Fast forward to World War I and they began making banjos. The Epiphone story goes way back to 1873 where founder, Anastasios Stathopoulos, started making his own fiddles and lutes in Turkey. By combining years of history with modern production techniques, you can buy an Epiphone guitar that doesn't compromise on sound or playability at a very sensible price. Epiphone are licensed to produce Epiphone Guitars using Gibson's extensive design knowledge.