Larsongs Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) I’m very impressed with all my Epiphone Guitars.. From my $399 Epi Inspired by Paul Mc Cartney Texan, IBJL Revolution Casino, Peerless Casino, 50th Anniv. 1961 Casino & my recent USA CASINO…. I love all of them… Even though I have several 4 figure Guitars, including some that cost much more, my Epiphones seem to get the most play… They’re great Guitars! It would be interesting to know more about the different Factories where Epiphone Guitars are built & where they’re located. Also, their Building Process, how they get the Designs, where they get Materials, how it’s decided as to what to use, who advises them on all phases of the Build process… etc… MIA, MIK & USA….. Edited January 18, 2022 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Ooh... GAS... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 When the Gibson Qingdao plant opened in 2005 the intent was to gradually take over production of all Asian built Epihones to improve consistency, quality and production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I've spent more than a year, on and off, researching guitar factories. I started with American factories, but have slowly added companies in other countries and have just started looking into the Asian contractors. For Epiphone/Gibson-owned factories, my Epiphone list is essentially complete. Guitar Makers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 On 1/18/2022 at 12:22 PM, pohatu771 said: I've spent more than a year, on and off, researching guitar factories. I started with American factories, but have slowly added companies in other countries and have just started looking into the Asian contractors. For Epiphone/Gibson-owned factories, my Epiphone list is essentially complete. Guitar Makers What about Terada & Peerless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) This is in World Music Instruments (WMI) in Korea who make for many different brands. Edited January 20, 2022 by Rabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Larsongs said: What about Terada & Peerless? The newer Peerless factory (opened in 2007) is there, but I haven't found the older one where Epiphones were made. I'm dealing with (multiple) language barriers and a general unfamiliarity with how Korean addresses work. It's part of the reason I was initially focused on American (and then Canadian) builders. I haven't found Terada yet. I have found almost 200 other factories dating back nearly 200 years, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) 11 hours ago, pohatu771 said: The newer Peerless factory (opened in 2007) is there, but I haven't found the older one where Epiphones were made. I'm dealing with (multiple) language barriers and a general unfamiliarity with how Korean addresses work. It's part of the reason I was initially focused on American (and then Canadian) builders. I haven't found Terada yet. I have found almost 200 other factories dating back nearly 200 years, though. Terada is in Japan & Peerless is in Korea. I don’t know much more than that. Other than both build very high Quality Guitars… 200 factories dating back 200 years… That’s impressive… This could turn out to be a very interesting Thread… Edited January 20, 2022 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 (edited) When Gibson reorganized and severely cutback to the basics on the available models for both Gibsons and Epiphones in 2020, they introduced the “Inspired by Gibson Epiphones”. Many Epiphone products were gone, including the Japan built Elitist line which were Terada, Matsumoku built earlier 80s/90s models usually with bolt-on necks. . Since 2020 the majority of Asian built Epiphones are currently manufactured in Qingdao. I’m not sure if any Korean, Indonesian or other Chinese Epiphone manufacturers are left, Gibsons Qingdao Epiphone plant seems to be in control. So basically if you are looking for other Asian Epiphone Manufactueres, you need to look before 2020. Below are the Epiphone factory codes used in the SN# from Guitar Insite Numbered factory codes NUMBER FACTORY COUNTRY 10 unknown China 12 DeaWon or Unsung China 13 unknown China 15 Qingdao (electric) China 16 Qingdao (acoustic) China 17 unknown China 18 unknown China 20 DeaWon or Unsung China 21 Unsung Korea 22 unknown Korea 23 Samick Indonesia Factory code letter LETTER FACTORY COUNTRY B Bohêmia Musico-Delicia Czech Republic BW ?? China C Cort Korea CI Cort Indonesia DW DaeWon China EA QingDao (akoestisch) China ED Dongbei China EE QingDao (elektrisch) China F Fuji-gen (Elite/Elitist modellen) Japan F Fine Guitars Korea FC Fuji-gen (jaren '90) Japan GG ?? China GR Farida, Guang Dong China I Saein Korea IS Samick, Bogor Indonesia J Terada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan K Korea Ins. Korea L Leader Musical Instrument Co Ltd. Korea MC Muse China MR Mirr factory China [Korea to 2004] O Choice Korea P Peerless Korea R Peerless Korea QG Qingdao Gibson China S Samick Korea SI Samick, Bogor Indonesia SJ SaeJun China SM Samil Korea T Terada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan U Unsung Korea UC Unsung China China Z Zaozhuang Saehan China Unclear Letter factory codes LETTER FACTORY NOTE H ?? Probably Hunan, China GP ?? Probably Korea JK ?? Probably Korea or Indonesia SK ?? -- SN ?? Probably Indonesia SW ?? -- WF ?? Probably China X ?? Probably China Note that I own 4 different 2020 models of Epiphones that were built in Qingdao. Edited January 22, 2022 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Is it because of the Pandemic or because Qingdao is doing the best job for the lowest cost? BTW, How can you tell where your Asian Epiphone was built? What signifies Qingdao? