GIBSON FAMILY · ELECTRIC · ACOUSTIC · ORIGINAL DESIGNS
Epiphone
Epiphone is far more than a lower-priced route to Gibson shapes. The current catalog includes Gibson-inspired Les Paul, SG, ES and acoustic models, premium Inspired by Gibson Custom instruments, and long-running Epiphone designs such as the Casino, Sheraton, Riviera, Coronet and Frontier. The collection and exact model tell you what kind of Epiphone you are looking at.
MODEL SEARCH
Know the model number?
Enter a full or partial model number or model name. The brand is added automatically.
OVERVIEW
What to know quickly
The headstock says Epiphone. The collection tells you what kind of Epiphone. Identify the model, collection, era and factory before treating another Epiphone as a valid comparison.
IDENTIFY YOUR GUITAR
Which Epiphone do you have?
Epiphone has produced instruments in many factories and product tiers, so the full model name and serial number matter. Start with the back of the headstock, interior label on acoustics and hollow bodies, and any model markings or factory stickers that survive.
- Find the full model name. “Les Paul,” “Casino,” “Sheraton” or “SG” is only the beginning; Standard, Custom, Studio, Prophecy, Inspired by Gibson Custom and artist versions can differ substantially.
- Record the serial number. Gibson’s official guide documents common Epiphone formats from about 1993 forward, including the move toward all-numeric serials around 2008.
- Photograph front and back of the headstock. Logo style, headstock shape, serial placement, factory markings and repairs can all matter.
- For hollow and acoustic models, photograph the label. Casino, Sheraton, Riviera, Masterbilt and acoustic families often carry useful interior information.
- Note pickups, bridge and tuners. Common modifications can be good for a player but may change originality and used value.
SERIES & CURRENT RETAIL GUIDE
Find the collection before the price
Current Gibson/Epiphone catalog examples checked September 28, 2026. Artist models, limited editions, basses and special runs can fall outside these bands.
USED VALUE GUIDE
An enormous used market rewards exact identification
Guitar Center showed more than 2,800 used Epiphone guitars in a September 2026 snapshot. That pool mixes ordinary recent production, vintage instruments, Elitist models, artist editions, limited runs, hollow bodies, acoustics and premium modern releases. Brand-wide averages are therefore almost meaningless.
- Match the complete model and collection before comparing prices.
- Inspect the headstock and neck joint carefully for repaired breaks, finish disturbance or structural movement.
- On hollow and semi-hollow models, check neck angle, center block/joints, binding and electronics operation.
- Verify pickups and hardware on artist, Elitist, vintage and premium models where originality may materially affect value.
- Use sold evidence whenever possible; unusual limited models can make asking prices look more representative than they are.
CURRENT USED MARKET
Search the exact model—and the collection
A Casino, Les Paul Standard, Elitist Casino and USA Casino all belong under Epiphone, but they should not share a pricing comparison. Add the collection, era and distinguishing features to the search.
COMPARE
What else lives in this neighborhood?
Epiphone crosses too many price and design categories for a single competitor. Compare a Casino with other hollow electrics, a Les Paul with comparable set-neck solidbodies, and a premium USA Epiphone with instruments at the same construction level.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Before you buy—or price—one
- Collection confusion. “Epiphone Les Paul” covers multiple price tiers, factories and specifications.
- Headstock repairs. Set-neck Gibson-style construction makes the headstock and neck area worth a careful inspection.
- Counterfeit or misidentified premium models. High-value artist, vintage, Elitist and Inspired by Gibson Custom examples deserve extra verification.
- Modifications. Pickup, bridge, tuner and wiring changes can improve function while changing collector originality.
- Serial-number overconfidence. Use Gibson’s official Epiphone serial guidance together with model features and documented history.
HISTORY & COMMENTARY
Older than the “budget Gibson” shorthand
Epiphone’s documented story begins with the Stathopoulo family in 1873, later moving to New York and becoming a major archtop maker. Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1957, but the name remained active rather than disappearing into Gibson.
That history matters because a Casino, Sheraton, Riviera or Coronet is not merely a less-expensive version of a Gibson model. At the same time, today’s Inspired by Gibson and Inspired by Gibson Custom collections deliberately connect Epiphone to Gibson designs. Both stories are true, which is why the exact collection is such a useful first question.
WHAT PLAYERS LIKE
Why an Epiphone can be worth picking up
- Huge design range. Solidbody, semi-hollow, fully hollow, acoustic, bluegrass and bass models share the brand.
- Historic originals. Casino, Sheraton, Riviera, Coronet and Frontier give Epiphone an identity independent of Gibson copies.
- Clear upgrade ladder. Standard imports, premium Inspired by Gibson Custom and selected USA models cover very different budgets.
- Deep used supply. Thousands of used examples make model-specific comparison possible.
- Familiar serviceability. Common bridge, pickup and control layouts are widely understood by guitar technicians.
CURRENT RETAIL & REFERENCE
Current catalog and used-market observations were checked September 28, 2026. Verify the exact model, collection, factory and condition before valuing a used Epiphone.