Epiphone is an
American musical instrument manufacturer founded by Anastasios Stathopoulos, currently based in
Nashville, Tennessee. Epiphone is owned by
Gibson Guitar Corporation and was Gibson's main rival in the
archtop market prior to its acquisition in 1957. Their professional archtops, including the Emperor, Deluxe, Broadway and Triumph, rivaled those of Gibson. Aside from guitars, Epiphone also made
upright basses,
banjos, and other
stringed instruments. However, the company's weakness in the aftermath of World War II allowed Gibson to absorb it.