[Paul in Colorado]

Mine is a '68(?) Epiphone Riviera. It's cherry with mini humbuckers. I traded a beloved '68 Les Paul Gold Top for it in the early '70s at Dean Markley Music. (Yes, the string king!) It had been stock from a music store that went out of business and other then missing a neck inlay was brand new with hang tags. I used it for years in various bands and wrote a lot of songs on it. In the early '80's I had a stop tailpiece installed replacing the frequensator tailpiece. I thought that I'd hear a big difference in tone, but it still sounded the same. The tuners have been replaced twice, but always with the same style tuners so it looks original. Recently, I tried a set of Pyramid Gold strings for it. It gave me the sound of the Gibson 340L strings I used back in the '70's. It's a wonderful guitar. I'll have it all of my days. I don't take it out of the house much anymore. It's seen enough gigging. It also appeared in Fret's Magazine when Dawn Torres used it in an article about replacing inlay. (It was the second replacement for the missing inlay. The first was cut from a pearloid guitar pick!)
That's mine. Tell me about yours!

[Russinator]

My first Epi in 1965 was a small-bodied 12-string. I later had the large-bodied 12-string. The only electric I had was a Sheraton II. Now the only Epi I have is a 1964 FT-79 Texan.
I'd like to compare an EB-3 with the Elite version side-by-side but haven't had that opportunity.
http://junior.apk.net/~rji/pix/ft-79.jpg

[Tascosa]

I've been looking at my 335 and LP Standard really close , I'm not an expert , but I think they are really well made ! Someday I would like to compare them with a made in America Gibson , I don't think there could be much difference ! The only thing that bugs me about my guitars is that I don't know how to play 'em like I want ! Every time I plug in I'm hoping somebody upstairs will help me out a lil ! You know what I mean ? Take care.............Jim in Utah !!

[astro]

She's beat but shes a winner.

[Gregzy]

I have a lot of guitars (I'm a confirmed "Strat-o-holic" with nine) but sticking just to Epiphones :

1965 E 230 TD Casino (sunburst/trap)('66 serial number but nickel hardware('65) and mid '65 pot codes)
1965 FT-79N Texan (natural/light mahogany)(My first "real" guitar-purchased new Sept.'66)
1971 6833E (?) dread acoustic (Japan)
1973 FT-570BL jumbo acoustic (Japan)
1977 FT-160 Texan 12 (string) (Japan)
1990's Epiphone Japan "'65" Casino (sunburst/trap)
Dead ringer for my real '65 and sounds more defined and "crisper". The neck is even narrower than the Kalamazoo Casino but it still plays beautifully( as does the Gibson '65) This line of guitars was the basis for the later "Lennon" reissues. Out of 30 + guitars this may be my favourite electric.
1993 Riviera Reissue (sunburst/Freq) (USA)
1993 Riviera Reissue #2 (sunburst/Freq) (USA)
1996 Texan (sunburst) (Korea)

I know very little about the current Asian Epiphones but I have a pretty strong background as a player, a collector and dealer with the Kalamazoo era Epiphone guitars. I also have a pretty good historical awareness of the Epiphone company but I'm always seeking to learn more and I'm always willing to share what I do know.

Best of luck to the Admins. It looks like a good start and it looks pretty good.

Greg

[Ray G]

Art Deco body design and a real nice sounding horse shoe pickup. There is actually a small metal strip screwed on to the back of the body that is actually a disclaimer with patent #'s on it because the name Electar was owned by an electronics company in Milburn, NJ at the time.
Cool piece indeed, made in the early 40's or late 30's.

[KC]

cherry red Olympic (double-cut two-pickup batwing headstock, a $75 hockshop find) and a '67 Riviera, all original except the tuners, beat to crap and gigged to death and still standing tall. Lately I've been playing Telecasters but for a long time the Riv was my #1. Both of these are great, unvdervalued guitars.

Oh, yeah, and a 70's Japanese-made Epi dreadnought that actually sounds OK.

[nmcinc]

i just picked up a 59 thick slab body single pu coronet , veryearly issue with a non screw new yorker single pu and a stop tailpiece, very slim wide neck with the metal name plate, i could use some origial knobs for it if any one has some. this is the second one of these i have owned, the other was a two pickup with gold plated tom and stop, if anyone else has any of htis type i woulsure appreciate some pictures , thanks

[LarryN]

The only thing I have right now is an old single 10", 2XEL84 Pacemaker from the mid 60's. It has some kind of very funky output transformer that makes it sound remarkable. It's so Marshall-y. It sings, cuts and crunchs in a very coherent and articulate way. The speaker is some kind of big horseshoe alnico 10". This is one of those cheap, lucky accidents.
In the late 60's I had an Epiphone Riviera and a Sorrento.
My most recent was a slab something with mini PAF's. Those pickups are cool! Too bad I have none, now. I use mostly my own guitars, now. I'm in the business.

Oops! I almost forgot the mid-60's semi I had. It had Riviera inlays, but large humbuckers. (stock) I bought it gutted with no finish. It turned into a great 335 type. Has anybody ever heard of these?

Also, I was back in Chicago and Michigan, recently and visited the Kalamazoo Heritage (ex-Gibson, Epiphone) factory for the second time. I think the plant manager is Robert, a great guy. I met the legendary J.P. Moats who's been there for 44 years! He was there in the heyday. He was awful nice, too. I was looking at the new Kenny Burell model. Big, beautiful jazz box. The place reeks of history and craftsmanship.

[ab]

My only Epiphone is a sunburst Riviera which I've had since the 80's. It now has 2 Duncan Vintage Firebird pickups replacing the stock mini's.