Epiphone Riviera vs Sheraton Frequensator

[steve_man]

So, I’m curious if any of you have been able to compare these two Epiphone models?

Epiphone Riviera

Epiphone Sheraton Frequensator

More bling on the Sheraton, but both have mini-humbuckers and a trapeze tailpiece.

Any major differences in the two, other than style things like fretboard markers, headstock, etc?

 

[spawnofthesith]

Haven’t compared

But I did have the more recent Gen Sheraton a couple years ago (MIC vs MIK like the older ones). Honestly was a very impressive guitar for the price point…. Mine did not have the mini humbucker they were full size. Sounded pretty good honesty

No speakable complaints honestly, it was a solid guitar, and I never thought I’d say that about an Epiphone or MIC guitar

Probably just psychological but I did also appreciate the fact that it was an actual epi design and not a Gibson clone

 

[spawnofthesith]

Also FWIW worth id probably still have it around had my ex fiancé not taken to it with a giant quartz crystal rock causing substantial damage rendering it unplayable…. (If it makes it any better she was the one who originally purchased it as a gift for me At least it wasn’t my USA Gibson in a hat pic above…)

 

[steve_man]

Also FWIW worth id probably still have it around had my ex fiancé not taken to it with a giant quartz crystal rock causing substantial damage rendering it unplayable…. (If it makes it any better she was the one who originally purchased it as a gift for me At least it wasn’t my USA Gibson in a hat pic above…)

Yikes! That’s too bad. I’ve actually owned two Sheratons over the last 15 years or so. Loved everything about them but the tone just wasn’t inspiring. Very dull. Even had the Pro version, which I didn’t think was any better.

Currently have a Gretsch that is similar in style/shape which I like. But have always wanted one of these with the mini-humbuckers. Mainly wondering what the key differences are.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Also FWIW worth id probably still have it around had my ex fiancé not taken to it with a giant quartz crystal rock causing substantial damage rendering it unplayable…. (If it makes it any better she was the one who originally purchased it as a gift for me At least it wasn’t my USA Gibson in a hat pic above…)

A friend's ex girlfriend trashed his acoustic and stormed out in one of their famous drunk breakups. She came round a few days later to pickup her stuff including her guitar and found him playing the guitar she thought she'd smashed. Turns out she was so drunk she smashed up her own guitar thinking it was his

 

[Eagle]

Only buy USA or Japan Epiphone.

 

[steve_man]

Only buy USA or Japan Epiphone.

Why is that?

 

[Eagle]

Why is that?

They are massively different and substantially better.

 

[steve_man]

They are massively different and substantially better.

I’ve played a Japanese Epi. They are nice guitars. Gotta say though, these newer Epis are pretty close.

 

[Eagle]

I’ve played a Japanese Epi. They are nice guitars. Gotta say though, these newer Epis are pretty close.

The materials used are a far lower quality. The paint is also much thicker and plasticised. The truss rod is a generic two way in an over sized channel. The hardware is so soft that the strings get stuck in the tailpiece. The pickups are $ 5 generic and the other parts are just as bad. Absolutely no comparison whatsoever.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

So, I’m curious if any of you have been able to compare these two Epiphone models?

Epiphone Riviera

View attachment 50143

Epiphone Sheraton Frequensator
View attachment 50144

More bling on the Sheraton, but both have mini-humbuckers and a trapeze tailpiece.

Any major differences in the two, other than style things like fretboard markers, headstock, etc?

Apart from the bling I know the sheraton has a five piece neck made of maple and walnut. The riviera has a mahogany neck. Both have Indian laurel fretboards.

Those are the current incarnations but specs have changed a lot on both of these over the years so if it's used then YMMV.

 

[Eagle]

Apart from the bling I know the sheraton has a five piece neck made of maple and walnut. The riviera has a mahogany neck. Both have Indian laurel fretboards.

Those are the current incarnations but specs have changed a lot on both of these over the years so if it's used then YMMV.

And don’t forget anything Epiphone call mahogany isn’t.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

And don’t forget anything Epiphone call mahogany isn’t.

I know but as that was basically covered in your post above I wanted to answer the question the OP asked originally.