• Korean Made Epiphone Serial Numbers

Sep 21, 2007 - He said he thought it was a '91, because the serial number started with. And it says it's a 2003 made at Fuji-gen Plant, Japan, then it gives a. May 4, 2011 - Les Paul Classic: This model features an ink stamped serial number with no “MADE IN USA” (just as we used on the original 1952-1960 Les.

Matsumoku Industrial was a Japanesemanufacturing company in Matsumoto, Japan, between 1951 and 1987.^[1] Established in 1951^[2] as a woodworking and cabinetry firm, Matsumoku is remembered as a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars, including some Epiphone and Aria guitars.

(There is occasional confusion between Matsumoku and Matsumoto. Matsumoto is a town in Japan's Nagano Prefecture, where FujiGen Gakki, Gotoh, and other musical instrument companies have manufacturing plants. Matsumoto Musical Instrument Manufacturers Association is also the name of a musical instrument manufacturing cooperative, headed by Gotoh.)

History[edit]

In 1951, Matsumoku was founded as Matsumoto Mokko ('Matsumoto Woodworking Company') by Mr. Tsukada in Matsumoto, Japan. It was a family-owned woodworking business that specialized in building tansu cabinets^[2] and butsudan.

Shortly after the World War II (1939-1945), the Singer Corporation had established a Japanese subsidiary, Singer Sewing Machine Company Japan, and set up production facilities in Nagoya. Singer contracted Matsumoku Industrial to build its sewing machine cabinets, and in 1951 Matsumoku became a partially owned subsidiary of Singer Japan. Matsumoku also branched out into building cabinets for manufacturers of televisions and 'hi-fi' amplifiers.

Production[edit]

In the early 1960s^[3] (or mid-1950s^{[citation needed]}), Matsumoku began to look into other woodworking markets when several subcontracts of Singer were moved to the Philippines^[3] and, as it had on its staff several skilled luthiers,^{[citation needed]} ventured into guitar and violin^{[citation needed]} production in 1963.^[2] Modest classical guitars, small steel stringed acoustic guitars, and violins were built and marketed in the mid-1960s.^[3] However, as other Japanese companies were producing similar instruments, Matsumoku set out to distinguish itself by producing high quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars. Several of Matsumoku's early archtop guitars survive, most owing their basic designs to Hofner, Framus, and Gibson. By the early 1960s,^{[citation needed]} Matsumoku had acquired new mills, lathes and specialized presses and began to increase musical instrument production. Combined with its staff of skilled craftsmen, Matsumoku was able to realize the mass production of high quality guitars.

However, because it mainly manufactured guitars under contract, the role of Matsumoku was largely unknown outside of Japan's guitar making circles until its name began appearing on neck bolt plates, headstocks, and sound hole labels in the late 1970s.

By the early 1970s, Matsumoku had begun using CNC (computer numerical controlled) mills, routers, and lathes, one of the first guitar makers to do so. This created a significant economy of scale, allowing the company to rely upon factory automation rather than skilled labor for rough shaping of components and basic assembly tasks. Even so, 60% of the construction process was still done by hand, including planing, fretting, joining, and assembly. This machine-cut yet hand-worked process offered improved profit margins at lower unit prices and yielded high quality instruments with unique character.

Matsumoku produced guitars, or parts of guitars, for Vox, Guyatone, FujiGen Gakki, Kanda Shokai (Greco), Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez), Nippon Gakki (Yamaha), Aria and Norlin (parent company of Gibson). American owned Unicord contracted Matsumoku to build most of its Univox and Westbury guitars. St. Louis Music imported Matsumoku built Electra Guitars. J. C. Penney sold Matsumoku-built Skylark guitars through its catalog division. Matsumoku built many early Greco guitars as well as Memphis, Vantage, Westbury, Westminster, C.G.Winner, Cutler, Lyle and Fell. Washburn Guitars contracted Matsumoku to build some of its electric guitars and basses from 1979 through 1984. Though the names above reflect Matsumoku's involvement, many of the names were later sold to other companies, which made completely different guitars in quality and sound.

In 1979, Matsumoku began to market its own guitars under the Westone name.

• Various guitars by Matsumoku

• Univox Hi-flier (phase 3) Tms component pack.

