NVED - 67 Riviera
- sookwinder
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NVED - 67 Riviera
Well... thank goodness holiday time ended here downunder and I am back at work... it's stopped me spending all my time surfing the web for awesome guitars and other things to stop my GAS ... which just seemed to erupt overnight.
I got the 1961 Epiphone Sorrento - a fully hollow body single cut twin minihumbucker - a week or two back and then thought to myself : damn it ... the US goes into psuedo recession while the aussie $$ is high only once in anyone's lifetime ... so I started looking for a 60s Epiphone Riviera.
For those who don't know what a Riviera is, or at least what a 60s Riviera is, it is essentially the Epiphone version of a 335 but with minihumbuckers.
That is it has a semi-hollow body, is a thinline guitar made at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo.
A lot of great players have used them over the years... I particually enjoy Otis Rush playing one ... even our very own amp ninja loves the Riviera
I shanghai'd Brad into helping me again look for and discuss the pros and cons of various vintage Rivieras that were available on the web.
The majority of the available guitars had "narrow" necks. Even the 1965 (and 67) at Gary's had neck widths less than 1 9/16" ... almost 1 1/2".
I like (as i have determined) a neck width on an epiphone of something between 1 9/16 - 1 10/16 "
After lots of great discussions with Brad (thanks again mate ... much appreciated) concerning actual value verses what the dealers think a guitar is worth, the difference in cost of a 65 verses a 66 or 67 (Gibson era change of management), pros and cons of replaced tuners etc etc ... it eventually came down to two Rivieras at McKenzie River Music in Oregon.
Can't say enough great things about McKenzie River Music ... helpful, answered all the numerous questions I had, took photos of the nut with a micrometer in the photo indicating the exact neck widths. I highly recommend them to anyone. The two Rivieras McKenzie River Music had were a Cherry and a sunburst. The Cherry had a Frequensator Tailpiece but with changed tuners. The Sunburst had the epiphone vibrola (trem).
I made them an offer for the sunburst.... and 6 days later here it is.
The neck is about 1 19/32" at the nut... slightly narrower than my 65 casino, but still fantastic to pay. Plenty of meat still in the frets. As you can see the sunburst is truly magnificant...way way better condition than I expect (still some dust on the body from the shipping boxes ). Basically no dings or bad mojo anywhere.
Now to the sound .... The mini humbuckers have a "jangle" about them... yes a jangle . Far less muddy than regular sized HBs. While I do have a superb Gibson LP Std and ES 137 both with HBs, I have for whatever reason stayed clear of 335s ... just a bit bassy / muddy for me. Where as these minihumbuckers have all the thickness you want in a HB, with the jangle and brightness, and very little, if at all, mud. awesome !!
I mentioned to Brad and he agreed that there is less variation in tonal sound between the neck and bridge pups than say in a Casino, LP or strat etc It is different shades of a great sound changing from neck to bridge (or both together) rather than a complete different sound you get on some guitars.
The bonus with this Riviera .... it arrived monday on my doorstep .... I sugned for it .... it is now MINE ....
But it seems it went through customs without having the need to pay any import duty
When I get a chance I shall take a photo of the three ladies together: the 61 Sorrento, 65 Casino and the 67 Riviera.
But for the moment here is my 1967 Epiphone Riviera.
I got the 1961 Epiphone Sorrento - a fully hollow body single cut twin minihumbucker - a week or two back and then thought to myself : damn it ... the US goes into psuedo recession while the aussie $$ is high only once in anyone's lifetime ... so I started looking for a 60s Epiphone Riviera.
For those who don't know what a Riviera is, or at least what a 60s Riviera is, it is essentially the Epiphone version of a 335 but with minihumbuckers.
That is it has a semi-hollow body, is a thinline guitar made at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo.
A lot of great players have used them over the years... I particually enjoy Otis Rush playing one ... even our very own amp ninja loves the Riviera
I shanghai'd Brad into helping me again look for and discuss the pros and cons of various vintage Rivieras that were available on the web.
The majority of the available guitars had "narrow" necks. Even the 1965 (and 67) at Gary's had neck widths less than 1 9/16" ... almost 1 1/2".
I like (as i have determined) a neck width on an epiphone of something between 1 9/16 - 1 10/16 "
After lots of great discussions with Brad (thanks again mate ... much appreciated) concerning actual value verses what the dealers think a guitar is worth, the difference in cost of a 65 verses a 66 or 67 (Gibson era change of management), pros and cons of replaced tuners etc etc ... it eventually came down to two Rivieras at McKenzie River Music in Oregon.
Can't say enough great things about McKenzie River Music ... helpful, answered all the numerous questions I had, took photos of the nut with a micrometer in the photo indicating the exact neck widths. I highly recommend them to anyone. The two Rivieras McKenzie River Music had were a Cherry and a sunburst. The Cherry had a Frequensator Tailpiece but with changed tuners. The Sunburst had the epiphone vibrola (trem).
I made them an offer for the sunburst.... and 6 days later here it is.
The neck is about 1 19/32" at the nut... slightly narrower than my 65 casino, but still fantastic to pay. Plenty of meat still in the frets. As you can see the sunburst is truly magnificant...way way better condition than I expect (still some dust on the body from the shipping boxes ). Basically no dings or bad mojo anywhere.
