liveForever Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Hi, I want to know wich guitar is better in materials. My original idea was buy an Sheraton II and change the pickups for P94, but the riviera already has mini-humbuckers. The epi riviera of which I speak is the following: http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_riviera_limited_edtion_ch.htm I listen for advices... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I'm pretty sure that structurally they are the same guitar. The big differences are in the hardware and inlays. I believe that the Sheraton would be a step up from the Riviera. Although Rivs have mini-humbuckers in them, at one time (in the 1990's) they had full sized humbuckers, making the biggest difference, aside from the inlays, the frequensator tailpiece at that time. Really, you need to decide if you like the mini-hums or a full sized pickup. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I want to know wich guitar is better in materials. My original idea was buy an Sheraton II and change the pickups for P94, but the riviera already has mini-humbuckers.The epi riviera of which I speak is the following: http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_riviera_limited_edtion_ch.htm I own a Riviera Limited Edition from 2010 and a 2000 korean Sheraton II. From what I could see on a current chinese made Sheraton II that I test played, the materials seem to be more or less identical for the Riviera LTD and the Sheraton II. The Sheraton has more embellishments (multi-ply bindings, also on headstock, grape vine inlay on headstock, gold hardware, bigger and more fancy fretboard inlays). This explains the slightly higher price tag of the Sheraton II. The basic construction details are the same, the current Sheraton II has the same scarf joint headstock and neck heel construction as the Riviera. Also the neck profile is identical as far as I could see. Compared to my 2000 korean Sheraton II the current chinese model lost a lot of its magic. The neck of the korean Sheraton consists of 5 stripes of wood, no scarf joint. The fretboard bindings of the korean Sheraton cover the fret ends (a detail you normally see only on higher priced guitars), while the current Sheraton II has open fret ends like the Dot and the Riviera. The korean one has a more D-shape neck, very much like the necks Gibson calls "60s slim taper", while the current chinese one has a more rounded C-shape profile similar to the Dot and Riviera. The korean Sheraton has a more solid bridge, while the current model has the standard T-O-M bridge. I cannot say for sure, but I would bet the basic guitars today are the same for Dot, Riviera and Sheraton II. The difference is in the hardware like pickups and tuners, and in the embellishments like bindings and inlays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I guess you are dead on right. Apart from that you were a tad faster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Hi, I want to know wich guitar is better in materials. My original idea was buy an Sheraton II and change the pickups for P94, but the riviera already has mini-humbuckers. The epi riviera of which I speak is the following: http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_riviera_limited_edtion_ch.htm I listen for advices... Have you thought about getting a Nick Valensi Riviera? It has Gibson P94's and a frequensator tailpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveForever Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Have you thought about getting a Nick Valensi Riviera? It has Gibson P94's and a frequensator tailpiece. yes, I thought., but there is some of that guitar that does not convince me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Have you thought about getting a Nick Valensi Riviera? It has Gibson P94's and a frequensator tailpiece. Good advice. And the Valensi Riviera is just a tad more expensive than the Sheraton II. For the difference between Riviera Limited Edition and Valensi Riviera you would only get one of those P-94, apart from the fact the Valensi is ready to play and looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 yes, I thought., but there is some of that guitar that does not convince me Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Unless I'm mistaken, the Sheraton has a maple neck and the necks on Dot's and Riv's are mahogany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Unless I'm mistaken, the Sheraton has a maple neck and the necks on Dot's and Riv's are mahogany. Yep, you are right, just had a look to the specs. Lucille also has a maple neck. Dot/Riviera mahogany. OK, I would have lost that bet But apart from the neck timbers the current Sheraton II and the Riviera (and even the Dot) felt pretty similar. The old korean Sheraton II is a different beast, feels (and looks) more valuable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Have you thought about getting a Nick Valensi Riviera? It has Gibson P94's and a frequensator tailpiece. The Valensi also comes with a one piece mahogany neck (very similar in profile to the Elitist Casino), and the finish is more golden in color. The current model is made in Korea by the Unsung factory, which pumped out a lot of the last Korean Sheratons with 5-piece necks. I picked up a Valensi earlier the year, and it's really quite impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 I just saw this video on Epi's facebook page describing the differences between the Dot, Sheraton and Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueman335 Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Unless I'm mistaken, the Sheraton has a maple neck and the necks on Dot's and Riv's are mahogany. Most of the Dots I've seen have (light-colored) maple necks. A few have (dark) mahogany necks, which I prefer; I just don't see them nearly as often. Maybe the latest production is all mahogany necks, but most of the other stuff wasn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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