• Univox Custom ES-330-style thinline hollowbody, 12-string model

• Vantage played by Albert White

• Electra played by Eddie Kirkland

Aria[edit]

Shiro Arai founded Arai and Company in 1953 as an importer of classical guitars.^[4] In 1960, Arai contracted Guyatone to manufacture guitars. At the time, Guyatone was one of Japan's leading musical instrument manufacturers. However, Guyatone could not meet Arai's production requirements, and in 1964, Arai and Company contracted musical instrument manufacturing with Matsumoku.

Shiro Arai's early Guyatone produced guitars displayed problems when exported caused by the dryer climates in America: bindings became unglued, backs split, and necks broke just below the headstock. These issues were addressed early on with Matsumoku. The solution was to use wood that had been dried for at least two years, stronger glues with longer clamp times, and one feature that remained throughout Matsumoku's production: the 3 piece maple neck.

The relationship between the two companies was both amicable and symbiotic. Aria focused on sales in both domestic and export markets and provided design development. Matsumoku devoted its energies on engineering and building guitars and other stringed instruments. Throughout its 22-year business relationship, Aria remained Matsumoku's principal client. Matsumoku often preferred using Aria as its business agent, and many of Matsumoku's contracts were written by Aria with Matsumoku stated or implied as sub-contracted manufacturer.

Design engineer Nobuaki Hayashi (currently with Atlansia) became part of Matsumoku's engineering team in the mid-1970s. Hayashi's pseudonym, 'H. Noble', appeared on many of the Aria Pro II instruments he designed. Aria's guitars that followed showed remarkable design innovation and a definitive move away from Gibson and Fender forms. Hayashi is best known as the designer of the Aria Pro II, SB-1000 bass and the Aria Pro II, PE series guitars. Some of these were made with Maple bodies but higher end had Ash Body models such as the PE1000 with Protomatic pickups and the PE1500 with DiMarzio Pickups. These Ash Bodied Guitars were only produced in extremely small numbers for the domestic market. However most were, maple bodies. Some Guitars were produced with the Urushi finish and again these were mostly produced for the domestic market, in both red and brown urushi lacquer. The vast majority of these would have Ash Bodies and the export models would be Maple.

Arai and Company guitars were briefly labeled Arai, and then switched to the familiar Aria around 1966. Aria Diamond was a name chosen for its early hollow bodied electric guitars. From 1975 onward, after the arrival of Hayashi, all guitars were labeled Aria Pro II. Aria had two factories that produced guitars besides Matsumoku, one which made classical guitars, and another that made medium grade and specialty guitars.

Matsumoku also manufactured drum kits under the Aria name, initially under licence from Remo who had identified a gap in the market for low-cost drum kits in the compact 5-piece 'rock' configuration as innovated by the Rogers PowerTone range in the early 1970s.

Epiphone[edit]

Gibson decided to move Epiphone production to Japan in the early 1970s and chose Aria as its contractor. As a subcontractor to Aria, Matsumoku manufactured most electric Epiphones made in Japan from 1970 through 1986 (a few solid body electrics were made by other Japanese manufacturers and at least one model was made in Taiwan). Models include the solid body ET series (Crestwood) the SC series (Scroll) and the Model 1140 (Flying V) as well as Epiphone's archtop electric guitars: 5102T/EA-250, Sheraton, Riviera, Casino, and Emperor.

Early Matsumoku made Epiphone archtops and hollow-body basses had four-point bolt on necks. As production costs of bolt on neck guitars were less, some guitarists regarded them as inferior instruments. However, it was not the neck construction, that was inferior (as described below, many Matsumoku-built necks were of premium quality). Rather, it was the lack of reinforcement in the neck pocket area, which could enable, that area to act like a hinge, causing future problems with high action due to tension on the body's neck pocket from the strings. Collectors of Matsumoku guitars from this period have often solved this problem by fabricating and installing permanent custom neck shims. Set neck archtop guitars followed in late 1975. Specifications on Epiphone archtops changed throughout the Matsumoku era.

Gibson changed the look and sound of Epiphone's best selling archtop, the Casino, when production shifted to Japan. Upon its introduction in 1964, the Casino was a strong seller with rock guitarists, but sales stalled in the late 1960s. Gibson decided to remarket it toward jazz players and changed the tailpiece to one from a Riviera, and the pickups to mini-humbuckers. The result was a Casino that looked more like a short scale Riviera. The Casino was restored to its 1965 specifications around 1975, about the same time Matsumoku began production of set neck archtops.

