Eko Guitars

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: 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:
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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:
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: C-flat
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:47 AM

Like the guitars themselves, this thread keeps on going!

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: 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,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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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,woodsie
Date: 09 May 04 - 07:13 PM

How mutch Kate?

Baggsie first!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 09:08 PM

Im interested in your Eko Ranger 6 string guitar, Pls send me a picture of it and tell me how much are u selling it for.Im in New York, will u ship it for me. My email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Getting Bigger John
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 03:04 PM

I have a Ranger 12 (bought for £50 from a guy from work) and would like to know a bit more about it. It has took a bit of a kicking, but a top guitar nontheless. There are no real giveaways for age, materials etc. Anybody here give me a bit more info? I know it's Italian!

Cheers

John

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Ramsay mcKinnon
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 03:24 PM

Just bought a Eko NAVAHO acoustic.

Has anyone heard of this model ?

I have been into guitars for almost fifty years and this is the first one I have see.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ramsay.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Sandy Knouse
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 10:42 PM

I have a Ranger 12 that I have owned since about '94. I found it in a pawn shop in Utah. Got it for $50 WITH a Polverini Bros. hard case. I , too, play it like a 6-string. I don't find it heavy, but, I am a bit larger than most I know. Inside you can see the original manufacturer's sticker from EKO. It has a stamp across one end that reads: 59-82# I am assuming the 82 is the year of manufacture. Don't know what the 59 is. I, currently, have a set of Dean Markley medium gauge strings on it. I used to keep Kaman 'Adamas' light gauge on it, but, am unable to find them anymore. It has great action and I always get comments on how narrow the neck is for a 12-string.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: gigix
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 06:26 PM

Eko guitars were widespread here in Italy in 70s. They were decent guitars at an affordable price. I had a Rio Bravo 6, and my young sister bought a Rio Bravo 12 because a famous Italian songwriter used it. She still owns it and it sounds like the first day - that is, not bad at all.
Back then, when you entered the circles of committed guitarists, your Eko was promptly disdained; the minimum allowed was a Yamaha, but your supposed final aim was to put together enough money to buy a Martin. I soon realized, though, that I could travel under any weather with my Eko, play it in front of a campfire, and not worry about. So, even when I got other guitars, it still had its place in my room (and elsewhere), until one day in the 90s I decided to try how does it feel to be an idiot and borrowed it to a guy I never saw again. I hope he takes care of it, now, better than I did.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: 12string growler
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:45 PM

I have a 1969 Ranger 6 (Wood head) bought new by my mum from a cigarette coupon catalogue. It's still a wonderful tool. I also had a 1973 Ranger 12 (Black Head) but sold that when the bridge started to pull off. I still use the Ranger 6 for practice, it lives on top of a cupboard and is easy to get at when I can't be bothered to get My Yam FG412B out of it's case. I still dream of the dizzy heights of a "Takamine" never mind a Martin or Taylor.

Chris

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 10:22 AM

Anyone interested in buying an Eko should check Ebay - they're often listed, and you can nail one down for about £100. Good knockabout guitars, built to last (bolt-on necks) and easy to play (unlike many of their cheap-end rivals in the 60's) - they lack a bit of punch but sound great when amplified (especially the 12 strings). Whilst there's never been a better time to buy a new guitar (real quality at less than £300) Eko's still (in my view) represent good value.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: 12string growler
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 03:36 PM

I Always suspected that "Shaftsbury" and "Eros" guitars came out of the same factory as Eko's, the construction methods were too similar to be a coincidence.
EKO also did a nice Acoustic Bass guitar with an oval sound hole. The body is about the same size as a Ranger, but tapers to 135mm at the tailstock (trapeze type). The neck appears to have frets but is in fact fretless, the frets being inlaid flush. The tone is a bit thin, but it does make a good practice guitar.

Chris

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:14 PM

My first mandolin was an EKO , with a Plastic bowl back !! OK to learn the basics on , but the neck was too thin for my stubby fingers . I always thought the the Rangers were good protest march guitars - stayed in tune even AFTER you had laid someone out with it !!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: 12string growler
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:20 PM

Brill!!!

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GRex
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 05:12 AM

I have an Eko Korrall, purchased second-hand(used)in 1981.
This 6 string acoustic, made in Recanati Italy, is sturdy but fairly light in weight, has a great sound and is still in excellent condition. Although the standard Eko logo is on the label inside the box, the logo on the head is a white circle with two horizontal bars cut in on th R.H. side forming a circular E. Has anyone come across the model?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Matt
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 04:45 PM

Help!!
Does anyone know where i can get any replacement machineheads for my old Eko Ranger XII?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Brendy
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 11:51 PM

Hi KRex..

I have one of the Chetro Acoustic Bass prototypes (nylon strung). One of my mates has a 12 string Korrall.
That whole range are excellent instruments...

B.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: C-flat
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 02:35 AM

Guest Matt, one or two of the earliest posts in this thread suggest places to look on both sides of the pond.

C-flat.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Matt
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 06:24 PM

Hi C-flat,
Thanks very much , i will have a look!

Matt (UK)

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From:
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 04:08 PM

Hi,
i put my email address because theres a very strong chance i might not be able to find this site again after leaving it so if anyone wants to reply via email that would be helpful, thanks, anyway, i've found an EKO ranger 6 for sale in apparently perfect condition (on eBay?) for just under 150 pounds, any thougts?
overpriced? appreciate that when you all paid 35 pounds for it, 35 pounds was worth a lot more.
I've been looking for a guitar that has a heavy thick mellow folky sound sort of like nick drake, i'm not worried about the weight but it would be nice if it had that sound and relatively good playability. I was wondering if you could say whether this is a good guitar for what i'm after, and what are my chances of being able to find another excellent condition EKO ranger if I don't get this one,

thanks very much,
Luke

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,Sweet Misery
Date: 07 Dec 04 - 09:46 AM

Interestin' to read all these Eko ramblin's... I still have my Ranger 6 that I bought new in the '70's... black headstock, concentric ring rosette... it has a superb action and never goes out of tune ( 10 gauge set, phosphor bronze D'Adario's )
I affectionately call her 'the old clunker' and she sits in the corner of the office and gets picked up a dozen times a day.
The Eko lacks volume in comparison to my big Yamaha acoustic and Tanglewood electro-acoustic... though I always wondered how good it would be if the quarter inch thick laquer was removed so the wood could breath!
I have a matching 12 string body and all the bits, but no neck... anybody got one they wanna sell me?

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: GUEST,randomness
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 04:27 AM

Hello,
         please could you tell me how much the eko acoustic bass is worth. I own one and am looking to sell it and I'm wondering how much I should expect to get for it.
My email address is: [e-mail]

If you can help me I would be very appreciative.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 07:54 AM

I had an Eko cello bass when I was a lad.

Subject: RE: Eko Guitars
From: Pistachio
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 07:21 AM

Ramsay - I have a Eko NAVAHO that my Dad bought me for £26 in 1974. I'm sorry I know no more about it. Mine is not over used and has suffered on it's travels but still sounds great to me and I'll be keeping it forever. I also have a Ranger 6 that is in Scotland for a holiday!
H.