Lancetownsend Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 Hey all, I recently acquired what I believe to be a pre 1975 Epiphone Riviera but have very little info about it. Any help on exactly what it is would be very much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 It is a 1980-1981 (at least by catalog year, it could have been made slightly earlier). Pre-1975 would only include Kalamazoo models; in 1975 they began making them for the Japanese market at Matsumoku, but with double parallelogram inlays like an ES-345 or Souther Jumbo. In 1980 they switched to worldwide distribution with these traditional Riviera/Casino parallelogram inlays, but switched to a stop bar tailpiece in 1981. The label is also a 1980 switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AldoMcD1 Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 Do you have the serial number? Fairly certain this is circa 1980-1981 (Matsumoku factory, Japan). Has the original uncovered MMK-61 pickups from this period. Shortly afterwards they switched to the covered pickups & stopbar tailpiece. From your pictures, everything appears to be original. I have a few early 80's Matsumoku Epiphones including 2x 83' Sheratons (wine red + antique sunburst) and an 84' Riviera in wine red. Great guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.