Finally. After all these years. A Riviera reissue true to the older models I remember. 10.25.2022...I finally bought one. Oh my. Can't say enough other than a ROYAL TAN model will be joining my red sparkle in the very near future. Owning just one of these will *not* do. This gets a sound no other guitar can quite nail: the frequensator tailpiece + the mini humbuckers are a killer, unique combination. Oh my the wait was worth it.
My goodness. You guys have done some of the best jams I've ever heard. Your two really are incredible when you play together. If you two put together a collection of your best jams I would buy that.
These look and sound fantastic, you guys have to do a comparison between new Epiphones and Gretsch Electromatic/Streamliner (Jets vs LPs, Double-Jets vs SGs, centre-block vs centre-block, hollow vs hollow). And the word Pete was looking for was "iconic"
@@harrygoodchild4563 Yeah, the epiphone prophecy series too. I'm usually in the market for slightly more expensive guitars. I really like schecters, but epiphone is taking notes. Sadly I don't like fender's stuff with jackson from a stylistic and dimensions standpoint. Love classic vibe strats tho.
@@swingonthespiral im the other way round i just dont trust a set neck instrument i just view fenders or squires as indestructible but i see the appeal of epiphones and gibson type guitars they sound cool
Yeah, I've been loving my Epiphone 50s Les Paul. The "inspired by Gibson" variety. Absolutely do not need one of these badboys. But maaan, I am tempted. I've never played one of those classic hollow body shapes. Looks like it might be fun.
That opening jam melted my heart, dammit I was trying to avoid another guitar this year. Also, grats to Andertons on making the 100 top NAMM dealers for 2020, not an easy accomplishment!
I’ve had one of these Rivieras reserved since early January and it’s finally arriving today... I can’t say how many times I’ve returned to this demo to drool over it throughout the past 3 months.
@@leoferreira1504 100% It has only grown on me since I’ve had it. I played it all day yesterday. I’ve owned a handful of different semi hollow Gretsch models, but I’m enjoying this less expensive Riviera way more. I love how warm and woody it can be, but the mini humbuckers still allow for some nice snappy high end (as shown in this video). The only modification I made was swapping out the stock TOM bridge for an inexpensive Gotoh TOM bridge and it has helped to both remove buzz as well as increase resonance.
@@jgenoese I totally know what you mean, but if you change just 1 string at a time, and mark your bridge with just a couple little arrows (the stickers used on legal documents)…. It’s a solution . I do know what you’re saying, though-
@@jgenoese very easy , put the string on the metal posts, then stick a piece of foam on the same six little metal posts that hold the strings. That way they don’t fall off when you thread them through the tuners. Have a nice day.
@martialway100 I know this is 3 years late, but for those who come across it now: All snark aside, I tried a Casino and though I couldn't dig thecbeck profile, it was cazy-loud and resonant acoustically. A fully hollow guitar with p90s is a recipe for overdrive insanity no matter what rig it's thru so long as tube - it's all up to the player to hang on tight to the reins. Like they said, their rigs just show the best it'll ever sound
Both these guys INSPIRE me to want to get better. Both guitars sound phenomenal. Loved watching the expression on each of their faces when the other took his solo and coaxed exquisite soaring tones out of these guitars, which seem to offer unparalleled value for the cost.
These guys find a new way to blow my mind every time they get together. -1st of all..Bea the R&B player 🤯 -Pete is just a god level blues player to me. The way he implements all of the other things he’s done in his career to tradition blues is just 🔥. -They merger modern R&B/ Blues and it didn’t seem out of place in the least bit. You smashed the intro fellas
The Riviera is my favorite semi hollow guitar, the mini humbuckers give a clarity that full humbuckers sometimes lack. Plus SRV had one, so what do have to lose? Awesome guitars and glad Epiphone is bringing them back.
Not trying to correct you, but it's actually fully hollow. Both the Riviera and the Casino are. Unlike the 335s which have a centre block. You can tell because the fully hollows have a trapese tailpiece or a Frequensator, whilst the centre block one's have a standard tailpiece.
