Decoding Epiphone Guitars – Are They Truly a Quality Brand?

When you think of big-name guitar brands, the two words that come to your mind are probably Fender and Gibson. And while those companies have earned their reputation by manufacturing quality guitars for decades, they’ve also earned the right to charge a fair whack for top-of-the-line instruments.

But if you can’t afford a few thousand dollars on a brand-new Gibson, you’ve probably come across Epiphone in your searches for cheaper alternatives. But is Epiphone a good brand? Is it worth spending (considerably less) money on a guitar that looks like a Gibson?

Well, as you probably already know, Gibson actually owns Epiphone and has done so since the mid-'50s. So how does this affect the quality and output of the company? Are their guitars comparable with Gibson’s world-renowned products?

In this article, I’ll take a look at a wide range of Epiphone guitars, both acoustic and electric, and learn a bit more about the company itself. Hopefully, by the end of it, you’ll have a better idea about Epiphone and whether or not an Epiphone guitar is for you!

A Brief History of Epiphone

Epiphone was founded by Anastasios Stathopoulos over a century ago in 1873 as a musical instrument manufacturing business in the Ottoman Empire, now modern-day Turkey. That’s right – Epiphone is actually older than Gibson!

In the early 1900s, the company relocated to Queens, New York City, where it underwent its first change under the leadership of its new owner – a name change. Epaminondas Stathopoulos, Anastasios’s son, chose ‘Epi’ - the first part of his first name, and ‘phone’ - Greek for ‘voice,’ or ‘sound,’ as the name, and it hasn’t changed since.

This happened in 1928, which was the year the company first started manufacturing acoustic guitars, and both arch-top and flat-top electric guitars for which it became famous. Until then, Epiphone had mainly been producing banjos and mandolins.

Fast forward to the 1930s, and Epiphone is in the midst of its rivalry with Gibson. The Epiphone Recording acoustic guitars were a moderate success, but sales suffered due to a lack of celebrity endorsement. Compared with Gibson’s L-5, which had become an industry standard since its launch in 1922, Epiphone was performing poorly.

In 1935, Epiphone introduced the Electar steel guitar series, the first guitar featuring a pickup with adjustable pole pieces. This, combined with the revealing of several new pieces including an electric piano at the NAMM show in Chicago, and a foray into amplifier production, further cemented Epiphone as a company to be reckoned with and a serious competitor to Gibson.

World War II put the dampers on the rivalry between Epiphone and Gibson and almost brought about a stop to guitar production altogether due to scarcity of materials. Then, in 1943, Epaminondas “Epi” Stathopoulo sadly died of leukemia, which changed the company for good.

The factory moved from Manhattan to Philadelphia, but many of the master craftsmen that made Epiphone what it was refused to leave New York, changing the methodology and the products that Epiphone was making.

Fast forward again to 1957, and with Epiphone’s sales practically in the gutter following the ascent of Les Paul and Gibson, the company was sold. Ted McCarty, the then-owner of Gibson, bought Epiphone for just $20,000.

Epiphone’s production operation was relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the company, although under different leadership, was making guitars again.

Where are Epiphone Guitars Made?

Up until 1970, all Epiphones were manufactured in the USA, at the Kalamazoo plant in Michigan, alongside Gibson models. In fact, a lot of Epiphones made there in the late ‘50s and ‘60s were actually just Gibson models with an Epiphone logo on the headstock.

It wasn’t until 1969, when foreign competitors started to shake up the marketplace, that everything changed. The ECL corporation purchased Gibson’s parent company CMI (and therefore also purchased Epiphone), in 1969, as Gibson was struggling to keep up with Asian-made rival models.

Epiphone production was then relocated to Japan, and it wasn’t until 1993 that any Epiphone guitars would be made in the USA again.

Nowadays, production is split between Korea, Japan, and China, with high-end models reserved for production in American factories. The bulk of Epiphone’s output is still made overseas but manufactured to much higher production standards, mainly in the Qingdao factory in China.

Are Epiphone Guitars Any Good?

So, now that the history lesson is out of the way, let’s get down to it! Of course, the answer to this question is subjective. It will depend on your personal tastes, what you want from a guitar, and the specific guitar you’re using.

But, to distill the question down to its most basic tenet: YES! Epiphone guitars have always been made to a high standard, apart from a brief blip in the company’s history in the early ‘70s.

But Epiphone has come a long way since then. Think about it – if they were a serious rival to Gibson in the early days, so much so that Gibson wanted to buy them out, Epiphone was never anything to be sniffed at.

Of course, these days, they are not considered to be on par with Gibson, but that’s because the idea behind Gibson’s purchase of Epiphone was to rebrand the company as a budget-friendly version of their own guitars. Yes, as cynical as it may seem, Gibson’s plan for Epiphone was always to be a competitor with cheap foreign models.

Let’s have a closer look at what makes up an Epiphone guitar, so you can decide for yourself whether or not they’re good.

