In 1931, Epiphone introduced a full line of carved-top f-hole guitars, invading a territory that had been owned by Gibson.

Gibson responded with the huge, 18-inch Super 400 model in 1934, and Epiphone topped Gibson a year later with the Emperor, which was 3/8 of an inch wider than the Gibson.

Gibson gained the upper hand in 1939 with the introduction of cutaway bodies. This time, however, Epiphone was slow to respond, and a cutaway Emperor did not officially appear until 1948.