"Made in USA" Riviera on ebay - can it be real?

[teegar 0]

Here's a funky offering. Seller says it was made in the USA, indeed stamped (not stickered) as such on the back of the headstock. They also say it was "sawed into three pieces"?!?!?! from the photos looks like a neck heel and headstock break, since repaired. I'd heard there were limited runs of Sheratons and Rivieras from Nashville in 92'93, maybe 100 of each? Can this be one? Anyone here crazy enough to grab it and enlighten the rest of us? (it's one of the things I look for in this forum, vicarious GAS alleviation).

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993-Epiphone-Riviera-Made-In-The-USA_W0QQitemZ310206672342QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item4839c22dd6

[brad1 522]

I can't answer any of your questions.

But my question would be - Why would someone saw it into 3 pieces????

[brianh 395]

Count me out.

 

That's a real Frankenstien.

 

Or as Gene Wilder says: "Fronkonsteen"

 

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

[Guest 41]

Three of us should pool some petty cash and we can have a piece each .....what a freaaak.....such a shame....must have been a beautiful guitar before the chainsaw massacre....

[teegar 0]

I haven't laughed that well in months, Man I love that movie! Thanks for brightening my day.

[Hungrycat 88]

But my question would be - Why would someone saw it into 3 pieces????

 

Standard Operating Procedure for seconds. They pretty much don't do it anymore since they stopped caring about quality.

[pohatu771 13]

I've been watching it. How much difference do you think the re-joined body has on the sound?

[Hungrycat 88]

I've been watching it. How much difference do you think the re-joined body has on the sound?

 

Probably about the same difference as a headstock repair makes.

[brianh 395]

I've been watching it. How much difference do you think the re-joined body has on the sound?

It's a sustain and tone-killer.

 

Don't do it, the guitar is worthless.

[brad1 522]

It's a sustain and tone-killer.

 

Don't do it' date=' the guitar is worthless.[/quote']

 

I agree.

But not about the headstock. I own one that has been repaired, and have played many that have been repaired also, and as far as I can tell, they sound just as good as one that wasn't broken; if done right.

[pohatu771 13]

I wasn't considering buy it... I believe my checking account has $10 in it right now. I just like to watch to see if anything I'm interested in sells extra-low.

[carverman 0]

I can't answer any of your questions.

But my question would be - Why would someone saw it into 3 pieces????

 

When I visited the Gibson factory in 2007 in Memphis. They mentioned that Gibson

on their GIBSON guitars made in the factory (335 etc) , if the guitar is deemed

unrepairable or unserviceable, they will remove the usable parts and cut it

up into small pieces on the bandsaw. No mention of 3 pieces though.

Epiphones are NOT made there. The so called "neck/headstock break" is not

a repaired bandsaw cut. If you look at the picture, it appears to be either

a crack or a "scribed" repair. A Bandsaw cut is not easily repaired!

 

The stamped serial number can be faked, as anyone with access to a machine

shop supply store, can get a set of punches...same with the "Made in USA"

stamp.

 

I would want to see a documented history from Epiphone on this guitar and

whether it was sold as a "used" or something to that effect.

[Red 333 136]

When I visited the Gibson factory in 2007 in Memphis. They mentioned that Gibson

on their GIBSON guitars made in the factory (335 etc) ...Epiphones are NOT made there.

 

Epiphones are not USUALLY built in Gibson factories (and have not been since 1970)' date=' but there have been exceptions to the rule. This is from the Epiphone History link on the Epiphone website:

 

[i']"In 1993, a limited run of Riviera and Sheratons were produced in Gibson's Nashville factory, with the company's Montana plant also building 250 Excellente, Texan and Frontier flat tops. These Epiphones were only intended as a special event (it was impractical to move production to the US permanently) ..."[/i]

 

Here's a link to the whole article:

 

Epiphone History

 

Red 333

[duane v 512]

Epiphones are not USUALLY built in Gibson factories (and have not been since 1970)' date=' but there have been exceptions to the rule. This is from the Epiphone History link on the Epiphone website:

 

[i']"In 1993, a limited run of Riviera and Sheratons were produced in Gibson's Nashville factory, with the company's Montana plant also building 250 Excellente, Texan and Frontier flat tops. These Epiphones were only intended as a special event (it was impractical to move production to the US permanently) ..."[/i]

 

Here's a link to the whole article:

 

Epiphone History

 

Red 333

 

thanks for the info[cool]

[Vic Flick 0]

Here's a funky offering. Seller says it was made in the USA' date=' indeed stamped (not stickered) as such on the back of the headstock. They also say it was "sawed into three pieces"?!?!?! from the photos looks like a neck heel and headstock break, since repaired. I'd heard there were limited runs of Sheratons and Rivieras from Nashville in 92'93, maybe 100 of each? Can this be one?