• Epiphone ET-270T

• Epiphone ET-285

• Epiphone 5102T

Distinguishing characteristics[edit]

Many^{[when defined as?]} Matsumoku built guitars, including Epiphone archtops, utilized a 3 piece maple neck with the center section's grain oriented 90 degrees from the side wood. This created a very strong neck not prone to splitting or warping. An often used variation of this is the 5 piece neck with two thin trim strips of walnut or ebony separating the 3 sections. Matsumoku made many neck-through-body solid body electric guitars and basses, most with 5 piece necks.

Matsumoku often^{[how often?]} utilized the Nisshin Onpa company (who own the Maxon Effects brand) as a subcontractor for its pickups. Some Maxon pickups have Maxon's 'M' logo stamped on the back.

The name Matsumoku appeared on the neck bolt plate of some guitars they built. Early Grecos and some 1980s Aria Pro IIs have Matsumoku on the neck bolt plate. Other neck plates were blank or simply had the word 'Japan' stamped on them.

Many^[quantify] Matsumoku set neck guitars and basses have the inspector's hon (name stamp) stamped inside the neck pick-up cavity.

End of production[edit]

Gibson restructured after being sold by Norlin and began to move its Epiphone production to other Japanese manufacturers and to Korea. By 1986, the home sewing machine market was in heavy decline and Singer was nearly bankrupt. Matsumoku could not afford to buy itself out of Singer and in 1987, closed down.

After Matsumoku ceased operations, Aria continued production of Aria Pro II guitars and basses through its own factories and other manufactures. Some top line and special edition guitars are still manufactured in Japan, however, most Aria guitars are now produced in Korea and China.

Information about Matsumoku's contribution to guitar making is better known now due in large part to the Internet. Matsumoku's products enjoy a strong following among devoted enthusiasts.^{[5][better source needed]}

Notable players of Matsumoku guitars[edit]

• Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Univox Hi-Flier, Epiphone ET-270, Aria Pro II Cardinal Series CS-250, Washburn Force 31
• John Taylor of Duran Duran, Aria Pro II SB-700, Aria Pro II SB-900, Aria Pro II SB-1000 bass
• Cliff Burton of Metallica, Aria Pro II Elite, Aria Pro II Black'n'Gold bass
• Elvin Bishop, Electra Model 2281
• Neal Schon, Aria Pro II PE series guitars (several models)
• Noel Gallagher and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs of Oasis played Matsumoku-manufactured Epiphone Rivieras in mid-1990s
• Dave Brock of Hawkwind plays a Matsumoku made Westone Spectrum LX among other Westone guitars

References[edit]

• 'Harayama Guitar Factory - a legendary craftsman who contributed on the excellent instruments - Norikatsu Harayama (luthier)'(Interview). Matsumoto Guitars, Guitar manufacturers in Matsumoto city (in Japanese). Matsumoto: Junk Guitar Museum. 2014-04-13.
• 'Genesis of FujiGen (beginning of the electric guitar production)'. Matsumoto Guitars, Guitar manufacturers in Matsumoto city (in Japanese). Matsumoto: Junk Guitar Museum. 2012.

citations

1. ^Ohara, Marcus (2010-02-06). 'THE UNIQUE GUITAR BLOG: Made In Japan - The Matsumoku Industrial Connection'. THE UNIQUE GUITAR BLOG. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
2. ^ ^abcHarayama 2014
   [In English: '[Sometime between 1946-1951,] When he [Harayama] had been subcontracted with Shinshu Mokko [Shinshu Woodworking Company], he and other two persons, Mr. Aoyama and Mr. Hosokawa, were together making furniture. .. Mr. Tsukada of Shinshu Mokko had often visited there [Sakae-machi ?] for preliminary inspection, and later that place became Matsumoto Mokko. / .. Mr. Tsukada had served as a factory director [of Shinshu Mokko] .. he left the company and founded Matsumoto Mokko in Sakae-machi [, Matsumoto city]. (Matsumoto Mokko was founded in February 1951, and relocated to Minami-Matsumoto in March 1960, and the guitar manufacturing was started in April 1963)']
3. ^ ^abcGenesis of FujiGen 2012
   [In English: 'They [FujiGen] asked for a cooperation of the wood drying to Tsukada managing director of Matsumoku (later president), and as a result, Matsumoku decided to collaborate on all about the wood including body and neck. (.. at the time, subcontracted work of table making for Singer Sewing Machine had been moved to the Philippines, and Matsumoku was facing the needs to look for other work immediately. Thus, it was an unexpected good offer in the view point of Matsumoku, he said) It was in 1963.']
4. ^'Aria Guitars About Aria'. Ariaguitarsglobal.com. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
5. ^'Models Specifications and Info'. Matsumoku.org. Retrieved 2017-05-15.

