Noel Gallagher’s 1983 Epiphone Riviera

Noel got this Epiphone Riviera sometime before the (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? studio sessions in late 1994. As he told the story to during The Pedal Show interview in 2023, he and Bonehead visited the Johnny Roadhouse Music store in Manchester, where they each picked up an Epiphone—Noel’s in wine red and Bonehead’s in dark sunburst.

We were such Beatles fanatics, and me and Bonehead, we went to Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester, and we both bought Epiphones. Strictly because of the Beatles. This, I wrote all of What’s the Story Morning Glory on. This is on all the rhythm guitar parts.

The Noel Gallagher Guitars & Gear Interview

As Noel himself said, this guitar was basically all over (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. It was used to come up with songs and to record all the rhythm guitar parts on the album, making it one of the most important guitars in Oasis’ history. This was also confirmed in the 2022 interview Noel did with Epiphone:

I remember I did use it a lot on the making of Morning Glory. I would’ve played that on every track—that would’ve been my guitar. And it would’ve been my go-to guitar at that time. I would’ve definitely played on all the rhythm tracks on it—for sure.

Epiphone Noel Gallagher Riviera

Noel continued using this guitar until around 1995, when he began accumulating more guitars and incorporating them into his playing. While it’s possible he used it to some extent on later Oasis albums, particularly Be Here Now, it seems that by the time of the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants sessions, he had largely moved on from the gear he used earlier in his career.

For this album, I decided that I wasn’t going to use anything that I’d used on any of the previous three albums. I put away all the guitars and Marshall stacks I’d used on Morning Glory, Be Here Now, and Definitely Maybe.

Then I bought loads of really weird pedals, old guitars, and small amps. In the past, I would just have a couple of 100-watt Marshalls, a Les Paul, and my Epiphone Casino, and that would be it. I wouldn’t even try to experiment with guitar sounds, because I couldn’t be bothered.

Noel Gallagher – Guitar Player.com – 2000

This Epiphone however remained in his collection to this day.

Specs, History

According to Epiphone, who recently produced a Noel Gallagher signature Riviera based on this guitar, Noel’s Epiphone was made in 1983, and it features a 5-ply layered maple body, a 3-piece maple neck with a volute, a rosewood fingerboard, and pearloid trapezoid inlays. As far as hardware, it has an ABR-1 bridge, and a stop bar tailpiece, and it’s equipped with Maxon 61 pickups in both the bridge and neck positions.

Being made in 1983, it would place it in the period when Epiphone guitars were being manufactured in Japan under the ownership of Gibson. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Epiphone shifted its production to Japan to revive the brand after years of decline. This era, often referred to as the “Matsumoku era,” is considered significant for Epiphone because it marked a return to producing higher-quality instruments.

Borrowed to Paul Newsome

At one point in 2002, Noel lent this guitar to Paul Newsome, the guitarist of Proud Mary—the first (and only) band he signed to Sour Mash Records, his own label. Paul was later seen playing the guitar during live performances and promotional appearances with the band, but the guitar eventually went back to Noel.