HNGD - Riviera Limited Edition Cherry

[LongMan]

Got my Riviera today. Ordered it yesterday at 4:00PM, they shipped it at 8:00PM, and I got it this morning. It had to be moved over 600 miles - so not bad that truck driver :)

 

Nice guitar that is. The quality of finish and hardware surfaces doesn't fully match those of my Elite ES-335, but hey, the Rivieras price tag ($500 incl. 19% VAT) is app. a quarter of what the ES-335 was when it was new.

 

Here you have it in whole:

 

 

The color is a pretty nice dark cherry red. On pictures it always appears too bright, even on the next one. The Riviera is a lot darker than my ES-335, which has a warm bright red tone. The top of the Riviera is nicely figured:

 

 

What I love on this guitar is that Epiphone paid some attention to details on this one. For a couple of dollars more this thing looks so much nicer than a Dot or even Dot Deluxe (which is almost the same price).

For example it has mini humbuckers instead the standard size humbuckers:

 

 

Control knobs:

 

 

It has Kluson type tuning machines instead that a dime for a dozen chinese Grovers:

 

 

Here's another shot of the tuning posts:

 

 

Frequensator tailpiece of course:

 

 

Neck pickup and fretboard (note the fretboard binding):

 

 

Bridge pickup and bridge:

 

 

And Epiphone keeps old traditions, the € starts falling off the pickguard as soon as you pull the guitar out of the box[biggrin] :

 

 

As I said before there are some minor flaws, especially if you compare this one to the Elite ES-335.

If you have a close look to the pickup shot, you'll see the bridge is by some 10th of a millimeter off axis to the treble side of the fretboard. So the strings are not as accurate over the pole pieces as they could be. However it's not that far off that the strings would slip off the fretboard, or the sound gets weak, so I don't mind. On the ES-335 the bridge is perfectly in place.

 

The pickguards edges are a bit uneven, but I can get that done in 10 minutes.

 

The finish is nice done, and so are the bindings.

 

The frets are leveled accurately (no string buzz), however not high gloss polished (which I of course didn't expect at this price tag). The guitar was set up well out of the box. Medium action, intonation adjusted, the neck is straight. So the thing is pretty well playable out of the box with nothing more done but tuning it. This is a good starting point to apply some fine tuning and make it even better.

 

The sound of the mini humbuckers is nice as well. This thing sounds a lot different from the ES-335, less jazzy and mellow, more in direction of a Les Paul, but not quite the cutting edge of a good Les Paul. You still hear the semi hollow body, but it's more a rock guitar rather than a jazz guitar. The pickups have medium output, well controllable from the volume pots. What is great: The neck humbucker does not sound muddy, even on high gain, which you often have on semi hollow bodies with full size humbuckers. Probably the more narrow coil spacing does help here. I first thought of getting me P90 type pickups when I ordered the guitar, but now I guess I will keep the stock pickups.

 

Overall I can say: Congratulations Epiphone, this guitar is a lot more than I expected for that price tag.

[rhinobean123]

Beautiful guitar! I really don't understand why epiphone don't make them like this all the time.

[twodice]

I love it! HNGD!

 

.

[LongMan]

Got it from Thomann ?

Sure! Do you know some other shop in Germany that would deliver that fast? :) Normally I get the shipping notification first' date=' but this time they managed to deliver the guitar prior to the notification[biggrin'] "We shipped your guitar today" "Err... yes, I know, what do you believe I am holding here in my hands?"

 

Apart from that they seem to be the only ones that have it actually on stock. Some other shops have nicer pictures in their online shop, e.g. check the pictures Musik Hermann has on their page:

http://www.musikhaus-hermann.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_28_61&products_id=11930

But they don't have it on stock, not even a shipping estimate.

 

Actually I saw on this page how gorgeous this thing actually looks. On the Thomann images you don't see half of the details, e.g. the bindings on body and neck. And guess what: In person it looks even better!

[AlanH]

Nice guitar. Nice photos.

 

Congratulations!

[mgrmatt]

Awesome Riviera, HNGD!!! Thanks for sharing the pics! It even has the correct inlay on the headstock. I really wish Gibson/Epiphone would release these Riviera's in the US and other markets, oh well I can wish.

