Epiphone
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1873
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Epiphone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Epiphone
- Legal name
- Epiphone (brand of Gibson)
- Website
- https://epiphone.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1873
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Epiphone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Musical Instruments (Electric and Acoustic Guitars)
- NAICS
- Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)
- SIC
- Musical Instruments (3931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA), Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH)
Keywords
Where Epiphone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Epiphone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Guitar Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and related instruments. Products range from entry-level models to premium Inspired by Gibson Custom reissues.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Inspired by Gibson Custom - Premium reissues |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Inspired by Gibson - Gibson-inspired designs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Futura Series - Modern originals |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard/Entry Level - Value acoustics |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Epiphone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Epiphone designs, manufactures, and sells electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and folk instruments (mandolins, banjos, ukuleles), with a tiered product lineup spanning original brand designs (Casino, Coronet, Wilshire, Riviera, Sheraton), Gibson-inspired models at accessible price points, and premium Inspired by Gibson Custom reissues. The company also offers branded accessories including hardshell cases, gig bags, apparel, and home/office items as a secondary offering.
Product overview
Epiphone is a guitar manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of musical instruments spanning multiple product lines. The company operates as part of Gibson Brands and produces electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and folk instruments (mandolins, banjos, ukuleles). The product architecture consists of several distinct collections: Inspired by Gibson Custom (premium reissues of Gibson Custom Shop designs), Inspired by Gibson (accessible versions of classic Gibson models), Original Collection (Epiphone's own designs including Casino, Coronet, Wilshire, Riviera, and Sheraton), Futura Series (modern takes on classics), Artist Collection (signature models with artists like Dave Grohl and Alex Lifeson), Prophecy Collection (high-performance instruments), and Masterbilt Acoustic Series (premium vintage-inspired acoustics). The company also offers a Bluegrass Collection covering multiple instrument types, Made in USA products, and lifestyle accessories including cases, apparel, and home items. Epiphone guitars range from entry-level models to high-end Inspired by Gibson Custom reissues priced up to $1,499, serving beginner to professional musicians across various genres.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection Premium reissue guitars that faithfully recreate iconic Gibson Custom Shop designs, featuring high-end details, vintage-spec construction, and quality hardware. Targeted at collectors and professionals seeking Gibson Custom Shop heritage at accessible price points (e.g., IGC Les Paul Custom at $1,299).
- Inspired by Gibson Collection Guitars inspired by classic Gibson designs at mid-range accessible price points (e.g., SG Standard at $599). Covers the Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer, and ES series models with quality tonewoods and pickups for intermediate and professional players seeking Gibson-style instruments.
- Original Collection (Epiphone Originals) Epiphone's own original designs including the Casino (semi-hollow body famous from The Beatles), Coronet, Wilshire, Riviera, and Sheraton models that are unique to the Epiphone brand and not available elsewhere.
- Futura Series Contemporary original designs with modern aesthetics and innovative color finishes. Featured products include the Futura Les Paul Custom at $899, targeting players seeking modern visual styling combined with classic guitar foundations.
- Artist Collection Signature electric guitar models designed in collaboration with famous artists, including the Dave Grohl DG-335 (semi-hollow, Pelham Blue with Firebird-style mini-humbucker) and the Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue (premium semi-hollow at $1,499). Targeted at fans and players seeking artist-endorsed instruments.
- Prophecy Collection High-performance electric guitars with modern updates, premium features, and contemporary aesthetics targeted at players seeking cutting-edge guitar designs beyond vintage-style instruments.
- Made in USA Collection Guitars manufactured in the United States representing Epiphone's highest quality domestic production tier, for buyers prioritizing American craftsmanship.
- Masterbilt Acoustic Series Premium acoustic guitars inspired by historic Epiphone designs from the company's 1930s-1960s golden era, targeting players and collectors seeking vintage acoustic guitar character.
- Bluegrass Collection Instruments for bluegrass music including acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, and ukuleles (soprano, concert, and tenor) in various finishes, targeting folk and bluegrass musicians.
- Bass Guitars Electric bass guitars including the Grabber and other models serving bassists across styles including rock, pop, and traditional music.
- Hummingbird Tribute Acoustic Guitar Square shoulder dreadnought acoustic guitar featuring the iconic Hummingbird bird rosette and pickguard design, available in Heritage Cherry Sunburst and Ebony finishes. Entry-level acoustic pricing at $229.
- 1942 Banner J-45 Acoustic Guitar Premium reissue of the iconic 1942 Banner J-45 acoustic guitar, featuring the historic 'Only a Gibson is Good Enough' banner headstock decal in Vintage Sunburst finish, targeted at collectors and vintage-style players.
- SG Standard Electric Guitar Classic SG double-cutaway electric guitar featuring mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard in exclusive Pelham Blue finish, available at $599 in the Inspired by Gibson mid-range tier.
- IGC Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Premium Inspired by Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom reissue featuring mahogany body, set neck, and high-quality hardware in exclusive Sedona Burst and Amethyst Sparkle finishes, priced at $1,299.
