EKO E-20

This is a jumbo dreadnought which is exactly the same size and shape as the Ranger VI. In fact I bought it on ebay and it was advertised as a Ranger. The pictures weren't clear enough to show exactly what it was but when I got it the first thing I noticed was it wasn't as heavy as the Ranger. I don't know what wood it's made of but the inside looks the same as the Ranger.

It has an all-black finish with white trim round the edges and the soundhole. No lacquer cracks, therefore the lacquer coating is obviously not as thick as the Ranger. No scratchguard. An adjustable bridge on a wooden base which is about twice as broad as the Ranger.

Made in Recanati, Italy, in I would guess the 1970s. Apart from the differences mentioned, everything else is just like the Ranger.

I'm not a professional musician, so don't expect any expert opinion here. It sounds very much like the Ranger. Nice booming sound. Decent sustain. It's not the best guitar I've played but it's not the worst either.

This guitar was about 30 years old when I bought it and the action was slightly high for me but with the adjustable bridge I handled that in a few seconds. It's had a few knocks over the years but seems to have stood up to them well apart from the trim round the top back edge (at the bridge end of the guitar) which had come away and needed to be glued back on. I think the tuners had also been replaced but they look very much like the originals.

As I've said, it seems to have stood up well over the last 30 years. The strap buttons seem solid enough and these Eko's are definitely built to last. Most of the marks on the surface of the guitar are where a scratchguard should have been so that's probably a design flaw.

No idea about customer support.

I've been playing guitar for my own amusement for many years although I'm by no means an expert player. I bought this because I thought it was a black Ranger, which is something I've never seen before. It turned out that I'd bought a black E-20 which I've also never seen before. I've tried google to get some information about it but I can't find anything. So maybe this is a rare beast.

I bought this as a collectable guitar rather than one I want to play. The price I paid included a hard case so I think I got a bargain, especially if there are so few of these around.

I've got a Ranger VI, Yamaha FG-340II, Ovation Applause, Godman F601EQ, Washburn D10CE and an Epiphone EJ200. I've never played a really expensive guitar but for sound my Yamaha beats the pants off all the others. Strike a chord on that baby and everyone within earshot sits up and takes notice!

If this Eko were lost or stolen I doubt if I could find another one so I'd just have to get over it. Meanwhile if I ever need the money I reckon I could turn over a tidy profit by selling it!