The Epiphone Riviera is a semi-acoustic, semi-hollow bodied guitar similar the Gibson ES-335. The Riviera was originally made in the USA in from 1962 until 1969. A very limited number (250?) were made by Gibson in Nashville in 1993-1994. Later reissues of the Riviera have been made 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 a high quality level for a few years between 2001-2006. Circa 2018 the Riviera is made in Asia and is a budget alternative to Gibson guitars.
 | EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK)The first JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) was produced by EPIPHONE in 2003. After being so impressed with the sound and quality of his friend Jack Casady’s signature bass, Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna decided that he wanted Epiphone to make his signature instrument too. Built to Jorma’s specifications, the Riv Deluxe sports, Epiphone ‘57 Classic, Alnico-V pickups, Gold hardware, Grover machine heads, Dot fret markers and Gold Licensed Bigsby Vibrato. |
| No image yet | EPIPHONE RIVIERAThe main production period for the Epiphone Riviera was 1962 to 1970. A few were also made by Gibson in Nashville in 1993-1994. |
 | EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI)With twin “New York” mini-humbuckers and solid center block, the Riviera maintains vintage appearance and thoroughly modern tone with reduced feedback Model: Riviera Source: Epiphone catalog 2003 |
 | EPIPHONE Riviera 12-StringEPIPHONE made the Riviera 12-String (model E-360TD-12) between 1965 and 1969. Just like the 6-string Riviera, but with a non-vibrato 12-string bridge & tailpiece and a longer headstock to fit the extra machine heads. |
 | EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2)EPIPHONE reissued the Riviera 12-String (as model ETR2) between 1997 and 2000. Pickups were mini-humbuckers, but some had full sized humbuckers. Crown inlay on headstock. Body & neck binding |
| No image yet | EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN)Read more |
| No image yet | EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan)Read more |
| No image yet | EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI)Production of the Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) began in 1997 and ended in 1998 |
Specifications:
| Model | Image | Finish colors | Number of strings | Finish effects | Scale length | Weight | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 |  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | No image yet | tan finish | 6 strings | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) |  | ebony finish, natural finish, red finish | 6 strings | sunburst finish | 24.75 inches scale-length | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 |  | red finish | 12 strings | sunburst finish | 24.75 inches scale-length | 8.8 lb | USA |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 |  | ebony finish, natural finish, red finish | 12 strings | sunburst finish | 24.75 inches scale-length | 8.8 lb | Korea |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Model | Body shape features | Body width | Pickguard material | Soundhole | Body back material | Body top material | Body material | Hollow body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | double cutaway | 16 inches wide body | 3-ply pickguard, tortoiseshell pickguard, white pickguard | 2 f-holes | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | double cutaway | - | - | 2 f-holes | laminated maple body back | laminated maple body top | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | - | - | white pickguard | 2 f-holes | - | laminated maple body top | laminated maple body | semi-hollow body |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | - | - | white pickguard | 2 f-holes | - | laminated maple body top | laminated maple body | semi-hollow body |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Model | Bridge | Tailpiece | Hardware color |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | tremolo bridge, tune-o-matic bridge | trapeze tailpiece | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | - | standard tailpiece | chrome hardware |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | tune-o-matic bridge | trapeze tailpiece | chrome hardware |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | tune-o-matic bridge | trapeze tailpiece | chrome hardware |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| Model | Fingerboard position markers | Fingerboard material |
|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | parallelogram fingerboard position markers | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | parallelogram fingerboard position markers | rosewood fingerboard |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | block fingerboard position markers, parallelogram fingerboard position markers | rosewood fingerboard |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | block fingerboard position markers, parallelogram fingerboard position markers | rosewood fingerboard |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - | - |
| Model | Pickups configuration |
|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | 2 mini-humbucker pickups |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | 2 mini-humbucker pickups |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | 2 mini-humbucker pickups |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | 2 humbucker pickups, 2 mini-humbucker pickups |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - |
| Model | Tone controls | Volume controls | Pickup selector controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls | 3-way selector switch |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls | 3-way selector switch |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Tuner layout | Number of frets | Neck width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIPHONE JORMA KAUKONEN RIVIERA DELUXE (MODEL ETJK) 2003 | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA 1962 to 19701993 to 1994 | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA (MODEL ETRI) | set neck | mahogany neck | three-each-side | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String 1965 to 1969 | set neck | mahogany neck | six-per-side tuners | 22 fret | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera 12-String (Reissue - ETR2) 1997 to 2000 | set neck | mahogany neck | six-per-side tuners | 22 fret | 1.69 inches wide at nut |
| EPIPHONE RIVIERA ELITIST (MODEL ELRI, JAPAN) | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera Elitist 12 (Model ELR12, Japan) | - | - | - | - | - |
| EPIPHONE Riviera with Vibrotone (Model ETRI) 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - |
![Epiphone Limited Edition Riviera Custom P93 PR Wine Red [SN 14051500970] (04/12) for sale](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--bATdvzzn--/t_card-square/v1712892048/emfpjuruitqa5d5y1a1k.jpg "Epiphone Limited Edition Riviera Custom P93 PR Wine Red [SN 14051500970] (04/12)")