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 This i 15 hours ago, mihcmac said: When Gibson reorganized and severely cutback to the basics on the available models for both Gibsons and Epiphones in 2020, they introduced the “Inspired by Gibson Epiphones”. Many Epiphone products were gone, including the Japan built Elitist line which were Terada, Matsumoku built earlier 80s/90s models usually with bolt-on necks. . Since 2020 the majority of Asian built Epiphones are currently manufactured in Qingdao. I’m not sure if any Korean, Indonesian or other Chinese Epiphone manufacturers are left, Gibsons Qingdao Epiphone plant seems to be in control. So basically if you are looking for other Asian Epiphone Manufactueres, you need to look before 2020. The Elitist line was discontinued in 2008, except for the Casino which held on until 2018. The entire Matsumoku company shut down in 1987, and their bolt-on neck models didn't even make it into the 80s. A majority of Epiphone electric guitars have been made in Qingdao since 2006. The upper-tier acoustic models (Masterbilt and solid wood Inspired by Gibson) are made by PT Samick in Indonesia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 (edited) On 1/22/2022 at 5:45 AM, pohatu771 said: The Elitist line was discontinued in 2008, except for the Casino which held on until 2018. The entire Matsumoku company shut down in 1987, and their bolt-on neck models didn't even make it into the 80s. A majority of Epiphone electric guitars have been made in Qingdao since 2006. The upper-tier acoustic models (Masterbilt and solid wood Inspired by Gibson) are made by PT Samick in Indonesia. All correct as far as I can tell, although I didn't know Samick was still building for Epiphone after 2020, but I don't have any Epiphone acoustics. I do have two 2020 "Inspired by Gibson" electric Epiphones that were built at the Qingdao factory which is where I think the majority are currently built. In addition I bought two from the "Epiphone Designer" 2020 collection a Wilshire and a Coronet which also came from the Qingdao factory. I have been an Epiphone fan since the early 60's, my first US built guitar was a 63 Coronet and owned several since then, but was very disappointed with the first Japan built version of Coronets, Wilshire's and Crestwoods. In the 90's I was still acquiring 60's models, until I got a 98 G400 made in Korea that was incredible, so it reopened the door for my asian built Epiphones. Between the 60's and early 00's I also went through several Gibsons including SG's, Jr's, Specials, MelodyMakers as well as a few Japan built Ibanez shredders. Edited January 23, 2022 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 What designates the Factory where Epiphones are built? And is there a List of Factories with the designation code? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt4356 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 10 hours ago, Larsongs said: What designates the Factory where Epiphones are built? And is there a List of Factories with the designation code? It's in the list mihcmac put above, that's the exact designation code. Use your serial number to find the factory from that list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 39 minutes ago, Matt4356 said: It's in the list mihcmac put above, that's the exact designation code. Use your serial number to find the factory from that list. Thanks… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 On 1/21/2022 at 3:52 PM, mihcmac said: Below are the Epiphone factory codes used in the SN# from Guitar Insite Numbered factory codes NUMBER FACTORY COUNTRY 10 unknown China 12 DeaWon or Unsung China 13 unknown China 15 Qingdao (electric) China 16 Qingdao (acoustic) China 17 unknown China 18 unknown China 20 DeaWon or Unsung China 21 Unsung Korea 22 unknown Korea 23 Samick Indonesia Factory code letter LETTER FACTORY COUNTRY B Bohêmia Musico-Delicia Czech Republic BW ?? China C Cort Korea CI Cort Indonesia DW DaeWon China EA QingDao (akoestisch) China ED Dongbei China EE QingDao (elektrisch) China F Fuji-gen (Elite/Elitist modellen) Japan F Fine Guitars Korea FC Fuji-gen (jaren '90) Japan GG ?? China GR Farida, Guang Dong China I Saein Korea IS Samick, Bogor Indonesia J Terada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan K Korea Ins. Korea L Leader Musical Instrument Co Ltd. Korea MC Muse China MR Mirr factory China [Korea to 2004] O Choice Korea P Peerless Korea R Peerless Korea QG Qingdao Gibson China S Samick Korea SI Samick, Bogor Indonesia SJ SaeJun China SM Samil Korea T Terada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan U Unsung Korea UC Unsung China China Z Zaozhuang Saehan China Unclear Letter factory codes LETTER FACTORY NOTE H ?? Probably Hunan, China GP ?? Probably Korea JK ?? Probably Korea or Indonesia SK ?? -- SN ?? Probably Indonesia SW ?? -- WF ?? Probably China X ?? Probably China This is a great list, and very accurate, based on the many Epiphones I’ve examined and/or owned over the years. Of the above, the stand out pacific-rim manufacturer would be Terada-Japan. I’m fortunate enough to own three Terada instruments, and they emit quality from every pore - Always worth a look when one becomes available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 On 1/22/2022 at 6:00 AM, Larsongs said: BTW, How can you tell where your Asian Epiphone was built? What signifies Qingdao? Difficult to pronounce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBGood Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Anybody knows how many Epiphone are built in a week, month or year ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 I have a Casino made in the Peerless factory and an ES330 made in Kalamazoo. The Casino is about 90% as nice as the Gibson, and at less than half the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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