Gibson v Epiphone lineup

[Denis]

I saw the listing below on Wikipedia and thought it interesting that Epiphone has/had offered a number of guitars and basses not offered by Gibson. Epi seems to be more of a sister company rather than a child company. Interesting!

Gibson copies
An Epiphone Les Paul.
The Explorer
Several Versions of the SG guitar Including G400, G310, SG Special and SG Custom.
Around 20 versions Les Paul models
The Dot (and the Dot Studio), similar to the ES-335
The Flying-V
The Firebird
The Thunderbird
Les Paul[1]
The Blackbird
The ES-175
Gibson ES-295
The EDS-1275 Dual-neck
The Hummingbird
The LP-100
Epiphone Tom DeLonge ES-333

Dedicated Epiphone models
Several versions of the Sheraton
Several versions of the Casino
The Riviera in 6- and 12-string versions
The Broadway
The Emperor Regent
Several versions of the Zephyr:
Zephyr Blues Deluxe
Zephyr Regent
The Supernova
The Wildkat
The EM-2
The Wilshire
The Flamekat
Nick Valensi Riviera P-94
The Viola Bass
Jack Casady Bass
The Coronet
Epiphone Wilshire
In recent years Epiphone introduced a series of acoustic guitars named Masterbilt after a line of guitars of the 1930s. Today's Masterbilt guitars are manufactured in China.

[Dave W]

Most of the dedicated Epiphone models are derived from earlier US Gibson or Epi models, and some of those Epis back then were essentially Epi versions of Gibson models.

OTOH they're putting out some affordable versions of pre-Gibson Epi archtops.

Whatever you choose to call it, Gibson is still the parent and Epi is still a subsidiary.

[eb2]

There also seems to be a quality/skill level point that is hard to figure out.  Many of the basses they make and have made are just junk.  Some are Orville level decent.  As an umbrella, they are confusing.

[OldManC]

I think part of the confusion could stem from figuring out who 'they' are. It seems to me that Epi is a brand in name only that contracts with other builders to provide them with products made to their specifications. Some are made for a higher price point and the quality of the resulting guitar or bass reflects that. Others are made to target a lower price point, again with the resulting level of quality. I know some of their designs are either Gibson or classic Epiphone based, but is there an Epiphone factory anywhere, like Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker, etc?

[Dave W]

I think they own or co-own a Chinese plant. The MIK and MIJ Epis were always made to spec by different factories. AFAIK they still are.