IN THE BEGINNING

The Epiphone story does not follow a straight line. For more than a century, it has twisted and turned through triumph, setback and comeback; hitting both dizzying highs and crushing lows as it winds its way through the ages. The latest chapter, in 2007, finds Epiphone as one of the most successful and respected instrument manufacturers on the planet. The opening chapter begins some 130 years before that, in the workshop of Anastasios Stathopoulo.

The son of a Greek timber merchant, Anastasios would not follow his father into the family trade, although his chosen profession would use the same materials. He began crafting lutes, violins and traditional Greek lioutos in 1873. A few years thereafter, Anastasios sailed across the Aegean Sea with his family to start a new life in Turkey. By 1890, his talent and reputation had allowed him to open an instrument factory and start a family. First to arrive in 1893 was a son, Epimanondas, followed later that decade by Alex, Minnie and Orpheus.

By 1903, the persecution of Greek immigrants by the native Turks had forced the Stathopoulo family to move again; this time to a residence in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of New York. With Anastasios crafting and selling his instruments on the ground floor, and the family living directly above, the line between work and home life became increasingly blurred. Epimanondas (known as 'Epi') and Orpheus ('Orphie') were soon helping out in the shop and learning the business from the ground up.

And business was good. It was Anastasios' good fortune to arrive in New York at the height of the mandolin craze, and this dovetailed with the popularity of his traditional Greek instruments amongst the city's bustling community. Thanks to the success of their father's instruments (now labelled 'A. Stathopoulo, manufacturer-repairer of all kinds of musical instruments', and built in a warehouse on 247 West 42nd Street), the Stathopoulo children enjoyed a privileged upbringing and a good education. But all that changed in July 1915, when Anastasios died at the age of 52 from carcinoma of the breast.
 EPI TAKES CHARGE

Epi was just 22 when he took charge of the family business. He inherited many of his father's strengths - including a keen business sense and fierce pride in his work - but combined this with an awareness of the changing times that would prove vital in the years to come. Crucially, Epi was not just a luthier or a businessman. He was also a keen musician and socialite.

Epi respected the tradition of his father's instruments, but recognized the importance of moving with the times. By 1917, he had changed the company's name to the 'House Of Stathopoulo' and began adapting the product line. Mandolins were falling out of favor. In the post-war era, banjos had started to boom along with jazz, and Epi, with his ear to the ground, recognized this early and armed his company to deal with it. Not only did Epi introduce a line of banjos, but he also developed the instrument's design, patenting his own tone ring and rim construction. It was a sign of things to come.

And so, while the market shift caused some companies to flounder, the House Of Stathopoulo flourished. The firm's structure was re-organized in 1923 as its success snowballed (Epi made himself president and general manager) and even its name was revised to reflect its changing identity. This was the age of possibility, and Epi needed a brand to match. He eventually settled on an amalg**ation of his own nickname and a derivation of the Greek word for 'sound'. It was the birth of Epiphone.

In 1924, Epiphone released the Recording Series of banjos to universal acclaim. Indeed, the Deluxe, Concert, Bandmaster and Artist models (plus the budget Wonder model) were so popular that by the following year, Epi had expanded production and bought out the Favoran banjo firm to cope with demand. Thanks to models like the Emperor, and the endorsement of players like Carl Kress, this side of the business continued to grow along with Epiphone's reputation, to the point where the company's name was changed once again in 1928. For now, it would be known as the Epiphone Banjo Company.

Το κειμενο ειναι τεραστιο για να το βαλω εδω οποτε θα το διαβασετε ολοκληρο στο http://www.epiphone.com/

First to arrive in 1893 was a son, Epimanondas, followed later that decade by Alex, Minnie and Orpheus.

Αυτό το ξέραμε, αλλά αυτοί προσάρμοσαν λίγο τον Επαμεινώνδα σε Επιμανώνδα.

First to arrive in 1893 was a son, Epimanondas, followed later that decade by Alex, Minnie and Orpheus.

Αυτό το ξέραμε, αλλά αυτοί προσάρμοσαν λίγο τον Επαμεινώνδα σε Επιμανώνδα.

για να μην σου πω οτι την είχε ονομάσει Epaphone και το αλλάξανε!:Ρ

ωχ πραγματικα κατι τετοιο δε ηξερα!!μπραβο ρε φιλε για το τοπικ!!