the Concert Special ($300) and the Alhambra ($200). Merchants (NAMM) show at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, including an electrified piano created with the Meissner Inventions Company in Milburn, New Jersey. The Valve Hot Rod is a 5 watt amp like the Valve Junior, but has a gain and reverb control. When the Beatles appeared playing Casinos around 1966, it appeared like Epiphone's recovery was assured with a new identity and the world's Following are excerpts from an interview with Qingdao plant manager Scott Lewis and Gibson Qingdao general manager Lloyd Williams from the Epiphone official website. In the early '50s, Epiphone's former champion and favorite late night tinkerer Les Paul became a household name with a television show, a radio program, and chart-topping hits, In 2013, as Epiphone celebrates 140 years as the working musicianâs favorite instrument maker, Epiphone still has the pioneering spirit of Epi Stathopoulo. âEpiphoneâ referenced not only his own name, but the Greek word for sound--phone. After two years, the company became known as The House of Stathopoulo. Epiphoneâs factory and showroom at 142 West 14th Street in Manhattan became a hangout for the cityâs top players, who regularly turned up for Saturday afternoon jam sessions hosted by Epi and his siblings Orphie, Frixo and Minnie, who were also involved in the family business. Several Epiphone guitars have been produced in the United States after 1971. F-Style Mandolins . But cracks soon appeared both on the production line and in the boardroom. To see how cookies are used, please review our cookie notice. Those who attended the 1994 NAMM witnessed the re-introduction of Epiphone legends like the Casino, Riviera, Sorrento, and Rivoli bass. If a time machine could transport today's Epiphone players to Epi Stathopouloâs Manhattan showroom of 60 years ago, when it was a gathering place for all the Big Apple's best players, generations of musicians I really enjoy lt.. Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas, took over. In 1939, the two firms introduced similar 'pitch-changing' In 2008 models begin to appear without a factory i.d. Get the guaranteed best price on Mandolins like the Epiphone MM-20 Mandolin at Musician's Friend. And today, Epiphone can be heard on albums by Gary Clark, Jr., Alabama Shakes, My Chemical Romance, Joe Bonamassa, Nirvana, Johnny Winter, Zakk Wylde, Machine Head, Dwight Yoakam, The Strokes, If you want a guitar that has a good sound and wonât leave you begging on the street for spare change, the Epiphone Les Paul is a popular choice. Tastes were changing and Epiphone's products seemed traditional and out of step. (Daniel would go on to start the Danelectro line of guitars and amps in the 50s). By 1976 new designs of higher quality were being introduced for export but did not include the current Japanese market models. ], 12 = DeaWon or Unsung (China—uncertainty remains as to which factory), 13 = Sticker: Made in China (Unknown factory; Epiphone LP-100), 17 = China – factory unknown MIC sticker on a J160E, 18 = China – factory unknown found on one 2009 model bass, 20 = DaeWon or Unsung (China—uncertainty remains as to which factory), 23 = ??? Epi was only 22 when his father Anastasios died. The strength of the Epiphone acoustic range was matched by the electric line, the most famous of these was the double-cutaway Buy online or at your local store today! reputation for craftsmanship and innovation that Epi had built in the '20s and '30s did not survive the war years. But this story is true. McCarty accepted on behalf of Gibson. Dealers would get a Gibson-quality product without treading on the toes of dealers who already sold the Gibson line. campaign featuring a nude woman holding an Epiphone archtop. Tuning. [3] Just after the end of World War I, the company started to make banjos. As of January 2013, Epiphone makes the following guitars: Epiphone began producing amplifiers in 1935 with the Electar Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar Outfit. Gibson retaliated with a new archtop design in 1934, increasing the body width of its existing models and introducing the king-sized Super 400 (named after its $400 price tag). Reviving Gibson was the first priority for the new owners, and with Epiphone making less than $1 million revenue in 1985, the 100 year old company was once again set aside. By the 90s, the Epiphone line offered 43 different models across a range of styles and budgets. Among Epi's unique design features included individually adjustable pole pieces on the Master Pickup. Budgets were cut. With Anastasios crafting and selling his instruments on the ground floor and family