Donnyboy Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Anyone know why/when the Gibson logo disappeared from the headstock on Epiphones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Don't know if this is right, or when it happened, but I'm sure I heard that Epiphone used to be kind of Gibsons "budget line", whereas Epiphone are now a completely separate company and the designs are licensed from Gibson. Dunno....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) I'm pretty sure they're still the same company like Squier are to Fender and currently being built by either Unsung or DaeWon in China. Epiphones appear on the Gibson website as well as the Epiphone one Edited March 14, 2012 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) Epiphone were bought out by Gibson many years ago (early 1960's?) and have always had a pretty rocky ride. They were manufacturing their own designs alongside the authorised Gibson copies and even had a pile of rebranded stuff coming out of the Matsumoku factory during the 70's (betcha didn't know that did ya you youngsters! ). In the 80's Gibson was bought out and the Epiphone brand was mostly ignored while the new owners battled to get Gibson 'back on track'. In the 90's it was decided that Epiphone needed a direction other than just making, what was essentially, a mish mash of random models to plug non existant gaps in the Gibson product range and a lot of time and effort was put into 're-creating' Epiphone. That was when the perloid 'E' was adopted as the logo and I think that's when the reference to Gibson was removed. Gibson still own Epiphone. Edited March 14, 2012 by icastle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Thanks chaps - I wondered if it was like the Fender Squier/squier by Fender MIJ/MIM/MIC/MIK/MIA etc malarky & whether it represented a badge of quality assurance. Probably not methinks, maybe, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 some of the Epi sig models are made in Japan, I don' think they have Gibson on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1331737373' post='1578006'] Thanks chaps - I wondered if it was like the Fender Squier/squier by Fender MIJ/MIM/MIC/MIK/MIA etc malarky & whether it represented a badge of quality assurance. Probably not methinks, maybe, perhaps? [/quote] I'm no Gibson expert by any stretch of the imagination but I think it was more of a brand positioning thing than a QA thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) Some Epiphones, such as the Casino, never have had Gibson on them as they were never Gibson copies but Epiphone originals. Epiphone SGs are Gibson copies and did, at one time, have Gibson on the TRC. Epiphone Casino headstock: Epiphone SG headstock: Edited March 14, 2012 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu-khag Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I used to have an epi explorer with gibson and epi logo on it similar to this. [url="http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/epiphone-by-gibson-strat"]http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/epiphone-by-gibson-strat[/url] nasty piece of wood and probably only managed to get rid of it due to it saying gibson on the headstock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1331747592' post='1578271'] I used to have an epi explorer with gibson and epi logo on it similar to this. [url="http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/epiphone-by-gibson-strat"]http://www.promenade...by-gibson-strat[/url] nasty piece of wood and probably only managed to get rid of it due to it saying gibson on the headstock [/quote] Just to test the theory out, would that have been a late 80's/early 90's sort of age range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu-khag Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I bought it around '99 and it felt it around 10 years old so yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 I have a 99 Epi SG with Gibson on the headstock. Carry on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share Posted March 20, 2012 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1332238655' post='1585156'] I have a 99 Epi SG with Gibson on the headstock. Carry on... [/quote] Snap - after ooh, days deliberating I got this at the weekend- serial number dates it to 1999 Unsung Korea - really quite chuffed with myself!! [attachment=103039:epi 002.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaver Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 A couple of places worth looking at [url="http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page"]http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page[/url] and [url="http://www.epiphone.com/History.aspx"]http://www.epiphone.com/History.aspx[/url] I think I've seen the information you're after on one but can't remember exactly - I'll update if I find it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 [quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1332242396' post='1585271'] Snap - after ooh, days deliberating I got this at the weekend- serial number dates it to 1999 Unsung Korea - really quite chuffed with myself!! [attachment=103039:epi 002.jpg] [/quote] How are you finding the bass, Donny? I've always resisted the Epi SG - hanging in for a suitable Gibson to present itself locally, but not a sniff thus far. I did have a go with a brand new SG in Banks, in York, and it was pretty cool; but could barely rock out with it mid-shop and put it through it's paces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1332279132' post='1586140'] How are you finding the bass, Donny? I've always resisted the Epi SG - hanging in for a suitable Gibson to present itself locally, but not a sniff thus far. I did have a go with a brand new SG in Banks, in York, and it was pretty cool; but could barely rock out with it mid-shop and put it through it's paces. [/quote] In the short time I've had I would say that i'm very impressed with it - I paid £130 for it which i think is reasonable. I kind of got it by accident as I'd had a go on an EB-0 , & thought it was pretty rubbish & felt like a cheapo in every way. I saw this advertised on Gumtree( I should really stop looking at basses for sale!) But this feels & sounds like a quality instrument , well set up and finished ( the grain is lovely)& I'm liking the different sounds - it's got a very strong powerful character. i gave it a bash at band practice the other night & the big pickup is a trouser flapper, middle position on knob flaps & twangs a bit& the bridge has a twangy gruntieness. I'm likeing them all but mid is probably my favourite . I think it's a pure total rock-out bass . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Glad you like the bass Donny but I have had an EB O and an EB 3 and have found that they have 2 sounds. Thud and slightly more thud. Good if you are looking for a thud sound. Still, never did Jack Bruce or Andy Fraser any harm so what do I know Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1332355910' post='1587276'] Glad you like the bass Donny but I have had an EB O and an EB 3 and have found that they have 2 sounds. Thud and slightly more thud. Good if you are looking for a thud sound. Still, never did Jack Bruce or Andy Fraser any harm so what do I know Jez [/quote] I like thud!! Think I need a curly lead though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wylie Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1331732543' post='1577880'] Epiphone were bought out by Gibson many years ago (early 1960's?) and have always had a pretty rocky ride. They were manufacturing their own designs alongside the authorised Gibson copies and even had a pile of rebranded stuff coming out of the Matsumoku factory during the 70's (betcha didn't know that did ya you youngsters! ). In the 80's Gibson was bought out and the Epiphone brand was mostly ignored while the new owners battled to get Gibson 'back on track'. In the 90's it was decided that Epiphone needed a direction other than just making, what was essentially, a mish mash of random models to plug non existant gaps in the Gibson product range and a lot of time and effort was put into 're-creating' Epiphone. That was when the perloid 'E' was adopted as the logo and I think that's when the reference to Gibson was removed. Gibson still own Epiphone. [/quote] I have an Epiphone 'Texan' that was made in 1957, the year that Gibson bought Epiphone. The guitar has (not surprisingly) a mix of Gibson and Epi parts: Epiphone headstock with 'squashed frog' inlay, Gibson pickguard, and goofy upside-down Gibson bridge. Great little guitar. tg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Maybe they realise that Epiphones are good enough to stand on their own feet now. They make some nice guitars and basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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