[/quote']

 

The serial # is a proper Gibson USA # for a 1993...

 

91313xxx

 

The first and fifth numerals are the year, in this case 93. The three digits in between indicates the day of the year, so in this case it was made on the 131st day of 1993. If I calculated correctly, that would be May 11th.

[Guest 41]

This is like Cluedo I loved to play as a kid, the murder was committed in the Gibson room, by Professor Plum, May 11th 1993, with the bandsaw........shame the victim died after surgery.......well played everyone.........:)

[carverman 0]

The serial # is a proper Gibson USA # for a 1993...

 

91313xxx

 

The first and fifth numerals are the year' date=' in this case 93. The three digits in between indicates the day of the year, so in this case it was made on the 131st day of 1993. If I calculated correctly, that would be May 11th.[/quote']

 

 

Ok, and we "grate-fully" appreciate that....bUT...before I would spend my cold hard

cash on this one..I would want to know the history a bit..and if it's not available, I would

be left as unsatisfied as eating chinese food...fills you up at first but an hour later leaves

you hungry for more...

 

Now here's what would be milling around in my mind if I had bought this "Gibson

produced gem".

 

1. What was so drastically wrong that "Epiphone" (or Gibson as the case may be),

had to cut this one into "3 pieces"?

 

2. What happened that it got the neck cracked (and repaired)..was it dropped from

a strap accidently? Ok, the neck repair isn't that serious to tone/sustain..but

it's an abuse of some kind that this instrument suffered.

 

3. How were the "bandsaw cuts" repaired..and I being a carver, owning a bandsaw

know a bit about cutting across grain..it is very hard to repair!

 

4. What type of finish? if it was indeed made in the good "ole" US of A,

by Gibson, it should have a nitro finish....why isn't this mentioned?

[brianh 395]

It's up to $514 + $40 shipping with 6 hours to go.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993...tar?hash=item4839c22dd6

 

If this thing sells for ~$700, which I expect it will, it'll be a real shame.

 

The parts are worth maybe $350, but the body is firewood.

[Hungrycat 88]

The parts are worth maybe $350' date=' but the body is firewood.[/quote']

 

It's probably not THAT BAD if it was done right. I've personally held two repaired Gibson that were cut up. 1. An SG that belongs to a freind of mine (He bought it from his Gibson employee uncle), that sounds great, and you can litterally NOT TELL IT WAS REAPAIRED. 2. A redone Gibson Super 400 that was in the shop wher my LPC is being worked on. It wasa beautiful guitar that sounded good and EASILY could have been passed off as never had any problems. I've also seen somebody around here with a black Les Paul that had an Explorer neck on it, and I suspect that was a Gibson-dumpster find as well.

[brianh 395]

Did anyone Watch this thing? I can't find it now.

 

Just curious what it finally sold for....

[teegar 0]

Went for $709, your estimate was right on the mark. If anyone on this forum scored it, you MUST report on whether it's bona fide or firewood.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310206672342&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[neozecat 7]

Hi,

 

I'm the one who bought the riviera. Due to change between USD and €, it was a reasonnable price.

 

I let you know how good is the guitar when I'll receive it in a couple of weeks.

[jcwillow777 15]

Did anyone Watch this thing? I can't find it now.

 

Just curious what it finally sold for....

 

$709.

[brianh 395]

Hi' date='

 

I'm the one who bought the riviera. Due to change between USD and €, it was a reasonnable price.

 

I let you know how good is the guitar when I'll receive it in a couple of weeks.[/quote']

Fantastic Neo, welcome to the forum.

 

Please do post some better pics than those on eBay and some sound clips too.

 

Ignore what I said previously, congratulations (I think).

 

We're all dying to hear how the "monster" sounds!

[neozecat 7]

Hi All,

 

I received the Riviera yesterday.

 

I'll post some pictures later.

 

The guitar is amazing. It was good repair. You almost see nothing about the saw.

 

Unplug, there is a lot sustain and a good tone.

 

Plug into one of my amp, it's even better.

 

It seems like nothing happen to this guitar.

 

The luthier who worked on this guitar did a fantastic work !

 

For me it's Epiphone week, I received yesterday the Riviera and today I received a 1983 Casino AS (Matsumoku)