crking9 Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Can anyone help me ID this Epiphone? It's not a Dot, and I don't think it's a Sheraton, either. The pickups don't look like a Casino either. I believe it's from the mid to late 80's...it was the guitar used by the band Black Tambourine. Mystery Epiphone The only other picture I can find of it is this one : http://www.last.fm/music/Black+Tambourine/+images/42361387 This is what makes me think it's not a Sheraton, due to the plain headstock. On another forum someone told me it might be a Riviera...I wish Epi would get rid of that awful 3 humbucker design on the new Riviera's. Any help would be much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Its a Riviera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crking9 Posted June 15, 2010 Author Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks guys...now I really need to find one of those old Riviera's, which seem to be elusive on ebay and craigslist. Or Epiphone needs to make a Sheraton studio that subtracts that design on the headstock that drives me insane. Also not crazy at all about gold hardware - those 'fancy' touches just don't work for me, seeing as I play really noisy music and am not playing jazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Me and Noel make lots of noise with our Sheratons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crking9 Posted June 16, 2010 Author Share Posted June 16, 2010 Like I said, I would get a Sheraton but that headstock design literally makes it a deal breaker for me. Is there any way to sand that off and re-finish it for cheap? Some quick research has shown it's pretty hard to find Riviera's on Craigslist and I'd rather not buy guitars off eBay. Isn't a Sheraton essentially the same as a Riviera just the different finishes and tailpieces? Also, I believe (not sure) you can put a Bigsby on a Riviera without leaving unwanted open holes vs. putting it on a Sheraton will leave holes from where the stop tailpiece was. Am I Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Like I said' date=' I would get a Sheraton but that headstock design literally makes it a deal breaker for me. Is there any way to sand that off and re-finish it for cheap? Some quick research has shown it's pretty hard to find Riviera's on Craigslist and I'd rather not buy guitars off eBay. Isn't a Sheraton essentially the same as a Riviera just the different finishes and tailpieces? Also, I believe (not sure) you can put a Bigsby on a Riviera without leaving unwanted open holes vs. putting it on a Sheraton will leave holes from where the stop tailpiece was. Am I Right? [/quote'] No, you're virtually wrong about everything. First of all, there are many variations of Dots, Sherrys & Rivieras. Some variations of Riviera & Sheratons have stop tailpieces, some have frequensator tps. So Bigsby mounting will depend on the particular guitar. Rivieras & Sheratons are not the same +/- the bling. They are constructed different, especially the older Korean Sherrys which have thinner 5 piece maple necks. Much nicer construction than the standard Riviera neck that had a spliced on headstock. Despite the Sheraton's better construction, used Rivieras usually cost more than a comparable Sherry because the the Riviera's rarity. If you find a Korean Riviera, it will likely have mini humbuckers, that's another consideration. Here's a 2004 Riviera: You find these every once and awhile on eBay, and having bought and sold hundreds of guitars on the 'Bay, I have had great success. Yeah there's scammers, but you're protected by eBay and PayPal, just do your homework and use common sense. To me, there's more risk meeting a total stranger who knows you're meeting him with $500 in your pocket!!! There's a Riviera on the 'Bay Another consideration, how about a Nick Valensi Riviera??? It's got real Gibson P-94 pickups. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 If you find a Korean Riviera' date=' it will likely have mini humbuckers, that's another consideration. Here's a 2004 Riviera:[/quote']Just for comparison, here's my 1983 MIJ with full size HB's and stop-tailpiece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Just for comparison' date=' here's my 1983 MIJ with full size HB's and stop-tailpiece[/quote'] Really nice jonnyg. I had a natural finish MIJ Riviera a few years back. Those are great axes. Some one has one on eBay right now, if I only had the money... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Really nice jonnyg. I had a natural finish MIJ Riviera a few years back. Those are great axes. Some one has one on eBay right now' date=' if I only had the money...[/quote']Yeah, it's my favourite electric and if I had to sell my guitars it would be the last to go. That one on ebay looks good and you know compared to what they go for in the UK that one is CHEAP. There's an '84 on UK ebay now that's had 15 bids and is already up to £410.00 ($600.00 approx) with 7 days still to go. The last one I saw sold for just shy of £800.00 ($1150.00 approx). I guess in the UK it's the Oasis connection. Here's the link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Epiphone-Riviera-Guitar-/260619979858?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cae294c52 Anyhow Jerry you might be short on cash but you're big on talent (loved last Saturdays song as always). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfalkens Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Funny thing.. Right now I am watching the video of Oasis D'you Know What I mean and the guy (not Noel) from Oasis is playing a MIJ Riviera with full size humbuckers. [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crking9 Posted June 18, 2010 Author Share Posted June 18, 2010 That 82 Riviera on eBay was beautiful...too bad I'm still in saving up mode or I would've jumped on it. Thanks for all the help. Basically I just want a ES-styled Epiphone that isn't as cheaply made as the Dots I've come across, and doesn't have the horrible headstock design (i know this is subjective, and for certain players/aesthetics it is really quite beautiful) of the Sheraton. The Nick Valensi Riviera might be the way I end up going with, for the mere fact that it seems to be one of the most common ones to pop up on Craigslist/eBay these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.