He brought his brothers Orphie and Frixo into the business, added acoustic guitars in 1928, and three years later the Masterbilt archtops, which competed directly with the market leader, Gibson, and began a battle for supremacy.Įpi introduced electric guitars and amps-at first, in 1935, with the Electar brand-and the following year added its new F.T. Epaminondas, or Epi as he was known, renamed the firm as House Of Stathopoulo, and a little later as Epiphone, following the introduction of the brand in 1924.
When Anastasios died in 1915, his son took over the business. Epiphone Deluxe Masterbilt, outfitted with a DeArmond pickup.
