| Epiphone had its true beginnings in Greece where | | | | is considered a subdivision of Gibson, though it |
| Anastasios Stathopoulos started out by making | | | | maintains its own original line. |
| traditional stringed instruments such as violins, | | | | Epiphone has its own line of acoustic guitars as |
| lutes, mandolins, and a Greek instrument called the | | | | well as electric. The first instruments the |
| lioutos. The family then moved to Smyrna in Asia | | | | Stahopoulos family created, after all, were |
| Minor but later fled to New York due to | | | | acoustic instruments. The acoustic models include |
| persecution. | | | | the Paul McCartney Texan, the Dove, the |
| After moving to New York, Anastasios son, Epi | | | | DR-100, the AJ-100, the AJ-200S, and the EJ-200. |
| Stathopoulos, inherited the family instrument | | | | For more information and a more complete list of |
| making business. During the early years of Epi s | | | | their guitars visit |
| running of the business, the company was called | | | | Epiphone also lists a lot of players who use their |
| the House of Stathopoulos. But, Epi changed it | | | | guitars on the website. They include Paul |
| from that to Epiphone. He filed for the change in | | | | McCartney, Moby, Glen Maxey of Brother Cane, |
| advance, but it did not become official until 1928. | | | | Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick, Chris Chaney of |
| The new company was named for Epi, the | | | | Jane s Addiction, and Marty Roe of Diamond Rio. |
| owner, and phonos, the Greek word for sound. | | | | The site doesn t seem to specify whether they |
| At this point, it was called the Epiphone Banjo | | | | play an acoustic or electric guitar. |
| Company. | | | | Here is what one person has to say about their |
| Epiphone launched their first guitars in 1931. They | | | | Epiphone acoustic: |
| had a full line of what is known as the archtop | | | | About the Epiphone AJ-100 EB |
| style of guitar which are popular with jazz and | | | | Overall this guitar astonishes as a |
| blues players. After their launch they become one | | | | bang-for-the-buck item. So far superior than what |
| of the biggest guitar companies with Gibson being | | | | was available to me in this price range than when |
| their main rival. | | | | I picked up guitar in the mid seventies. |
| Things changed after Epi died of leukemia. He left | | | | Computer-programmed, manufacturing has |
| the business to his brother Orphie and another | | | | spawned some really accurate, cheap guitars. |
| brother, Frixo, became the president. This was | | | | What a blessing really. I must commend the |
| not a lucrative partnership. The two brothers had | | | | builders or factory workers as the case may be |
| a disagreement and Frixo sold his stocks in the | | | | in making these instruments. Affordable, |
| company. After that, Epiphone fell on hard times | | | | inexpensive guitars are better and more plentiful |
| both because of the war and because of poor | | | | than ever. Overall, this guitar is good enough to |
| management. | | | | warrant all the word I have spent glowing about it. |
| The fate of the company changed in 1957 when | | | | I have written maybe three reviews in my life, |
| Chicago Musical Instrument, Gibson s parent | | | | because I usually don t bother. |
| company, purchased Epiphone. Now, the company | | | | |