living upstairs, trips throughout Europe, where the boy observed his father's trade and learned about tonewoods. Great deals on Epiphone Mandolins. There are unlikely heroes and tinkerers in the Epiphone story too, like guitar pioneer Les Paul, who worked nights in the Epiphone factory in New York City to create "the Log", his primordial It has a couple autographs on the back by Rodney and Doug Dillard. Several other models, such as the Sheraton and John Lennon Casinos, were built in Japan and assembled and finished by Gibson USA. It produced its first guitars in 1928. The early to mid-1960s were boom time for Epiphone, with unit sales increasing fivefold between 1961 and 1965. With F-Style and A-Style bodies, we offer mandolins for any melody you want to ⦠The story of Epiphone begins in the mountains of Greece and threads its way to Turkey, across the Atlantic to the immigrant gateway of Ellis Island, and into the nightclubs, recording studios, and coast-to-coast radio broadcasts of Manhattan in the 1920s and 30s. Since 1996 the Epiphones were build by the Peerless Guitars Co. Ltd., established in 1970 in Busan, South Korea. The Stathopoulo brothers argued over the future of the company and in 1948, Frixo sold his shares to Orphie. of musical instruments We're mavericks. And now, in the 21st century, new Epiphone technical breakthroughs Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned It wasn't hard to see the L-5's influence on the new Epiphone line. By 1975, the Japanese market started seeing some of the more familiar designs and names being reintroduced. Combined with a new line of amplifiers, it was clear that Epiphone designers were quickly establishing their independence. Just after the end of World War I, the c⦠Instead, as McCarty wrote in a memo that year, the Epiphone brand would be revived with a new line of instruments. When a new line of instruments started filtering through to dealers in 1958, it became clear that the two brands now had three separate identities. Though McCarty's original intention was to bring the Epiphone bass models into the Gibson catalogue, by 1957, he changed his mind. Production was moved back to Nashville and Bozeman for a similar limited run of instruments (250 each of Sheratons, Rivieras, Frontiers, Excellentes and Texans). would agree that Epiphone has always been the âHouse of Stathopoulo.â And today, Epiphone is still innovating, still delighting musicians, and still frustrating competitors with daring designs and superb quality. 1. Hawaiian guitar designs, a precursor to the pedal steel. After two years, the company was known as The House Of Stathopoulos. There were other problems. and only patent March 25, 1909 for an Italian style bowl back mandolin. The Epiphone showroom on the first floor was both the company's headquarters and a hangout for musicians. The âHouse of Stathopouloâ has played a central role in every great musical era from the mandolin craze of the early 1900s to jazz age guitars of the 1920s; There was also a solid selection of Gibson-inspired models like the Les Paul and SG, new archtops like the Howard Roberts Fusio, and a revival of the Sheraton. granted his first patent for a banjo tone ring and rim construction - 1,248,196 given to E. A. Stathopoulo. The Recording guitars were not initially a success. [12] Japanese domestic market Elitists used the Gibson Dove-wing headstock as opposed to the "tombstone" headstock used on exports. During the â80s and â90s, Epiphones were produced in Korea and Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson, including the likes of Samick and Matsumoku. The other was a lack of volume. When Gibson introduced a line of violins, Epiphone struck back with a line of upright basses. Contrary to popular information, this line was related to, but not part of the 1994 Gibson Centennial Series commemorating 100 years of the Gibson Guitar Corporation. It was the perfect solution. Public records from 1904 list A. Stathopoulo living at Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas ("Epi"), took over. After Epi died in 1943, control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. In 1936, Epiphone struck again, increasing the size of its De Luxe, Broadway and Triumph The other Kalamazoo-made Epiphones had technical or cosmetic relationship with the similar Gibson version. FF= Factory I.D. Stathopoulo moved to the United States in 1903 and continued to make his original instruments, as well as mandolins, from a factory at 35-37 36th Street in Long Island City, Queens, New York. The Beatles' bassist extraordinaire Paul McCartney choose an Epiphone Casino as his first American made guitar and John Lennon and George Harrison