Nearly 20 years before Orville Gibson began producing mandolins in Kalamazoo, Anastasios Stathopoulos was producing fiddles and lutes in İzmir, Turkey. Upon his death in 1915, his son Epi took over the company, marking the arrival of Epiphone, which quickly established itself as Gibson’s fiercest competitor in the archtop market. Today, under Gibson’s careful guidance, Epiphone boasts an impressive catalogue of electric guitars; the majority being affordable, high-quality instruments stylized after Gibson models. Plus, their hollow-body guitars were - and still are - a force to be reckoned with, making them an excellent option for both burgeoning guitar players, and seasoned professionals looking for a sturdy axe that won’t break the bank!