External links[edit]

• (in Japanese)Nobuaki Hayashi, Atlansia

Epiphone is an American musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos, currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1957 Epiphone, Inc., of New York City was purchased by Chicago Musical Instrument Co. (CMI, the same company that bought Gibson in 1944) and given the name Epiphone, Inc. of Kalamazoo, Michigan. CMI took great measures to keep the Gibson and Epiphone identities separate and housed the two companies in different buildings each with its own separate management team. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market prior to 1957.^[2] Their professional archtops, including the Emperor, Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph, rivaled those of Gibson.^{[citation needed]} Aside from guitars, Epiphone also made double basses, banjos, and other string instruments. However, the company's weakness in the aftermath of World War II and death of Epaminondas Stathopoulos in 1943 allowed Gibson's parent, CMI, to purchase it.^[3]

The name 'Epiphone' is a combination of proprietor Epaminondas Stathopoulos' (Επαμεινώνδας Σταθόπουλος) nickname 'Epi' and 'phone' (from Greek phon- (φωνή), 'voice').^[4]

• 2Instruments
  • 2.1Guitars
• 3Manufacturing

History[edit]

Epiphone began in 1873, in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now İzmir, Turkey), where Greek founder Anastasios Stathopoulos made his own fiddles and lutes (oud, laouto). Stathopoulo moved to the United States in 1903 and continued to make his original instruments, as well as mandolins, from Long Island City in Queens, New York. Anastasios died in 1915, and his son, Epaminondas ('Epi'), took over. After two years, the company became known as The House of Stathopoulo.^[5] Just 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. After Epi died in 1943, control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. In 1951, a four-month-long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York City to Philadelphia. In 1957 the company was acquired by CMI who also owned Gibson, Lowrey, Selmer and others.^[6]

Instruments[edit]

Guitars[edit]

After Epiphone became a subsidiary of Norlin (Gibson's parent after 1969), many of its instruments were later patterned after the more expensive Gibson versions. Occasionally, Epiphone models are of such high quality that sales of those less expensive instruments actually cut into the Gibson's sales. Case in point, the short lived solid body Epiphone Del Rey model was modeled after a Gibson Les Paul double cut. Workmanship and manufacturing standards were so high that Gibson killed the model. To help distinguish itself from the parent brand, Epiphone also maintains its own line of archtop guitars and basses.

As of January 2013, Epiphone makes the following guitars:

Gibson Models[edit]

• B. B. KingLucille
• Dove / PRO
• EJ-200 Artist / 200CE (J-200)
• EL-00 / PRO (L-00)
• ES-335 PRO
• ES-339 PRO / 339 Ultra
• Explorer – 1984 EX / 1958 Goth
• Firebird TV-Silver
• Flying V – '58 Korina
• Flying-V – Jeff Waters Anihillation-V
• Flying-V – Robb Flynn Love/Death Baritone
• Hummingbird / PRO / Artist
• John LennonGeorge HarrisonGibson J-160E
• Les Paul
  • Les Paul Baritone^[7]
  • Les Paul 1956 Goldtop
  • Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul
  • Joe Bonamassa Goldtop
  • Peter Frampton Les Paul Custom PRO 'Phenix'
  • Les Paul Black Beauty 3
  • Les Paul Custom PRO / Blackback
  • Les Paul Nightfall**
  • Les Paul Prophecy EX & GX
  • Les Paul Special I
  • Les Paul Special II
  • Les Paul Standard / Royale / PRO
  • Les Paul Studio / Goth
  • Les Paul Tribute
  • Les Paul Traditional PRO
  • Les Paul Ultra III / PRO
  • Les Paul Ukulele
  • Tak Matsumoto DC Standard & Custom Plus
  • Zakk Wylde Custom Plus Bullseye
• Nighthawk Custom
• SG
  • 1961 SG Special
  • 1966 G-400 PRO
  • G400 Goth / Faded
  • G-400 PRO
  • SG Special
• Thunderbird-IV / Goth / PRO-IV / Classic-IV PRO

