Info/date for Epiphone Riviera SN 2070407

[tyschmowser]

Hi there,

 

I have an Epiphone Riviera that I would like some more info on (origin etc). I am looking to sell it and would especially like to be able to date it. The serial number is 2070407.

 

Can anybody help?

 

Thanks.

[frenchie1281734003]

Hi there' date='

 

I have an Epiphone Riviera that I would like some more info on (origin etc). I am looking to sell it and would especially like to be able to date it. The serial number is 2070407.

 

Can anybody help?

 

Thanks.[/quote']

 

Photos would help, or even a good discription, as this helps to place country of origin.

[tyschmowser]

Thank you for your reply.

 

Here is a link to some images.

 

http://www.yourbusiness1st.co.uk/epiphone_riviera/pics.htm

 

Thanks again.

[TomLeech]

Nice guitar man, how much you wanting?

[frenchie1281734003]

Thank you for your reply.

 

Here is a link to some images.

 

http://www.yourbusiness1st.co.uk/epiphone_riviera/pics.htm

 

Thanks again.

 

Your Riviera is from the Matsumoku factory (Japan) and built in July 1982. I play a lot of Matsumoku made guitars, and have done since 1982, and currently have a Casino (Blonde 1983), an Aria Pro II TA-60 (1982), and a Westone Concorde from 1984. All are nice guitars.

 

If you care to look, it will say Japan on the underside of the Bridge (the only indicator of country of manufacture, anywhere on the guitar). The ASB on the label stands for the colour, in this case "Antique SunBurst", and the pickups should be Matsumoku`s own MMK 61`s, which are a pretty good PAF clone (If you lift out a pickup you should see MMK 61 stamped on the bottom). This version of the Riviera took some of it`s styling cues from the Kalamazoo originals, like the fret end binding, the knobs, and the neck inlays, but in other ways it was just basically the same guitar (In terms of construction) as the Aria Pro II TA-60 semi (1981-84 Japanese version), and the Westone Rainbow I (second version, mid 82-86). Hope this helps.

[tyschmowser]

Nice guitar man' date=' how much you wanting?

 

[/quote']

 

Hi Tom.

 

You are right, it is a really, really nice guitar. I have had it for 15+ years and absolutely love it. It plays like a dream and the sound is just perfect.

 

I paid quite a bit for it back then and, until the last few days, had never considered selling it before, but times are hard!!

 

I'm just in the process of trying to put a value on it. As I say, I paid a few quid for it, but the guy who sold it to me said it was a fair bit older than I think it actually is and back then I didn't have the benefit of the internet etc to verify the stuff he said.

 

Once I determine its value I will see if it is actually worth selling it. If I decide to sell it I will let you know first before I put it up on ebay.

 

Thank you for your interest.

[tyschmowser]

 

Your Riviera is from the Matsumoku factory (Japan) and built in July 1982. I play a lot of Matsumoku made guitars' date=' and have done since 1982, and currently have a Casino (Blonde 1983), an Aria Pro II TA-60 (1982), and a Westone Concorde from 1984. All are nice guitars.

 

If you care to look, it will say Japan on the underside of the Bridge (the only indicator of country of manufacture, anywhere on the guitar). The ASB on the label stands for the colour, in this case "Antique SunBurst", and the pickups should be Matsumoku`s own MMK 61`s, which are a pretty good PAF clone (If you lift out a pickup you should see MMK 61 stamped on the bottom). This version of the Riviera took some of it`s styling cues from the Kalamazoo originals, like the fret end binding, the knobs, and the neck inlays, but in other ways it was just basically the same guitar (In terms of construction) as the Aria Pro II TA-60 semi (1981-84 Japanese version), and the Westone Rainbow I (second version, mid 82-86). Hope this helps.[/quote']

 

Wow, thanks for all of this info.

 

I will take look at the bridge and pickups etc to see if my guitar has these markings etc. May also take some more pics and post them, this could be useful for other users of the forum.

 

Thanks again for all of your help.

[tyschmowser]

Hi all,

 

I have taken some more pics of my Epiphone Riviera. These new images show the underneath of the neck pickup, bridge pickup and the underneath of the bridge itself.

 

Note that when I lifted the bridge pickup I noticed the numbers 79 in the bridge pickup cavity (there is a pic of this also).

 

Does anyone know why this is there or what it may relate to?

 

Cheers.

[frenchie1281734003]

Hi all' date='

 

I have taken some more pics of my Epiphone Riviera. These new images show the underneath of the neck pickup, bridge pickup and the underneath of the bridge itself.

 

Note that when I lifted the bridge pickup I noticed the numbers 79 in the bridge pickup cavity (there is a pic of this also).

 

Does anyone know why this is there or what it may relate to?

 

Cheers.[/quote']

 

The guys who did quality control at Matsumoku used a number as their ID instead of name, sometimes you also see a circle with Japanese characters inside it next to the number, or elsewhere on the guitar, but basically it means the guitar was checked by number 79.

[229someday]

Wanted to bump this as I think I have a Riviera similar to the original poster (though I can't tell as his pics and info aren't there anymore). Mine has a serial number of 2032117 and has a "61" printed on the underside of each pickup. I'm thinking of selling it also since it seems to fall between my Elitist Casino and my Gibson ES-333. Any idea on setting a value? I've never seen one like this on Ebay. It currently has Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P-90's in it, but I still have the original pickups, which were removed so that they both have their full leads.

More pics: Riviera pics