 

mgm

[vomer]

Very nice, congratulations. And that price is only £317 in UK money. I'm not buying anything right now but I'd love to try that one. And here in the UK, GAK are offering to match any European price.

[LongMan]

Awesome Riviera' date=' HNGD!!! [/quote']

Thanks to you all. I'm really happy with this one

 

Thanks for sharing the pics!

My pleasure!

 

It even has the correct inlay on the headstock.

I already wondered why this new one has another inlay on the headstock, and a black instead a white truss rod cover (compared to the MIK Rivieras). But it seems this is "historical correct":

 

 

I really wish Gibson/Epiphone would release these Riviera's in the US and other markets

I was not aware they don't. Well, it's not available that long in Germany, I guess it popped up last week in the store I got it from. So maybe it will be offered in the U.S. and other markets as well.

I considered the Riviera P-93 before, but didn't really like the whine red/gold hardware combo. Before I could make a decision it was sold out (was a limited edition as well). Discovering the Riviera cherry then was love at the first sight...

[KDKowalski]

Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous... As another poster mentioned I wish Epiphone would produce this quality in the entire line....stop with the multi piece necks unless they are cross cut 3-5 piece necks...veneering over mystery wood and add bindings where applicable.

[LongMan]

1967 Riviera in action:

 

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

[tommyb]

That's a gorgeous instrument. I never owned a hollow body. I would imagine the sound is quite mellow.

 

BTW, I NEVER got anything delivered that fast here in the States!

 

EDIT: Ah, I should have watched the video first. Excellent playing and yes, that sound is distinctive. I like it!

[deflepfan]

Big congrats to you! And what ever you do, make sure you do not throw it into the trash!!

 

Got my Riviera today. Ordered it yesterday at 4:00PM' date=' they shipped it at 8:00PM, and I got it this morning. It had to be moved over 600 miles - so not bad that truck driver [biggrin']

 

 

Sheila

[sledge57]

Nice and don't take it personally when I say "I HATE YOU"

 

I love the look of the Rivieras and like I said before I love RED HEADS (guitars and women :- )

 

I looked a Cherry Riviera at GC a couple weeks ago, I don't know why, I can't buy anything but I still go to look and slobber all over the guitars.

[LongMan]

That's a gorgeous instrument. I never owned a hollow body. I would imagine the sound is quite mellow.

It is on certain guitars' date=' depends on the woods and the pickups, and of course the amplifier you play. My ES-335 for example has exactly that sound you would expect from such a guitar. But the Riviera sounds different, which I do appreciate!

 

BTW, I NEVER got anything delivered that fast here in the States!

That Thomann store we are talking of is pretty fast. Sometimes when they have the ordered gear on stock they ship it in less than an hour or two after you ordered. Depends on the parcel service how fast you get it actually delivered.

 

EDIT: Ah, I should have watched the video first. Excellent playing and yes, that sound is distintive. I like it!

Me too The guitar in the video is actually a 1967 Kalamazoo Riviera, the "real thing". But the new one is not that far from it. Btw.: The guy (Gregor Hilden) looks (and sounds) a bit tired in that video. I've seen much better playing from him before. He's a musician that deals with guitars as second job. Check out his other videos. There's one where he plays a Gibson ES-335 equipped with P-90 pickups. Stunning sound! That's why I considered to put P-90 into the Riviera first:

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

[LongMan]

Big congrats to you!

Thanks Sheila!

 

And what ever you do' date=' make sure you do not throw it into the trash!! [/quote']

Fortunately it doesn't fit in my trash can[biggrin]

[supernova1281734074]

Thanks guys - awesome looking guitar!!! Just been to Manchester, England today - and saw a semi guitar, that was certainly striking, you'll either love it or hate it, and it's not a name I'd associate with humbuckers & semi, archtops - but BC Rich & the guitar is called A Dagger. It grabbed my attention when looking down a small collection of Epiphones - a second hand Dot, a BB King Lucille & a Tom Delonge ES-333 signature.

