I’ve been running www.myrareguitars.com since about 1997. Before that I was doing it with pen and paper. Recently I discovered a file folder on my backup drive with TONS of photos containing just about every guitar I’d ever bought and sold over the years. Looking at these photos have stirred up some memories. Here is another story with some photos (to the best of my deteriorating memory) from the Back Catalog of myRareGuitars.
EKO Guitars
EKO Guitars started in Italy in 1959 by Oliviero Pigini. It soon became the largest guitar manufacturer in Europe producing a half million guitars a year. Although primarily distributed throughout Europe, some models found their way to North America in the 1960′s via Milwaukee’s LoDuca brothers. Many of these “budget” guitars were purchased by our parents as student guitars and found their way into the back of a closet. Over the years, with the help of EBAY, many have surfaced and found their way into my collection. Here are some highlights to share. Enjoy!
Vintage EKO Condor Electric Guitar
Vintage EKO Condor Electric Guitar (Red)
Vintage EKO 12-String Electric Guitar (Violin)
EKO 500 4V Woodgrain
The early 60′s were the best years for EKO after evolving from an accordion factory and bringing with it the unusual switches and finishes. This is a vinyl woodgrain. The 4V meant 4 pickups, 3V as 3, etc.+
Vintage EKO 500 4V Electric Guitar (Woodgrain)
EKO 700 4V
More from the early 60′s was this silver sparkle 700 4V. The 700 series was a very distinct design, odd cutaways. The switches were 1+2, 1+3, 2+3, 3+4, 1+4, etc. trying to give the player every possible combination.
Vintage EKO 700 4V Electric Guitar (White)
EKO 500 1V
Here is a nice elegant design for a single pickup guitar. I really loved EKO use of vinyl coverings for the bodies (like the accordion days) and the interesting materials for pickguard.
EKO Club
Here is a rare EKO 6 string that seems to be modeled after the Hofner Club Series. It appears to be early/mid 1960′s based on the parts, but I’ve never seen another.
Vintage EKO Club Electric Guitar
EKOMASTER Blue
Here is the Cadillac of the EKO sparkle days. Elaborate push button switches, rotary volume and tone controls. Set necks. Striped see through pickguard.
Vintage EKO Ekomaster Electric Guitar (Blue)
EKOMASTER GOLD
Here is the Cadillac of the EKO sparkle days. Elaborate push button switches, rotary volume and tone controls. Set necks. Striped see through pickguard.
Vintage EKO Ekomaster Electric Guitar (Gold)
EKO Barracuba Bass and 6 string
Here is a pair of EKO Florentine (aka. barracuda) guitars. beautifully detailed pickguard match the redburst finish.
Vintage EKO Barracuda Electric Guitar & Bass (Set)
September 6, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Fantastic!….I love to see these swinging guitars….’50s and ’60s are where its at for everything….the golden age of western civilization…mid-mod, baby!…cars, guitars, and singing stars….I am EKO-friendly….would like to own one. John Fallon of THE STEPPES
September 6, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Hi !
If you have more photos (of ANY brand) PLEASE publish them! If you don’t remember me, I was the fellow that suggested that you try to make a re-issue of the Yamaha SA-17 bass /SA -15 guitar. I also paint pinup girls when not looking for guitars for my own collection (Not as large as yours, but I love each one).
Thanks for letting me bend your ear one more time.
Dale
September 7, 2012 at 12:39 am
Let us not forget that EKO also made the VOX Italian made Acoustic and Electric Guitars.
September 7, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Sweet Collection!
September 28, 2012 at 9:14 am
Hi friends!
I am Remo Serrangeli, i was cheef manager of eko guitars department after Oliviero Pigini (1967 to 1983)
I made all EKO Guitars and VOX from UK and USA!
Now i am cheef consultant in new eko factory! I designed and remade all vintage models with my son Adalberto, cheef R&D dep.t. We are producing in China!
If need some informations about, write me!
best regards
remo
October 7, 2012 at 4:50 am
Hello.
I just stumbled onto here in my search for an alternative to LaBella Silk & Steel medium guage 12 string strings, (sorry, Ill get to the point)
Anyways, the first 12 string I ever bought (40ish years back) was an EKO from my mothers mail order book, and since that day i was hooked onto 12string guitars. I still use the EKO to this day, as the wide neck suits my way of playing, I also like the adjustable bridge as well as the zero fret, something you rarely see these days. so much so that whenever I buy another 12 string Guitar, I now always fit a zero fret, as in my opinion, it improoves it intonation and action no end.
For me, the EKO was all about use-abilaty and playabilaty at an affordable cost, which started me on a road of enjoyment for the many years since.
So Many Many Thanks EKO, My life would have never been the same without you guys.
November 25, 2012 at 11:57 am
Wow! Some of the coolest guitars I’ve seen!
November 25, 2012 at 12:56 pm
“Which ones should we do?”
For starters, skip the first two – the Strat knock-offs, though I love the tortoiseshell pickguards on all the models that have them.
The 12-string is gorgeous, but looks like it would cost a small fortune to produce, meaning the price would be uncharacteristically (for Eastwood) high. I’m partial to black, but natural finishes are my second choice, so the 500 4V and the Club appeal to me, though I’ve seldom seen uglier electronics, and the 500 4V looks like it weighs about 20 lbs. (no, thank you). Love the pickguard on the club, too.
My personal favorites in terms of the guitar’s shape are the 700 4V and the 500 1V, and the pickguard on the 500 1V merits some attention, too. Usually, I don’t care for “automotive” metallic finishes on guitars, but the 500 1V’s blue metalflake is spectacular. Assuming Eastwood’s usual updates for pickups and other hardware, these are the two 6-strings I like the best.
November 26, 2012 at 11:49 am
The guitars with the push buttons are amazing! Remake anyone of those!
November 26, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Hello in the late 60′s I had and Eko bass guitar that i dont see pictured now I still own and eko beatle bass made in the late 70′s
January 7, 2013 at 1:45 pm
i had eko bass. looked same as yours only differdnt scratchplate
February 10, 2013 at 5:33 pm
I have an Old Eko archtop that I bought wrecked and repaired, refinished and re electriced..everything was shot! paid 10$ with the neck hanging off!
Anyway it looks like the same model as the VOX Wildcat is this a 60′s Guitar?
I actuallp play gigs with it…sounds great!