Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (16)
$699.00
Guitar Center
4.5 (24)
$699.00
Amazon
5.0 (5)
$699.00
Reverb
5.0 (10)
$596.09 New
$575.00 Used
Musician's Friend
5.0 (3)
$699.00
zZounds
5.0 (4)
$699.00
Thomann
4.6 (15)
$585.00 $579.00 $6.00 · All time low
Gear4Music
£544.00

Average Price: $656

Standard/Professional

$500

$1201+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Epiphone Riviera". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Meet the Epiphone Riviera, a timeless icon reimagined for today's musicians, blending vintage charm with modern versatility. With its elegantly crafted semi-hollow body, the Riviera has been a go-to for guitar legends and continues to captivate a new generation of players. The PRO mini humbuckers deliver a crisp, resonant tone that captures the essence of both classic and contemporary sounds, making it perfect for genres ranging from jazz to rock.

The Riviera's body, made from layered maple, ensures bright, articulate tones while the solid center block provides impressive sustain and feedback resistance. The mahogany neck, shaped into a comfortable Rounded C profile, paired with an Indian laurel fingerboard, ensures smooth playability and effortless navigation across its 22 frets. This guitar also features a Graph Tech NuBone nut, enhancing resonance and sustain, alongside vintage-style hardware for added tuning stability.

The aesthetic appeal of the Riviera is undeniable, with a Royal Tan gloss finish and a distinctive pickguard adorned with a foil "E" logo. The LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and Frequensator tailpiece not only contribute to its classic look but also ensure robust performance. Whether you're on stage or in the studio, the Epiphone Riviera stands as a versatile and expressive tool, ready to amplify your creative expression.

Key Features:

  • Semi-hollowbody design with a layered maple top, back, and sides
  • Dual Epiphone PRO mini humbuckers for bright, focused tone
  • Rounded C-shaped mahogany neck with Indian laurel fingerboard
  • LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and Frequensator tailpiece
  • Graph Tech NuBone nut and Epiphone Vintage Deluxe tuners
  • Royal Tan finish with 3-layer pickguard featuring metal “E” logo

Product specs

Number of Strings 6
Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
Body Type Semi-hollowbody
Body Shape Riviera Doublecut
Body Material Maple
Body Finish Gloss
Neck Material Mahogany
Neck Shape Rounded C
Neck Joint Set Neck
Radius 12"
Fingerboard Inlay Pearloid Parallelograms
Number of Frets 22, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length 24.724"
Nut Width 1.693"
Nut Material Graph Tech NuBone
Bridge/Tailpiece Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Frequensator Tailpiece
Tuners Epiphone Vintage Deluxe
Neck Pickup Epiphone PRO Mini Humbucker
Bridge Pickup Epiphone PRO Mini Humbucker
Controls 2 x volume, 2 x tone
Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
Strings .010-.046
Case/Gig Bag Sold Separately

FAQs

What type of pickups does the Epiphone Riviera have?

The Epiphone Riviera is equipped with Epiphone PRO Mini Humbuckers, which provide a sharper and more articulate sound compared to traditional humbuckers, making it suitable for a variety of musical styles.

Is the Epiphone Riviera suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Epiphone Riviera is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable rounded C neck profile and versatile sound, although it's also appreciated by experienced players for its classic tone and semi-hollowbody design.

What is the neck profile of the Epiphone Riviera like?

The Epiphone Riviera features a rounded C neck profile, which offers a comfortable and smooth playing experience, ideal for both rhythm and lead playing.

How does the Frequensator tailpiece affect the sound of the Epiphone Riviera?

The Frequensator tailpiece on the Epiphone Riviera provides a unique string tension, offering a tighter response on the bass strings and a slinkier feel on the treble strings, enhancing playability and tonal variation.

Is the Epiphone Riviera a full hollowbody guitar?

No, the Epiphone Riviera is a semi-hollowbody guitar, which combines the resonance of a hollowbody with the feedback resistance of a solid body, making it versatile for various genres.

What kind of music is the Epiphone Riviera best suited for?

The Epiphone Riviera's semi-hollowbody design and PRO Mini Humbuckers make it well-suited for genres like rock, blues, jazz, and indie, providing a versatile sound palette for different playing styles.

GUITARGUITAR

GUITARGUITAR

The NEW Epiphone Riviera | Our Honest Review

Video thumbnail for The NEW Epiphone Riviera | Our Honest Review by GUITARGUITAR

The NEW Epiphone Riviera | Our Honest Review

GUITARGUITAR

GUITARGUITAR

Video thumbnail for Epiphone Riviera E360TD - Guitar Review by The Guitaristas

Epiphone Riviera E360TD - Guitar Review

The Guitaristas

The Guitaristas

Video thumbnail for Epiphone Riviera Royal Tan. My honest review! by Paul Stafford Cook

Epiphone Riviera Royal Tan. My honest review!

