Japanese 1990 era Epiphones pre elite/elitist

[supernova1281734074]

Hi,

I live in England & own a 1983 wine red Japanese Matsumoka Riviera, and think it's superb!!!, same guitar model as a certain 1990's guitarist/songwriter from Burnage, Manchester.

 

I've been following and asking lots of questions about this guitar and thanks to Jeffery Smith & Charlie Brown and othes input know a lot more about them.

 

Anyway does anybody know much about Japanese Epiphone guitars - before the Elite/Elitist series. I've seen a riviera with a stop bar tail piece - that believed was only made in Japan between 83-86ish. This one is black, mini humbuckers - which apear genuine due to the label/ blk mh - and has an orange label inside.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EPIPHONE-RIVIERA-MADE-IN-JAPAN-RARE_W0QQitemZ230292560475QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230292560475&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

 

Too much for me at over £700- $1400 dollars - does anyone have one?? know much abou them?

 

John

[JefferySmith]

That serial number stumped the Guitar Dater Project. The guitar looks very nice indeed. I've never seen a black Riviera.

[charlie brown]

Well, by the photo's it looks "legit," but a personal inspection, would be preferable.

There seems to be several versions of Japanese Rivieras. Some with mini HB's, compensating

tail pieces (as the origianls had), some with full size HB's, and some with full size HB's and stop

tail pieces. Even some with Bigsby's. I'm not that familiar (to be honest) with the exact numbers,

or dates, produced. But, I've seen Japanese versions that have all those different characteristics.

The small "e" on the pickguard is typical, of that era, too. The only ones, I've seen, with the correct

inlay in the headstock, to the origianal Kalamazoo versions, is the "Elitist"models. All the others

have that "Gibson" Crown inlay. I think the price may be a bit "steep," but...then again, they're not

made anymore, in ANY version from any country, so...??? I'm reasonably sure the "build quality" would

be great!

 

CB

[frenchie1281734003]

Hi Supernova.That is a Terada(Japanese)made 1996 Riviera,which apart from the mini humbuckers,is very similar to the early to mid eighties Matsumoku one`s.For the first ten years or so of Terada production(after Matsumoku stopped making the archtops in 1987)they pretty much followed the Matsumoku blueprint,notice the printed "E"on the pickguard,being virtually identical to Matsumoku,along with the truss rod cover,the stop tailpiece,and the same Epiphone name on the h/stock(which like Matsumoku has no seperate dot above the i).They also shared the three piece Maple neck.These Terada`s like the Matsumoku`s are great guitars,and also like Matsumoku,Terada would build higher spec models(closer to the Kalamazoo Spec`s,the 64 Casino for example,and the Matsumoku/Taniguchi line)for various Japanese music shop chains.The standard Terada pre-Elitist line,was very similar to the Standard Matsumoku line,some feel the build quality of the Terada`s is higher than Matsumoku,but i haven`t really found that to be the case,and personally prefer the Matsumoku`s(they just feel a little more organic to me,maybe it`s because they are that little bit older).Obviously the Elitist line is a lot closer to Kalamazoo era instruments,but i don`t feel they outclass their near predecessors at all.I will confess i am a collector of Matsumoku guitars,so i do have a slight bias towards them,but using my 82 Casino to gig with,i`ve found it to be very dependable as a working axe,and as you well know,two early 80`s Riviera`s found favour with Noel & Bonehead.