Citywasps Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Hi all, I own an Epiphone Riviera WR that I bought way back in 1989 second hand and love it as it's a fab guitar. Serial no. is 4055437 on back of neck but the label inside the body is blank! Can anybody tell me how I could find out what year it was made and where? I'll try and post some pix when I figure out how to do it! Any help would be appreciated. Cheers S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny_2_owls Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Hi there, I also have an Epi Riviera WR, and it's a fantastic guitar. It was built in Japan and I think that the serial number means it was built in 1984, the first digit being the year it was made. WR means pretty obviously Wine Red. Does yours have the Stop Tailpiece? I've just got a Bigsby B7 for mine. I really love mine, it sounded great stock but I put a Gibson Classic '57 in the neck and a Gibson Classic '57+ in the bridge. It sounds awesome now!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citywasps Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Thanks for info. Yes mine does have the stop tailpiece. I've not changed it since I got it as I'm not that clever and would probably kill it! What year is yours? Any idea how much 80's Rivieras are worth these days? Not that I want to sell at the moment. I think I paid over the top for it 20 years ago from my dodgy tutor! S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny_2_owls Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Mines an '84 too. There is one ending (a vintage sunburst) on ebay tonight, up for £625 buy it now. I paid £650 for mine a few years ago, probably a bit high but it's a good guitar that will last me a very long time, I wouldn't part with mine either! There is a bit of interest in them due to the fact Noel Gallagher and Bonehead of Oasis played them for the first few years before they swapped to Gibsons and quit the band respectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 According to your printed serial number, Your guitar was made in Korea, May of 1994 Production #5437 Though you said you bought it in 1989? So...not sure what's going on, there. Any other idicators...on the lable inside...made in Japan, maybe? Bolt on, or set neck? Without further information, like letters in front of the serial number, it's hard to pin down exactly where, in Korea (which plant). Is the serial number imprinted in the back of the headstock, or inked on? www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 According to your printed serial number' date=' Your guitar was made in Korea, May of 1994 Production #5437 Though you said you bought it in 1989? So...not sure what's going on, there. Any other idicators...on the lable inside...made in Japan, maybe? Bolt on, or set neck? Without further information, like letters in front of the serial number, it's hard to pin down exactly where, in Korea (which plant). Is the serial number imprinted in the back of the headstock, or inked on? www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx CB[/quote'] The Guitar Dater isn't perfect and this is a just such an instance proving that. Though if one has any general background knowledge about Epiphone then one knows that in 1994 alpha prefixes were used to designate the various contract factories and prior to about 1992 the year as first digit(s) format was used on both the Korean (Samick)-made and Japanese (Matsumoku)-made Epiphones. While the Japanese serial numbers of the 70's and 80's were hit an miss as far as being able to date instruments, some were decipherable and this one deciphers to May of 1984. The guitar was made by Matsumoku and the "WR" does designate "wine red" which wasn't a color offered on the Korean-made Epiphones but was offered on some of the Matsumoku-made models. Matsumoku made three different lines of instruments between 1971 and 1986. The first line were re-labeled Aria models with bolt-on necks and cheesy electronics and were first exported in 1971 and continued until about 1978. In about 1974 a limited distribution line of higher end Japanese- made set-neck models were made exclusively for the Japanese market and these continued until about 1986. In 1979 a different line of set-neck arch top models were made for more expanded, world-wide distribution and were also available uintl about 1986 when this line was replaced by Korean-made instruments produced by Samick and production of the Japanese-exclusive instruments was continued by Terada. The Japanese-exclusive models are relatively rare but the more-widely distributed line show up on places like E Bay quite frequently and go for around $700 USD a slight premium over the later Korean-made versions. Nelson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 I take on board what Nelson says about the different Matsumoku line that became available in 79 for expanded world wide distribution,but i don`t think that was the case.Firstly this range is only found in the September 82,and January 83 U.S.A.price lists, and not before(see Walter Carter`s Epiphone the complete history book),and here in the U.K.we had them in stores from 84 to 85,for a period of about 9 months,then they vanished.Also if it was the case that a seperate line for world wide distribution was produced,then why were the ones in the U.S.and U.K.of different spec`s,i.e.the U.S.shipped Casino had Chrome hardware,and plain Black three screw truss rod cover and pickguard,where as the U.K.version got the "E"logo two ply,and two screw truss rod cover,as well as the three ply(W/B/W)pickguard with "E"logo,and also got Nickel pickup covers(just like the Japanese home market models).We never got the lower spec`d(in my opinion)U.S.version,and these differences appear across the entire archtop range.I think there never was a specific