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GALLERY: Vintage Epiphones of the 1930s

In the early 20th century, Epiphone was known as one of New York''s premier archtop builders. See 14 exquisite examples of early works and learn how the company changed in the first three decades of the 20th Century.

1935 Electar Hawaiian Guitar
"Simultaneously, Epiphone released an electric, lap-steel guitar. The Electar Hawaiian Guitar came with an amp-integrated case. The guitar itself featured a horseshoe pickup and single volume-control. The amplifier was a removable 10-watt unit with a 12"" speaker. Epiphone, who had been competing with Gibson in the archtop arena for years, continued that competition with this instrument that was released at almost exactly the same time as Gibson's electric Hawaiian-guitar . "