Post
by seenoevil II » Sun Oct 15, 2023 9:28 am
Ok, just checked out the specs on Epiphone's website. Go with the Riviera unless you absolutely love the Sheraton's aesthetics...like love it hundreds of dollars more.
They both have the same Epiphone Pro-bucker mini hum buckers. No difference there. Although, by all reports, these are excellent pickups. Epiphone upgraded their pickups majorly in 2020 and now there really isn't any substantial difference between these and the Gibson versions.
Unfortunately, the Sheraton has the same "slim 60's C" profile as the rest of Epiphone's line. If you like that shape, that's great. However, I feel it's a rather drastic choice of neck profiles that might bug a lot of players (especially more seasoned players. Beginners tend to think thinner is better.) I suspect that these shredder thin necks are the last remain way that Gibson "nerfs" these guitars to keep people hungry for the American made product. The Riviera has a "rounced C" profile, which makes me think it's a bit beefier (normal) than the Sheraton. For me, that's a plus.
At the neck is made of something like mahogany. I personally really enjoy the maple neck in my older Sheraton, but to each their own.
The only other major difference that there might be between these guitars is that material used for the center body block. On older Sheraton's like mine, it's made of mahogany to contrast the maple ply shells and maple neck. While other Epiphone semi hollows had spruce center blocks to be more similar to their Gibson counterparts. I don't know what kind of block was used in Rivieras or if, having switched the Sheraton necks to mahogany, Epiphone has put spruce in this newest version of the Sheraton.
As for the ply wood used for the body. I highly doubt that they use any different types of ply wood between the models. The only exception is if the guitar has a figured top. The species and construction of ply wood is purely a question of cost and availability for Epiphone.
I compared several different epiphanies from difference eras and factories, and the amount of variation is huge. 3-ply, 5-ply, 4mm, 6mm. Some have thick central plies while others have thicker outer plies.
I do not think the ply wood has a major impact on the tone of the final instrument. At least not when compared to every other factor there is.
So yeah, with the sheraton, I think you're paying for inlay, fancy tuning machines, and maybe (though I doubt it) a higher degree of finishing. Honestly, I suspect the higher price is simply about collectability. I'm honestly a little baffled by this pricing scheme from Epiphone.
If it wasn't for disappointment, I wouldn't have any appointments.