world wide line as such,just the odd batch ending up in other countries,and why the U.S. imports were of a lower spec is probably down to Gibson wanting them like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citywasps Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 Thanks to you all for your replies. I've found it really useful and appreciate the help. I think the consensus is that my Riviera was made in Japan in 1984. I've used a photo of the guitar as my avatar but don't know how to put other photos in main message. I don't suppose it matters now as you seem to know the model that I'm referring to. The serial number does not have any letters in it, just no's on the back of headstock. The label does not mention made in Japan. Happy strumming S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Citywasps.If the guitar is japanese,and it does sound as though it is,it will have JAPAN written on the underside of the bridge(assuming the bridge is original). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citywasps Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Thanks Frenchie, I'll check that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_calver Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 City Wasps, I'm desperately looking for a Riviera just like yours. Would you be interested in selling/swapping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_calver Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thanks Paru, No no much luck so far but emailed him anyway on the off chance. You don't have one do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_calver Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thats ok I'm only after the Jap Riviera ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 and here in the U.K.we had them in stores from 84 to 85' date='for a period of about 9 months,then they vanished.[/quote']That's not quite right. The three models issued at that time were the Emperor (which at that time was identical to a Gibson L5 except for headstock and inlays), Riviera and Casino and they were available in the UK in very limited numbers from November 1982 and then more generally available from March 1983. I bought my own Riviera in August of 1983 from Peter Cooks guitar shop in West London having missed out on the dealers two previous consignments in November 1982 and March 1983. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 That's not quite right. The three models issued at that time were the Emperor (which at that time was identical to a Gibson L5 except for headstock and inlays)' date=' Riviera and Casino and they were available in the UK in very limited numbers from November 1982 and then more generally available from March 1983. I bought my own Riviera in August of 1983 from Peter Cooks guitar shop in West London having missed out on the dealers two previous consignments in November 1982 and March 1983.[/quote'] You forgot the Sheraton, I bought a Blonde Matsumoku made Sheraton from Roka`s in Denmark street in August 1984 serial number 4053615 and it cost £325 with a fitted case. At that time both the Casino & Riviera were available at £295. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 You forgot the Sheraton' date=' I bought a Blonde Matsumoku made Sheraton from Roka`s in Denmark street in August 1984 serial number 4053615 and it cost £325 with a fitted case. At that time both the Casino & Riviera were available at £295. [/quote'] No, I'm talking about the period 82-83 and the Sheraton was not available at that time, only the three models I mentioned previously. The Sheraton may have been added in 1984. Prices, when I bought my Riviera in 83 were, Emperor £375.00, Riviera £250.00 and Casino £225.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 No' date=' I'm talking about the period 82-83 and the Sheraton was not available at that time, only the three models I mentioned previously. The Sheraton may have been added in 1984.Prices, when I bought my Riviera in 83 were, Emperor £375.00, Riviera £250.00 and Casino £225.00.[/quote'] I stand corrected. I do remember that the day I bought my Sheraton, I actually wanted a Casino in blonde, and the store staff told me that they were only available in Wine Red or Antique Sunburst, so I decided to get blinged up , paid the extra £30, and splashed out on the Sheraton. I only kept the Sheraton for two years (Wish I had it now though!), it never did sound as good as my mates Antoria Rockstar semi, something to do with the MMK75 pickups they came with I think. I now have an Aria Pro II TA-60 from 1982 which is basically the Matsumoku made Riviera in different clothes (Same specs), and is a wonderful guitar, I really like the MMK61 pickups, much more to my taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 No' date=' I'm talking about the period 82-83 and the Sheraton was not available at that time, only the three models I mentioned previously. The Sheraton may have been added in 1984.Prices, when I bought my Riviera in 83 were, Emperor £375.00, Riviera £250.00 and Casino £225.00.[/quote'] I had a 1982 Matsumoku Sherry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I had a 1982 Matsumoku Sherry. Yeah, but like most things we didn't get them in England at the same time as the USA. It's the same as the Riviera's and Casino's you got them in '82 and, as I posted earlier, we got a few (very few) in November '82. They did not become generally available until summer 1983 and the Sheraton never made it here until 1984. It's still the same now. See how many guys in England have seen an IBJL Casino. My nearest dealer is quoting sometime in February 2010, other dealers are giving no ETA at all, yet there's guys on this forum from the USA who already have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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