Epi El Rio?

[Old Mojo]

Bought one off Ebay a couple weks ago. Still waitin' for it to arrive, but that's a whole nuther story. Should be in-hand Friday.
Haven't found much info on it online, so I thought I'd turn to the experts here. It has a flame maple top, fiberglass semi-squared-off bowl back and sides, single cutaway, gold Gotoh's and an "Epiphone IV" active electronics package w/ 3-band EQ. Even has a balanced line out! Pictures on the Ebay listing look really good.
I had an Ovation Anniversary deep-bowl for years and really liked it for giggin' acoustic stuff. Had the action set really close for lights, and it played like a dream. I'm hopin' to do the same kind of setup with this Epi.
Anybody seen/played one of these? Any idea when they were made?

[Bytor1975]

This her Mojo?
http://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone/archive/nuevo/images/rio.gif
http://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone/archive/nuevo/3.html

I'm at work, and don't have my Geeetar books with me. If nobody posts anything else before I get home this afternoon, I may be able to dig up a little more dirt.
(I need a second set of guides and Blue Books for work! :nod: )

[Old Mojo]

Dass da one, Jason. Mine doesn't have the burst finish, but that's the only difference I see.

[TexMexMike]

I have never come across one. Sounds like EPI's answer to Ovation. If so, I'd expect it to sound a lot better plugged than unplugged.

Look forward to your review when you get it! :thumbsup:

[Bytor1975]

Well, that looks to be about all I can find on it. The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars doesn't have an entry for any of the guitars in that Nuevo Collection. And as I am sure you have found, there is very little on Google, and even the Epiphone Forum turns up very little. The only thread I found was a guy that had a problem with his electronics and a link to what I already gave you. I also found another page that was another old archived Epi link showing the same thing. Those pages were from 1995 and 1998, so I'd assume your guitar is from around that time. There are also no entries for the guitar at Harmony Central's reviews, which is odd. Very interesting.

When you get it, could you post excactly what is printed inside the soundhole? Maybe there is some other model number we can go by instead of "El Rio." I just love guitar mysteries! :rlol:

[Old Mojo]

Yep, I'll post some pics. It should be here Friday and I have the day off. Thanks for the research, Jason. I found the specs in Epiphone's archive, but that was about it.

From the looks of it, I'd say you're probably right, Mike. But that's cool. I got it to gig with, and my experience has been that good sounding acoustics tend to feedback when you turn 'em up enough to hear onstage. I used to stuff the Ovation with foam.

Glad y'all are enjoyin' this little mystery with me.

[Old Mojo]

It finally arrived yesterday. The seller failed to mention that the bridge was hangin' on only by the pins, so I have a repair job to do. Other than that, it looks good. The electronics are fine. No clue about the acoustic sound until I get the bridge fixed.

Went through all the online info I could find on serial numbers, and I know less now than when I started.:Loco:

Paper nameplate under the soundhole has "AMB" below "El Rio" and the serial number is H 602079. No clue as to when it was made. The finish is definitely nitro, and the bindings have yellowed considerably.

I'll post a playing report after the repairs.

[WireNWood]

No, definately cant ever use a 'real' acoustic on stage in my experience.

Intimate/parlour performances and stage performances simply require 2 different guitars.

[Old Mojo]

Reset the bridge last night. Still workin' on the action. Tone is as I expected, but throught the amp, it's very nice, especialy with the Cool Cat. Gonna be a nice giggin' acoustic, and the flame maple top is awesome.

[Bytor1975]

Picture picture picture!

[Old Mojo]

It won't be before this weekend, Jason. Sorry.