Thom Rana Signature Riviera
Thom Rana has been playing the guitar for over 50 years across a wide range of genres. The Thom Rana Signature Riviera from Rana Guitars was created for maximum versatility and playability and to meet his exact specifications. A combination of classic and modern styling meet the best pickups available and custom appointments like a 24 3/4-inch scale length to make what we think is one of the best S-type guitars available today.
Rio Grande Dual Calibrated Cuatro Pickups
The sound of this guitar matches it’s beauty with the Rio Grande Dual Calibrated Cuatro pickup set. The Vintage Tallboy pickup in the neck sounds thick and chimey…as a neck pickup should in a guitar like this. The Half Breed in the middle begins to give the player an idea that the Thom Rana Signature Riviera is a guitar not to be underestimated. A true splitting Muy Grande Humbucker in the bridge is this guitar’s secret weapon. In full humbucking mode, this pickup has a wide range of sonic capabilities that will knock you out of your shoes. Rio Grande makes “true splitting” humbuckers, so with the selector in position 2, you get the classic out of phase awesomeness of the middle pickup with one single coil of the bridge.
The Thom Rana Signature Riviera is wired with an auto coil-split in position 2 of the pickup selector switch. No push-pull pots or other switches to mess with. Simple controls yield massive tone.
Tone 1 controls the neck pickup. Tone 2 controls the middle pickup. You can specify that Tone 2 control tone on both the middle and bridge, if desired.
All Rana Guitars are completely shielded with copper foil tape and properly grounded to ensure quiet operation.
Wilkinson VS100N Bridge
The Wilkinson VS100N tremelo offers superior tone, adjustability, and stability. The two post pivot is smooth and easily adjustable. Saddle height and intonation are easily set. The secret to the performance of this bridge are the set screws on each saddle that lock everything down. Not only does it lock everything in place, but it provides maximum connection into the body, increasing sustain and maximizing tone. The height and tightness of the bar are adjustable and stay set once tuned to the players preferences. Combined with the unbleached bone nut and Schaller locking tuners, the Thom Rana Signature Riviera stays in tune with trem usage better than any other setup we have encountered.
Schaller M6 Locking Tuners
The Schaller M6 is the ultimate tuning machine. They look beautiful and they perform better. These tuners have a 1:18 gear ratio, which provides precise and smooth tuning. The feature self locking drives and lubricate, enclosed gears.
Combined with the unbleached bone nut and the Wilkinson VS100N tremolo, the Thom Rana Signature Riviera offers incredible tuning stability for an S-style guitar.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
| Body Construction | Solid body |
| Body Wood | Alder |
| Top Wood | Quilted or Flame Maple |
NECK
| Neck Construction | One piece |
| Neck Wood | Torreified Figured Maple |
| Fretboard Wood | Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius | 12" |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4" |
| Truss Rod | Dual-Action Spoke Wheel (Wheel at heel) |
| Frets | 21 |
| Assembly to Body | Bolt-on |
HARDWARE
| Tuners | Schaller M6 |
| Bridge | Wilkinson VS100N |
| Nut | Unbleached Bone |
ELECTRONICS
| Switch | CLR 5-Way |
| Pots | CTS 250k |
| Neck Pickup | Rio Grande Vintage Tallboy Single Coil |
| Middle Pickup | Rio Grande Half Breed Single Coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Rio Grande Muy Grande Humbucker |
| Controls | Master Volume; Neck Tone; Middle Tone; Auto Split in Position 2 |
| Control Cavity | 100% shielded with copper foil tape |