Product: EKO Florentine
Price Paid: 70 (#) used
Submitted
10/16/2003
at
12:19pm
by
David Edwards
Email: youknowwhoyourgodis at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:
9
This is the single weirest bass that i ever have seen, and i am posting this review to help other people like me who have found a guitar like this and want to find out more.
the guitar is an early 60's Eko Florentine electric semi-acoustic bass. they were a company based in italy and they made guitars for only a short period of time before their factory burned down (i have been told). this makes their guitars somewhat rare.
the top is arched with 2 single pickups which are placed oddly close to the strings. it features 2 tone and 2 volume controld as well as a pickup selector with an off setting! (presumably so as you can play unplugged). even though it is semi acoustic, it has no sound holes and so is even more odd.
the body is an SG shape and the the finish is a natural burst on the top and back (all others i have seen online were red/white), and a black neck with another natural burst running up the middle. this is a very nice effect, and the banding on the edges at the sides is very well done. it would have had a pick guard originally, but this has sadly been lost on mine.
the neck has 21 frets, and the head is black with the same white banding and brass machines with pearlescent plastic hachine heads. the strings go over a wooden bridge and slot into a stainless steel tailpiece. the neck also has the hite banding on the side of the fretboard, and the board itself is the same wood as the bridge (im not sure what type, probably rosewood). the fretwire is very thin, like that on a classical guitar.
Sound
:
No Opinion
i have never really played the guitar, and it needs restringing (still has some 70's strings on it), but it was used by a small rock band's bassist as a gigging guitar.
cant really comment, im not a bass player.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
gotta say, this guitar is beautiful, and even 40 years after it was made, there are very few marks on it. the quality of the banding is remarkable. the finish is flawless, and it satys in tune well and is easy to tune.
the action is consistantly about 3mm above the frets, which i guss is fairly low for a bass.
Reliability/Durability
:
7
well, 40 years old, been gigging, and still in great condition! good durability i'd say. the bottom strap know has been moved so i guess it got lose at some point, and the pickup selector is a bit dodgy.
however, it still works fine and is very solid.
only complaint is the dodgy pickup selector.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
long dead company, no comment
Overall Rating
:
8
i havent been playing for long, but my dad has, and he bought this guitar (and he isnt even a bassist). i think he was attracted by the look of the thing, and bought it on the spur of the moment, it is a very striking guitar (and i have never seen a picture of another one)
ill say if you saw it you'd probably love it and want to buy it. not sure how much it is worth, but i wouldnt sell it!
if you ever see another one (even a natural burst 6 string), please email me with a piccie. lets not let these classics die!