Original Epiphone models[edit]

• AJ-100 / 100CE
• AJ-150HS
• AJ-220S / 220SCE
• Allen Woody Rumblekat
• Blackstone
• Broadway
• Casino / 1961 50th Anniversary / Elitist / Inspired by John Lennon
• Century
• Deluxe
• Del Rey
• DeLuxe Regent
• Dot / Dot Studio
• DR-100 & 212
• Dwight Trash Casino
• Embassy Bass
• Emperor Regent
• Emperor Swingster / Royale / Black Royale
• E422T Century Thinline
• ET-270
• ET-275 Crestwood
• ET-276
• ET-280 Bass
• FT-79 Texan
• FT-140 Japanese made 1970s dreadnought acoustic with a bolt on neck
• Graveyard Disciple
• Inspired by 1964 Texan
• Masterbilt Century Series
• Masterbilt DR-500MCE
• Masterbilt EF-500RCCE
• MB-100 & 200 Banjo
• MM-20 / 30S / 50E Professional Mandolin
• Olympic
• PR-150
• PR-4E
• PR-5E
• PR7E
• Epiphone Riviera P-90
• Sheraton II / 1962 50th Anniversary / Union Jack Ltd Edition (inspired by Noel Gallagher)
• Royale
• Sonador
• Supernova / Manchester City Blue / Union Jack
• SST Classic
• Triunfadora
• Triumph
• Triumph Regent
• Viola Bass
• Wildkat / Royale
• Zenith
• Zephyr
• Zephyr Deluxe
• Zephyr Deluxe Regent
• Wilshire PRO / 1966 Worn / Phantomatic / II / III

Amplifiers[edit]

Epiphone began producing amplifiers in 1935 with the Electar Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar Outfit. This outfit was an amplifier, case and lap steel guitar stand all rolled into one unit^[8] and was supplied by a suitcase manufacturer of the time.

Gibson produced Epiphone amplifiers in the 1960s. These were basically copies or variations of Gibson and Fender amplifiers^{[citation needed]}. They used a tube design, and some had reverb and tremolo. Gibson decided to launch a new line of Epiphone amplifiers in 2005 with many different models, including the So Cal,Blues Custom, and the Epiphone Valve Junior. The Valve Hot Rod and Valve Senior were released in 2009. The Valve Hot Rod is a 5 watt amp like the Valve Junior, but has a gain and reverb control. The Valve Senior offers 20 watts of power, with a full equalizer, gain, volume, reverb, and presence control.

As of 2012, Epiphone has ceased production of their line of amplifiers with the exception of the Player and Performance Pack practice amplifiers, available only in Epiphone's starter packages. These Amplifiers are under the Epiphone Electar moniker.^[9]

Manufacturing[edit]

US[edit]

Epiphone instruments made between 1957 and 1970 were made beside the Gibson factory at 224 Parsons (Gibson located at 225 Parsons) St and on Elenor St; Kalamazoo, MI 49007.Solid body guitars with flat tops and backs were made at the Elenor Street plants (both Gibson and Epiphone) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Some of these Epiphone instruments were effectively identical to the relevant Gibson versions, perhaps made with same timber, materials and components as the contemporary equivalent Gibson guitars. Epiphone also continued its production of world class archtop guitars using the same patterns and molds from Epi's New York era. Some specific examples of Gibson-era Epiphone instruments from this period includes the Epiphone Sheraton (co-developed with the Gibson ES-335 & sharing its semi-hollow body, but with, Epiphone's pre-Gibson 'Frequensator' tailpiece and 'New York' mini-humbucker pickups, and significantly fancier inlays) and Sheraton II (replacing the Frequensator with Gibson's 'stop-bar' tailpiece), the Epiphone Casino (similar to the Gibson ES-330), the Epiphone Caballero (similar to the Gibson LG-0), the Epiphone Cortez (similar to the Gibson LG-2), the Epiphone Olympic Special (similar to the Gibson Melody Maker), the Epiphone Sorrento (similar to the Gibson ES-125TC, except for a few cosmetic changes), and the Epiphone Texan (similar to the Gibson J-45, apart from a change in scale-length). The other Kalamazoo-made Epiphones had technical or cosmetic relationship with the similar Gibson version.