quickly followed. (The right to sell Gibson models was hotly contested between dealerships at this time). Electar Century and Zephyr amplifier models followed. Over the next few years, Epiphone would sell 3,798 instruments in 1961 and by 1965 account for 20% of the total instruments shipped out of Kalamazoo. The Advanced Jumbo Series and several important signature models were released including the John Lee Hooker Sheratons and the Noel Gallagher Supernovas, both a critical and popular success. On one hand, Epiphone now listed budget-conscious versions of existing Gibson models. YY= Year of manufacture 2. Magoula in the Eurotas valley to register the birth of his son, Anastasios. The banjo is stamped 7155 which makes the year of manufacture approx 1928. Gibson had not picked up again after World War II. Slash, Jeff Waters, Paul Simon, Radiohead, The Waco Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, and Paul Weller. The majority of Epiphoneâs instruments have been made exclusively in this facility since 2004, including their solid-body, hollow-body and acoustic guitars. Terms & Conditions | Registered Trademarks. Gibson decided to launch a new line of Epiphone tube amplifiers in 2005 with models including the So Cal, Blues Custom, Epiphone Valve Junior and the solid state Triggerman range. models by an inch making them 3/8" wider than Gibson's archtops and one of the most distinctive instruments on the market. instrument in post-World War I America. With over 140 years of experience crafting mandolins, Epiphone is definitely a company you can trust. McCarty took the advice and reached out to Orphie, expressing Gibson's interest in Epiphone's critically acclaimed upright bass division which Vintage Brazos F-Style Mandolin Made in Japan W/ Case NICE W/ Auto's You are bidding on a Vintage probably 70's MIJ Brazos F-Style Mandolin. International demand for Epiphones was so high that the company opened a new factory in China in 2004, the first time that Epiphone had its own dedicated factory since the merging with Gibson in 1957. Once in America, Anastasios continued his instrument trade. Drum Sets; Drum Hardware; Hand Drums; Hand Percussion; Xylophones; Keyboards and Synths; Pro Audio. Ornate banjo models were introduced in 1927 including the Emperor tenor banjo ($500), the Dansant ($450), version of what would eventually be called the "Les Paul." It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. Not to be outdone, Epi replied the following year with the top-of-the-line Emperor, which raised the stakes with a slightly wider body and a provocative advertising The name Epiphone evokes both history and the spirit of invention. letter prefix. Mandolin is one of the first instruments Anastasios Stathopoulos, founder of Epiphone started to craft when he moved to New York. Sale! meaning one sound on another, the son building on the dreams of the father. [3] Epiphone also manufactures resonator guitars under the Dobro brand. The Electar line furthered the reputation of Epiphone as an innovative brand. Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items. In July 1936, Epiphone showed off several new models at the National Association of Music [2] Aside from guitars, Epiphone also made double basses, banjos, and other string instruments. There, Kostantinos established himself as a lumber merchant. By the end of the '30s just prior to America's entry into World War II, the rivalry between Epiphone and Gibson showed little sign of abating. 2002 Epiphone Japan Elite/Elitist catalog, "Epiphone Introduces Three New Electric Packs! In 1960, Epiphone's production moved to the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1957, Epiphone, Inc. was purchased by Gibson and relocated from New York to Kalamazoo, Michigan. [citation needed] In 1993, three historic Epiphone acoustic guitars, the Texan, Frontier, and Excellente, were produced by Gibson Acoustic in Montana. Epiphone is one of American's oldest and most revered instrument makers. The company's Each instrument was handmade in the FujiGen factory in Japan. [6] In 2014 the 1939 Electar Century 18-watt valve amplifier was reissued in an updated 75th anniversary Limited Edition. The war changed everything. of all kinds [10] With few exceptions, Epiphones are now built only in the Qingdao factory. The grand unveiling of the Epiphone line took place at the NAMM trade show in July 1958 with the electric Emperor as the flagship model. Owned by the Gibson Guitar Corporation for more than fifty years now, Epiphone guitars have been made in Qingdao since 2002. The Aria Epiphone Japan models that were made by Matsumoku from the early 1970s and ending before 1987 do not have a