@@castleanthrax1833 I would love to see the fully hollow Riviera that you are talking about. I have played a 1966 and 1967 Riviera and I own a mid 2000's Epi custom shop that have all been semi-hollows. If you actually have a full hollow Riviera, you have a one of a kind guitar that is probably worth a nice chunk of money because it is a factory mistake.
@@jacobrstout Both guitars in this video are "hollow body" guitars. I'm sorry that you don't agree with the name, but that's what they are. Nothing inside. Hollow. That's also how they're referred to in the video description.
Thanks so much, especially for the jams. I am the proud original owner of a 1969 American-made Epi Riviera. It was nice to hear you put a new one "through the paces."
Nice demo... some really tasty playing... Two guitars that could buy with the knowledge that there would be no need to upgrade or change anything... Some great tones.... Looking forward to Pete and Rebea doing their Frequencator Album together...👍👍👍
As an Epiphone fan I'm happy they are getting the love they deserve, their old socal tube amps still get hate even though Soldano himself designed them
Awesome! I love what Gibson is doing with the Epiphone brand these days! Oh and PLEASE do a video on the new Epiphone ES-335 guitars... they look friggin' amazing....! Maybe do a shootout with a "standard" Gibson ES-335! Cheers guys!
The riviera is a beast of a machine. A key component of 90s/2000s English rock. Oasis’s definitely maybe album is PURE riviera power. All rhythm guitar on that album is a standard Riviera and some of that lead is played on a Riviera. The strokes also used one (But I don’t know much about them by I know they used one) .
Waaaa... I had the opening jam on in the background while working and I had to give it my attention and ask "why does this sound so good?". Bea's tone there is just perfect for those licks. Tasty AF and responding really well to the dynamics of his playing. Nice.
I have this exact Riviera, color also. Very well made guitar, not even for the money, just in general!! Loads of fun to play, neck and frets smooth and comfortable….
I've always loved the growl of a casino run through with distortion, but when I had played them at guitar shops I was disappointed with the access to upper frets. I just wished they had more access like say a 335.
Came to this video for Bea ripping on that Casino with lots of gain (wasn't disappointed!) Stayed for those mad jams! Normally hate guitar demo jams but damnnnnn. Can't argue with that playing.
I love the high end and chime of those mini humbuckers. For someone that prefers single coils, the mini humbuckers provide an interesting non-Gretsch alternative to a PAF style. I just wish I could get them on the fully-hollow Casino body...
I have the Epi Casino Coupe, essentially a 339 sized Casino. Fully hollow, p90s, feeds back under high gain but get the settings just right and it can be everything from simple and soulful to face meltingly shreddy. Great guitars.
I like the new Riviera a lot. I used to have a 66 or 67 in red trans cherry, blue label made in Kalamazoo. Easily as nice as the 335. The Casino is nice too.
After buying these import Casinos and sometimes selling them off for 10 plus years this is my opinion of what you have to look out for. 1. Alignment of the tailpiece with the bridge. Many I have seen are mounted crooked and it is a very involved process to try and straighten them. If you see it's off, avoid. Check string and pickup pole piece alignment while you are at it. 2. Sometimes the pickguards are not cut right and don't sit flush around the pickups. I had to return an Inspired by Lennon Casino because of this flaw. 3. Unless they have upgraded the nuts they are cheap plastic. Once one on my Casino broke in two under the low E. On another the slots were poorly cut but could be corrected. A Graph Tech nut is probably the best and first mod you should make. 4. Sometimes it can be hard to intonate the guitar properly because there is limited room to move the saddles forward or back. You may have to turn around a saddle to get enough distance to zero in on the correct spot. The stock strings are so terrible and contribute to poor intonation that it makes it kind of a gamble if you will have enough room for adjustment once you have installed a good quality set of strings. 5. Check the fret work. On one Casino I found small knicks in the fretboard just behind the end of multiple frets. - Other than that I have found the woodwork and finishing consistently good for the price and electronics and hardware acceptable. I hope this helps. If you get a good one I think you'll love it.