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This guitar is for sale to UK buyers ONLY
Here for sale we have a lovely Epiphone Rivoli EBV 232 Semi-Hollow electric bass in Nitrocellulose Tea Burst finish. Made in the USA at the renowned Gibson Kalamazoo, Michigan factory .circa 1960’s, this bass features a set-neck construction Semi-Hollow Laminated Maple body with a Solid Maple centre block, a Mahogany neck topped with a 20 Medium Jumbo fret Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. The Nickel hardware featured on this bass consists of a Gibson adjustable Bar Bridge with a set of Open backed Kluson 538 tuning machines. A single Gibson EB humbucker is featured which is wired to a master volume, master tone and a ‘Baritone’ switch.
The Mahogany neck sits comfortably in the hand, with the profile feeling chunky without being cumbersome, offering a dependable grip whilst also providing a smooth and articulate playing experience. The Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard feels pleasant under the fingers, whilst the 10” radius and Medium jumbo frets allow for ease of different techniques such as slap bass or chordal playing. The double cutaway body design allows the player to have unobstructed access to the entire register, whilst the semi-hollow also makes longer durations of playing a comfortable experience.
The semi-hollow construction provides an open airiness to the sound which makes the instrument suitable for a wide range of genres whilst retaining a unique and unmistakable voice. The Gibson EB humbucker delivers a thick and powerful tone, with smooth rounded lows, clear and open mid range and a sweet treble response that captures the attack and aggression of your playing. The ‘Baritone’ switch provides extra bass response and a boost in volume making your playing cut through the mix for when you want to be heard. The pots feel nicely responsive, allowing you to dial in your perfect tone with ease, whilst the simplicity of the controls ensure that you can stay focussed on your playing whilst still offering comprehensive control of your tone. This is certainly a special bass that has been favoured by many musicians through the wonder years of the 60’s and onwards, this bass allows you to plug into history.
Epiphone Rivoli EBV 232 Tea Burst .circa 1960’s Semi-Hollow Electric Bass
Brand - Epiphone
Model - Rivoli EBV 232
Finish - Tea Burst
Year - .circa 1960’s
Made In - USA
Top - Laminated Maple
Back/Sides - Laminated Maple
Neck - Maple
Fingerboard - Brazilian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius - 10” (measured)
Frets - 20
Scale Length- 31"
Nut Width - 1.718”
Pickups - Gibson EB humbucker
Controls - Master volume, Master tone, Baritone switch
Our ID: 127062434051
Weight: 9.2lbs
Serial Number: N/A
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall fair condition, a previous headstock break is apparent to both front and rear with the crack felt under the finger and visible from the front face. All aspects of the headstock demonstrate notable scratching, chipping and indentation which is in-line for a well used instrument of this age.
Neck: Overall good condition, the fingerboard demonstrates indentation from consistent use throughout the entire register. The fingerboard edges demonstrate chipping and flaking of the finish throughout. The rear of the neck demonstrates notable play wear, with the finish coming away at the edges, moderate indentation throughout the register.
Body: Overall good condition, notable play wear is apparent throughout all aspects of the body. Most notably, a patch to the bass side of the fingerboard extension has completely worn away. Notable scratching and indentation is apparent to both front and rear, with the binding coming away to the rear bottom edge.
Condition of Frets:
The frets show notable signs of use, not affecting playability. Denting and flattening of the frets is noticeable through the entire register. There is not enough material remaining in the frets for any further fret work.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5/16" socket) not included.
Hardware: Fully functional with notable signs of wear.
Structural: The previous headstock break is suspected to have occurred in the late 60's, as the previous owner has owned this instrument from the early 70's and bought it with this repair. The crack is not perfectly smooth under the finger, but does not pose structural concern currently and has held for nearly 60 years.
Strings on Guitar - 45-100
Height of string from 12th Fret- Treble 2mm - Bass 2.5mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Though this report is critical, this well played 60+ year old instrument demonstrates excellent playability and true vintage tone. We sincerely recommend paying close attention to the photographs of the instrument as it is difficult to accurately document precisely how many marks are on this body.
Electrics:
Fully functional.
Case & Accessories:
Flightcase Warehouse case
The case demonstrates light signs of use.