In this video, Gibson shares some interesting stories about the celebrant, as part of Epiphone’s 140th Anniversary celebration.
Related Feature:
Oldest Guitar Brands In The World
It highlights the historical significance of the brand and features iconic Epiphone-wielding artists from the past up, to the present.
The Epiphone brand is now mostly known as a sub-division of Gibson that sells affordable instruments, but it didn’t start out that way. It started out as a small scale musical instrument manufacturer started in 1873 by the Stathopoulos family. This meant that Epiphone came first before Gibson (founded by Orville Gibson in 1902).
The two companies started out as rivals in selling archtops, with Epiphone having an impressive line up of artists, most notable of which is The Beatles. Gibson however won the battle and eventually purchased the Epiphone brand, as advised by Les Paul himself. This was part of an interesting trivia within the video, saying that Les Paul convinced Gibson to buyout its rival and to use the Epiphone brand name and technology for itself.
The Epiphone brand is now mostly known as affordable alternatives to Gibson instruments. This affordability helped propel the brand to popularity, sought after by beginners and budget conscious musicians. Almost every standard Gibson model has an affordable Epiphone alternative, making the usually expensive Gibson designs more accessible and budget friendly.
Aside from affordable models, some of the more popular and in-demand Epiphone models were retained or re-issued. Guitar models like the Sheraton, Riviera and Texan, which are all distinctly Epiphone, are still currently available and they continue to be the favorite of many guitarists.
Checkout the 140th Celebration video right here:
Related Articles:
Gibson Guitar Production Changes for 2014
Gibson Brands Intend to Acquire Cakewalk
Come and see where Epiphone features in our roundup of the best electric guitars for under $500.
Gibson Guitars now called Gibson Brands