| Epiphone acoustic guitars were eventually | | | | Epiphone manufactured. The guitars were not too |
| manufactured by a company founded in 1837 by a | | | | popular. 1928 was the first year they were produced. |
| man named Anastasios Stathopoulo. A Greek timber | | | | Sales were not strong because the guitars were |
| merchant's son who was not to tread in his father's | | | | thought to lack volume, be overly ornate, and not large |
| footsteps. He instead crafted musical instruments such | | | | enough in size. Another essential factor for sales of |
| as violins, lutes, and the lioutos, a traditional Greek | | | | the series that was critically lacking was celebrity |
| instrument. His creations were to eventually bear his | | | | endorsement. |
| name, A. Stathopoulo. | | | | Three years later, in 1931, the new archtop guitars, in |
| In 1917 the company came to be known as The | | | | contrast, became very popular. The earlier flaws were |
| House Of Stathopoulo. Its name was changed by | | | | not a factor as the guitars did not lack celebrity |
| Epimanonodas Stathopoulo, or Epi, as he was known, | | | | endorsements, were made larger, and had volume |
| the son of Anastasios. By that time he had been in | | | | desired. |
| charge of the company for two years due to his | | | | The switch from banjos to the manufacturing of |
| father's death. He was just 22. | | | | guitars happened at just the right moment in time as |
| After the end of World War One when Epi realized | | | | the banjo's popularity started to decline. Thus Epiphone |
| that the mainstay of his company, the mandolin, did not | | | | was able to escape the fate of the majority of the |
| have the popularity it once had he made the decision | | | | other banjo manufacturers. This was thanks to |
| that the company was to manufacture banjos for the | | | | Epimanondas Stathopoulo and the keen business |
| first time. This adaption of his product line was | | | | sense he possessed. In fact it was one of just a few |
| prompted by the growing popularity of the banjo and | | | | banjo manufacturing firms to make the transition |
| the need to change with the times. He carefully | | | | successfully to guitars. |
| ensured that the high quality of workmanship that the | | | | Epiphone acoustic guitars made from 1937 to 1956 are |
| company was noted for would continue in the | | | | among the most desirable of instruments to today's |
| manufacture of the new product line. | | | | collectors. They are considered to be among the |
| The name Epiphone became officially registered in | | | | highest quality vintage archtop guitars of factory |
| 1924. Epimanondas, who was now president in addition | | | | manufacture ever made. Among these most desired |
| to general manager, united his nickname Epi and phone, | | | | of collector's the guitars that are the most coveted are |
| the Greek word for sound, to give the company a | | | | the professional class models that the reputation of the |
| name reflected the change in its identity. | | | | company was built on. |
| The recorder series of guitars were the first ones | | | | |
