Up for sale, a 1981 Epiphone Riviera in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This “blue label” Epi was crafted at the Matsumoku factory in Japan, and was the first iteration of the Riviera to boast full-size humbuckers. The Matsumoku-made Epiphone instruments are prized for their exceptional build quality and tonal range: this Riviera features Maxon-made humbuckers, a Frequensator tailpiece, and a gloss Cherry finish.

The semi-hollow maple body (maple centerblock) results in plenty of natural resonance and a peppy immediacy, providing an ideal platform for the pair of Maxon-made humbuckers. These pickups are wound in the PAF profile, sweet and detailed in their tonal response, with a touch of bite and growl at the bridge and a full-yet-airy quality at the neck. Weighing 7lbs 15oz, this Riviera has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

  • Wood: Maple (three-piece)
  • Shape: Chunky C, measuring .875” 1st fret, .940” 12th fret
  • Fretboard: Rosewood, pearl split parallelogram inlay
  • Frets: Slender, leveled and crowned, faint wear beneath the plain strings on 1-5
  • Scale Length: 24 3/4”
  • Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
  • Tuners: “E” Epsilon
  • Serialization: 1-prefix (1981)

Body Specs:

  • Wood: Maple (maple centerblock)
  • Pickups: Maxon-made humbucker x2
  • Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
  • Hardware: Nashville-style bridge (modern), Frequensator tailpiece (modern forks)
  • Plastics: Witch hat knobs, one-ply plexi pickguard with “E” epsilon
  • Label: Blue rectangle, “Made in Japan” and “Kalamazoo, Michigan”

The gloss Cherry finish exhibits limited checking, and cosmetic wear includes faint pick and wrist jewelry-related scuffing on top, a bit of buckle worming on the back, and a few small marks on the body as a whole. There are a handful of shallow nicks along the neck profile, none of which are distracting to the palm while fretting.

A padded gigbag is included.

This item is sold As-Described

This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Learn More.

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Listed2 months ago
ConditionExcellent (Used)
Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • Riviera
Finish
  • Cherry
Categories
Year
  • 1981
Body Type
  • Semi-Hollow Body

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Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar

Seattle, WA, United States
Joined Reverb:2013

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