Epiphone Guitars – A Closer Look

In this section, I’ll investigate the materials and methods used to make Epiphone guitars, look at some key models, and help you decide once and for all whether an Epiphone is the right guitar for you.

Materials – Tonewoods

Most Epiphone models are constructed from the same tonewoods that Gibson uses for their high-end guitars, albeit in different ratios and configurations.

For Epiphone’s solid-body models, mahogany is the main tonewood used, which accentuates the mid-range and offers rich low-end tones.

Maple tops are also used, which follows Gibson’s example. Maple provides brightness and clarity to the high-end, which gives both Gibsons and Epiphones a full-bodied, well-rounded sound.

One area where Epiphone differs from Gibson, however, is the low-end, or budget models. Even on their cheapest guitar, Gibson still uses mahogany and maple. But cheaper Epiphones will often facilitate the use of poplar, an inexpensive tonewood that, while helping to keep costs down, can dampen sound quality. Poplar is particularly noted for its poor natural sustain.

However, as you can see, aside from the use of poplar on some cheaper Epiphone models, there’s not really a whole lot of difference between Epiphone and Gibson when it comes to materials.

Materials – Hardware & Finish

As you might have expected, this is where most of the differences come into play when Epiphones and Gibsons are assembled.

Pickups

Most mid to low-end Epiphones are fitted with standard, Epiphone-brand machine-wound pickups, so not exactly a cut above when it comes to sound quality. They can lack in vibrancy, especially when compared to the P-90s (which are all entirely hand-wound) commonly found on most Gibson models.

However, some of the slightly more expensive Epiphones, like the Les Paul Standard, are fitted with pickups such as the ‘Pro P-90s’ and the ‘ProBucker,’ models so popular that Epiphone even sells them on their own for customers to modify their own guitars with. Always a good sign of quality!

Some Epiphone models, like the Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard, for example, are fitted with American-made classic ‘59 style Gibson ‘burstbucker’ humbuckers.

Lacquer

When it comes to finish, every single Gibson is finished in classic nitrocellulose, as traditionally used in the ‘50s and ‘60s, for that classic vintage look.

Many purists also believe that a nitrocellulose finish allows tonewoods to breathe, facilitating better sustain and a ‘lighter’ tone, thanks to a thinner more porous layer on the guitar body.

Conversely, all Epiphone models use a polyurethane finish, which is pretty much the industry standard nowadays on mass-produced models. This is mainly due to its much cheaper cost to produce and apply, and although the differences are negligible, some believe its thicker layer can dull resonance and mute the full tonal spectrum.

Construction Methods

As we know, the main difference in the actual manufacturing of Epiphone guitars compared to Gibsons is the location. Whereas Gibsons are produced in America, the vast majority of Epiphone models are produced overseas in Asia – Korea, Japan, and China, to be precise.

Epiphones are produced using more mass-production methods – think production lines with automated machinery as opposed to human care and attention applied to every single guitar.

Though there are stages of the process that can only be done by a human hand, these are usually just finishing touches, and workers will still have to perform these tasks on hundreds of guitars a day.

Popular Epiphone Models – Electric

Now let’s take a look at some of the most highly-rated and best-selling Epiphone electric guitars, to help you get a better idea of exactly what you get for your money when you buy from Epiphone!

Casino

Let’s start with one of Epiphone’s most popular and enduring models: The Casino. It has been featured on more hit records than any other Epiphone guitar, and was famously used by every member of The Beatles – except Ringo!

Favored for its warm vintage tone and easy playability, the Casino has become a mainstay of pop and rock groups over the years – despite its notorious feedback.

As with most Epiphone guitars, you can find a Chinese-made Casino pretty cheap, but if you’re looking to splash out, Epiphone have started producing a line of USA Casinos, with expectedly different build quality.

Users report the C-shape neck being slightly more comfortable, the Dogear pickups more versatile, and the overall build quality of the USA-made Casino more sturdy.

However, it’s worth noting that both models feature the same Epiphone P-90 pickups, neck shape, and fret joint. The only thing different is the construction methods – everything on the USA-made model was done by hand.

Les Paul Standard

The Les Paul is synonymous with Gibson, but Epiphone also offers their own (much cheaper!) version of the classic guitar that defined a generation.

Epiphone’s Les Paul features a solid mahogany body with a thin maple top, closer to a veneer, differing from the Gibson version, where the maple top is carved.

It has 22 frets and the classic Alnico humbucker pickups – all notable features of the classic Gibson Les Paul.

The Epiphone Les Paul also features classic parallelogram fret inlays as opposed to standard dots – something that requires that little bit of extra craftsmanship, so you know more care has gone into this guitar than you might have thought for a made-in-China budget model.

The action is low, the sound quality is high – another Epiphone bargain!

The only thing that will really stand out between the Epiphone Les Paul and the Gibson Les Paul is the quality of wood used – the Epiphone model will be a bit lighter. That, and of course, the price!

SG Custom

The Gibson SG is somewhat of an icon. The unique shape, the countless famous players such as Angus Young and Frank Zappa, and of course, the legendary tone.

