Epiphone Riviera E360-TDC 1967
In this edition of Reverb Rarities, we’re highlighting an Epiphone Riviera from 1967 in a stunning Sparkling Burgundy finish. This particular finish was only available on this model for a few short years back in the 60s, making this a particularly rare specimen.
This Riviera was built in Gibson’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory. As many guitar aficionados already know, the Epiphone brand was purchased by Gibson in the late 50s, which initiated a process by which that name was used to market instruments made at the Gibson factory in Michigan to different markets and retailers. With some notable exceptions, most Epiphone models from this period have a corollary Gibson model – in the case of the Riviera, the equivalent Gibson would be the iconic ES-335, though the guitars differed in a few key ways. Notably, the Riviera used mini-humbucker pickups instead of full-sized ones, along with a different tailpiece and headstock shape. Unlike the Beatles-approved Casino, the Riviera and ES-335 are semi-hollowbody guitars with feedback-reducing centre blocks in their body cavities.
Today’s guitar is on offer from Guitar Village of Farnham. Sparkling Burgundy finished guitars from the 60s tend to fade in different ways over time, and as Guitar Village’s listing notes, this guitar “has faded heavily on the top giving in an almost Goldtop-like appearance, but the back and sides still have plenty of colour showing”.
To find the full listing, head to: https://bit.ly/ReverbEpiRiviera