Epiphone dates back to the 1870s, in Smyrna, Turkey, where Greek founder Anastasios Stathopoulos made his own fiddles, lutes, and Lioutos. Stathopoulos moved to the United States of America in 1903, and continued to make his original instruments, as well as mandolins, from Long Island City in Queens, New York. However, Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas, took over. After two years, the company was known as The House Of Stathopoulos. Just after the end of World War I, the company started to make banjos. The company produced its Recording Line of Banjos in 1924, and, four years later, took on the name of the Epiphone Banjo Company. They produced their first guitars in 1928. Epi Stathopoulo died in 1943. Unfortunately, control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo, who were not as capable an owner as Epi. In 1951, a four month long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York to Philadelphia.In the early 1970s, Epiphones began to be manufactured in Japan. Epiphone's main manufacturing base is now in Korea. The brand is now primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models (much like the Squier brand is used by Fender), most of the time with different tonewoods, often resulting in the instruments bearing a visual and ergonomic similarity to the Gibson originals, with a slightly different tone. Epiphone's own models, however, such the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are instruments that are built to higher quality standards than the companies "Gibson copy" line. Epiphone also produces a range of higher quality instruments under the "Elitist Series" moniker
You and many famous rockers.
EPIPHONE PLAYERS:British guitarist Noel Gallagher's Epiphone use has increased the visibility of the guitar maker. During the height of Oasis' popularity in 1995-96, Epiphone introduced the Noel Gallagher Union Jack Supernova semi-hollow guitar (discontinued in March 2006). The guitar was expensive but very successful.Other notable players of Epiphone guitars include:David Rawlings, who almost exclusively plays a 1935 Epiphone Olympic archtop when performing with Gillian Welch. Nick Valensi of The Strokes, who plays a Riviera which he customised by fitting Gibson P-94 pick-ups. Peter Visser of Dutch band Bettie Serveert, who plays several modern Epiphones on stage, including the G-400 copy of the Gibson SG. Nick Hughes of Australian Band Three Dirty Birds, who plays an all-black Epiphone SG as his main axe, modified with EMG pickups. Lars Frederiksen of the punk band Rancid uses an Epiphone Les Paul as his primary instrument. Ray Toro & Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance both play different models of Epiphone Les Pauls. Frank plays an LP Elitist model. Zakk Wylde plays Gibson guitars but has three different Epiphone signature models called Bullzeye, Camo & Buzzsaw. Epiphone now makes a range of budget priced electric bass guitars.The original Epiphone Texan acoustic guitar was made in the early 1960s as a cheaper version of the Gibson J-45 model, and was available in a sunburst finish or - as the one purchased by Paul McCartney - in a blond finish. Although cheaper than its Gibson counterpart at the time of manufacture, vintage period Texans in good condition can currently change hands for around the $3,000 mark.In recent years Epiphone introduced a series of acoustic guitars named Masterbilt after a line of guitars of the 1930's. Today's Masterbilt guitars are manufactured in China.
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Epiphone Blue books, owner's manuals and catalogs.
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