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what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar

25 Sep 05 - 02:35 PM (#1570403)
Subject: what year???
From: GUEST,stumped

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


25 Sep 05 - 03:14 PM (#1570429)
Subject: RE: what year???
From: Liz the Squeak

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


26 Sep 05 - 04:07 AM (#1570678)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Big Al Whittle

are we talking of the master luthier Umberto Eko?


26 Sep 05 - 04:17 AM (#1570686)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: mooman

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


26 Sep 05 - 10:38 AM (#1570862)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Fossil

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.


26 Sep 05 - 01:51 PM (#1570965)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Big Al Whittle

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


27 Sep 05 - 06:03 AM (#1571333)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Wrinkles

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


22 Dec 09 - 07:34 PM (#2794661)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST

I have an Eko Ranger 12 :)


22 Dec 09 - 08:17 PM (#2794695)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Commander Crabbe

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


22 Dec 09 - 08:25 PM (#2794700)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Sandy Mc Lean

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.


16 Apr 10 - 03:42 PM (#2888132)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Brian May

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.


17 Apr 10 - 01:08 PM (#2888637)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ray

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


17 Apr 10 - 01:13 PM (#2888643)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: buddhuu

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.


12 May 10 - 08:04 AM (#2905144)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Jeff Ehlert

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.


14 May 10 - 12:51 PM (#2906915)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ian Gill

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.


02 Jan 12 - 09:13 AM (#3283374)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ron

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


02 Jan 12 - 10:19 AM (#3283405)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Commander Crabbe

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. +39 0733 227 1 - Fax +39 0733 227 250

Contact Us EKO music

Regards

CC


02 Jan 12 - 12:16 PM (#3283475)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Ray

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.


23 Feb 15 - 03:41 PM (#3689207)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: GUEST,Brendan

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.


24 Feb 15 - 08:34 AM (#3689364)
Subject: RE: what year??? - Eco Ranger 12 guitar
From: Phil Cooper

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.