what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 08:34 AM

I had a ranger 6, when I was an exchange student in London for five months. I figured it best to buy a guitar there rather than fly over with the one I had in the states. It cost 40 pounds. I sold it back to the store I bought it from for 10 when I came back to the states. Great guitar for the price (1975). I didn't have much money in those days, so I was practicing about three hours a day. I didn't hear much about eko's after the 70's.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Brendan
Date: 23 Feb 15 - 03:41 PM

My Eko 12 states on the inside label 1319: Model 063 c 500 5/77
I would say it would have been made in 1977? any clues n that.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 12:16 PM

Don't think mine (mid 60s as I mentioned in an earlier post) has a number so "3500" is more likely to signify that its a later one. Although good for their day, they were nothing more than mass produced instruments and I doubt it was worthwhile them adding serial numbers.

Incidentally, I spotted several new ones hanging in a shop last week - all now made in China (where else!) Same name, totally different construction. One of them had the only backward bow I've ever seen on a new guitar - and the shop didn't appear to have noticed! The moral, therefore, is, check before you buy and, if you don't know what backward bow/reverse relief is, take someone with you who does.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 10:19 AM

Have you tried Here?

Eko Music Group, Sede Legale Via Falleroni, 92 - P.O. Box 58 - 62019 Recanati (MC)

Sede Operativa Via O.Pigini, 8 - Zona Industriale Aneto - 62010 Montelupone (MC)

Tel. [phone] - Fax [phone]

Contact Us EKO music

Regards

CC

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ron
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 09:13 AM

I have the Ranger 12 with the gold label inside,,Mine has a green plastic plate on the rear headstock with the serial number on. The number is around 3500 from memory so maybe an early one?,,Any more info would be welcome,,Thanks

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ian Gill
Date: 14 May 10 - 12:51 PM

I bought one of these [the 6 string version] from Snakey Jake in Crewe about '92 for a family member to learn on. The guitars are bolt on neck, plywood/'laminate' construction with a Gibson type 'batwing' scratchplate and a zero fret. The necks are chunky but the action is good and easy to adjust. They are heavy because they are very robust - they were a favoured busking/outdoor guitar in the 60's and early 70's. The shiny gold label inside doesn't give a date but serial nos. should be on the headstock.
When I go to visit I play it and it still sounds good.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Jeff Ehlert
Date: 12 May 10 - 08:04 AM

I have a Ranger 12 with the pickup. I bought it used in 1980 for $100. I put new tuners on in around 1987, and can keep it in "E" tuning with little trouble. Yes it is a heavy guitar, but I love my EKO and don't intend to part with it. The lacquer has its "battle scars" as I call them, but it still plays well, and sounds great.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: buddhuu
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:13 PM

There is an Eko 6 string in my office (bolt-on neck) and another Eko 6 string on top of my wardrobe (set neck). In the 1970s I had a black Ranger 12. I love them.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 01:08 PM

Mine still hangs in the spare room with 30 year old strings on it. It dates from the mid 60's and they were, within a few bob, 35 quid new. They were OK for their time but too heavily built and consequently too quiet but not as quiet as the six string version. Fortunately, I never owned one of those. I went on to the Yamaha FG180 and have since passed on to an ever growing stable of more exotic paraphernalia.
Ray

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Brian May
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:42 PM

I bought mine in 1968, and it remains the heaviest 12 string I've ever owned - BUT I loved it.

It was a really honest guitar, held tune but had a plastic coated neck, if I remember correctly.

I used to strap on my back and go to gigs on my 1954 Triumph Thunderbird, arriving at the gig (dressed like a Dylan clone, no helmet and curly hair) with a head full of local insect life.

God I was cool.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 08:25 PM

I have a six string Eko J-54/1. The date sep 5 1969 is stamped on the inside sticker.
The J-54 the Electra are an identical twins. I am unsure when EKO started using the Ranger name for this model, but in 1969 they were stamping the date inside.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 08:17 PM

I have had a ranger six which was my second guitar bought new in 1973. I also had a ranger 12 which was given to me by a friend because the bridge had lifted due to over stringing. After some judicious use of a chisel and a light hammer tap after rivet removal. and some TLC and glue with new fixings I used it nmyself for a year then the friend who had given it to me bought it back for £70!

I now have a Suzuki 3S which I would never part with, a Norman which the wife bought for my 50th birthday which is sounding better each year as it ages and a Hohner which I found in a very dilapidated condition in a second hand shop which after some TLC sounds brill.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

CC

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 07:34 PM

I have an Eko Ranger 12 :)

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Wrinkles
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 06:03 AM

I'd one of these in the 70's but it got broken during a bar brawl when someone put their foot through it. I really missed it.

I managed to get another from ebay, for a mere 76 quid. I've got it tuned to Open D and it's my favourite guitar now ;-)

To address the original question I've never seen dates anywhere on Ekos, but I don't recall seeing any in the early 60's and I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) that they vanished from the shelves around the mid 80's. Certainly their greatest popularity was in the 70's, and most folk I know associate the Eko Rangers, 6 and 12 string, with the 70's.

They frequently turn up on ebay, sometimes for very silly prices, and sometimes quite reasonable prices.

Wrinkles

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 01:51 PM

yes I had one too lost in 1970 in Grantham - it hasn't got Dix written inside it, has it?

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Fossil
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 10:38 AM

Maybe it was mine! I had one once, it was lost, stolen or just strayed when I was a student in Brighton around 1966. Nice axe, big sound, but difficult to tune/keep tuned, solid, heavy and dependable. I still miss it.

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: mooman
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 04:17 AM

At a guess it'd probably be around 1966-1970 but is there nothing visible on the label to give a clue as mentioned by Liz above. Also any other details, e.g. headstock decoration, that could help.

We forensic guitarists love this kind of challenge! I expect Eric will be along soon...

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 04:07 AM

are we talking of the master luthier Umberto Eko?

Subject: RE: what year???
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 03:14 PM

Can you not see in through the soundhole and find the serial number that's usually pasted inside?

Or try looking for an Eco website and asking them directly.

LTS

Subject: what year???
From: GUEST,stumped
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 02:35 PM

can any one tell me the year on an eco ranger 12 with a steal peg bourd that comes out of the back of the guitar thanks