Paul Stafford Cook

Paul Stafford Cook

Video thumbnail for Epiphone Original Riviera - Vintage Semi-Hollow Feel, Features, Specs & Tone At A Crazy Price! by PMTVUK

Epiphone Original Riviera - Vintage Semi-Hollow Feel, Features, Specs & Tone At A Crazy Price!

PMTVUK

PMTVUK

Video thumbnail for SOUNDCHECK Epiphone Riviera | Gear4music Guitars by Gear4music Guitars

SOUNDCHECK Epiphone Riviera | Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone Riviera.

Features and functionality

  • The Epiphone Riviera features a frequensator tailpiece, providing a tighter bass response and a slinkier feel on higher strings compared to a standard 335.

    Source
  • The Riviera's mini humbuckers offer a brighter tone with more clarity, similar to single coils, but without the noise, making it suitable for those who like Strat sounds.

    Source
  • Some Riviera models deviate from tradition with Bigsby tremolo systems and three P90 pickups, creating a unique offering distinct from classic Riviera designs.

    Source
  • The Noel Gallagher Riviera model uniquely includes the specific pickups and bridge configuration, unlike the standard Riviera.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Despite similar body and neck materials, the Riviera and ES-335 differ in aesthetics, with the Riviera featuring trapezoid inlays and the 335 having dot inlays.

    Source
  • The used Gibson 350 is generally regarded as superior in feel and setup compared to a new Epiphone Riviera.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Floor models at Guitar Center often lack setup, impacting playability; a fresh setup with new strings and an oiled fingerboard is crucial for optimal performance.

    Source
  • Some owners recommend using music nomad F one oil to darken the fretboard, enhancing its appearance.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Riviera with proper setup is seen as a strong performer, with some recommending it alongside the Epiphone Sheraton or the "inspired by Gibson" ES355 for Oasis-style play.

    Source
  • Ideal for playing Oasis songs as it suits Noel Gallagher's style, focusing on open chords and barre chords.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners who have tried both new and used guitars often prefer used models for better initial setup and less risk of defects.

    Source
  • Owners express significant sentimental value and connection to the Noel Gallagher Riviera, often linked to personal musical influences.

    Source

Build quality

  • It's been noted that floor models can suffer from poor setup due to rough handling in retail environments, affecting their initial impression.

    Source
  • The wine red finish on the Noel Gallagher edition is particularly praised for its aesthetic appeal.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Epiphone Riviera Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar Review

gear-vault.com

The Epiphone Riviera impresses as a budget-friendly alternative to its Gibson sibling, offering a vintage aesthetic with its amber-tint finish and mini-humbuckers that deliver a clean, woody tone with a sharp attack. The Frequensator tailpiece enhances string brightness, particularly benefiting the bass strings. While the bridge pickup excels, providing an aggressive lead tone under overdrive, the neck pickup falls short, likely needing wax potting or replacement due to squealing. Overall, the Riviera is a compelling choice for those seeking an economical semi-hollow body guitar, though potential buyers might consider upgrading the pickups for optimal performance.

positive
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4.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
fisher_khongmaly

Great!

I got it new at a guitar Center. Fresh out the box, intonation was great, no fret buzz, and great sounding pickups.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

CRANKED ALL THE WAY

blondguru

(Whistling Noises)

This thing is sexy. Scored it for $200 with the case and a bunch of add-ons. I love the mini-buckers. The thing feeds back like a monster but it's well worth it. Very bluesy neck tone and a very crunchy bridge tone.

M

Epiphone Casino?

I'm pretty sure that the guitar pictured is an Epiphone Casino. The Riviera looks more like this https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=epiphone+riviera&view=detailv2&&id=B078AF73C4A089EECDE94D37532DCB1752911A32&selectedIndex=4&ccid=V0br%2bvTF&simid=608036537115739157&thid=OIP.M5746ebfaf4c5573e7a6067f1b7432352o0&ajaxhist=0

P

The pic is not a Riviera, it is a casino

skylinerr

Main

mid to late 80s wine red riviera with humbuckers and a stop tail

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Noel Gallagher uses Epiphone Riviera

Noel Gallagher

Singer, Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via YouTube

Both Noel and Bonehead started plaing Rivieras on “Definitively Maybe”. Noel’s guitar was from the early 70?s and equpped with two full-sized humbuckers (Rivieras usually have mini-humbuckers), and a Tune-O-Matic bridge. This guitar can be seen in Oasis’ live gig on David Letterman’s Show in 1995, and it was his main guitar during that year.

