Eko Guitars

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 09 May 04 - 07:13 PM

How mutch Kate?

Baggsie first!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 May 04 - 07:07 PM

I have a couple of EKOs... A six string archtop ( acoustic) and a 12 string (dreadnaught size) The archtop ia a thin body, but no pickups. Very thin neck. I got it at a pawn shop for very little, as it needed work. New brigde and tailpiece, not even close to original. The finish looks like glass- so heavy that where it is cracked, the first layer of plywood is also cracked.

I can bring it to the FSGW Getaway, if anyone wants to play with it!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,kate
Date: 08 May 04 - 06:52 PM

I have an Eko Ranger 6 which I bought 32 years ago for £34 pounds - a fortune for me then! Itwasa bought from Bruce Millars in Aberdeen. Never really liked it because of weight although I do still have it. Anybody interested in buying it???

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: woodsie
Date: 04 May 04 - 03:58 PM

I lived in Streatham Hill, the flats next to The Crown & Sceptre - incidently the landlord's son was Glenn Cornick, bass player with Jethro Tull at the time! - Wasn't really into any folk scene as such, but used to make weekly trips to the roundhouse in chalk farm and would catch acts such as Fotheringay, Dando Shaft, Keith Christmas and the like we called it all "progressive" because it was way ahead of the the crap that Tony Blackburn was playing on the radio

Wish I had kept the EKO ranger though.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 May 04 - 02:05 PM

I think, if it is the same one, I had one of the smaller Ekos that you are talking about, the size of a parlour guitar.Beautiful colour, scalloped back. Nice little beast.

Woodsie, were you into the folk scene in those days? Where did you live? I remember Ally's near the ice rink.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Loochay
Date: 04 May 04 - 01:50 PM

I have an eko I got from my dad. I was wondering if anybody could tell me about it. I'm curious as to what it's worth, for one thing. It's a smaller bodied model P2. Anyone familiar with them?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Wesley S at Home
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:21 PM

I just picked up the newest issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine - the one with the cover story about Taylor guitars.

And there on the back page { the Great Acoustics section } is a picture of the classic Eko 12 string. Along with the story how an Eko inspired Bob Taylor to start building guitars. It seems he wanted an Eko but couldn't afford one so....

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 04:17 PM

Eric The Viking

The shop "around the corner from the town hall" in Brixton was Cramer's (or Kramer's) in Acre lane I bought my first guitar there by paying weekly installments (from my paper round) for months finally picking it up when The 21 guineas! (That's how they priced them in those days)was paid just before Christmas 1969. It was a Jedson semi acoustic with f holes an' all! In 1971 I swapped it for an EKO jumbo. a couple of years later I purchased a Folk Ranger 6 from Ally's Owl Shop, near Streatham ice rink - it was a part exchange deal involving several mint condition copies of Cream's "Wheels Of Fire" Abums (mono deletions nicked from work at the time) + £10. I don't know what became of those guitars, I was in a lysergic/amphetamine haze back in my foolish wasted youth - but I agree they were great guitars.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,alf
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 07:24 AM

Hey Eko enthusiasts, I need to lavish a little love and care on my 12 which still plays a lot better than I ever could. In particular, I need to adjust the set of the neck, which I'm told can be done with the bolt at the machine head end. Can anyone confirm how this works before I literally screw it up?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:47 AM

Like the guitars themselves, this thread keeps on going!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 08:40 PM

I was at a folk club in Spondon near Derby tonigh and the resident was playing an Eko 12. Sounded terrific!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 08:17 PM

The 'Rio Bravo' model was slightly more expensive, and lighter, than the Ranger...

My old Ranger 12 is still upstairs somewhere... 36 Guineas back in 1970, if my memory serves!!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Malachy
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 07:44 PM

Hi songs to play. I have an Eko exactly the same as yours. I'm interested to know how you dated it so accurately. Would like to do the same with mine.
Cheers Mal

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 10:33 AM

I noticed an Eko on the front cover of one of my daughter's CDs.

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00014TJWK.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Good eh ?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Amos
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 07:13 PM

The link to Subway Guitars in Berkeley was mis-spelled. The correct link is: Fat Dog and Subway Guitars.

A

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: s&r
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:28 PM

One of the catalogue firms (Littlewoods?) sold the Eko badged as Shaftesbury. Identical in every respect bar the name

Stu

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 02:42 PM

Did anyone spot the eko ranger in Mike Leigh's film Life is Sweet in Jim Broadbents shed at the bottom of the garden.

