| When thinking about the history of | | | | lines. The original guitars include all |
| Epiphone, one must start in Greece where | | | | the versions of the Casino, Zephyr, and |
| Anastasios Stathopoulos made lioutos (a | | | | Sheraton, the Wildkat, the Broadway, and |
| Greek stringed instrument), mandolins, | | | | the Emporer. |
| fiddles, and lutes. The family moved to | | | | Epiphone has had some famous endorsees. |
| New York, and his son, Epi Stathopoulos | | | | Both George Harrison and John Lennon |
| inherited the company in 1915. | | | | played Epiphone Casinos. Lennon is |
| The company name changed from the House | | | | famous for his personal modifications to |
| of Stathopoulos to Epiphone, a | | | | the Casino. Other artists include Bob |
| combination of his name and the Greek | | | | Marley, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Lars |
| word for sound. The change was made | | | | Frederickson or Rancid, and Chad of |
| official in 1928. It was during this | | | | Nickelback. For a complete list of |
| time that the company was active in | | | | artists, visit the Epiphone website . |
| making banjos, and they even bought out | | | | The list is quite extensive. |
| a banjo company in Long Island. After | | | | Here are what some uses have to say |
| the change was approved, the company | | | | about Epiphone guitars (source Harmony |
| became the Epiphone Banjo Co. | | | | Central): |
| Epiphones guitars were launched in 1931. | | | | About the Epiphone G-400 Custom |
| This was a full line of what are known | | | | Action was really good. Finish was ok. |
| as archtop guitars, a style that is | | | | Definately looks different than the rest |
| popular with jazz and blues musicians. | | | | of the pack. Gold hardware is gorgeous. |
| They quickly became one of the top | | | | The custom logo shined in the stage |
| guitar produces with Gibson being one of | | | | lights. I had to have it and I had fun |
| their biggest rivals. Notable Epiphone | | | | with it for a few years. |
| players of that time include Tony | | | | This guitar is solid. Never goes out of |
| Mottola with the George Hall band and | | | | tune. Hardware will dull a bit over the |
| two band members of Benny Goodman. | | | | years. Strap buttons are solid. Careful |
| Epi unfortunately died of leukemia and | | | | with the neck dive on stage. Very top |
| left the company to Orphie, who before | | | | heavy. |
| his death was the second in command. His | | | | About the Epiphone Flying Vee-Wee |
| other brother, Frixo, became the Vice | | | | I absolutely love this guitar!!! The |
| President. The two brothers later have a | | | | VeeWee is the perfect shape for lap you |
| feud and Frixo sells his stock. After | | | | can rest your hand on the upper arm of |
| that, company had some trouble and | | | | the V, or put it your hand in the point |
| eventually stopped producing a lot of | | | | of the V to pick right near the bridge. |
| instruments. | | | | The controls and cord jack are in the |
| In 1957, Chicago Musical Instrument | | | | perfect position for lap style as well. |
| purchased Epiphone and made them a | | | | Since it is so small and inexpensive, I |
| division of Gibson. Epiphone now still | | | | carry it with me everywhere. I would not |
| maintains their own line of guitars and | | | | dream of bringing my Les Paul into the |
| the Gibson and Epiphone labels remain | | | | office, but this VeeWee is perfect for |
| separate. | | | | break time noodling. As I mentioned, the |
| Current Epiphone models include a few | | | | sound is great. I now own 5 guitars, and |
| Gibson copies (Epiphones version of the | | | | my lap-steel PeeVee wins the Most Fun |
| Flying-V and Les Paul are a few | | | | award hands down! |
| examples), and a few original Epiphone | | | | |