See how Joe Satriani uses Epiphone Riviera

Joe Satriani

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via reverb.com

A 1962 Riviera in a honeyburst finish, owned by Satriani, was sold on Reverb.com via Bananas at Large.

Very rare, Gibson-made 1962 Epiphone Riviera. Apparently Kalamazoo only made about 38-40 Rivieras/year in 1962 (first year) and 1963. This is the so-called "short headstock" model moving to the elongated headstock design in 1964. has a pair of stickered mini-PAF pickups and it sounds GOOD! Refretted and set up by Legendary Guitar Tech Gary Brawer with Stainless steel frets, original nut and strap buttons in case.

While you’ll rarely see him onstage playing anything other than his signature-model Ibanez, in the studio, he makes heavy use of a bevy of cool vintage instruments.

Meeker, Ward. "Joe Satriani, More Than Meets the Ear." Vintage Guitar Magazine. Januarary 17 2017.

See how Matthew Healy uses Epiphone Riviera

Matthew Healy

Singer, Guitarist

The 1975

...
Verified via Photo

Matthew Healy can be seen using an Epiphone Riviera during a recording session for "BFIAFL" at Real World Studios, as evidenced by a photo shared by Jamie Oborne on Instagram on September 3, 2022.

See how Matthew Followill uses Epiphone Riviera

Matthew Followill

Guitarist

Kings of Leon

...
Verified via Photo

A screenshot of a post on Matthew's Instagram story on the 14th of February 2023. Here Matthew is showing off an Epiphone Riviera.

See how Neil Halstead uses Epiphone Riviera

Neil Halstead

Singer, Guitarist

Slowdive

...
Verified via Photo

Neil Halstead plays an Epiphone Riviera at some of his concerts, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.

See how Lou Reed uses Epiphone Riviera

Lou Reed

Singer, Guitarist

The Velvet Underground

...
Verified via Photo

Epiphone states on their website that the guitar Lou Reed is holding in the album cover for Transformer is an Epiphone Riviera.

See how Moby uses Epiphone Riviera

Moby

Music Producer

Vatican Commandos

...
Verified via reverb.com

Sold for charity on Moby's official Reverb shop.

See how Gem Archer uses Epiphone Riviera

Gem Archer

Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via YouTube

He used this guitar for mostly older Oasis stuff, around 2005.

At 0:49 Gem uses an Epiphone Riviera for "Rock N Roll Star" by Oasis.

At 1:42 minute mark of the same show, Archer is visible playing the Riviera for Don't Look Back In Anger.

See how Paul Arthurs uses Epiphone Riviera

Paul Arthurs

Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Photo

Paul Arthurs can be seen playing an Epiphone Riviera in this photo. Considering Oasis was on a budget during 1994 and recording of "Definitely Maybe", both Noel and Bonehead played Epiphone Rivieras.Unlike many other Rivieras, thoe 1970's Rivieras were also named the MIJ Rivieras, and they had, unlike other Rivieras, a stoptail bridge and humbuckers. While Gallagher, further switched to Gibsons and Fenders, Bonehead remained with a few Rivieras, which he played until 1999, when he departed from Oasis.

Bonehead continued playing Rivieras to this day, let us take the Royal Albert Hall performance of Beady Eye for example. On October 18, 2013 he played "Columbia" with the same exact guitar he played with Oasis - the tobaccoburst Epiphone Riviera.

See how Robin Pecknold uses Epiphone Riviera

Robin Pecknold

Singer, Guitarist

Fleet Foxes

...
Verified via YouTube

In this YouTube video, he is using the Epiphone Riviera.

See how Bruce Kulick uses Epiphone Riviera

Bruce Kulick

Guitarist

Kiss

...
Verified via Kulick

" I used an Epiphone Riviera from 1967, and played it through a MXR phase 100, with the Orange Tiny Terror amp, giving me a classic British tone. I tried some riffs on the demo for this song, so that was our starting point. The solo will be one of the best on the CD for sure. I love that Epiphone. I used it on the Butchering The Beatles song "Drive My Car" with Kip Winger singing a few years back. It screams in a great way."

See how Keb' Mo' uses Epiphone Riviera

Keb' Mo'

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"My electric guitars are an 11-year-old Suhr Strat, a custom Paul Reed Smith, and a 3-pickup Epiphone Riviera. I switched out the Riviera’s P-90s for P-100s, because the P-90s are noisy."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Epiphone Riviera, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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