The Vox Riviera Organ
August 2026: for the time being notes.
Late 1966 into the 1970s
Detail from an advert of November 1969.
Riviera I
Some provisional details on the Riviera I can be found on this page. Below, a shot of Dave Roberts of JMI demonstrating at the Frankfurt Musikmesse, March 1968. It is interesting to see that the music stand bears the legend "Continental" in small rather than "Riviera". A surplus of stands presumably remained following the decision, in late summer 1963, to supply Continentals without them. JMI promotional images published in 1967 show a Riviera with a stand bearing the correct legend.
March 1968, JMI's last major trade show.
Circuit diagrams
Below, a list of the sheets that are known to survive for various models of the Riviera - some details on the Riviera I can be found on this page. Further notes on and photos of these sheets to follow.
TRA/012 - Riviera 1 & 2 reverb layout.
TRA/022 - Riviera 2 sustain layout.
TRA/023 - Riviera 1 & 2 pre-amp layout.
TRA/024 - Riviera 1 & 2 percussion layout.
TRA/025 - Riviera sustain tremolo layout.
TRA/036 - Riviera 1 & 2 reverb assembly.
TRA/037 - Riviera 2 block diagram.
TRA/038 - Riviera 2 walking bass layout.
TRA/042/1 - Riviera 2 upper console wiring.
TRA/042/2 - Riviera 2 lower console wiring.
TRA/041/1 - Wiring diagram upper console.
TRA/041/2 - Wiring diagram lower console.
TRA/043 - Riviera 1 Block diagram.
TRA/054 - Riviera 400 control panel.
TRC/03 - Riviera 1 & 2 reverb circuit.
TRC/04 - Riviera 1 & 2 percussion circuit.
TRC/05 - Riviera 2 sustain circuit.
TRC/06 - Riviera sustain tremolo circuit.
TRC/07 - Riviera 2 walking bass circuit.
TRC/08 - Riviera l & 2 Power Supply Unit Circuit.
VTA/100 - 100 watt transistor organ amp.
Riviera 400
Below, a couple of details from a full-size layout sheet for the control (escutcheon) panel of the Riviera 400 organ - TRA/054. The Riviera 400 was officially unveiled in the UK at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair, August 1970. The note, presumably both for supplier and production team, that "2-SAMPLE ESCUTCHEONS TO BE SUPPLIED BEFORE COMMENCING PRODUCTION" is sensible enough, though one can't help wonder whether something hadn't gone awry in a past project.
Adverts, specimen press mentions
November 1969, advert for the Super Continental 2 and the Riviera I and II placed by Macaris in the mainstream music press. The Riviera II, a more extensively equipped version of the Riviera I, was introduced in late 1968.