Posts Tagged ‘epiphone electric acoustic guitars’

History Of The Epiphone Guitar

The Epiphone guitar officially got its name for the first time when he registered in 1924. A man by the name of Anastasios Stathopoulo began making musical instruments in 1873 first. In 1893, Anastasios’ Marianthe wife, gave birth to their first child Epimanondas. In New York, Anastasios buy a place where she makes and sells equipment on the ground floor, while his family lived upstairs. Big business for him at that moment because at the top of the mandolin craze. Anastasios signs began his instrument with “A. Stathopoulo, producer-Repairer of all types of musical instruments” and to build a warehouse company.

In 1915, Anastasios Stathopoulo died, leaving her responsible Epimanondas. Epimanondas, called Epi, 22-year-old when he took over the business. Epi was a great luthier and businessman.

In 1917, Epi to change the company name to House Of Stathopoulo and start changing the product line as well. The mandolin that they make are not as popular as ever, so Epi to concentrate on a device that … banjo. He also received the first patent for banjo construction today.

In 1923, House Of Stathopoulo very successful and Epi named himself president and general manager of the company. The next year, Epi to change the company name again to reflect major changes in the company. Epimanondas decided to combine his nickname “Epi” the Greek word for the sound “telephone” and create a Epiphone.

With the success of Epiphone’s Recording Series banjo, banjo Epiphone Favoran bought out the company in 1925, to follow the demand. Sales of the banjo is so big and Epiphone name known so much for them, Epi to change the company name to Epiphone Banjo Company in 1928.

Finally, in 1928, introduced a line of recording Epi guitars, mostly made of carved top and a combination of pine and laminated maple. Epi decided that companies should be more focused on selling the Company Gibson guitars and their main competitors.
Competition between the Epiphone and Gibson in the 30s was very intense. In 1934 Gibson enhance the body width of one of the existing models to compete directly with the Masterbuilt Epiphone guitar.

The following year returned the favor by the Emperor Epiphone released the

epiphone acoustic guitars

model, which has a wider body. They also created a buzz by the Emperor’s new ad with posters of half naked models to play guitar.

The size of the war did not stop there because in 1936 Epiphone produced larger version of their Broadway, De Luxe and Triumph models by the inch to make them 3 / 8 “wider than a Gibson.

At this time, Epiphone guitar is one of the top in the world and some of the world’s best musicians to play them. Even the appearance of Epi would open the case on Saturday afternoon and let these famous musicians play the guitar.
Epiphone continues to grow and want even more than market share. In 1935, Epiphone introduced a series Electar to compete with the Rickenbacker electric guitar. When 1937 arrives, Epiphone sales doubled. The rest of the 30’s followed with Epiphone and Gibson competed with each other and the two companies introduced the same type of Hawaiian guitar.

In 1943, Epi died and left his brothers Orphie and Frixo to run a business. By keeping Orphie finance and maintain the mechanical parts Frixo, Epiphone continues to compete with the Gibson and the things that seems to run smoothly. Orphie and Frixo not get along and Frixo sell his share of the business Orphie. Companies continue to go down the hill and in 1953, to solve the problem of strikes by workers in Manhattan, the factory was moved to Philadelphia. Many talented artisans company decided not to go to Philly and the result is a decrease in the quality of their products.

Problems continue to deteriorate in the 50’s while the company is getting stronger Gibson. Orphie Gibson called general manager Ted McCarty and asked if he wanted to buy a business Epiphone guitar for $ 20,000. McCarty agreed and Epiphone was acquired by Gibson in 1957. Gibson initially planned only to take control of the business upright bass but eventually the entire revamping Epiphone Company. In 1958, Gibson released the entire new line of acoustic and electric guitars and move production of these instruments of their own factory in Kalamazoo Michigan.

In 1964, the Beatles found the Epiphone guitar and John, Paul and George bought some models Casino. In 1965, Epiphone guitar to sell very well anymore, representing 20% of the total units shipped from their Kalamazoo factory. Epiphone once again one of the top names in the guitar.

This cut sales Epiphone and Gibson guitars and the company decided to give Gibson line more attention. In 1983, production costs continue to rise, so Epiphone moved to Korea. Currently, David Berryman, Henry Juszkiewicz and Gary Zebrowski bought Gibson. Although their main priority Gibson, Juszkiewicz saw the potential in the Epiphone and immediately went to Korea to find out what to do. Soon Epiphone guitar to sell well again.

90’s eventually became a big decade for Epiphone. 90’s also is launching a signature model of Noel Gallagher, John Lennon and John Lee Hooker.

In 2002, Gibson luthier Mike Voltz moved to Epiphone acoustic guitars to look after their production and marketing. Voltz finally revive their acoustics with a new range of Masterbilt guitar. Demand for Epiphone guitar grow so much that in 2003 they opened a factory in China strictly for Epiphone. In 2005, Epiphone introduced back Paul McCartney’s 1964 USA Texan guitar.
In 2008, Epiphone guitar is still going strong and is more popular than ever. Included in their lineup recently, of course, big guitars and Les Paul guitars signature of some of the greatest guitarists ever. Some artists immortalized with this guitar is John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Slash, BB King, Tony Iommi, Zakk Wylde and Nikki Sixx.