Well, the Epiphone SG Custom has a different name on the headstock, but can it live up to the status of its predecessor?

Reviews of the SG Custom are split, although almost everyone can agree that it looks great. The gold hardware and the bound neck are eye-catching and classy, as well as the pearly inlays (even if they are just plastic).

The Gibson SG is favored for its low action and fast neck – something that the Epiphone factory in China seems to be struggling to replicate. There are substantial reports of loose, almost malleable necks on some SG Custom models, which results in a very high action and a loss of playability.

Thankfully, this can be remedied by tweaking the truss rod while setting up the guitar, but perhaps this not being ready out-of-the-box is a sign of the inexpensive construction costs.

Sound quality, however, is not an issue. The Alnico pickups sound great, especially when played hot. Clean tones suffer a little, but it’s nothing a bit of fiddling with the tone controls can’t remedy.

Sheraton

The Epiphone Sheraton is one of many guitars modeled on the famous Gibson ES-335. This semi-hollowbody guitar has become a favorite for both blues and rock players over the years, largely due to the Sheraton’s incredible sound and versatility.

Almost everything about the ES-335 has been translated onto the Sheraton. The wiring, the pickup placement, the bridge and tailpiece position, the F-holes, and the neck construction are all identical to the Sheraton’s inspiration.

And, for a fraction of the price, the sound and build quality are beyond reproach. The Sheraton boasts incredible volume, resisting feedback fairly well, considering it’s a (semi) hollowbody guitar.

The range and variety of tone that you’re able to achieve just by tweaking the control knobs is astounding, and the clarity and resonance that this all-maple guitar can produce is comparable to high-end Gibsons themselves.

The only negligible downside is the weight of the Sheraton. Considering it’s a semi-hollowbody, it sits quite heavy on the shoulders, perhaps due to the quality of the wood used in its construction.

But overall, the Sheraton is a class-act – one of the best guitars available in this price bracket.

Popular Epiphone Models – Acoustic

Epiphone also produces a range of acoustic guitars, many of them based on classic Gibsons like their electric lines. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best-sellers and list-toppers.

Hummingbird

The Epiphone Hummingbird is directly inspired by Gibson’s own model of the same name, a square-shouldered dreadnought that found its way into the hands of Keith Richards and Sheryl Crow alike.

The solid Sitka spruce top gives the Hummingbird an incredible resonance, especially on the low end, and its ornate design and extravagant detailing have made it a firm favorite for strummers and finger pickers everywhere.

And there’s not much difference between the Gibson original and this Epiphone budget version. The nut width is slightly narrower on the Epiphone, but only by a fraction of an inch (1.69 vs 1.72 on the Gibson), and the fretboard is Indian laurel as opposed to rosewood.

The finish is polyurethane instead of nitrocellulose too, but these are minor differences that only the most discerning pro would really have issues with.

J-45 Studio

When it comes to super-affordable acoustic guitars, you can’t go wrong with the Epiphone J-45 Studio. Made from mahogany with a solid Sitka spruce top, the quality of the wood translates directly into sound quality.

The J-45 has a nice low action, no fret buzz, and holds tune well. For a basic acoustic guitar, the sound profile is impressive, boasting a solid, but not booming, low end, balanced mids, and bright highs.

This is a great all-rounder built with great attention to detail, and a superb warm tonal quality.

DR-100

The Epiphone DR-100 is a dreadnought of considerable size and power, and at such a competitive price it makes an ideal beginner guitar, though maybe not for children or those with a small reach.

The back and sides are mahogany, while the top is spruce, but the major difference between the DR-100 and most other acoustic guitars on this list, is the DR-100 is constructed of laminate woods.

This lowers the production cost considerably, which is why you’re able to find a DR-100 for so cheap. This does impact sound quality however, and the DR-100 can fall a bit short when it comes to resonance and projection.

Having said that, the guitar is well balanced across the tonal spectrum, with rounded, full-sounding low-end and bright highs.

Masterbilt Texan Acoustic-Electric

The Epiphone Texan is a classic acoustic favored by legendary musicians such as Paul McCartney and Noel Gallagher, which has been reimagined for the modern day as the  Epiphone Masterbilt Texan.

First of all, the Texan is now acoustic-electric and features Fishman Sonitone electronics so you can play amplified too. The controls are neatly tucked into the soundhole; easily accessible when you need them, but they don’t alter the classic country look of the guitar.

Considering this guitar is produced on a production line, the build quality is very impressive, with no sharp frets or signs of complacency regarding quality control.

Solid mahogany back and sides and a solid spruce top give the Texan a bold tone that projects well and practically shimmers in the high-end.

Final Thoughts

The question of ‘Are Epiphone guitars good?’ is a tricky one to answer, mainly because every guitar is different. But, overall, I think it’s safe to say that yes, Epiphone definitely makes some very good guitars, for a very reasonable price.

There are always going to be certain touches lacking from a mass-produced product compared to one hand-made in the USA, but if you can look past that, you can get your hands on something very close to a Gibson, often for less than half the price!