Epiphone Guitars History
Epiphone guitars are best known for being the low-cost subsidiary models of the Gibson brand. Since Epiphone is a brand controlled by Gibson, it recreates its most popular models at a more economical production cost, derived from its Asian manufacturing. Although Epiphone was originally an independent manufacturer competing with Gibson itself.
Epiphone was founded in 1873 in New York City by Greek Anastasios Stathopoulos. After Anastasios death in 1915, his son Epaminondas, known as Epi, took over the company. He added the diminutive of his name, Epi, to the new manufacturer’s name, and the Epiphone brand was created in 1924.
However, after Epaminondas death in 1943, and the death of his brother Phrixo Stathopoulos in 1957 that, same year Gibson Guitar Corporation finally had the opportunity to acquire the brand from one of its competitors.
The Epiphone brand, until it was absorbed by Gibson, produced hollow-body guitars known as jazz guitars.
Most Iconic Epiphone Guitars
Although Epiphone was a well-known guitar brand, its most popular models were produced under Gibson’s subsidy. Nevertheless, Epiphone production continued to be carried out entirely in the United States.
Epiphone Casino and Sheraton
In the early 1960s, the brand launched arguably its most iconic model: the Epiphone Casino.
A guitar based on the Gibson ES-330 model, which achieved immense popularity in the late 1960s after being played by John Lennon. Today, this model is manufactured in Asian countries and can be purchased at a moderate price between $700.
Shortly after the release of the Casino, Epiphone moved its production to countries like Japan and Korea, where other iconic models of the brand would be produced, such as the “Sheraton”, a semi-hollow body in the ES-335 style. The Sheraton II Pro is currently produced with Probucker 2 and 3 pickups and a coil-splitting system.
Epiphone Probucker Pickups
Probucker pickups are Epiphone’s take on Gibson’s Burstbucker pickups, and also come in three versions:
- Probucker 1: Offers a low-power output perfect for the neck position, although it can also be used in the bridge position.
- Probucker 2: Features a medium output, ideal for use in both the neck and bridge positions.
- Probucker 3: Offers the highest output, ideal for use in the bridge position.
Epiphone Emperor and Riviera
During the Korean production era, the “Emperor” model appeared with a wider, semi-acoustic-style soundboard. Currently, the Emperor Swingster model is produced with a Bigsby vibrato, Epiphone SwingBucker pickups, and a Push-Pull system for connecting pickups in series and parallel.
Other hollow-body models also stand out, such as the Riviera Royal Tan ($700) with mini humbucker pickups, and the Epiphone Uptown Kat ES ($650) with the same style of pickups.
The Epiphone ES-335 is a faithful recreation of the legendary Gibson ES-335, priced at around $600.
If the standard body size of the semi-hollow models is a bit cumbersome, we can find their most iconic guitars in a more compact format, such as the Casino Coupe ($500). Or the ES-339 ($550), similar to the legendary ES-335 but with a smaller soundboard.
Epiphone Electric Guitars (Solid Body)
In the late 1980s, Epiphone began developing Gibson’s most popular solid-body models, such as the Les Paul, SG, Flying V, and Explorer. In the mid-2000s, Epiphone began producing in other Asian countries, such as China and Indonesia.
Epiphone Les Paul
But we’ll start by reviewing, for example, their Les Paul models, like the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s. A proper Les Paul, worthy of the most experienced guitarist, with ProBucker 1 and 2 pickups. Or the Les Paul Standard 60s, with a slightly thinner neck profile than the 50s, and ProBucker 2 and 3 pickups. Both for about $700.
We also have the Epiphone Les Paul Classic with Alnico Custom Pro pickups, priced at $600 with a Coil Split system and phase shifting.
Epiphone SG
As for SG-style guitars, one of the most luxurious models is the SG Custom with an ebony fingerboard and alnico classic pro pickups. Even so, it maintains a relatively affordable price of around $700.
Practically identical to the previous model, but without the ebony fingerboard and $100 cheaper, is the Epiphone SG Standard.
For those who love the sound of P90 pickups, the Epiphone SG Classic is available for around $450.
Epiphone Flying V
If we needed other models similar to those developed by Gibson, no problem. The brand makes replicas that are very faithful to the original, such as the Epiphone Flying V with ProBucker 2 and 3 pickups, or the Epiphone Explorer with features similar to the Flying V. The difference is basically purely aesthetic. Both models cost around $650.
Or the extraordinary Epiphone Firebird with ProBucker FB720 humbucker pickups, crafted with an elaborate neck-through-body design to maximize the instrument’s tone and sustain. It also features Grover Mini tuners for around 650 dollars.
Epiphone Prophecy
One of the most interesting series recently developed by Epiphone is the Prophecy line. This line includes traditional Gibson models like the Les Paul, SG, Flying V, and Explorer, but equipped with Fishman Fluence multifunction active pickups.
From this type of pickup, we get the warm sound of Gibson PAF pickups, modern high-gain sounds, and the defined sound of a single-coil pickup, but without the characteristic buzz that this type of pickups experience when subjected to high distortion.
All of these functions are controlled by push-pull controls installed on the volume and tone controls.
Prices for this range are typically around $1100, but their features justify their price, as is the case with the extraordinary qualities of their pickups. Furthermore, all models in this series feature an ebony fingerboard and Grover Rotomatic locking tuners.