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Epiphone-Riviera


CEB

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I do not need another guitar but Rivieras are cool. Semi hollow design, mini humbuckers with that frequensator tail piece ... as long as your D strings aren"t too short to reach the tuners. ð

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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I do not need another guitar but Rivieras are cool. Semi hollow design, mini humbuckers with that frequensator tail piece ... as long as your D strings aren"t too short to reach the tuners. ð

 

That is an actual concern. The last set of strings I put on my Frequensator-equipped Emperor Regent required extending the D by tying on a bit of the old D string just past the nut.

Scott Fraser
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I do not need another guitar but Rivieras are cool. Semi hollow design, mini humbuckers with that frequensator tail piece ... as long as your D strings aren"t too short to reach the tuners. ð

 

That is an actual concern. The last set of strings I put on my Frequensator-equipped Emperor Regent required extending the D by tying on a bit of the old D string just past the nut.

 

I"m reading that D"Addario D strings have enough length. My luck is if I find a Riviera D"Addario will cut cost by shortening their strings. I could always convert it to a standard Trapeze but the Frequensator looks sexy.

 

[video:youtube]

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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I do not need another guitar but Rivieras are cool. Semi hollow design, mini humbuckers with that frequensator tail piece ... as long as your D strings aren"t too short to reach the tuners. ð

 

That is an actual concern. The last set of strings I put on my Frequensator-equipped Emperor Regent required extending the D by tying on a bit of the old D string just past the nut.

 

I would look at getting a set of locking tuners. Then the D (and the other strings) only have to make it to the tuner (sans any wraps). Just slide in the hole, lock it and tune...Before buying the tuners, check to see if the D string is long enough just to make it through the hole without any wraps... :cool:

 

ps. 2nd guess, maybe customize that top tail piece's section rods moving the strings an inch or two up toward the headstock?

Take care, Larryz
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2nd guess, maybe customize that top tail piece's section rods moving the strings an inch or two up toward the headstock?

 

You could if you have a shop with some metal working tools. It's a pretty low tech piece, a rod bent into a U shape (with sharp angles, not rounded,) and threaded at the ends to hold the string retainer. Then gold plated. Lotta work for something that should be easier to deal with. I have 3 Epiphones with the Frequensator & I've only once had a set of strings with a D short enough to be a problem. So, it's not an every day problem, but when it is, it IS a problem.

Scott Fraser
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If the tuners are the same as what they put on my Casino I would be changing them anyway. My favorite after market 3+3 tuner set is these 19:1 ratio locking Klusons. They are kind of expensive for these lower priced Epis but I really have a thing for Casinos and Rivieras. My Korean Sheraton II came with decent Grovers. I never changed a thing on that Sheraton. Ive historically been a guitar snob but I really like Epi that are there own thing. Wilshires and Coronets are cool too .... and Emperors are very cool.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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I have an Epi ES-175 Premium that is one of my favorites. It came stock with my favorite pups 57 US humbuckers and upgraded 500k Gibson pots, Switchcraft 3way, so there were no upgrades needed. Cost ran $1,000 but it's much cheaper and keeps up with it's $4,000 Gibson counter part. Made in Korea assembled in the US. Only problem was the jack would not stay tight and kept shorting on me. I tried everything from buying custom tools, blue locktite, having a GC tech tighten it under warranty, etc. I could get it to tighten but it would only last a couple of months and come loose again (no lock washer inside from the factory). Scott suggested a metal jack plate and I had my tech do the job and that did the job along with a new jack with good threads. Sometimes a custom fix will do the trick...

 

The 175 trapeze is not a favorite of mine as it bites a little if my picking hand moves back too far. I would like to have something similar to the Frequensator on it. My Conti which is made by Peerless, has a cool gold 6 finger string (one for each string) retainer that I really like. Since it won't hurt the value of the Epi (like it would the real thing Gibson), I may just make the swap. Thanks to you two, I am really thinking about it! If I can find one LOL! :2thu:

 

ps. from the front edge on the trapeze on the 175 to the D string tuner is 34" inches +/-. If one of you guys would measure the same distance on your Epi with the Frequensator for the D string, it would be very helpful info? Thanks!

Take care, Larryz
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Thanks Scott and Sharkman! The Joe Pass Emperor is very close to my ES-175 as my 175 fits the Emperor case perfectly. The 175 didn't come with a case and after looking all over for one, I found the Emperor case was very close in size. From the info you both provided it looks like the Frequensator adds 4". I found a source for the Frequensator and they run $26 bucks in chrome or gold. I'll do a few more measurements and talk it over with my tech. I think it would solve my dislike of the stock ES-175 trapeze. Thanks again, big time, for the measurements! :2thu:

 

ps. I just thought of another reason I would like the Frequensator, I like to change my strings 3 at a time so I can clean the neck, keep tension on the neck and bridge, etc. :cool:

Take care, Larryz
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CEB, in the video you posted it looks like he's playing that Epi through a Fender amp with a Fender Reverb unit on top? My buddy had a Fender Deluxe before they came out with the Deluxe Reverb and we used it on top like the one shown in the video and/or a similar set up. If I ever find one of those Fender Reverb units for sale, I'm going to snatch it up. It's one of the best reverbs I have heard. :cool:

 

ps. Thanks for the video! Scott Sharrard really makes that Epi Riviera come alive! Nice and clean! :thu:

Take care, Larryz
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