Epiphone 1963 Dove Reissue Natural IBC

A Dove is a wonderful rhythm instrument with a loud, singing high end that is balanced beautifully by a solid bass foundation. The reduction in mid-range means that its frequencies don't step on the other instruments in the band, which is one of the most desirable results of using solid maple for the sides and back. The spruce top has X-bracing, allowing the timbre to mimic that of the vintage original even more closely. Of course, a sound this good needs playability to match, and this is provided by the 12" fingerboard radius and broader 42.9mm nut width, as well as the rounded mahogany neck. The longer scale length of 25.5" gives the Epiphone 1963 Dove Reissue Natural IBC a higher string tension that makes it well-suited to lower tunings and provides clearer note separation on the individual strings. All in all, an authentic Epiphone jumbo that ticks every box!

Today, Epiphone is known only as the Asian budget offshoot of Gibson. Yet both companies were once independent, equal, and also bitter rivals. The roots of Epiphone go back to the 1870s and to Anastasios Stathopoulo, a Greek instrument maker, who emigrated to America in 1903 with his son Epaminondas ("Epi" for short). Epi changed the name of the firm to the "Epiphone Banjo Company" after taking over the family business in 1928. During this year, Epiphone also began to manufacture guitars, which rapidly came to dominate their sales. In 1957, Epiphone was taken over by C.M.I., which already included Gibson, but continued as a separate brand until 1970, when manufacturing was outsourced to Asia. Well-known Epiphone models include the Casino, played by the Beatles, and the Sheraton, John Lee Hooker's instrument of choice.