Epiphone would break from tradition and start building the only official licensed Gibson copies available, only four years into yet another change in ownership. This lasted until 1970 when Epiphone was moved to Japan to keep the production costs down and better help them compete with the rise in foreign-made replicas.īy 1990 Epiphone and Gibson were in very different places. The two companies would coincide for many years, with both brands built out of the same facility.

Gibson would make an offer to Epiphone to feature the basses in their catalogue but would later instead purchase the entire company. By all accounts, Epiphone was a successful company producing some of the finest acoustic and archtop guitars, but what caught the attention of then Gibson President Ted McCarty was the Epiphone upright basses. Like Gibson, Epiphone started making mandolins and other stringed instruments before moving into banjos and guitars in 19, respectively. The two companies would coincide for many years, with both brands built out of the same facility.Įpiphone has a very similar origin story, although surprisingly, they are an older company, having started in 1873.

This is what comes to mind when most of us think of the Gibson Les Paul, and Gibson has been tirelessly trying to recreate the magic of this guitar ever since, with countless reissues and custom shop models. Unlike Fender, Gibson didn't find overnight success with this new guitar and would therefore tweak the formula until they eventually would land on the LP we all know - and love - today.ġ958 would see the Les Paul feature some very recognizable specifications, such as a dual set of PAF humbuckers, a Tune-o-Matic bridge, stunning flame top, and striking sunburst finish. In an attempt to catch up to the runaway success of the Telecaster - then known as the broadcaster - Gibson released the Les Paul Model, their first venture into solid-bodied electric guitars.

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