EKO 500/3

Eko Sparkle 500/3 pu model with plastic tortie piece under the bridge not the later metal plate-version. Bolt on neck, rosewood fretboard, truss rod, black lacquer back gold binding on body, original machine heads and mad propeller fret inlays 8-).
6 plastic pu selector switches and tremolo.
This is the rarer, earlier verison of the 500 model. Creamy-white pearly plastic fascia and supercool superfluity of tortiseshell scratchplate. Black head.
Circa 1964-5. Pretty original condition WITH outlandish original hardcase in lime green crocodile finish! Mwah!
Jazzmaster/Jaguar-esque shape.

There seems to be a wee bit of trash-talk about the Sparkles. We bought it over the internet sight unseen- we were looking for something weird/vintage and playable and this fits the bill! Everyone says 'oooh I dunno those ekos, look good, sound crap' but IMO thats bollocks. I readily admit my rank beginner status but my partner and I have a combined listening age of 50 years dammit and we know a crap sound when we hear one!
Now, we're not into the bog-standard and frankly boring Gibson sound so keep that in mind. We lean toward the telecaster quirks and character.
Retro pu switches - neck pu is low and mellow, almost acoustic, central mid-range, rounded sound, bridge pu puts out searingly bright jangly alien strangeness. You can have one, two or all three and this does us nicely. Very versatile sounds, no buzzing, whining, crackles or nastiness. We DID have the frets dressed but thats all that needed to be done. Not bad for a 40yr old guitar!
We run it through both a Vox pathfinder 15r and a little Peavy Rage 158. Lovely bright Tele sounds with the Vox and rockin, dirtier chunkiness through the Peav.

Remember, we're Les Paul haters (they look like scrotums to me!) We have heard FAR worse than the Sparkle and in our estimation this guitar should be considered by anyone looking for something with an interesting, idiosyncratic sound. Havent tried the tremolo yet- will work up the courage one day :-0
A note on the much-reviled sustain- we cant explain this comment as ours sustains just fine. Nothing spectacular but would certainly not call it *deficient*. Nothing that weighs this much can have no sustain- the weight argues for a hardwood body but if not it's the world's heaviest laminate! Our tremolo is bolted like a motherfucker to the body but theyre not all like this- some are just screwed on through a metal plate so choose carefully if you can.

What can we say? FANTASTIC action, fast and smooth. Thats not just our opinion- guitar geek associates, the guy in the shop AND the tech drooled over its slick action and lemme tell ye, after labouring away on an OUCH chinese tele copy, this is a velvety dream to play. Has one of those bridges you can adjust on either side with the circular doohickies. Currently wears ernie ball 10s.
Some dickhead had fucked with the neck at one stage, chipping the back lacquer and it was probably the same DH who gouged a small chunk from the pearly fascia on the front near the neck but overall, disregarding attacks by twits the fit and finish are neat and solid. No sloppy bindings or bad lacquerwork- overall design flashy but also balanced and considered. The finish is pretty top-notch and I cant find anything to complain about. Seen some fucking ugly messes in the shops- Ibanez, Epiphones... like hookers on a monday morning with their sloppy finishes and fittings. But not Mr Sparkle!
Incredibly beautiful and bested only by the blue and red Sparkles for sheer stylishness. Particularly love the tone/volume knobs which have silvery sparkle insets! What more could you ask???
Gripes... Perhaps the weight of it! Placement of pu switches maybe? Cant say its been an issue for us. The machine heads are original and DO annoy me with their insensitivity.
Some oxidation of remaining original screws and chrome scratchboard pins but I havent cleaned it yet so this is probably improvable.
Bridge is surprisingly clean and bright looking. Have original bridge cover too he he he!

This pretty baby is older than me and still going strong. If I look this good at 40 Ill be well pleased! Original hardwear seems to be holding up- pu's still sound clean, nothing broken, neck still sound and straight. We hear the electrics are crazy but we've not heard a single crackle.
Under hot lights and sweaty hands the tuning might slip but this is just a vintage reality.
I would play this at a sedate gig but with some updated hardware this guitar would go the distance under more distressing conditions. Its no cupcake in spite of its flashy looks. Put it this way- if you were struck with it, it would probably be fatal.
Wouldnt gig without a backup because Im not a complete moron. But Id use it for the more intimate soirees and mosh-free occasions.
Strap buttons fine.
Hmmm maybe I wouldnt like to subject the plastic fascia to super-hot lights or cigarette burns but thats just me being a fussy girl.

Apparently Eko have resurfaced as a going concern in the 90s but this is a vintage model and I wouldnt bother consulting them really. If I were after a part Id go to a fetish guitar site and ask around. Its such an interesting guitar that the geeks and techs seem to like the challenge. Watch their expression when you take it out of the bag... creepy eh???

Been playing a month or so now solidly but on and off for a few years. Own a Chinese tele copy (nice one not a crap one- I reccommend them for modding and we intend to do so) A Boss ME 6 effects box (needs a microswitch replaced but dont they all DOH!) peavey rage 158 amp (sweet) and a vox pathfinder 15W (even sweeter- buy one now).
Did I wish Id asked something before I bought? Hmmm no.
If it were stolen I would go on a vigilante rampage. It would probably be chained up in the blacked-out cellar of some mouth-breathing guitar geek. :-) I would buy another if I could afford it. At a push I would consider one of those lovely new Yamahas.
What do I love about it? Its wonderful looks and finish. Its freaky vintage sound, impeccable action and its complete overall sexiness. We chose this one because it was quirky, playable and pretty. The collector value is a bonus.
I wish it had more efficient machine heads but thats about it.
If you see one for a reasonable price we suggest you put aside your prejudices and give it a go. We seem to have gotten lucky with Mr Sparkle- he's sound and original in the best possible way so look out for one that hasnt been fucked with or busted up. Perhaps that sort of thing accounts for the complaints about them etc.
And choose your gear carefully- pick an amp that compliments it's vintage spirit and remember if youre a poodle rocker go rub yourself against a Gibson and leave the cool guitars to us heh heh heh.