Epiphone

Epiphone was founded in 1873, in Smyrna, Turkey, by Greek founder Kostantinos Stathopoulo. In 1904, Stathopoulo moved to the United States and brought his business with him. He died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas (“Epi”), took over. After the end of World War I, the company started to make banjos. The company produced its recording line of banjos in 1924 and, four years later, took on the name of the Epiphone Banjo Company. It produced its first guitars in 1928. The company was acquired by Gibson in 1957, and is now a part of Gibson Brands, Inc..