indiekiduk Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 what are the chances of Epiphone ever producing this stunning wine red guitar again? http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-40851-1983-Epiphone-Riviera-Guitar-Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny_2_owls Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Probably never. They seem loath to do a proper re-issue of a 60's riviera, with mini humbuckers and frequensator. The 80's one is too close to a Sheraton or dot with the two full size humbuckers and stop tail. It's a shame these 80's matsumoko instruments are fantastic guitars! I'm pretty sad as I write this cos I had yo sell my '84 wine red matsumoko riviera a couple of weeks ago! Inever thought I'd part with it but a situation ocurred whereupon it had to go. I'm really missing it right now. My advice is if you can find one, hold on to it with both hands!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiekiduk Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 wonder why they don't do a wine red Sheraton or dot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 wonder why they don't do a wine red Sheraton or dot? The 80`s Matsumoku made Sheraton, along with the Casino were available in Wine Red. Here`s an 83 Casino. The Matsumoku 76-86 semi`s are great guitars. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 wonder why they don't do a wine red Sheraton or dot? I dunno, but Epi makes a pretty sweet wine red Riviera with P-90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiekiduk Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 I dunno, but Epi makes a pretty sweet wine red Riviera with P-90s. its nice but I'd prefer humbuckers and silver hardware ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeweyCox Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I think it's weird that it's so hard to get a Matsumoku Riviera or Sheraton… Supposedly they are great guitars, I wouldn't know since I haven't tried one. I've heard Noel Gallagher has got quite the guitarcollection and even though I know he likes the Matsumokus I don't believe he has vacumed them all off the market… so, they should be out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiekiduk Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 I used to own a '84 or something Sheraton, one of the ones with "Epiphone by Gibson" on the headstock, personally I found the fretboard really slow and strings too heavy. I dunno why but it has really put me off owning an old guitar compared to a new epi les paul for example which always has light and fast fret board and strings. Maybe I just had a bad guitar tho but the person I sold it to seemed really happy so its all a bit confusing. I think I should try a brand new sheraton in a store and see how it plays maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I think it's weird that it's so hard to get a Matsumoku Riviera or Sheraton… Supposedly they are great guitars, I wouldn't know since I haven't tried one. You've pretty much answered your own question. They are great guitars. I've had my Riviera since 1983 and if I had to sell my guitars for some reason it would be the last to go. I bought mine originally as a backup for the 335 I owned at the time. Without getting into the Epiphone good Gibson bad area, the Riviera outclassed the 335 that I owned for sound and playability. Maybe the Riviera suited me better or maybe the 335 was a poor example but that's how it worked out for me (I've also owned a very average Telecaster and an atrocious Strat). As for early Riviera's being hard to find, they seem to sell (in England - on the rare occasions you do see one) for between £650-00 to £850.00 and, were I to sell it, would I get anything better or as good for the same money? I used to own a '84 or something Sheraton, one of the ones with "Epiphone by Gibson" on the headstock, personally I found the fretboard really slow and strings too heavy I don't think the "Epiphone by Gibson" logo models were made by Matsumoku but I could be wrong. The Riviera's I tried after '85 were not the same as mine. Some of it was little things like the neck binding no longer covered the fret ends, the pots weren't fitted with covers, different tuners and the Antique Sunburst finish wasn't quite the same. However, the biggest differences were the shape of the neck, it was completely different to mine, and the body shape was a bit different with slimmer "horns". I'm not saying they were bad or good but they were different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I don't think the "Epiphone by Gibson" logo models were made by Matsumoku but I could be wrong. The Riviera's I tried after '85 were not the same as mine. Some of it was little things like the neck binding no longer covered the fret ends, the pots weren't fitted with covers, different tuners and the Antique Sunburst finish wasn't quite the same. However, the biggest differences were the shape of the neck, it was completely different to mine, and the body shape was a bit different with slimmer "horns". I'm not saying they were bad or good but they were different. The "Epiphone by Gibson" headstock Sheraton guitars were amongst the first Epiphones made in Korea at the Samick factory, and although looking very similar to the Matsumoku version do feel different in the hand. The Matsumoku neck profile is amongst the best I`ve played. In response to DeweyCox, there really aren`t that many Matsumoku Epiphone Semi`s out there (The 76-86 Casino, Sheraton, Riviera and Emperor models). Initially they were only made for the Japanese domestic market, most of those found in Europe and the States were shipped out between 82-84. However they do show up from time to time on ebay Here`s an 82 Sheraton currently on U.S. ebay:- http://cgi.ebay.com/1982-EPIPHONE-MATSUMOKU-SHERATON-335-AWSOME-GUITAR-/360374339006?pt=Guitar&hash=item53e7fc05be Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeweyCox Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 That's a shame, if I got à lead on ond of those wine red Rivieras I would jump on it on the spot. Even though I prefer the oldschool minhums with frequensator the wines look and sound awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennyman Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Probably never. They seem loath to do a proper re-issue of a 60's riviera, with mini humbuckers and frequensator... There's a red Riviera (more cherry red than wine) here in Singapore that matches your description; mini-hums, frequensator, parallelogram inlays... made in China, '09 I think. Nice guitar, but it's not for me at this point in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinksBird Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Anyone on this thread want to sell theirs?? I started another thread just asking/hunting for a Matsumoku Riv, just trying all possible outlets... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinksBird Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 That's a shame, if I got à lead on ond of those wine red Rivieras I would jump on it on the spot. Even though I prefer the oldschool minhums with frequensator the wines look and sound awesome Me too!! And I want the stop tail piece and reg hums!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Me too!! And I want the stop tail piece and reg hums!! One of each do you mean ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinksBird Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 One of each do you mean ??? Oops, no I meant I want one like the exact one pictured, not the frequensator or mini hums...but I might end up with those if I cant find a Matsumoku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD88 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 This guitar is definitely up there as one of my favourite guitars ever! Love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinksBird Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 This guitar is definitely up there as one of my favourite guitars ever! Love it Then sell me yours!! Ha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobbind Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 They will never reissue this. The supernova was probably the closest you'll get to it in terms of a 'reissue'. Noel had a few of these, in the early days he had a brown one with a Bigsby which is seen on the cover of Definitely Maybe and in the shakermaker video. I believe it got stolen, wonder where it is now?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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