 P90 pickups, each with its separate volume control and a master tone control for all 3. It also has a 3 position selector switch. Using the 3 way toggle and mixing the volume levels on the 3 pups gives you a HUGE amount of control over the sound. I love both of these guitars, but there really is very little in common between them other than the general shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 You know...as many of the P-93 Riviera's that are in the hands of players, one rarely seems to see them, in actual use! WHY?! They're great sounding guitars, and of "Professional" quality, as well. So...??? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWilson Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 You know...as many of the P-93 Riviera's that are in the hands of players, one rarely seems to see them, in actual use! WHY?! They're great sounding guitars, and of "Professional" quality, as well. So...??? CB I will take a picture! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfine Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 There was a band back in the '60's called Pacific Gas And Electric whose guitar player played a sunburst Riviera, and when I saw the late great Chicago bluesman Magic Sam at the Fillmore West in the late '60's, he was using a cherry one (or maybe Sparkling Burgundy; I couldn't tell which). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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