Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II
Encyclopedia
The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II is an electric guitar
model produced by Epiphone
as Joe Pass
's signature model. First released in
just prior to Joe Pass's death in 1994 it is still produced today. There are a few notable users of this model, one of them being Kyle Justin, who is known for co-writing the theme song and several other pieces of music for The Angry Video Game Nerd
.
guitarist becoming most well known for his solo work whilst also having recorded with a number of other leading artists such as Ella Fitzgerald
Joe Pass previously had a relationship with the Ibanez
guitar company, but in the late 1990s Epiphone released the Emperor II, claiming Pass had a hand in the design of the guitar. Epiphone had previously issued the guitar as just the Emperor and with Pass's endorsement some subtle changes to the guitar were made (such as moving the pickup selector switch). While Pass endorsed the Epiphone he was more commonly seen with a Gibson ES-175
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
model produced by Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
as Joe Pass
Joe Pass
Joe Pass was an Italian-American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century...
's signature model. First released in
just prior to Joe Pass's death in 1994 it is still produced today. There are a few notable users of this model, one of them being Kyle Justin, who is known for co-writing the theme song and several other pieces of music for The Angry Video Game Nerd
The Angry Video Game Nerd
The Angry Video Game Nerd , is the main character and title of a series of farcical retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe...
.
Origins
Joe Pass was a very well known virtuoso JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist becoming most well known for his solo work whilst also having recorded with a number of other leading artists such as Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
Joe Pass previously had a relationship with the Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitar company, but in the late 1990s Epiphone released the Emperor II, claiming Pass had a hand in the design of the guitar. Epiphone had previously issued the guitar as just the Emperor and with Pass's endorsement some subtle changes to the guitar were made (such as moving the pickup selector switch). While Pass endorsed the Epiphone he was more commonly seen with a Gibson ES-175
Gibson ES-175
The Gibson ES-175 is an electric guitar manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, currently still in production. It is a 24 3/4" scale full hollow body guitar with a trapeze tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge...
The Guitar
The Joe Pass Epiphone Emperor II is an archtop guitar, like a 175, but with certain unique features which included- Gold-plated hardware
- Multiple bound body (top and back), neck, f-holes, and peghead
- Select spruce top
- Maple laminate, hollow body (figured maple veneer)
- Dual humbuckers
- Raised pickguard with facsimile of Joe Pass' signature
- Gibson Byrdland style tailpiece
- Solid rosewood, floating bridge
- "Joe Pass" model name on truss rod cover