SMG Review: Epiphone Limited Edition Riviera Custom Royale P93
Getting down with the Epiphone Limited Edition Riviera Custom Royale P93!
EPIPHONE GUITARS
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Music Company, who also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson’s main rival in the archtop market. Their professional archtops, including the Emperor, Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph, rivaled (and some contend surpassed) those of Gibson.
OFF THE RACK
The Epiphone Riviera has a warm, vintage tone that is perfect for instrumentals or clean based styles. A double cutaway, semi-hollow body gives this guitar the classic style that many guitarists have long loved and continue to play. The three P-90 single-coil pickups produce the raw tone that many blues and rock stylists seek. The P90′s traditional combination of high output and brilliant tone is still considered a favorite among many top musicians. The Bigsby tailpiece delivers superb vibrato and has been guitarists favorite for decades. A pearl white finish and gold hardware add a touch of class to the vintage design. The neck is not the fastest, but let’s face it, it’s not meant to be. The smooth comfortable action is very grippy and fits the hand nicely. The Ltd Edition Riviera Custom Royale P93 would be a nice addition for any serious musician looking for a classic axe.
THE SPECS
- Double cutaway semi-hollow guitar
- Laminated maple top Arched with hand-scalloped bracing
- Sound post Laminated maple back & sides
- Set mahogany neck
- 1.68″ nut width C-shape neck Adjustable truss rod
- 24.75″ scale length Rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays
- 12″ fingerboard radius
- 22 frets
- 1-ply binding on fingerboard and body
- Three Alnico V P-90 pickups
- 3 volume controls 1 tone controls 3-way toggle pickup selector
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
- Gold hardware Grover tuners Pearl white finish
THE LOW DOWN
The Epiphone Riviera is an awesome, classic guitar that has powerful clean tone and perfect for blues, rock and country. With its smooth playability, you will get a lot out of this guitar. The three P-90 pickups will blow you away with all the clean tone combinations you can create. The Bigsby is always a great addition to any axe, delivering just the right amount of twang and vibrato. The semi hollow design makes this guitar light and comfortable. I found that the Ltd Edition Riviera Custom sounds best through VOX amplifiers. Test one of these babies out for yourself and discover the many brilliant tones you can create with this monster axe.
Pros: Bigsby tailpiece, P-90 pickups ,light weight, classic tone.
Cons: Thick neck.
Street price – $500 – $549
Till next week, thanks for reading and keep on shredding!
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