Why Chose an Epiphone Guitar?

The history of Epiphone Bass Guitar dates back more than a Century. It was founded in the year 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Gibson Guitars brought it during the troubled times of the company in World War II. The brand and models have stood the test of time and maintained a reputation as one of the best guitar models in the world.

The name came from the company’s owner nickname, Epi and the Greek word for sound, phone. The two words combined Epiphone turned out to be one of the most trusted names in the guitar industry. The first guitars made by the company were in the year 1928. They had an unusual shape and were recognized and characterized by the alphabets A-E. The 1930’s saw a rivalry between two great companies, Epiphone and Gibson trying to outclass each other by an introduction of new models on a regular basis.

Epiphone Guitars was brought by Gibson’s parent company, Chicago Musical Instruments in 1957. They produce the same basic models and styles of guitars. Most Epiphone guitars are made with the Les Paul or SG body shape. Other Gibson designs such as Flying-V or the Explorer also have Epiphone versions. Epiphone guitars are mainly targeted at hobbyist or students who love a Gibson guitar, but can’t justify the high price tag. Epiphone models are made with the approach of producing decent quality instruments in a more economical price.

One of the reasons that make Epiphone’s so great is that they have been making quality guitars for years. This just means that you can expect a certain level of build quality from their Korean manufacturers. All their guitars tend to be fit and finished excellently before being shipped off to different shops.

Epiphone guitars are made to a high standard but differ from their Gibson counterparts. They are likely to be made in the far-east rather than the USA, use lower grade laminates or woods and have different hardware and electronics. For beginners, such differences are insignificant but for professional guitarists, it may mean some elements such as the pickups may require replacing. On the other hand, this will depend on the player’s own taste.

Another reason to choose an Epiphone guitar is that a lot of popular guitar players have used Epiphones. One of the most famous celebrities, the Beatles, utilized Epiphones in the late 1960’s specifically the Epiphone Casino. Other celebrities that used Epiphones include, BB King, The Edge (U2), Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, and Slash.

Presently, Epiphone brand produces a variety of high grade guitars from Archtops such as the Epiphone Wildkat, a range of Les Paul guitars through to re-issues of Beatle classics, the Casino and Texan. Each of these guitars produces rich character great sounds and a unique heritage. The Epiphone guitars create most music styles from classy Jazz to heavy metal.

Playing an Epiphone is not a compromise. Regardless of the differences with Gibson, they are classic instruments with solid tone. They may cost less than their Gibson cousins, but they are seriously good guitars. So if you’re off to buy an Electric Guitar, you may want to check out an Epiphone first.

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