Riviera

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Epiphone Riviera
1962-1963 Epiphone Riviera Headstock
Epiphone Riviera
1964-1969 Epiphone Riviera Headstock
Epiphone Riviera
Modern Epiphone Riviera Headstock

The Epiphone Riviera is a semi-acoustic, semi-hollow bodied guitar shaped similarly to a Gibson ES-335. The Riviera has a long history and was originally produced in the USA in from 1962 until 1969. The Riviera has also been produced in Japan by Matsumoku in the early 1980s and as part of the Elitist Series in the early 2000s. Epiphone Elitist models were made in Japan by Terada to an exceptionally high quality level for only a few years between 2001-2006. Currently the Riviera is made in Asia and is a budget alternative to Gibson guitars. The Riviera remains a popular reissue and limited edition guitar with original examples highly prized by players and collectors alike.


Though the Riviera and all its variations were introduced under the ownership of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, Epiphone is the exclusive manufacturer. The Riviera comes from a wide stable of Epiphone semi-acoustics, such as the Dot, Sheraton and Casino.



Contents

Models

Riviera

Epiphone Riviera
1962-1963 Epiphone Riviera
Epiphone Riviera
1964-1969 Epiphone Riviera
Epiphone Riviera
1964-1969 Epiphone Riviera
  • 1962-1969
  • Model E-360TD

Body:

  • Semi-hollow body with solid maple center block
  • Maple top, back & sides
  • 16" body width

Neck:

  • One-piece mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Open-book headstock (1962-1963)
  • Traditional headstock (1964-1969)
  • Oval headstock inlay
  • 24.75" scale

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Mini-humbucker pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with bone inserts
  • Frequensator tailpiece
  • White composite celluloid pickguard
  • Reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Royal Tan
  • Sunburst
  • Cherry


Riviera 12-String

Epiphone Riviera 12-String
Epiphone Riviera 12-String
Epiphone Riviera 12-String
1968 Epiphone Riviera 12-String
Epiphone Riviera 12-String
1968 Epiphone Riviera 12-String
  • 1965-1969
  • Model E-360TD-12

Body:

  • Semi-hollow body with solid maple center block
  • Maple top, back & sides
  • 16" body width

Neck:

  • One-piece mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Open-book headstock (1962-1963)
  • Traditional headstock (1964-1969)
  • Oval headstock inlay
  • 24.75" scale

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

ELctronics:

  • Mini-humbucker pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with bone inserts
  • Frequensator tailpiece
  • White composite celluloid pickguard
  • Reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry
  • Sunburst


Riviera (Matsumoku, Japan JDM)

Epiphone Riviera
1975-1979 Epiphone Riviera (JDM)
Epiphone Riviera
1975-1979 Epiphone Riviera (JDM)

Body:

  • Laminated Maple top, back & sides
  • Semi-hollow body design
  • No internal kerfling between top/back and sides
  • 3 ply pickguard with printed black E logo
  • Japan oval blue label in f-hole
  • 16" body width
  • 1.75" body depth

Neck:

  • Three piece maple with volute
  • 3-piece Set neck joins at 19th fret
  • Rosewood with split-parallelogram inlays
  • 3 screw, single-ply white truss cover with black "E" emblem
  • 14" Fingerboard Radius
  • 22 medium jumbo frets
  • 1.75" (incl binding) 1.68" (excl binding)
  • 24.75 scale length

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck
  • Binding over fret ends

Electronics:

  • Maxon MMK-61 humbucker pickups
  • 2 Volume, 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way pickup selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Frequensator tailpiece
  • Black witch-hat knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)


Riviera (Matsumoku, Japan)

Epiphone Matsumoku Riviera
1980-1981 Epiphone Matsumoku Riviera
Epiphone Matsumoku Riviera
1982-1984 Epiphone Matsumoku Riviera
  • Worldwide Distribution
  • 1980-1984

Body:

  • Laminated Maple top, back & sides
  • Semi-hollow body design
  • No internal kerfling between top/back and sides
  • 3 ply pickguard with printed black E logo
  • Rectangular tan label inside body below upper f-hole
  • 16" body width
  • 1.75" body depth

Neck:

  • Three piece maple with volute
  • Set neck joins at 19th fret
  • Rosewood with parallelogram inlays
  • 3 screw, single-ply white truss cover with black "E" emblem
  • 14" Radius
  • 22 medium jumbo frets
  • 1.75" (incl binding) 1.68" (excl binding)
  • 24.75 scale length

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck
  • Binding over fret ends

Electronics:

  • Maxon MMK-61 humbucker pickups
  • 2 Volume, 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way pickup selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Epiphone mini schaller style tuners with small buttons
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with 50mm spacing
  • Frequensator tailpiece 1980-1981
  • Stopbar tailpiece 1981-1984

Colors:

  • Antique Sunburst (AS)
  • Wine Red (WR)