reliable serial numbering system but can be approximately dated using their Epiphone label colours. Lloyd Loar's 1922 F-5 reborn. As the oldest son, Epi was charged with keeping the business going. Designed in cooperation with Shadow Germany-who have been making acoustic pickups for over 30 years-the NanoMAG is a unique, low-impedance humbucking pickup equipped with Samarium cobalt magnets that capture true acoustic tone and a wide range of harmonics. Epi retained most of the Long Island factory's skilled workers. By submitting this form you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. The catalog now listed 14 electric archtops, six solid-bodied electrics, three basses, seven steel-string flat tops, six classical, four acoustic archtops, three banjos and a mandolin. It's the story of both hard earned craftsmanship passed from father to son and the ceaseless American drive for innovation. However for the first few years of production, Epiphone guitars made in Japan were actually rebranded designs already produced by the Matsumoku Company. The mandolin sound is typically bright and cheerful. on every Beatles album from Help through Abbey Road. It was also an echo of the Greek word epiphonous, 1971-1975 - Blue label - Early models say "Union Made" 1976-1979 - Tan or white "Lincolnwood" label with Norlin logo Pickups continued to be refined and players continued to appear The opening chapter of the Epiphone story begins about 140 years ago in Kastania in the mountains overlooking the ancient city of Sparta, Greece. Eastman MD615 Acoustic Electric Mandolin Pro Set Up ⦠Very good condition(as pictured) This beauty is a BG-50 model A style mandolin made with a mahogany back and spruce front with a Tobacco Sunburst gloss finish. Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas ("Epi"), took over. ", "A Chat With Epiphone President Jim Rosenberg", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epiphone&oldid=991388553, Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States, Articles with dead external links from May 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2011, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Flying-V – Robb Flynn Love/Death Baritone, Emperor Swingster / Royale / Black Royale, FT-140 Japanese made 1970s dreadnought acoustic with a bolt on neck, FACTORY NUMBER CODES—for some models starting in 2008, if serial # begins w/numbers, [NOTE: The factories identified by these codes are based on patterns that forum members have observed. Factory processes were assessed and refined and Epiphone's own engineers took a hands-on role in the development of pickups, bridges, toggle switches, and fret inlays, as well as unique features like the metal E logo and frequensator tailpiece. However, the company's weakness in the aftermath of World War II and death of Epaminondas Stathopoulos in 1943 allowed Gibson to purchase it. In 1963, the Troubadour, steel string flat top guitar was introduced. He married and started a family. A similar USA made Gibson costs more than 10 times the price â worth it if you are a professional recording artist, but once you amplify them, the difference is minimal. Vintage 1970's Epiphone BG-50 Mandolin with Case- A Style- Spruce/Mohogany This li a Vintage 1970's Epiphone BG-50 Mandolin with Hard Case- A Style- Spruce/Mohogany. The Valve Hot Rod and Valve Senior followed in 2009. Gibson's Ted McCarty had retired to run Bigsby. Here's a Mandolin that will sound better with age! But the rise of foreign-made copies in the late '60s took over 40% of the Epiphone/Gibson market share and closed many companies down entirely. Problems emerged slowly at first. These guitars were of higher quality than that of the previous years of production in Japan and included models such as the Wilshire, Emperor, Riviera and Newport bass. Occasionally, Epiphone models are of such high quality that sales of those less expensive instruments actually cut into the Gibson's sales. Epi's guitars had similar f-holes, pegheads, and even a similar name to the Gibson Master Model range. Ukuleles; Banjos; Mandolins; Percussion. One of the reasons for this surge in popularity has to be the quality of mandolins that are being produced now. The variety of musicians that walk through Epiphone's history is remarkable. Example: SI09034853 SI = Samick Indonesia, 09 = 2009, 03 = March, 4853 = manufacturing number. Epiphone quality rivals that of any guitar manufacturer in the world, while rock 'n' roll fans delight in the company's signature models like the Marcus Henderson Apparition, the Zakk Wylde ZV Custom and the Joe Bonamassa Goldtop. This site uses cookies.
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