Sorry this item now SOLD
This guitar is a fabulous rare original Made in USA 1967 E360TD Riviera 12. Only 446 were produced in the 7 year period between '62 & 69. See later details in listing.
I went over to Canada to pick it up in 2008 for me to use in my Beach Boys tribute band The British Beach Boys. I used it regularly till 2011 when I got a Ricky 12 which I now use on tour. You can hear the guitar and see me playing it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7FbZ0GrO1c.
The guitar is of course maple with a lovely 1 3/4" thinline construction with a fabulous faded tobacco sunburst finish. 22 fret dark Rosewood fingerbord with pearloid markers, mahogany set neck Mini humbuckers.
This is a USA model made with a serial number that proves it was made 1967 in the Gibson Kalamazoo, Michigan factory. It comes with an original period case don't know if it's an Epiphone case could be but it's the one it came with when I picked it up in Canada.
Also included an old insurance certificate from the MU with my name and address on as proof it was played by myself .
I will include a signed photo with the guitar also dated
This is short three day auction so go for it guys. Good luck
below are some interesting facts about the E360TD
| Model |
Riviera E360TD |
| Available |
1962-1969 |
| Pickups |
Two mini humbuckers |
| Scale |
24 3/4" |
| Body |
Maple top sides and back with black and white binding. 16" wide (lower bout), 19" long, 1 3/4" thick |
| Neck |
One-piece set mahogany with binding, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid inlays. 22 frets, body meeting the neck at the 19th fret. |
| Hardware |
2 volume and 2 tone controls. Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece. |
| Finishes |
Sunburst, Cherry from 1966 |
The Epiphone range of the 1960s closely followed the Gibson guitars of the same time. The Riviera corresponds to the Ginson ES335 having the same dimensions and construction, but with different bridge, pickups and headstock. Like the ES335-12, the Riviera also had a 12-string version produdced from 1965. 1967 was the peak year for both models (in 6 and 12 string variations) but the Gibson version heavily outsold the Epiphone; a ratio of almost 8:1 for the 335, and 5:1 for the 335-12. Interestingly enough, the Epiphone was the same price or more expensive than the Gibson - a fact which must have played heavily on sales figures. For Gibson, having almost identical lines at very similar prices was a little pointless, and when Norlin took over in late 1969 these Epiphones were dropped
| Sales for the period 1962-1969 |
| manufacturer |
model |
shipping total |
price (1/10/66) |
|
| Epiphone |
E360TD (Riviera) |
2556 |
$395, $435 with tremotone vibrato |
| Gibson |
ES-335TD |
19222 |
$365, $380 cherry |
|
| Epiphone |
E360TD 12 (Riviera 12) |
446 |
$410, $425 cherry |
| Gibson |
ES-335TD-12 |
2016 |
$410, $425 cherry |
The fact that two almost identical instrumets (335-12 and Riviera 12) at exactly the same price, should sell in such different numbers underlines the dominance of the Gibson brand even when Epiphones were made side by side in the same factory
Ironically, the 1967 publicity for the Riviera (right) claims the following...
Dealers don't push 'em a lot, celebrities don't endorse 'em lot, but Epiphone sells a lot. hmmmmmmmmmmm
No wheelin'. No dealin'. No hoopla. So why would Epiphone be one of the best selling guitars in the business? |
