Buy an Epiphone Electric Guitar at Zzounds.
Anybody who has ever looked in to buying a Gibson Les Paul or SG quickly finds out they aren’t cheap electric guitars. For whose wallets are cash-challenged, the Epiphone versions of these guitar models might be the answer.
When Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1958, Epiphone was marketed as a budget-friendly version of some of Gibson’s existing guitars. The two companies had been rivals for much of the first half of the 20th century until Epiphone fell on financial hard times and had to be rescued. They weren’t only competitors in guitars, but also violins and upright basses, too. Epiphone started out making lutes, violins, and lioutos, but became famous for its banjoes and was at one point known as the Epiphone Banjo Company. Epiphone ventured into making guitars in 1928 and its guitars quickly gained a reputation for being among the world’s best.
Epiphone would not just manufacture Gibson guitars, but reintroduced some its own classic guitars like the Emperor. Epiphone hit the jackpot in the 1960s with its Epiphone Casino, an arch top electric guitar that became favorites of the Beatles, especially John Lennon who can be seen playing an Epiphone Casino during a live performance of “Revolution.”
During the 1970s, Epiphone moved its guitar production to Japan, and in 1983 moved it again, this time to Korea where Epiphone guitars are made today.
Today much of the Epiphone electric guitar line remains based on Gibson guitar models, including several reissue and custom versions.
Epiphone Electric Guitars:
Click any of the links below to buy or learn more about each guitar.
Epiphone Les Paul:
- Epiphone Les Paul Standard
- Epiphone Les Paul Studio
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom
- Epiphone Les Paul 100
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
- Epiphone Zakk Wylde Les Paul Signature Les Paul Custom
- Epiphone Left Handed Les Paul 100
- Epiphone Left Handed Les Paul Standard
Epiphone SG:
- Epiphone G-400
- Epiphone Left Handed G-400
- Epiphone G-310 SG
- Epiphone Left Handed G-310 SG
- Epiphone G 1275 Double Neck
Epiphone offers an arch top series of electric guitars comprised of several models.
Epiphone Casino
Epiphone Dot: The Epiphone Dot is based on the Gibson ES-series.
Epiphone Arch Tops:
Miscellaenous Epiphone electric guitar models:
- Epiphone Firebird Studio
- Epiphone Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333
- Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer
- Epiphone 1958 Korina Flying V
Once upon a time I owned a black left-handed Epiphone SG (can’t remember if it was the G-310 or the G-400), but I didn’t find it particularly comfortable to play, particularly the action. I bought it on a whim because it’s not often I come across a left-handed electric guitar in a music store, especially one that isn’t a Fender. As I mentioned earlier, Epiphones are made in Korea, and I have this preconceived notion about the quality of non-American guitars that no doubt influenced my opinion, unfairly at that. The fact is Epiphone makes excellent instruments and any Epiphone electric guitar is superior to the electric guitars you can buy at Sears or Wal-mart.