 

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21253&p=336293

 

I tried it, the neck is quite chunky, rather like my 83 Riviera, but the sound sounded flat. The neck pickup was set too low, the action was spot on, and ended up playing it in a shop for about 40 mins - it's like the one used by Jack Black's guitarist in Tenacious D, which i didn't know at the time.

 

I know own it, raised the neck pick up - and it sounds fantastic. It's brighter in tone than the 83 Riviera & also lighter , I 'll certainly be playing it. It looks a bit like a ES type guitar, with horns insteadof Mickey Mouse ears on Casino's, Sheritans & Rivieras - but with a different twist the sound holes looka bit like the ones on the Trini Lopez guitar of the 60's and the Dave Grohl Gibson ES guitar, but are in fact dagger shape. It's nice - and certainly striking.

[rhinobean123]

[random post]

Hey supernova nice to see a fellow Lancashire'man, I live up the road in Lancaster!

[/random post]

[Gordy01]

All these smooth curvaceous red heads..... MMMMMMMMMMMMM

[midiman56]

Not only is that one BEAUTIFUL instrument, Long ... your photography is outstanding as well! I've simply got to get a good camera. As I've said in the past, all my guitar pictures look like insurance photos!

 

I've fallen deeply in love with my Epi Riv as well ... one of the P93 models. They are amazingly great instruments, especially for the price!

 

Glückwünsche on such a fine purchase!

 

Jim

[LongMan]

Not only is that one BEAUTIFUL instrument' date=' Long ... your photography is outstanding as well! I've simply got to get a good camera. As I've said in the past, all my guitar pictures look like insurance photos!

 

I've fallen deeply in love with my Epi Riv as well ... one of the P93 models. They are amazingly great instruments, especially for the price!

 

Glückwünsche on such a fine purchase!

 

Jim

 

[/quote']

Thanks Jim! The camera I'm using is an Olympus SP-560UZ, already some years old, and it wasn't that expensive (app. 300$) for the images it makes. Has some nice features: Super macro, that lets you get as close as 3/8" to the object, see e.g. the close-ups of the tuning post and the "€" on the pick guard. And you can drive nearly all functions manually if needed (e.g. I fixed the ISO setting to 50 to avoid color noise).

Btw.: Sorry for all the dust on the images, but we have a big construction site round the corner currently, and you can't keep the window closed all the time at 90-95°F without air condition[biggrin]

[Lord Summerisle]

 

It has Kluson type tuning machines instead that a dime for a dozen chinese Grovers:

 

 

 

First and foremost' date=' LongMan, congrats on your new Riviera, it looks superb!

 

However...I do have to say, there's nothing at all wrong with the "dime a dozen" Grovers that come as the standard tuners on many Epiphone models. I had them on my G-400, and I thought they were excellent.

 

To be honest, I'd take the Grovers over the Kluson knock-offs that come with Casinos (for example) any day. I'm not sure that the Kluson copies used on Casinos are the same as the "Klusons" on your Riviera (I could have sworn the ones that came as stock on my Casino had an embossed 'e' on the back...?)

 

[b']EDIT:[/b]

 

Yes, thought so. They looked just like these and they were total garbage.

 

 

 

 

Had I kept the guitar, they'd have been the first thing to go. I hope the "Klusons" on your Riviera are different to these. Mind you, looking at photos of the IBJL Casinos, it seems that the sunburst models have the same tuners as your Riviera, so perhaps Epiphone are using better Kluson-style tuners these days...(hope so)...?

 

 

[LongMan]

First and foremost' date=' LongMan, congrats on your new Riviera, it looks superb![/quote']

Thanks! It looks superb as long as you watch it from a normal distance[biggrin] If you get close to it with a camera that has a good macro you'll see some details you didn't want to know... And you will see why this guitar can be sold at a 500$ price tag.

Don't get me wrong please: I love the guitar, it plays and sounds great, and in the end you will get what you paid for. But nobody should believe one of these could compete with a 2500$ guitar in terms of accuracy in finish details. It can't, not even close. If you can live with that it's a great bargain.

 

However...I do have to say, there's nothing at all wrong with the "dime a dozen" Grovers that come as the standard tuners on many Epiphone models. I had them on my G-400, and I thought they were excellent.