- IGC 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue Faithful premium reissue of the 1960 double-cut Les Paul Special featuring vintage-correct construction in TV White, Cherry Red, and Pelham Blue finishes, priced at $999.
- IGC Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue Signature premium reissue of Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson's legendary 1976 ES-355 in Alpine White finish, featuring semi-hollow body construction and premium Inspired by Gibson Custom details, priced at $1,499.
- IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue Premium reissue of the classic 1963 Firebird I electric guitar featuring the distinctive reverse headstock and mini-humbucker pickups in Cherry finish from the Inspired by Gibson Custom collection.
- Dave Grohl DG-335 Guitar Signature semi-hollow body electric guitar designed for Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) featuring a Firebird-style mini-humbucker in the neck position and a humbucker at the bridge, finished in Pelham Blue.
- Mandolins Traditional and modern mandolin designs serving bluegrass and folk musicians seeking quality acoustic string instruments.
- Banjos Banjos designed for traditional and contemporary bluegrass playing styles, distributed to folk and bluegrass instrument buyers.
- Ukuleles Soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles offered in various finishes for hobbyist and serious ukulele players.
- Guitar Cases & Gig Bags Hardshell cases and soft gig bags engineered to fit and protect Epiphone guitars, purchased as supplementary accessories alongside instruments.
- Epiphone Apparel Epiphone-branded clothing including shirts, hoodies, and headwear targeted at fans, players, and brand enthusiasts for lifestyle wear.
Companies that use Epiphone
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Epiphone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Epiphone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Epiphone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fender: Fender is the dominant US electric guitar manufacturer (Stratocaster, Telecaster) and operates Squier as its own value-tier brand — directly competing with Epiphone in the same mid-range electric/acoustic guitar category and target customer (beginners through professionals).
- ESP / LTD: ESP's LTD line is a direct competitor in imported, value-tier electric guitars targeting rock and metal players — overlapping with Epiphone's Prophecy and Futura series at comparable price points ($400-$1,200).
- Taylor Guitars: Taylor is a direct competitor in the acoustic guitar category where Epiphone's Masterbilt and Inspired by Gibson acoustic lines compete, particularly in the $500-$1,500 player-grade segment.
- C.F. Martin & Co. Martin competes with Epiphone in acoustic guitars, especially dreadnought and slope-shoulder models where Epiphone's Hummingbird Tribute and 1942 Banner J-45 reissue are positioned against Martin's entry-to-mid-tier offerings.
- PRS Guitars: PRS (Paul Reed Smith) competes directly with Epiphone in the mid-to-upper-mid electric guitar segment, with its SE line positioned similarly to Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson range (imported, value-tier, player-focused instruments).
- Guild Guitars: Guild, a Fender-owned acoustic guitar brand, competes with Epiphone's acoustic lines including the Hummingbird, J-45, and Masterbilt collections, particularly in the vintage-inspired dreadnought and jumbo segments.
- Ibanez: Ibanez is a direct competitor in electric guitars, particularly in the rock/metal segment with value-tier imports that compete head-to-head with Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson and Original Collections in the $300-$800 range.
- Gretsch: Gretsch (now part of Fender Musical Instruments) competes directly with Epiphone's semi-hollow and hollow-body Original Collection models (Casino, Riviera, Sheraton), particularly in the rockabilly, country, and vintage-rock segments.
Broad incumbents
- Yamaha: Yamaha is a broad musical instrument incumbent offering guitars (including Pacifica and Revstar lines), acoustics, and folk instruments — directly overlapping with Epiphone's acoustic and folk instrument product categories at similar price points.
- Gibson: Gibson is Epiphone's parent company and the most direct comparator in premium electric and acoustic guitars (Les Paul, SG, J-45). As the broader incumbent, Gibson occupies the premium tier while Epiphone serves its accessible-price sibling role.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Epiphone social profiles
Digital presenceEpiphone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Epiphone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Epiphone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Epiphone M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Epiphone
What does Epiphone do?
Epiphone designs, manufactures, and sells electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and folk instruments (mandolins, banjos, ukuleles), with a tiered product lineup spanning original brand designs (Casino, Coronet, Wilshire, Riviera, Sheraton), Gibson-inspired models at accessible price points, and premium Inspired by Gibson Custom reissues. The company also offers branded accessories including hardshell cases, gig bags, apparel, and home/office items as a secondary offering.
Is Epiphone a public or private company?
Epiphone is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Epiphone founded?
Epiphone was founded in 1873. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Epiphone based?
Epiphone is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Epiphone make money?
One revenue line is on record: guitar Sales.
Who are Epiphone's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fender, ESP / LTD, Taylor Guitars, C.F. Martin & Co., PRS Guitars, Guild Guitars, Ibanez and Gretsch. Broad incumbents are Yamaha and Gibson.
Does Epiphone have an API?
No public API is recorded for Epiphone.
What industry is Epiphone in?
Epiphone's product category is Musical Instruments (Electric and Acoustic Guitars). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAA, Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric), with a secondary code of CRALAEAA, Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra). Its NAICS code is 459140 and its SIC code is 3931.