Epiphone guitars have a long story. Epiphone was a family business established in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulo, a greek violin maker, as “the House of Stathopoulo”. In 1923 they incorporated and at this stage made mostly high quality and fancy banjos. In 1928 the name was changed to “Epiphone” after Epi Stathopoulo, chairman of the company and one of the founder’s sons. In the 1930’s, the company modified its emphasis to guitars. Epiphone successfully switched to guitar production.
The C.G. Conn Company (a band instrument builder) bought Epiphone in 1953 and moved production to Philidelphia (although the labels still said New York). This was done because New York Epiphone workers were in conflict with the Stathopoulio family. Later, in 1955, the Stathopoulo family regained control, but few if any instruments were made in 1956 and 1957.
Epiphone guitars draw interest from different kinds of buyers. Someone collects older Epiphones as vintage guitars. Others buy the newer Epiphones as habitual playing and performance guitars, whether they find them new or used. Epiphone belongs to the Gibson family of brands. Many modern Epiphone models closely track the models sold under the Gibson brand, but they are considerably less expensive. Debate rages among guitar players as to whether the price differential is justified.
Many believe that Gibson brand guitars are of higher quality, and worth higher prices. Others love their Epiphones, and wouldn’t trade them for any other guitars. Meanwhile, vintage guitar collectors prize older Epiphones partly for their historical interest.
I collect and play mostly vintage Gibson guitars and recently started purchasing Epiphones to give the Gibsons a break. I have been very amused with the new Prophecy series from Epiphone. Futuras with the EMG’s and the SG GX with the Dirty Fingers all play and sound huge. I started purchasing Dirty Fingers PUP’s two years ago to replace standard Epiphone PUP’s in my other Epiphones when they first became available from Gibson. I’m very happy. Epiphone had the same idea and made this an easy purchase without my having to reconfigure the electronics. All I can say is if you get a chance to get a Epiphone Prophecy series guitar, buy it while they are still available. They are more than worth the small investment if you are a serious musician.
As a absolutely fan of Gibson guitars it very likely doesn’t surprise you that there are a lot of Epiphone guitars that I would buy and that I have recommended to other people. Epiphone’s are great for people who enjoy the look and feel of a Gibson, especially the Les Paul style guitars, but who’s budget doesn’t allow the luxury of a Gibson. Obviously if anyone thinks to compare the Epiphone Les Paul with a Gibson Les Paul, he has unrealistic expectations. But having said that, most Epiphones sound pretty well with some new strings and a set up. If you invest a few more dollars into a new set up pickups, you can really get some fantastic sounds that would be more than appropriate for a live application.
The Epiphone Les Pauls aren’t the only guitars that Epiphone makes. Their hollowbody and semi hollow body guitars are indeed great instruments and have tremendous value in terms of the quality of tone versus the price that you pay. And most of the Epiphone hollowbodys I have ever played play excellent right out of the box. Again you will very likely want to take it to your local guitar shop and get it set up with some new strings and maybe new pickups for the truely ambitious that want to customize their sound. But if you do that, you will have a great sounding guitar for a very affordable price and you don’t have to buy new pickups or get a set up as part of your initial cost so it makes it that much more affordable. If you love Gibsons but can’t really make that kind of financial committment for a guitar, I recommend trying an Epiphone and see how you like it. I think you will be intensely enthusiastic.
The Epiphone Tony Iommi Signature G-400 Electric Guitar is what you want for heavy hitting sound. Classic SG attitude is enhanced with black chrome hardware, mother-of-pearl cross fingerboard inlays and, on the solid mahogany body, a matching black finish. The Gibson USA Tony Iommi pickups put out the firepower required for maximum destruction and the slim-tapered mahogany neck is fast. Epiphone guitars can be a big surprise!
Starting from 1873, Epiphone instruments have been proudly played and endorsed by professional musicians. And while every Epiphone is the result of over 126 years of experience working directly with musicians, only a few embody a single artists individual creativity and spirit. The Epiphone Signature Collection guitars are as mythical and as individual as the artists themselves. The Les Paul guitar is equivalent of Rock and Roll. No other guitar is so powerful and and gives you the sustain and the sound of a Les Paul. If its got Les Pauls signature on the headstock, its the real thing… Don’t accept substitutes!
