September 24, 2009

Epiphone Riviera P93 Video Review, Part 2

This time in high definition, and more importantly, with a high quality microphone instead of the webcam mic. I just run through a bunch of riffs, both clean and distorted, with the pickups alone and in combination, and also demonstrate the sound of the tone knob.

I’m using a large diaphragm Rode NT1 mic, positioned about 4” away from the grill of the Vox VT30 amp. These recordings will serve as the “before” examples for my upcoming mods.

Incidentally, I had to make a lot of changes in order to record high quality separate voice and guitar audio, instead of using the crappy webcam mic. Windows Movie Maker just doesn’t cut it. So I downloaded a free trial of Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum. It’s so much better than Windows Movie Maker! Has really nice audio editing features, and full HD support.

Next up will be treble bleed…

56 Comments

Angel Moonfield
September 25, 2009 @ 4:29 pm

thanks for your videos good luck with your proyect

Reply
metelegerald
October 12, 2009 @ 4:28 pm

there’s something really cutting the tone on the guitar man, change those
pots and i’m sure you’ll get a way better tone

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paulignacius
October 26, 2009 @ 8:57 pm

nice fat tone!

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Mariachi182
November 26, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

thanks for da review.

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Cornish15
March 16, 2010 @ 5:04 pm

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?

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bebop90
March 16, 2010 @ 5:04 pm

WHY!! that carboard idea is foolish its ruins the natural tone

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slepchor
June 20, 2010 @ 3:55 pm

this one, a hagstrom viking deluxe or an ibanez afs75t?????

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- intrsoul
  October 28, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
  
  Hagstrom +1
  
  Reply
emgduncanman
June 20, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

i have one of these, and ill admit, they have their pros and cons. i admire your quest for the “perfect tone”, but honestly, if you play like you mean it, if you play from the heart, nobody will care if your guitar is too muddy or too bright, too shrill or not ballsy enough. theyll like it because they know its REAL music. just remember, great music has been made, and is still being made on worse equipment than what you have in your hands in this video. good luck my friend! cheers!

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John
June 22, 2010 @ 5:17 pm

@slepchor – the AFS75T is fully hollow so that’s a pretty different guitar.
I haven’t played the hagstrom with tremar, but it looks pretty nice (at
twice the price). only you can decide 🙂

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VQgel
August 21, 2010 @ 4:11 am

How it sounds if you play it with a Boss pedal? ds1 or so

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dragon21a
September 7, 2010 @ 1:00 pm

How was the spring on the bigsby when you first got it? Was it stiff? did you have to work with it abit?

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- elwadeo12sg
  November 3, 2010 @ 9:04 pm
  
  its the nature of a bigsby to be a tad stiff you do not want it flopping around back there. try putting graphite lube on the spring and the pivot points;)
  
  Reply
John
September 7, 2010 @ 8:45 pm

@dragon21a – the bigsby feels fine to me, and hasn’t changed much since it
was new. I haven’t used bigsby much before though, so I can’t comment on
whether this is stiffer or looser than “normal”. my guess is it’s pretty
standard.

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coolcustomer31
December 22, 2010 @ 6:45 am

did you have to modify the switch to get the pickup combos? i thought it was just a regular 3 way switch. thanks

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John
December 22, 2010 @ 8:49 am

@coolcustomer31 – no modification to the switch – this is the stock wiring.

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RickenVoxster
January 18, 2011 @ 10:22 pm

John, Great info! I have the Inspired by JL Casino and really dig the P90’s of that guitar and am very happy with it. I realize that the Casino is all hollow and that this reviera is not, but in your opinion whould there be much sonic difference between the two and worth picking up the Riviera if one already has the Casino? This model Riviera appears to be very hit or miss from one to the other too!

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John
January 19, 2011 @ 11:12 am

@RickenVoxster – a full hollowbody like the casino can have a pretty different sound from semi-hollowbody – hard to describe, but more open, acoustic, possibly more boomy. it’s also much more prone to feedback when playing at higher volume. definitely try to play an epi semi-hollowbody like the sheraton, riviera or dot to see if you like the sound!

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JRussoBuffaloNY
February 22, 2011 @ 3:24 pm

Hello John, when the PU sel switch is up playing on the neck & mid PUs & the vol for the mid PU is turned down is it just a low vol or is the PU itself turned off? I really am leaning towards the P93 instead of paying an extra $100 or 200 for the Casino. Apparently Musician’s Friend wants $699 for the cherry finish & $599 for N & VS. weird, idk why it’s like that.

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- John
  February 23, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
  
  @JRussoBuffaloNY – there’s no switch position which completely removes the middle pickup. with it’s volume down, the middle pickup is still in circuit but shorted to ground. it would be fairly simple to swap the middle volume pot with a push/pull kill switch. i wrote about this on my blog at planetz if you’re interested. also, don’t forget the p93 is semi-hollowbody while casino is full hollowbody so they’re going to sound and feel quite different.
  