Several Epiphone guitars have been produced in the United States after 1971. The Epiphone Spirit and Special were produced in the early 1980s in Kalamazoo.^{[citation needed]} In 1993, three historic Epiphone acoustic guitars, the Texan, Frontier, and Excellente, were produced by Gibson Acoustic in Montana.^{[citation needed]} The Paul McCartney Texan was produced in 2005, and in 2009, the Epiphone Historic Collection was created, beginning with the 1962 Wilshire, built by Gibson Custom. Several other models, such as the Sheraton and John Lennon Casinos, were built in Japan and assembled and finished by Gibson USA.^{[citation needed]}

Japan[edit]

In the early 1970s, Matsumoku began to manufacture Epiphone instruments in Japan^[10] with the production and distribution being managed by Aria, in cooperation with Gibson. At this time, Epiphone ceased production of all of its traditional designs and began manufacturing markedly less expensive guitars, many of which had less traditional bolt-on style necks and unspecified wood types.^[11] Some of these guitars had similar body shapes to traditional Epiphone and Gibson designs but had different names while other models retained certain model designations, such as the FT (Flat Top) guitars.^[12] Construction of these guitars differed greatly from past Epiphone models. For the first several years of production in Japan, Epiphone guitars were actually rebranded designs already produced by the Matsumoku Company.^[13]

By 1975, the Japanese market started seeing some of the more familiar designs and names being reintroduced. These guitars were of higher quality than that of the previous years of production in Japan and included models such as the Wilshire, Emperor, Riviera and Newport bass.^[14] These models were available to the Japanese market only. By 1976 new designs of higher quality were being introduced for export but did not include the current Japanese market models. Notable new designs from this era were the Monticello (Scroll Guitar), the Presentation (PR) and Nova series flat tops and the Genesis solid body guitar. By 1980, most Japanese-only designs were available for worldwide distribution. The Matsumoku-made archtops, such as the Emperor, Riviera, Sheraton and Casino, were available into the mid-1980s.

Korea[edit]

From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea and Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson.^[10][15] One of these contractors was Samick,^[15] which also built instruments under license for other brands and in its own name. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models.^[15]

These guitars were constructed using different woods (usually Nyatoh,^{[citation needed]} for example, instead of Mahogany), were fastened with epoxies rather than wood-glues.^{[citation needed]} Gibson and Epiphone guitars all use Titebond resin glue, which is simple carpenters' wood glue, and were finished in hard, quick-to-apply polyester resin rather than the traditional nitro-cellulose lacquer used by Gibson^{[citation needed]} Epiphone guitars assembled or made in the US use lacquer finishes, but those made outside of the US use a poly urethane finish because of pollution requirements. These particular budget considerations, along with others such as plastic nuts and cheaper hardware and pickups, allow for a more affordable instrument.

Samick has stopped^[when?] manufacturing guitars in Korea.

Korean Made Epiphone Serial Numbers

China[edit]

In 2004, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China, which manufactures Epiphone guitars.^[16] With few exceptions, Epiphones are now built only in the Qingdao factory.^[16]

Unique Epiphone models, including the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are built to higher quality standards than the company's 'Gibson copy' line^{[citation needed]}. In 2004 Epiphone introduced a series of acoustic guitars named Masterbilt after a line of guitars of the 1930s, which are built in the same factory.^[17]

Imperial Series and Elitist[edit]

During the early 1990s Epiphone released a series called the Imperial Series. These were remakes of the classic Epiphone archtops of the 1930s and '40s. Each instrument was handmade in the FujiGen factory in Japan.^{[citation needed]} This short-lived series was discontinued in 1993, after only 42 Emperors were made.^{[citation needed]} Several other models, including De Luxe, Broadway and Triumph models, were also produced in varying quantities.

