EKO was an Italian musical manufacturer, prominent in Europe from the late 50’s to the 1980’s. The brand lives on today, but the instruments are no longer produced in Italy. To the best of my knowledge, they evolved from being an accordion manufacturer in the late 50’s, to creating some of the coolest electric guitars in the early sixties. They were known for their crazy pearloid and faux woodgrain finishes, accordion switches and funky body shapes. Later in the early 1970’s, they also took over production for VOX guitars, and were distributed in USA by the LoDuco Brothers in Milwaukee. That is likely where this guitar came from.
Vintage EKO 12-String DLX Electric Guitar
Here is an unusual 12 string model, likely dating from the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Obviously inspired by the Hofner “Beatles” shaped guitars, it is a surprisingly good player. I’ll let the pictures to the talking from here on in…
wish i had one ,it looks brilliant
I’d like to read your opinion on these old guitars and how they sound or play, especially the eccentricities. For example, how well does that 12-string vibrato unit hold it’s tune?
Very cool! McCartney looks, Harrison sound. Great guitar for this 50th anniversary month..I’ve seen some 6 strings of this shape on Ebay but never saw a 12 string.
Hi guys, good news from Eko: they are now back to MADE IN ITALY. The new top line of instruments is manufactured in the land of origin of the brand. 😉
Where did you hear that? I saw ther electrics at NAMM, prettyt sure made in Indonesia.
Apparently, it’s a compound of Indonesian nationals, illegally producing the guitars in the basement of the Indonesian Consulate, just outside of Naples; so, they are “Italian”, they are “made in Indonesia’ (so to speak) and with the generally lawless state of affairs in Italy….
I bought an acoustic Eko back in ’73 or ’74 when I was in the Med.
I still have and play it. It is worn to (near) death, cracks in the laquer on the top, back and sides but not in the wood, still plays and sounds great.
Probably the least expensive of my 15+ guitars, but also my most cherished because it traveled around the world with me and I must have written 10,000 songs on it.
Really James! Either you very naive or you should be writing novels……………..
Hey guys, I bought this EKO from Mike a few years ago and I play it all the time. It’s truly a unique guitar and sounds very different from my VOX Mark XII electro-acoustic (tear-drop hollow body), which was also made by EKO in the 60s. I believe that the pickups have bar magnets and are ideal for capturing all the string vibrations. If you can find one, get it. One caveat – because it’s a hollow body, it is neck heavy. Just takes some getting use to. It’s my favorite 12 string and sounds incredible thru VOX amps (tube and solid state).
I’m having nightmares already, a 12-string with a Bigsby style vibrato…looks very cool but just imagine stringing it and trying to keep it in tune!
I had one. Used it live and for recording. Unfortunately I had to sell it for rent money. Landlords suck.