Riviera Reissue

Epiphone Riviera
Epiphone Riviera with Mini-humbuckers
Epiphone Riviera
Epiphone Riviera with Humbuckers
  • 1994-2010
  • Model ETRI

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Semi-hollow construction

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Crown inlay on headstock
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Humbucker pickups (1994-1999)
  • Mini-humbucker pickups (1999-2010)
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • Optional Vibrotone tremolo
  • Reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)
  • Natural (NA)
  • Vintage sunburst (VS)
  • Gold Flake (GF)
  • Turqoise (TQ)
  • Metallic Black (MB)


Riviera 12-String Reissue

Epiphone Riviera
Epiphone Riviera with Mini-humbuckers
  • Model ETR2
  • 1997-2000

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Semi-hollow construction

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Crown inlay on headstock
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.875" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Humbucker pickups (1994-1998)
  • Mini-humbucker pickups (1999-2010)
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • Optional Vibrotone tremolo
  • Reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)


Riviera Limited Edition Cherry

Epiphone Riviera Limited Edition Europe
Epiphone Riviera Limited Edition Europe

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Semi-hollow construction

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Historical oval headstock inlay
  • Limited Edition logo on the back of the headstock
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Mini-humbucker pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • Optional Vibrotone tremolo
  • Reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH) Gloss


Jorma Kaukonen Riviera Deluxe

Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Riviera Deluxe
Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Riviera Deluxe
Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Riviera Deluxe
Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Riviera Deluxe
  • 2000-2005

Body:

  • Laminated Maple Body & Top

Neck:

  • Set Maple neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Gold "Jorma Kaukonen Signature" silk screen on headstock
  • 24.75” Scale
  • 1.68” nut width

Binding:

  • Single-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Classic Alnico-V pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Gold hardware
  • Grover tuners
  • Gold reflector knobs

Tremolo:

  • Vibratone tailpiece (2000-2002)
  • Licensed Bigsby tremolo (2003-2005)

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)


Riviera Custom P93

Epiphone Riviera Custom P93
Epiphone Riviera Custom P93
Epiphone Riviera Custom P93
Epiphone Riviera Custom P93

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck with SlimTaper "D" profile
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • 12" fingerboard radius
  • 22 medium-jumbo frets
  • 24.75" scale length
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Three Alnico-V P-90 pickups
  • 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Gold hardware with black pickguard (CH & WR)
  • Nickel hardware with cream pickguard - (GT)
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • Black pickguard
  • 14:1 ratio Wilkinson tuners
  • Gold reflector knobs

Colors:


Riviera P93 Royale

Epiphone Riviera Royale
Epiphone Riviera P93 Royale
Epiphone Riviera Royale
Epiphone Riviera P93 Royale
Epiphone Riviera Royale
Epiphone Riviera P93 Royale
  • 2011-Current

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Mahogany center block
  • Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Crown inlay on headstock
  • 12" fingerboard radius
  • 22 medium-jumbo frets
  • 24.75" scale length
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply gold sparkle body & neck binding

Electronics:

  • Three Alnico-V P-90 pickups
  • Middle pickup wired for reverse polarity
  • 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Gold hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • 14:1 ratio wilkinson tuners
  • Gold elevated pickguard
  • Gold reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Pearl White (PW)

See Also: Royale Series


Riviera P93 Black Royale

Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
  • 2012-Current

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Mahogany center block
  • Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Crown inlay on headstock
  • 12" fingerboard radius
  • 22 medium-jumbo frets
  • 24.75" scale length
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply Silver sparkle body & neck binding

Electronics:

  • Three Alnico-V P-90 pickups
  • Middle pickup wired for reverse polarity
  • 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • 14:1 ratio wilkinson tuners
  • White elevated pickguard
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Black Pearl (BP)

See Also: Black Royale Series


Riviera P93 Red Royale

Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
Epiphone Black Royale
Epiphone Riviera Black Royale
  • 2014

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides
  • Mahogany center block
  • Hand-scalloped bracing and sound post

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Crown inlay on headstock
  • 12" fingerboard radius
  • 22 medium-jumbo frets
  • 24.75" scale length
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply Silver sparkle body & neck binding

Electronics:

  • Three Alnico-V P-90 pickups
  • Middle pickup wired for reverse polarity
  • 3 Vol. 1 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • 14:1 ratio wilkinson tuners
  • White elevated pickguard
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Metallic Red (RM)

See Also: Red Royale Series


Nick Valensi Riviera P-94

Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
  • 2007-2011

Body:

  • Laminated maple top, back & sides

Neck:

  • Set Mahogany neck with SLimTaper "D" profile
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • White truss rod cover with "Valensi" inscription
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • Single-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • Gibson P94T & P94R pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • Elevated 3-ply pickguard with "E" emblem
  • 16:1 ratio Grover die-cast tuners
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Antique Natural (AN)


Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94

Epiphone Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94
Epiphone Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94 Headstock
  • 2006

Body:

  • 5-ply maple top, back & sides
  • 16" body width
  • 1.75" body depth

Neck:

  • 1-piece Set Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Black truss rod cover with "Nick Valensi P-94" engraving
  • Traditional headstock with no inlay
  • Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
  • Bone nut
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.625" nut width

Binding:

  • 1-ply body & neck
  • Unbound f-holes

Electronics:

  • Gibson P94T & P94R pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • 2-ply pickguard with foil "E" emblem
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Antique Natural (AN)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)

See also: Archtop Signature Models, Elitist Archtops


Elitist Riviera

Epiphone Elitist Riviera-6
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-6
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-12
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-12
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-12
Epiphone Elitist Riviera-12 Headstock
  • Model ELRI/ELR12

Body:

  • 5-ply maple top, back & sides
  • 16" body width
  • 1.75" body depth

Neck:

  • 1-piece set mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Traditional headstock with oval inlay
  • Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
  • 2-ply white truss rod cover with "Elitist" inscription
  • Bone nut
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.625" nut width (6-String)
  • 1.68" nut width (12-String)

Binding:

  • Single-ply body & neck
  • Unbound f-holes

Electronics:

  • 60NYR & 60NYT USA Mini-humbuckers
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • 3-ply white pickguard with foil "E" emblem
  • Grover tuners
  • Gold reflector knobs
  • Frequensator tailpiece (6-String)
  • Trapeze tailpiece (12-String)

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)

See also: Elitist Archtops


Elitist 1966 Custom Riviera

Epiphone Elitist Riviera
Epiphone Elitist 1966 Riviera
Epiphone Elitist Riviera
Epiphone Elitist 1966 Riviera
Epiphone Elitist Riviera
Epiphone Elitist 1966 Riviera
  • 2014
  • Made in Japan

Body:

  • 3-ply Laminated Maple top & body
  • Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck with 1960's SlimTaper profile
  • Single-ply body & neck binding
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • 12" fingerboard radius
  • 22 frets
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.69 nut width

Binding:

  • Single-ply body & neck

Electronics:

  • 2 Gibson USA mini humbuckers
  • 2 Vol 2 Tone controls
  • Orange Drop 473 capacitors
  • Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
  • CTS 500k potentiometers

Hardware:

  • Nickel hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with Derlin saddles & Gotoh stopbar
  • 14:1 ratio Gotoh tuners
  • Gold reflector knobs
  • 3-ply elevated pickguard with metal "E" emblem

Colors:

  • Honeyburst (HB)

Includes:

  • 1960's era hardcase


Nashville USA Collection Riviera

Epiphone Riviera
1993 USA Epiphone Riviera
  • 1993-1994
  • Made in Nashville, USA
  • Limited run of 250 guitars
  • Built to exact specifications of original Riviera

Body:

  • Semi-hollow body construction
  • Laminated maple body & top
  • Solid maple center block
  • Nitrocellulose finish

Neck:

  • 1-piece mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
  • Pearl oval inlay on headstock
  • Engrqaved "E" logo on truss rod cover
  • 24.75" scale
  • 1.68" nut width

Binding:

  • Single-ply body & neck
  • Unbound f-holes

Electronics:

  • Epiphone designed mini-humbucker pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
  • Raised toirtoise pickguard with raised "E" emblem
  • Gold reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Cherry (CH)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)
  • Natural (NA)


Riviera II

Epiphone Riviera II
Epiphone Riviera II

Body:

  • Laminated Maple Body and top

Neck:

  • Set Maple Neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with Split Parallelogram inlays
  • Crown headstock inlay
  • 24.75” Scale
  • 1.625” Nut

Binding:

  • 1-ply Body and neck

Electronics:

  • Humbucker pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch


Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
  • Elevated pickguard
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Ebony (EB)
  • Cherry (CH)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)
  • Metallic Light Blue (ML)


Noel Gallagher Supernova

Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Union Jack
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Union Jack
  • 1997-2005

Body:

  • Laminated Maple top, back & sides

Neck:

  • Set mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with Split Parallelogram inlays
  • Deco pearl oval inlay on headstock
  • Screen printed "Supernova" on pearloid truss rod cover
  • 24.75” Scale
  • 1.62” Nut

Binding:

  • Single-ply body and neck binding

Electronics:

  • Alnico Classic HB & Alnico Hot HB pickups
  • 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
  • 3-way selector switch

Hardware:

  • Chrome hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
  • Pearloid raised pickguard with "E" emblem
  • Noel Gallagher signature on pickguard
  • Vintage style tuners
  • Black reflector knobs

Colors:

  • Union Jack (UJ)
  • Manchester Blue (ML)
  • Cherry (CH)
  • Vintage Sunburst (VS)
  • Ebony (EB)



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