  Reply
Daninjatroll8998
March 1, 2011 @ 8:53 pm

Hey John, I have that same amp, and a similar guitar. I’m having problems with the amp, the sounds coming out from the preset sounds are ridiculously loud. Any help would be appreciated, all and all, good review, it cleared my thoughts up on my semi-hollow, although it only has 2 pick ups.

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- John
  March 4, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
  
  @Daninjatroll8998 – you know about the power attenuator knob on the back of the amp? turn it down! 🙂
  
  Reply
bjones37q
March 5, 2011 @ 10:17 am

Somebody is a Zep Fan!

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John
October 9, 2011 @ 8:34 pm

@themoroniccow – sure, absolutely! The only problem will be that big gaping hole in the middle. Or you could just leave a pickup (or pickup cover) there but not use it… How easy? Well, honestly, NOTHING is easy in a semi-hollow body. 🙂 See the other vids in my channel on how to remove the electronics, get them back in, and how to change the pickups in a semi-hollowbody. Good luck!

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Rambo4699
October 23, 2011 @ 9:50 am

Hi! Im actually thinking of getting a Riviera! I like to play a lot of things like rock, jazz and blues! I understand its great for jazz and blues but will be able to play rock? Also how is the maintenance for it? Thanks!

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- John
  October 23, 2011 @ 8:59 pm
  
  @Rambo4699 – sure you can play rock with it! Like any semi-hollowbody, accessing the electronics is a pain. You can change out the pickups without removing the guts, but if you want to change pots/caps/etc, it’s difficult. You may eventually want to change the bridge/tuners, which is relatively easy. See the other vids in my channel for how-tos on working with a semi-hollowbody, changing pots, caps, pickups, etc…
  
  Reply
buckykattguitar
October 23, 2011 @ 7:06 pm

@themoroniccow why would you remove the center pickup? just get a regular Riviera or a Casino and put a Bigsby on it.

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fuelfreak108
November 28, 2011 @ 2:46 pm

One problem i had when i initially got this guitar is that the output jack fell inside the guitar. Took it back to the store and they threw in a new jack with locking washers – I’d definitely recommend doing that, as it comes with a VERY cheap jack from the factory.

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jimmyjazz82391
December 16, 2011 @ 11:45 pm

So P-90s do actually sound good through the Vox VT series amps? Because I’ve tried out several P-90 equipped guitars through a VT30 that used to be at my local Guitar Center, and they all sounded really dead, not really bright at all. And I vaguely remember cranking the amp’s treble and mid controls when trying each guitar out.

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- John
  December 26, 2011 @ 10:24 am
  
  @jimmyjazz82391 – my experience with the P-90s in this guitar was that they were not very bright. Didn’t really matter which amp I used. See my video “Epiphone Electronics Overhaul, Before and After Comparisons”
  
  Reply
chrisguitarworld
December 20, 2011 @ 2:33 pm

Hi, im thinking of purchasing this guitar. I would like to know if it is versitile because i like to play a lot of different styles. Also, how good is the tremalo because i like to use it and i am sometimes quite abusive with it, would it be able to withstand it? thanks.

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- John
  December 26, 2011 @ 10:24 am
  
  @chrisguitarworld – the pickups aren’t super-bright, so may not be a good match for some styles of music. Easy to replace the pickups though. I don’t wail on the Bigsby- I just use it for more subtle vibrato, and it holds its tune very well.
  
  Reply
alkleiza1995
January 22, 2012 @ 6:42 am

Do you think this guitar would sound good through a Peavey ValveKing 212?

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- John
  January 25, 2012 @ 11:13 am
  
  @alkleiza1995 – I think it would sound good. But it’s really a question of personal preference. Try it!
  
  Reply
  - alkleiza1995
    January 25, 2012 @ 11:19 am
    
    @johnplanetz I will very soon. Thanks a lot for your review, it’s really nuanced, you don’t talk only about the good things about this instrument. Thumbs up! 🙂
    
    Reply
Nick80R
January 31, 2012 @ 9:09 am

I’d have just forked out for a gibson rather than upgrade that one. If I had the cash that is 😛

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airkooled74
February 9, 2012 @ 6:35 pm

I was thinking of replacing the pickups,have you or anyone you know done this,and if so do you have any suggestions???

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- John
  February 10, 2012 @ 8:31 am
  
  @airkooled74 – I replaced the pickups and made how-to videos for the entire process. See the other videos in my channel. I used Vintage Vibe Guitars dog eared P-90’s
  
  Reply
TheCollisionofworlds
March 5, 2012 @ 12:47 am

did you ever try the original neck pickup through a cranked fuzz box? because that’s probably partly what that voicing was for seeing as how this was designed for the guitarist of the strokes, and he always uses fuzzes. a very bass heavy pickup will always sound good with a fuzz box with the gain and tone set high

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- John
  March 6, 2012 @ 9:48 am
  
  @TheCollisionofworlds – The Riviera dates back to the late 60’s- it wasn’t designed for Nick Valensi, but they did make a signature model for him with P-94 pickups and a frequensator tailpiece. If I recall correctly, he mostly plays through a Jeckyl/Hyde pedal, which has overdrive and distortion, but not fuzz. In any case, distortion/overdrive/fuzz clips the signal, adding a lot of high frequency overtones, so yes, it can sound good even with dull pickups.
  
