RIFF'N'ROLL

As guitar brand Epiphone celebrates its 150th anniversary, we speak to some of the artists who have fallen in love with some of its finest instruments

- Mark Sutherland

JAMES BAY'S LIFE changed the day he strolled down Bleecker Street in New York and popped into Matt Umanov Guitars.

The singer-songwriter had just come from a meeting with Republic Records about his first record deal and was killing time while his managers continued negotiations.

He certainly didn't have enough money to contemplate buying an instrument that day. But that impromptu browsing session would have a major impact on his career.

Because, when he met up with the record company later, all he could talk about was the 1966 Epiphone Century guitar he'd played in the shop: its cherry-red finish, its beautiful woodgrain body, its incredible sound. And when he got back to England, he found a package waiting for him, with a note that said: "We'd love you to have this guitar- and we'd love to work with you."

"A new guitar and a record deal on the same day," Bay laughs. "It was crazy. But it was a love-at-first-sight experience with that Epiphone..."

Talk to any Epiphone guitar player and you'll likely hear similar tales of instant infatuation. And there have been a lot of Epiphone players over the years. The storied guitar brand celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, during which time its instruments have been wielded by everyone from John Lennon to Noel Gallagher and John Lee Hooker to Joan Jett.

The company was founded in 1873 by Greek businessman Anastasios Stathopoulos in what is now modern-day Turkey. Originally, it made lutes and mandolins. But after the business relocated to New York, it was taken over by Anastasios's son, Epaminondas - who renamed it Epiphone in 1928 after his own 'Epi' nickname - and things really took off.

The company became a highly respected player in the burgeoning banjo and guitar markets. But when Epi passed away in 1943, the business ran into trouble. It was sold to Gibson in 1957.