Epiphone Elite Riviera - Electronics upgrade?

[markpaterson]

I purchased an Epiphone Elite Riviera off eBay about 6 months ago. It's a great guitar but the electronics have never been right. To be more specific, I have a faulty pickup switch which tends to cut out intermittently.

I'm about to take it to my local guitar shop to get it fixed, but rather than just a fix I was thinking about having the internal electronics upgraded instead. ie - new switch, pots, jack. I've heard the difference can be quite profound, especially if you're upgrading from cheap electronics.

Does anybody know if indeed the Elite series have cheap electronics? And can anybody recommend the best parts to get. I keep reading stuff about 500k CTS pots, but to be honest i'm a bit in the dark about internal electronics even though i've been playing for about 15 years.

Any advice would be appreciated! thanks.

[SLG]

The pickup selector switch is a weak spot on all the Epiphone Elite series of instruments. My recommendation is to replace it with a high quality SWITCHCRAFT switch. They run about $20, and are available from RS Guitarworks.

I've never had any problems with the pots on either of my two Epiphone Elite ES335's. The RS Guitarworks pots and capacitors would most likely provide an slight improvement in tone over the stock parts, but I have not had the inclination to rewire the guitars. I have used their upgraded parts in other instruments with excellent results.

[teleking36]

I just purchased an MIJ Epiphone Riviera from Ishibashi. It should be here in about 10 days.

I was also considering planning on having the Riviera rewired with the RS kit and a new toggle switch. How much, on average, would this service typically cost on a semi-hollow?

[Grady]

I was also considering planning on having the Riviera rewired with the RS kit and a new toggle switch. How much, on average, would this service typically cost on a semi-hollow?

I have an Oscar Schmidt OE-30 that I had the following work done to:

Pup change (Gibson Classic 57: neck, Gibson Classic 57 Plus: bridge)
CTS pots: 500k
Orange drop caps
Switchcraft switch with rhythm and tremble ring
Switchcraft plug with base plate
totally rewired
speed knobs
strap locks
new strings

The labor was $100. The parts were a $100. The pups I got used from a follow TGPer for $95.
That's $295 + $119 for the guitar=$414, for a guitar that sounds like a million bucks.

This has cured my 335 GAS forever.:dude

[teleking36]

nice! not bad at all. i may have to look into some mini-humbuckers as well, but that's gonna take some more research, as it seems they aren't discussed much around here.

i'll plan on the RS upgrade kit, including a new jack and toggle switch.