Production was moved back to Nashville and Bozeman for a similar limited run of instruments (250 each of Sheratons, Rivieras, Frontiers, Excellentes and Texans).^[18] These guitars were the 'Nashville USA Collection' (archtops) and the 'Anniversary Series' (acoustics). Contrary to popular information, this line was related to, but not part of the 1994 Gibson Centennial Series commemorating 100 years of the Gibson Guitar Corporation. The Nashville and Anniversary Collections were intended as reintroductions of original, USA built Epiphone models.

In 2002, Epiphone began producing a range of higher quality instruments under the 'Elite Series' moniker which were built by Terada and FujiGen in Japan.^{[citation needed]} After legal action by Ovation the name was changed to Elitist in 2003. As of 2008, all of the Elitist models have been discontinued with the exception of the Elitist Casino and the Dwight Trash Casino. The Epiphone Elitist guitars included features such as higher grade woods, bone nuts, hand-rubbed finishes, 'Made in the USA' pickups and USA strings.^[19]Japanese domestic market Elitists used the Gibson Dove-wing headstock as opposed to the 'tombstone' headstock used on exports.^[20]

Serial numbers and factory codes[edit]

Current Epiphone serial numbers give the following information:^[21]

Korea

• I = Saein
• U = Unsung
• S = Samick
• P or R = Peerless
• K = Korea
• F = Fine

China

• MR = CHINA
• DW = DaeWon
• EA = Gibson/QingDao
• EE = Gibson/QingDao
• MC = Muse
• SJ = SaeJung
• Z = Zaozhuang Saehan
• BW = China

Japan

• No letter or F = FujiGen
• J or T = Terada

Czech Republic

• B = Bohêmia Musico-Delicia

Indonesia

• SI = Samick Indonesia

Example: SI09034853 SI = Samick Indonesia, 09 = 2009, 03 = March, 4853 = manufacturing number.

YYMMFF12345

• YY year
• MM month
• FF factory-code
• 12345 production#
• FACTORY NUMBER CODES—for some models starting in 2008, if serial # begins w/numbers
• [NOTE: The factories identified by these codes are based on patterns that forum members have observed. The numbers appear as the 5th and sixth digits in the serial number.]
• 11 = MIC sticker on a '08 Masterbilt
• 12 = DeaWon or Unsung (China—uncertainty remains as to which factory)
• 13 = Sticker: Made in China (Unknown factory; Epiphone LP-100)
• 15 = Qingdao (China) – electric
• 16 = Qingdao (China) – acoustic
• 17 = China – factory unknown MIC sticker on a J160E
• 18 = China – factory unknown found on one 2009 model bass
• 20 = DaeWon or Unsung (China—uncertainty remains as to which factory)
• 21 = Unsung, Korea
• 22 = ??? Korea (factory still unknown)
• 23 = ??? Indonesia (factory still unknown, probably Samick,)
• I = Indonesia (this letter has appeared as the 5th digit on two authentic new models made in Indonesia

Players of Epiphone[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2013/Jim-Rosenberg-The-Epiphone-Interview.aspx
2. ^Ingram, Adrian. The Gibson L5: Its History and Its Players. Anaheim, CA: Centerstream Pub., 1997. Print.
3. ^'Epiphone: A History – Hard Times'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
4. ^'Epiphone: A History – Epi'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
5. ^'Epiphone: A History'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
6. ^'Epiphone: A History – Epiphone and Gibson'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
7. ^'Epiphone Les Paul Baritone Review'. Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. June 30, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
8. ^'Epiphone - The Vintage Collection'. www2.epiphone.com.
9. ^'Epiphone Introduces Three New Electric Packs!'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
10. ^ ^ab'Epiphone: A History – A New Beginning'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
11. ^1971 & 1974 Epiphone Catalogs
12. ^1974 & 1976 Epiphone catalogs
13. ^'History'. Epiphone.com. 1909-03-25. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
14. ^1977 Epiphone Japan catalog
15. ^ ^abc'Epiphone: A History – Epiphone in Korea'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
16. ^ ^ab'A-Chat-With-Epiphone-President-Jim-Rosenberg'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
17. ^'Epiphone Masterbuilt Series'(PDF). Epiphone. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
18. ^'Epiphone: A History – Taking On The World'. Epiphone.com.
19. ^'Epiphone Elitist'. Epiphone.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
20. ^2002 Epiphone Japan Elite/Elitist catalog
21. ^'Serial Number Search'. Gibson. Retrieved 2013-09-07.

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