I meant this more from an optical point of view. I appreciate Epiphone paid some attention to the details when making a reissue of the Riviera. One of this details are the Klusons.

 

To be honest, I'd take the Grovers over the Kluson knock-offs that come with Casinos (for example) any day.

Depends. The Grovers that came on my korean Broadway are ok. The ones on my chinese Les Paul Custom work evenly after I adjusted them, but they tend to loose tuning a bit fast (compared e.g. to the ones on my Elite Les Paul). Guess I will change them for genuine Rotomatics or Gibson tulips. The ones that came on my malaysian Swingster were simply crap. Two of them were hard to move at all, and the guitar didn't stay in tune for 5 minutes. I immediately changed them for Locking Rotomatics and a Tusk nut. Now the guitar stays in tune even when working the Bigsby hard.

 

I'm not sure that the Kluson copies used on Casinos are the same as the "Klusons" on your Riviera (I could have sworn the ones that came as stock on my Casino had an embossed 'e' on the back...?)

I guess they build in what they have on stock. They will buy them by the thousands from the cheapest manufacturer probably. You can be lucky and get a set that's ok, or have bad luck like on the Swingster.

 

Had I kept the guitar, they'd have been the first thing to go. I hope the "Klusons" on your Riviera are different to these. Mind you, looking at photos of the IBJL Casinos, it seems that the sunburst models have the same tuners as your Riviera, so perhaps Epiphone are using better Kluson-style tuners these days...(hope so)...?

The "Klusons" on my Riviera are ok. They work evenly, and the guitar stays in tune ok (however not as great as the Swingster now does with the Locking Rotomatics). They have a somewhat strange transmission ratio, feels something like 12:1. Feels a bit odd if are used to the 18:1 Rotomatics like I have on the Swingster and the Elite Epis. But at least you have tuned up faster after a string change[biggrin] I'll keep an eye on that and change them for real Klusons if they become worse over time.

[LongMan]

Thanks! It looks superb as long as you watch it from a normal distance[biggrin] If you get close to it with a camera that has a good macro you'll see some details you didn't want to know... And you will see why this guitar can be sold at a 500$ price tag.

Just wanted to give you an idea what I'm talking about.

First of all: I love this guitar' date=' and I guess it's worth any single cent I paid for it.[/b']

What makes a guitar expensive is not so much the material (although using highest quality hardware and wood will increase the price significantly), but the work. So to build a cheap guitar you have to build it fast, and robotized where ever possible.

 

That said, let me show you some close-ups, that show what distinguishes this guitar from a guitar that's five or even ten times as expensive, but that also show some of the great details you might not expect on a guitar at this price tag.

 

The metal parts are not polished before chromium coating:

 

 

No sharp edges on the bridge saddles:

 

 

F-hole paintwork:

 

 

Pickup switch and output jack perfectly fit:

 

 

Nicely set bindings, perfectly even transition from binding to side of body:

 

 

But some overpainting on the bindings at the neck joint:

 

 

Nice detail: Felt washer under the neck strap button:

 

 

Nice fretwork. Note the fretboard inlays are fit a bit loose, and the remaining slots are filled up with a lot of sanding dust and glue:

 

 

When they beveled the fret edges they also sanded some paint off the neck binding:

 

 

And left some glue on parts of the binding:

 

 

Ouch, bit hefty sanding here:

 

 

Nut fit:

 

 

Great woodwork on the peg head edges:

 

 

Nice paintwork on the peg head. The peg head it glued on, note the grain direction change below the tuning post. It's well done, didn't notice this first:

 

 

Another full body shot. I didn't like the pick guard very much. It was routed pretty uneven, and the white color looks a bit odd to me (probably I will go for a black one). So I took it off just to see what difference it makes. For my taste she looks even more beautiful without the pick guard, what do you think?

 

[abbeyrod]

I bought the same one from Thomann 2 days ago.

looking forward to receiving it.

If i'm happy with the guitar itself, i think I will upgrade the pick ups and electronics for it to compete with my USA gibsons.

 

It looks great

[AS90]

Nice Riv!