I had one nicked nearly 40 years ago. It had Dix written inside it and I still miss it

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From:
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 11:53 AM

I just bought this old 12 string and its a eko, it looks like it says Rio Bravo 12 on the sticker inside. I never heard of such an animal and could not believe i found someone on lie whos actually heard of one . yhis one is damaged but it sounds pretty good.i am looking for a replacemewnt neck for it. does any one have one. also i just bought a new takamini an10 acoustic and let me tell you this guitar sounds so beautiful. it puts my martin to shame and costs only 600.00. ill never go back.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 12 Aug 03 - 06:58 AM

Another Eko 6 sting Ranger up for sale on ebay here
Looks in good condition.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Gavin
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 08:31 PM

Brings back memories of an Eko 12 string I picked up cheap in Egypt - I only bought it cos it had a hard case which I could then use for my six-string (that's how cheap it was!).

But I quickly became VERY attached to it - great sound and action. Played it for years, in Egypt, Yemen, and England.

Tough and indestructible - until some pillock in Frankfurt Airport drove a fork lift truck into it and smashed the body; I hope the FLT came off worse though.

It took me 10 years to finally accept my 12 string was no more than "road-kill guitar". A sad day when I finally chucked it.

Hope you get your singing again, Ian.

All best

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 10:03 AM

There's an Eko for sale on e-bay here, it's worth a look at, for interest's sake.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GMT
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:05 AM

Wow C-flat, that's an eye opener.

I knew about the accordians but didn't realise the range of guitars was so vast. Thanks for the pictures, I particularly like the f-hole.

Cheers
Gary

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:57 AM

GMT, Eko made a whole range of instruments including accordians, mandolins, banjos, semi accoustic jazz guitars and solid bodies.
Here's a few more!

C-flat.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Fossil
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:55 AM

At one time I had both an Eko 6 and a 12-string. Agree with most of what's said above - heavy, not a particularly good tone or action but practically bullet-proof. The 12 I sold on for not a lot of money, but the 6 lived with me for many years until I accidentally killed it - the fingerboard fell off and I unthinkingly used superglue to stick it back on with. This instantly wrecked the tone and volume of sound to the point at which I had to buy another guitar immediately to replace it. I sold the Eko in a garage sale here in Belgium and have never seen it since. Ah me - another memory sparked off by 'cattin'!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GMT
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 02:48 AM

songs2play, not too sure of the exact vintage but mine has the diamonds and is circa 1971, by the late 70's i'm sure the circles had arrived.

What are these picture of electrics ? are they by the same maker ?

Cheers
Gary

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:37 PM

OK GuestMick, here's
a nice picture of an Eko with buttons on!


And just to prove it isn't only old folkies that play Ekos here's some interesting signature models.

Can't find any good pictures of "sparkly" Ekos though, sorry!:-)

C-flat.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:53 AM

GMT, Thanks for the information about the diamond pattern around the sound hole, something I never realised. I don't suppose you've got any dates when they used this pattern ?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From:
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 08:30 PM

Cheers C-C              But where's the sparklie EKO pik's U promised ??????? I had 2 in the early '60's 1 Gold & 1 a Beauty Blue - They were definitly my prize ' Howdee dodee push button' axes - wish I still had 'em - -    Tears etc.

          best wishes an aging Rocker                   Mick

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GMT
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 10:49 AM

songs2play, that is an early one. It has the diamond motive round the sound hole, rather than the concentric circles of the later ones.

Mine took a beating a year or so back and wouldn't stay in tune, but low and behold it seems to have got over the shock now and stays where she's put. It took a while though and I HAD to get another to replace it ;-)

Cheers Gary

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 04:33 AM

As regulars to this forum know, I know nowt about music and less about instruments. However, I know my Greek guitarist mate Yorgos Glinatsis was playing a beat up Eko acoustic (amplifier fitted but he always plays acoustic in the taverna). He told me he had it from a teenager and it accompanied him throughout his student and National Service days where his playing paid his way, so it must be 30 odd years old now. Then about five years ago he got a Yamaha 12-string and about 3 years a go an Ovation 6-string for playing in the taverna (he also has assorted Fenders, Gibsons and Bouzoukis at home he used when he was a professional playing the clubs). He prefers the 12-string (and his Bill Sables personal guitar strap has pride of place on it)and he manages to make it sound like a bouzouki at times without re-tuning or capos.
The Eko is now only an ornament on the bar, available for any customer who wants to play, but being in the sun has taken its toll on the glue as the top is beginning to come away from the side. Now guests get offered the Ovation to play instead. Me, I stick to the kazoo!

RtS

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 02:44 AM

My Eko is 34 years old on May 27th and she doesn't look a day older than when I got her, apart from a couple of chips and scratches around the edges.

Piccy of her with her friend the Resonator - both about the same weight.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 09:13 PM

A gal that plays with the Praise Team in our parish plays an old Eko 12 string. I keep trying to talk her out of it, but it was the first one she ever got and she won't part with it. I guess I will have to mug her for it..............LOL.

