Epiphone Riviera

Nick Valensi, lead guitarist for the Strokes, used to call his customized '60s Epiphone Riviera 'the greatest instrument never made,' but he can't say that any more. The Epiphone Elitist Nick Valensi Riviera P-94 is part of the prestigious Elitist line of vintage-inspired Epiphones, and the classic semi-hollowbody model is fitted just like Valensi's, with genuine Gibson P-94 pickups. The patented P-94 is a unique combination that provides the best of both worlds the hot, thick, punchy sound of a Gibson P-90 in a humbucker-size housing. The P-94 uses the same enamel-coated vintage wire and Alnico-V magnets as the P-90 and comes in calibrated neck and bridge models for balanced output. The P-94 has higher output and sustaining qualities than traditional single-coil pickups, giving it plenty of bite when needed, with enough responsiveness to allow subtle nuances for enhanced dynamics.Just like a '60s Riviera, the Valensi signature model has 5-ply maple top, back, and sides; a one-piece set mahogany neck, 22 frets, a bone nut, tune-o-matic bridge, and trapeze tailpiece.

The Elite series are instruments that approach custom shop perfection. They're made with premium woods, fitted with American pickups and circuitry even American-made toggle switches and Grover tuners. They are made at a special factory exclusively devoted to their manufacture where they receive a high degree of hands-on luthier attention. Here Epiphone has beautifully produced one of the warmest, sweetest toned guitars of all time a jazz, blues, and country classic and this 12-string version adds richness to the Riviera tone