Now to the sound .... The mini humbuckers have a "jangle" about them... yes a jangle . Far less muddy than regular sized HBs. While I do have a superb Gibson LP Std and ES 137 both with HBs, I have for whatever reason stayed clear of 335s ... just a bit bassy / muddy for me. Where as these minihumbuckers have all the thickness you want in a HB, with the jangle and brightness, and very little, if at all, mud. awesome !!
I mentioned to Brad and he agreed that there is less variation in tonal sound between the neck and bridge pups than say in a Casino, LP or strat etc It is different shades of a great sound changing from neck to bridge (or both together) rather than a complete different sound you get on some guitars.
The bonus with this Riviera .... it arrived monday on my doorstep .... I sugned for it .... it is now MINE ....
But it seems it went through customs without having the need to pay any import duty
When I get a chance I shall take a photo of the three ladies together: the 61 Sorrento, 65 Casino and the 67 Riviera.
But for the moment here is my 1967 Epiphone Riviera.
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...
- Tonebender
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Great buy David.
I've been ogling that guitar for a while, umming and arring about it, glad it's gone to a good home.
One thing I noticing looking at old Riviera's is that quite often the bridge pick-up has the pole pieces "reversed", ie towards the neck rather than the bridge, any reason for this you know of?, do people flip them ?
More pics please!
I've been ogling that guitar for a while, umming and arring about it, glad it's gone to a good home.
One thing I noticing looking at old Riviera's is that quite often the bridge pick-up has the pole pieces "reversed", ie towards the neck rather than the bridge, any reason for this you know of?, do people flip them ?
More pics please!
- sookwinder
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
regarding the direction of the minihumbuckers.... when I took my sorrento to my luthier he made the comment that someone had flipped the direction of one of the mini HBs as they both were the same direction (both towards the head). I went home and spent 2 or 3 hours searching the net for photos of both Sorrentos and Rivieras (both had mini HBs) . Almost all the photos I found (many dozens) had the two mini HBs pointing in the same direction. The only conclusion I could make is that is how they were when they left the factory.... unlike normal size HBs.Tonebender wrote:One thing I noticing looking at old Riviera's is that quite often the bridge pick-up has the pole pieces "reversed", ie towards the neck rather than the bridge, any reason for this you know of?, do people flip them ?
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...
- jimboyogi
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Amazing condition!
Amazing sunburst!
Amazing!!
Amazing sunburst!
Amazing!!
- Vinkie
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Nice, lovely! Exactly the same burst as my '67 Casino.
I also love the miniHB's, like you said they have a nice jangle to them.
I also love the miniHB's, like you said they have a nice jangle to them.
- gypsyseven
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Very cool guitar, congrats!
- Despot
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Happy NGD Sookwinder!
That's an awesome looking instrument - how do you rate the Epiphone trem? Are those the original frets? They look to be the low and wide sort that I love to find sometimes on older guitars - I reckon that Epi is a joy to play.
By the way, thanks for the advice on the varitone for the 355 - all sorted now.
That's an awesome looking instrument - how do you rate the Epiphone trem? Are those the original frets? They look to be the low and wide sort that I love to find sometimes on older guitars - I reckon that Epi is a joy to play.
By the way, thanks for the advice on the varitone for the 355 - all sorted now.
- sookwinder
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Frets, as I said, still have enough meat in them.... have had no issues at all in playability ... and yes rthey are original.
Will take the guitar to my luthier so he can (1) give it the once over and dress any of the frets he feels require action and (2) wonder yet again what a keyboard player is doing with such a fine guitar
Will take the guitar to my luthier so he can (1) give it the once over and dress any of the frets he feels require action and (2) wonder yet again what a keyboard player is doing with such a fine guitar
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...
- PorkyPrimeCut
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Those bloody tailpieces get me every time.
Beautiful guitar!!
Beautiful guitar!!
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.
- JazzmasterJonny
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
What a beautiful guitar...simply stunning. I love Rivieras!
- luau
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
That's gorgeous. Congrats!
- shadowplay
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Your are building up a collection of great looking and I assume sounding Epiphones. Enjoy them in good health.
The birdseye suits it too, when you see it on newer Fenders and the like it looks quite nasty and like that horrible Ostrich skin leather but that looks really subtle, almost like bubbles on a pond surface.
D
The birdseye suits it too, when you see it on newer Fenders and the like it looks quite nasty and like that horrible Ostrich skin leather but that looks really subtle, almost like bubbles on a pond surface.
D
Are you loathsome tonight?
- øøøøøøø
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
The guitar is even more beautiful in your photos than it was in the store's photos. Someone should hire you to take photos of for-sale guitars!!
Congrats again and glad I could help in some small way.
My Riviera also came with both pickups facing the same direction... like your luthier, I also thought it was "wrong" and flipped the bridge around, and then (like you) began to notice that they're all that way!
Congrats again and glad I could help in some small way.
My Riviera also came with both pickups facing the same direction... like your luthier, I also thought it was "wrong" and flipped the bridge around, and then (like you) began to notice that they're all that way!
- jimi
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
beautiful... I have dreams about that guitar
- cestlamort
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Re: NVED - 67 Riviera
Both new guitars are beautiful, classy, classic, and interesting.
Congratulations and well-done.
Congratulations and well-done.