Mick

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: fiddler
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 03:01 PM

yer a pile of old softies even if I do know aht you mean - I sueed to play a 12 sting owned by a pal of mine - magic.

A
XX

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Lanfranc
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 02:53 PM

Apart from the log holding the neck and body together, the other reason for the weight of Ekos is that some of them (mine at least) had a neck made of what appeared to be solid ebony! I remember having to hold the neck of my Ranger 12 at all times, lest the weight of it cause it to rotate on the strap and do me a mortal injury with the peghead. It could have been worse, they could have used lignum vitae!

I traded mine in for a Gibson B45-12 in the late 60s - a very different animal, but nowhere near as robust.

Thanks for the memories!

Alan

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: weerover
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 01:40 PM

I'm more singer than musician, but my first was an EKO6 and experience was similar to previous posts: good action but low in volume projection. Didn't know about the detachable neck - my playing partner dropped it on stage and the neck came away from the body, maybe it wasn't as wrecked as we thought (never mind, he bought a Yamaha FG180 as a replacement and I still have it 25 years on). I now also have an EKO bouzouki, all black with mother-of-pearl inlay, can't do anything flash with it but it's a beautiful piece of work.

wr

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 01:07 PM

Great pic's. But mine have a white EKO badge with black lettering One of mine is light stained as in the pic's but the other is a really dark (Is it sunburst?)fading to lighter colour in the centre. My 12 string has two transducers underneath the bridge. Still sounds good!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 12:47 PM

That's right Dave, plywood top and enough internal bracing to support a motorway fly-over doesn't do a lot for the sound projection but you can beat the crap out of them for thirty years and it will sound and play the same as the day it was made!
I always used mine with a clip on pick-up but the quality of Seventies technology left a lot to be desired and I found I had to tape over a couple of the pick-ups that were too sensitive and add a few extra lashings of tape to keep the thing in place!
It's testament to the manufacturers that so many of them are still in regular use.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,baillie
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 12:36 PM

I used to play in a band with a guy who had an old EKO and he reckoned he'd used it as a sledge one snowy day! they certainly were well made and good value for money!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 12:11 PM

I had an EKO Ranger 6 many years ago, but beside the weight (although probably also due to it) I found that I could never get much volume of sound out of it. That great big block of wood where the neck bolts on (just like a solid electric guitar) seemed to take away a lot of the resonance. Isn't the front table plywood - it definitely had a very hard varnish on it. I found it an easy box to play, but unamplified it just wasn't up to acompanying my (not very quiet) voice in pubs etc.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 11:48 AM

Well here's a nice picture just for you Mick, submitted at great personal expense, I might add!!
C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From:
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:44 AM

Where's the bloody PIK's - cheapskate EKO owners ?

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 04 May 02 - 09:28 AM

I was interested to discover that EKO were originally accordian manufacturers based in Recanati,Italy, and shifted production to electric guitars with the waning popularity of squeezeboxes. Their first guitars, built in 1961, were similar to Fenders Jazzmaster but were adorned with squeeze-box sparkly moulded plastic and multi-coloured pearl. They also had lots of accordian-style knobs and switches! Presumably the Ranger accoustics followed later!

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: GMT
Date: 02 May 02 - 04:12 AM

Pete, hi

I can't remember the chaps name, he had curly hair !

He still owned the building when Mr Fish was based
there.

My EKO has given me many years of pleasure even if I
still only have one picking pattern and use cheat
sheets after all this time. I'm only playing to myself
anyway.

Yes I live in Bedford (but I don't brag about it ;).
Cheers Gary (I bet the line breaks don't work)

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: songs2play
Date: 01 May 02 - 02:49 AM

There's a nice picture on following web page. http://users.utu.fi/siolna/eko.html

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: 53
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 09:43 PM

Who makes Eko and what does one look like?

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: harpmaker
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 07:55 PM

could'nt you guy's post?

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: Ian Darby
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 07:34 PM

Thanks Paul,

Unfortunately I'm in the UK.

Ian.

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 06:39 PM

Ian, if you are near Toronto, I have an Eko with a good neck and a body that is in rough shape

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: harpmaker
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 06:32 PM

Cheers Eric, Iam shure your very bright for making such a comment! Still laughing!-John.

Subject: RE: BS: Eko Guitars
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 02:02 PM

They were made by Rossetti-I believe, stopped in the mid 70's, couldn't compete with the cheaper guitars I think, and also they were stopped as imports. I believe you could still get them in Europe-a bit like Levin's, still made, but not seen in the UK. Made from good woods though.And true-I'd never get rid of mine either.

Harpmaker-you are very welcome, no offence taken, pleased someone sees the funny side of me being less bright than a Mazda sometimes!

cheers all.

Maybe there should be an Eko gathering?