Epiphone is an American musical instrument manufacturer founded by Anastasios Stathopoulos, currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1957 Epiphone, Inc., of New York City was purchased by Chicago Musical Instrument Co. (CMI. This is the same company that bought Gibson in 1944) and given the name Epiphone, Inc. of Kalamazoo, Michigan. CMI took great measures to keep Gibson and Epiphone separate in different buildings each with its own management team. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market prior to its acquisition in 1957.[2] Their professional archtops, including the Emperor, Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph, rivaled those of Gibson.[citation needed] Aside from guitars, Epiphone also made double basses, banjos, and other string instruments. However, the company's weakness in the aftermath of World War II allowed Gibson's parent, CMI, to absorb it.[3]
Epiphone
Ephipone guitars logo.svg
Type
Subsidiary
Industry Musical instruments
Founded 1873; 144 years ago in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now İzmir, Turkey)
Founder Anastasios Stathopoulos
Headquarters Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jim Rosenberg (President)[1]
Products Electric, acoustic, archtop & resonator guitars
Basses
Banjos
Mandolins
Ukuleles
Amplifiers
Effects units
Parent Gibson
Subsidiaries Dobro
Website Epiphone.com
The name "Epiphone" is a combination of proprietor Epaminondas Stathopoulos' (Επαμεινώνδας Σταθόπουλος) nickname "Epi" and "phone" (from Greek phon- (φωνή), "voice").[4]
