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Wood used in late 50s - 60s Riviera, Sheratons (laminate??)


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I was wondering if the current Rivieras & Sheratons available today use the same wood used in vintage models.. I know the Lennon Casinos offer a vintage spec (maple,birch,maple,birch,maple) fabrication for a true period correct model, but do the Rivieras & Sheratons offer the same period correct versions too?[crying]

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I was wondering if the current Rivieras & Sheratons available today use the same wood used in vintage models.. I know the Lennon Casinos offer a vintage spec (maple' date='birch,maple,birch,maple) fabrication for a true period correct model, but do the Rivieras & Sheratons offer the same period correct versions too?[blink']

 

I think the "Inspired by Lennon" and the "Revolution" version of the Casino do. Check the specs on the regular www.epiphone.com website under these models. I know the regular Casino does not. But I think the John Lennon

models try to keep to the original specs of the '60s model.

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Regular Casino I think its just 5-ply maple. Remember though that ply laminate wood is more sensitive to supply...even Gibson doesn't do what they used to. I think they're on Maple-Poplar-Maple now, but I think they've done Maple/Birch and Maple ply.

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Regular Casino I think its just 5-ply maple. Remember though that ply laminate wood is more sensitive to supply...even Gibson doesn't do what they used to. I think they're on Maple-Poplar-Maple now' date=' but I think they've done Maple/Birch and Maple ply.[/quote']

 

Relative to the price of a Gibson, it shouldn't make a bit of difference using all maple.

 

We're talking about the least expensive rotary cut veneers.

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Kalamazoo-made Gibson/Epiphone ES-style guitars seem to have been variously made with different combinations of plys between the maple inner and outer layers, including poplar, basswood, mahogany, maple, and spruce, depending (it seems) on supply. From what I've read, I'm not sure whether anyone really knows if Gibson stuck to one type of wood for the inner core of plys througout the life of any particular model, as variations abound.

 

As another poster suggested, I would like to think that Epiphone had Terada build the original, high-end Lennon '65 and Revolution Casinos to the same spec as John's guitar, which they examined (but who really knows). Other Casinos from that era or even that year may have been built differently.

 

Anyway, the way I understand it is there wasn't any fixed formula for the wood used on the body's plys in the '60s (except that maple was always on the inner and outer surfaces, and that in general, Gibson ES bodies had fewer plys than Epiphone bodies (4 usually for Gibson vs. 5 for Epi).

 

Red 333

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