  Reply
  - TheCollisionofworlds
    March 6, 2012 @ 10:35 am
    
    @johnplanetz this model with the 3 p90s and the bigsby was. he’s now go the resonator one but this was said to be designed for him as i’ve seen him involved with press for it and ive seen him playing it. im not an idiot i know what i’m talking about. and a good overdrive or distiortion won’t clip depending on the circuit. it overloads the circuit, not clipping it. a fuzz will overload to the point of clipping.
    
    Reply
    - John
      March 6, 2012 @ 11:47 am
      
      @TheCollisionofworlds – an overdrive colors the sound less than distortion/fuzz, but they all having clipping stages. I’ve built all three circuit types- the differences are in types of clipping, type and amount of gain, # of gain stages, how the feedback is implemented, etc. Look up some schematics, and read RG Keen’s articles “Musical Distortion” and “Technology of the Tube Screamer”. A lot of the fun in pedal DIY is experimenting with the clipping type (diodes/leds/mosfets/etc) and symmetry.
      
      Reply
    - John
      March 6, 2012 @ 11:52 am
      
      @TheCollisionofworlds – I wasn’t aware that Nick Valensi was involved with the P93. That’s interesting! Please send links to that press, if you can find it.
      
      Reply
    - BlackMetal346
      August 14, 2012 @ 2:07 pm
      
      Nick Valensi used an this p93 Riviera. He uses a 90’s Epiphone Riviera Reissue that he later modified with 2 Gibson p94 pickups and then Epiphone made him a signature model of his guitar, Elitist Epiphone Nick Valensi p94 in 2005 and a cheaper standard model in 2007.
      
      Reply
    - BlackMetal346
      August 14, 2012 @ 2:09 pm
      
      And as far as I know, this p93 model was never designed for him.
      
      Reply
Phil
March 8, 2012 @ 9:25 am

Hi John,
Great videos. I actually bought this guitar in January prior to seeing your website. It definately is a nice guitar but your videos got me thinking about swapping out the pickups and pots. In your video you swapped out the pickups to Vintage Vibe. What do you think of the gibson dog ear p90’s that GC sells. Are they the same as what one would find in the equivalent semi-hollow gibson guitar. How would you say they stack up against the VVs?

Reply
- John
  March 10, 2012 @ 11:19 am
  
  Hi Phil,
  I haven’t had a chance to side-by-side compare the gibson dog ear p90s with VVG’s. The gibson’s are pricier than VVG’s, but a benefit of buying at GC is easy returnability. Pete at VVG is great to work with, and will help build your pickups to your specs and style. Call him and chat- see what he has to say about the Gibson p90s.
  John
  
  Reply
youngalistairyou
October 13, 2012 @ 5:06 am

hi being a novice how was the velvet underground sound achieved as the publicity from epiphone says lou reed played one of these i know the guitar might have changed since then

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- John
  October 13, 2012 @ 10:02 pm
  
  He would have been playing a Riviera with 2 humbuckers.
  There were no earlier models with 3 P-90’s like this one.
  
  Reply
Philtration
February 22, 2013 @ 9:33 pm

The old 2 pickup model with the Frequensator tailpiece was a better guitar and they should have left well enough alone.

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andybirger
May 16, 2013 @ 2:12 pm

Do these pickups make a lot of hum with overdrive?

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- John
  May 21, 2013 @ 10:04 am
  
  They’re like any single-coil pickups. They will pick up some hum, and it will be worse in high-gain overdrive situations. The middle pickup is RWRP, so if you turn on the middle pickup with the neck or bridge, you’ll get hum-cancellation like a humbucker.
  
  Reply
  - Ron Patrick Horton
    July 2, 2013 @ 10:04 am
    
    I’ve been wondering why they were wired like that. (3 way – middle always on)
    
    Reply
ingramkids
August 22, 2013 @ 9:13 pm

hey im usin my sisters account im 13 and i was wondering if this guitar would be good for a sorta jazz and blues tone and if it takes much work to modify it?

Reply
- John
  August 23, 2013 @ 8:43 am
  
  Yes, I think it’s good for jazz and blues. As with any guitar, you should try to play it before buying. Or at least buy with a good return policy.
  You won’t necessarily need to modify it- but if you *want* to, it’s not easy working with a semi-hollowbody. See the other videos in my channel for guides on working with a semi-hollowbody.
  
  Reply
Anthony Rosa
May 11, 2014 @ 11:39 pm

Judging by all the videos posted here you learned quite a bi. I wonder if
you decided that this wasnt worth it in the end. My only semi hollowbody is
an ibanez as7. Its been rock solid. If you can find a schematic of
Reverends bass contour circuit you might like it. Its handy on my 390
model.

Reply
Bigleedog7
July 12, 2015 @ 8:10 pm

If you are considering this guitar check this review also!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npOZue8gzxo

Reply

Epiphone Riviera P93 Video Review, Part 2

56 Comments

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