Epiphone E360TDC12 Riviera 12-String, Cherry (1967)

With Rickenbackers cornering the electric 12-string market for decades, it's no surprise that even the likes of Gibson couldn't match their impact. Nonetheless, it didn't stop them from working to cut out their piece of the pie, and it's clear in this cherry-colored semi-hollow that they had something to bring to the table.

This 1967 Epiphone E360TDC12 Riviera 12-String electric looks like it spent the first year of its life in an ambitious folk-rocker's hands and was subsequently tucked away and forgotten about for 50 years. It's almost "time capsule" grade in terms of its condition, still representing its deep rich Cherry finish like it was factory fresh!

While Gibson did produce ES-335 12-Strings during the same time period, it's the Rivieras that we find are better suited for doubling up those strings and taking it electric. The original mini-humbuckers are a perfect match for the sound - crisp with a nice balance of fullness and jangle. They're lower output and therefore more polite where it counts, without sounding anemic or lacking definition.

The neck is decidedly chunky, which combined with the narrower nut width is a welcome surprise. It feels more like a '58 profile and taper, which is really nice feeling for chordal work up and down the neck. If you're more Jeff Buckley and Johnny Marr and less Beach Boys and Byrds, this is a great sounding guitar that defies what might be capable with a 12-string electric.