My Story

I’m John Greenwald.  Growing up near the rolling waves of Lake Michigan, I had a penchant for designing and building things. That passion led me to Western Michigan University, where I earned a degree in manufacturing engineering. During my time there, I enjoyed pilgrimages to 225 Parsons Street—then the legendary and iconic Kalamazoo headquarters of Gibson Guitars. It was there that my 'passionation' with guitar building and lutherie was born.

In the fullness of time, a pivotal moment came while working for an ergonomic furniture company. Their unrelenting focus on creating comfortable, productive work environments sparked a realization: electric guitars are flat and uncomfortable (even those with arm or belly contours). When I questioned why, the only answer I ever received was, "Because that is how they have always been made.”

I look at design through the eyes of an engineer, always believing there’s a better way. Like the Lake Michigan waves of my youth, I drew inspiration from the ocean waves of my current Atlantic Beach home. And years earlier, working with Greg Opatik of Sinuous Guitars opened my eyes to new possibilities, especially given his mastery of the molded plywood guitar approach made famous by mid-century furniture pioneers Charles and Ray Eames. However, I wanted to take a different path. By fusing traditional guitar-building artistry with a wave-like profile, I sculpted an organic shape that hugs the body perfectly while preserving the classic, timeless spirit of the electric guitar.

Epiphany Guitars LLC was founded on the belief that an instrument should work with your body, not against it, and let your amplifier and pedals do the heavy lifting.