Van Eps was born in Somerville, New Jersey, United States, and moved with his family to Plainfield in 1892.

In 1897 Van Eps was hired by Thomas Edison's National Phonograph Company in West Orange to work in studio engagements.

The banjo remained on the market until about 1930, when widespread use of electric recording removed the need for the loud volume produced by the Van Eps model.

By the 1930s the banjo had fallen out of favor in popular music, and George Van Eps gained fame as a studio guitarist, playing with Benny Goodman, Ray Noble, and Red Norvo.

[3] Van Eps also worked in vaudeville and influenced pre-bluegrass musicians like Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers.