EKO Ranger 12

An Eko Ranger 12 string made in Italy 1969 ish; no pick ups, all acoustic. Mahogany back and sides, rosewood fretboard and head, a laminate top.

On the finger-plate is a name scratched in the plastic of a possible original owner:it looks like 'Chris Preston'?? Unless it's Elvis Presley...

As for looks, well it looks................awesome and downright peculiar! But when you've hit 45, you don't care about street cred....

Is there an Eko fan club??!!

I am just a strummer but play for pleasure; folk, C&W, blues...70s west coast music. The EKO gives a full rich sound, resonant of the sixties/seventies period with all its imperfections and'natural' sound that we love. Great for using un-miked and in places you can't use an amp or PA system. The only problem is it weighs a ton at the neck end so use a big strap....

Everything is still fine. The action is the lowest I have ever found, possibly due to the 0 fret at the very top; I have never touched it for fear of messing it up.

It's built to survive a nuclear attack let alone a live concert! I've played it in church halls, university, bars and outside carol services in the freezing cold, just as it is, with no back up: I've had it for nigh on 30 years and it will probably outlive me...10/10 as a rating. Sometimes you hesitate to take a guitar out in a jostle for fear of scratching or damage-not this one! it really is rock solid.

Never gone back to the company. Never had to. I broke a tuning peg and by luck found a similar one in a guitar repair shop so got it fixed. I bought it 3rd hand in 1980 so the warranty had run out.

I'm also lucky enough to own several Ibanez guitars: an EW 12ASE, (a new one so it's being played in); an EW 20QM which is a beauty; an AEL 20E for the projection and an AEG 10E, a thin bodied model, plus a Samick D6. Every guitar is different in tone and in handling but the one I would never trade in is the EKO for sentimental reasons rather than the way it sounds. It was the first and only.

Stolen? No-one in their right mind would steal such a monster! but if I lost it, then tears would flow.

I bought it off an ex boyfriend when we split up in 1980 and it was kept in an attic along with the other memories until about 2000 when I unearthed it and had it restrung and treated it to a new hard case to the utter disbelief of the retailer. It still plays brilliantly after years of neglect; the action is still the best thing about it; the worst is the difficulty in tuning it.

(The ex-boyfriend got back in contact and we married last year...at least he knows how to tune it...EKOs of the past, maybe??) it's got to be 10/10.

I bought my 1969 model new in January 1970 from Banks music shop in York, England for ??45. has been sued extnesively eery week since and travelled much of the world with me just in a simple plastic cover - and which alone says much about its 'tank'-like build quality! Has finally just been completetly restored with the only new parts being replacment machines and the soundhole decal (which I had to custom commisison - now ahve several sapres for sale if anyone needs one.) See the 'EKO restoration' section at www.markwilderspin.com )

I loved the tone and sound right from the start. Newly restored, it now sounds just as I remember it new. Now have it permanently tuned to DADGAD and the big open sound compliments the tuning perfectly.

It always had a great action and still does. The nex has slightly twisted but not so much as anyone excpet with a pair of engineer's calipers would notice. The original finish was like iron - as was discovered during restoration when no modern lacquer remvoe woudl toch it and it all had to be hand scraped!

Lasted almost 40 years without any work at all.

Brandoni music in Wembley music is the place to go for spares. Colin Sillence in Stroud, Gloucetershire is the place to go to for restoration.

Playing since 1967. Other main guitar is Ovation Custom Legend 12 string. If lost or stolen I would be devastated! I would probably replace with a new one via Brandoni but it just wouldn't be the same.

First of all, sorry if my english is not quite correct for technical terms. I bought my Ranger 12 in 1969 in Paris and it was of course made in Italy. It doesn't seem to be very common as it is a semi-electric one ( unfortunately it always sounded awful on a guitar amp ).

It's the best guitar I've ever played on for singing along. If you play a Beatles or Kinks-like pop song, as well as C&W or folk, you have a whole band in your room ! The sound is rich but appears to be somewhere between 6 and 12 string, fuller that most 12 string I heard. But, probably due to the poor quality of the mike and the sounding of the body, it's out of question to plug it straight into an amplifier (but sounds nice if you put it on a hi-fi amp for instance).

Very nice blonde guitar.

36 years and not a wrinkle. Need I say more ?

Never had to.

I bought it the year my wife was born, and they definitely are the last two gifts those golden Sixties gave me. It followed me aroud Europe when it was hitching time, fell down a couple of times and had its vernish cracking a bit one cold night in the Alpes mountain (I left it in a van and it was 20 below zero). I own a plain black 6 string Ibanez (correct), a nice blue Washburn electro-acoustic guitar and a Fender Lead II, but my Eko Ranger 12 is second to none.

i believe mine was made in the early 70s. i was a military kid stationed in Naples, Italy and a friend of mine in the Navy gave it to me when he rotated back to the States. i played it for years and years. After joining the military myself and moving around the top got a couple of cracks in it and i strung it for 6 strings and gave it to my younger brother. He had it for about 10 years. i finally got it back and had to have the neck block repaired. i'm putting new Gotoh tuners on it today. i always used La Bella silk and steels on it and at one time had to replace them weekly i played so much.

It has always had a nice, open sound. i think that was enhanced by the silk and steel strings. Harmonics always reminded me of rippling waters.

It always had a nice, low action. Especially for a 12-string. i've had a couple of others over the years, but never one i was as happy with.

This guitar lasted for about 20-years with no care at all, and it even lasted through my experimental teen years. When i thought i had action problems i unbolted the neck and put a couple of medium picks in and played it like that for about 15 years. Solid as a rock!

Never dealt with the company. i got the neck repaired here in Montana at the Santa Cruz repair facility in Townsend. It was kinda funny cause the repair guy had a couple of kids from Norway in to learn the trade. i show up with an Eko and they both kinda look at it and say; "These are very popular guitars in Norway." The neck block had separated over the years and it cost about $150 to get it repaired. They left the finish cracks since that could affect the sound.

i've been playing for about 30 years. i have a Martin D-35 (about 20 years old), Taylor 414-CE (about 5 years old), Kentucky mandolin KM-180S (about 15 years old), Flatiron A-style mandolin (about 5 years old), an Aria banjo (about 25 years old), and a Fender MB-4 bass (about 1 year old). If my Eko were unavailable i would have to try to find another one. Just can't beat the sound from my learning days.

I think it was made in early seventies. It still has the sticker on it from where it was bought. i.e. Cuthbertsons , Cambridge St. Glasgow. It was bought in 1974 for #36 Sterling. This I know because I got one at the same time form Cuthbertsons in Gilmour St.Paisley. We used them in our local church for folk hymns at the time. Mine was subjected to years of abuse and lasted until 1991 when the neck eventually snapped. (A weakness because of the strain of 12 strings)But the one I have now was given to me as a present as the owner new I loved it and hasn't used it for years. It was still in it's original case and apart from one chip on the back of the body is in pristine condition. Beautiful laquer not even a crack at the neck where it usually appears. Frets still in good condition. I've gave it a 10 not only for the features but because of the nostalgia value.

There are certain songs I composed with my Eko in the eighties which don't sound right on my Fender Acoustic but are brought to life with the jangly sound of this guitar.I'm revisiting my old style and want to do new recordings of old songs. I find it full and bright and as I still play guitar in church I can bring back a bit of the folk style which I know a lot of the congregation will appreciate. I bought a bottle cap pick up which sticks to the guitar with blue-tack and produces a convincing sound which blends well with other instruments. I use it straight through the P.A. which means that I get a nice, bright high end.

I know my old guitar had a slightly better set up at the beginning as I always preferred to play my own at the time. But now this model is set up for me and it feels like old times. The action is really low for a 12-string and I am using extra light strings and have tuned it down a tone using a capo on the 2nd fret because I do not wish to cause excess strain on the neck. The frets were given a rub with wet/dry and have come up extremely polished. The mother of pearl inlay on the fretboard is a really nice touch, something you don't see a lot of these days. The laquer is pristine except for a chip on the back of the body. This slight chip at the back I will see to after getting advice on how to fix it. It does not affect the sound.

My Fender now although only bought a few years ago does not look as good as this machine. I expect with TLC and barring accidents it will last me for many years. I expect to use it regularly for all sorts of things and overall am very, very pleased.

I can't thank Lynn enough after years of pestering to buy it from her and she said she would never sell it and eventually said as she knew I would take good care of it she would just give it to me.

I have been playing for 33 years since I was 12 and have played many different instruments eventually concentrating on Bass. I have a strange collection of guitars Including a Fender Acoustic (cheapie but good), a Roland MIDI Guitar (The Midi part is crap but an excellent guitar to play). And my Ibanez Ed300 Bass (Superb! Made of Lustite! Eh? what's Lustite)

I'm told that in the sixties every recording studio had one of these leaning against the wall. Brandoni bought the contents of the Eko factory when it closed. Mine is a new guitar assembled from body, neck etc first made about 30 years ago. Brandoni now has very few left, so if you want a 'new' instant classic you'd better hurry! Mine is unusual 'cos it's got a pale back and sides which appear to be flame maple! It replaces one I had for many years and have missed sorely since I traded it for a Seagull.

I play Christian folksy stuff on Sundays and rock/pop with a band. I bought a Fishman rare earth blend pick-up for it and play it through a Marshall 50 watt acoustic amp. The internal mike needs to be treated with respect to avoid feedback but enhances the bass which, let's face it, isn't the Eko's strong suit. The sound is jangly and very sixties - I love it, but it's a matter of taste.

Brandoni's luthier Alan set it up with a very nice low action. There are no unwanted buzzes and it's easier to play than was my old, factory built, original. The bookmatched back is beautiful and the laminated top has a very attractive grain. The lacquer has one or two dust inclusions in it, but overall it looks very nice.

My old one stood twenty-something years of abuse, and now that I know how to look after a guitar properly I'm expecting this one to see me out.

Roberto Brandoni is a charming man and so is Alan. They've always looked after me very well and I expect that this guitar will get me just the same courtesy and customer care. They have a great range of spares - including correctly spaced tuners and they can be found on the net.

I've been playing for 37 years. I also have a Washburn Ea33SN electro-acoustic and a Line6 Variax for which I traded a Burns Marquee. I sold my Seagull 12 to pay for the Eko - it was a great guitar but not so evocative of the 60's as the Ranger 12. Beat up old Fenders and Gibsons fetch huge prices. You can't buy a great-playing guitar classic cheaper than the Eko Ranger 12!

Ranger12 EKO from Italy
original tuner, need to know what kind of heads would fit it without making any other holes?

it has a rich and full sound.

guitar has only a laminate crack by the fretboard(top) did not affect the wood at all.

only hardware problem I have is I need to replace the machine heads, if anyone knows what fits this without modification, please let me know. I'm looking at Grovers.

don't know, bought it of a little store down south.

been playing over 20 years
Now that I know how rare it is, I'll hold on to it. I would buy one again. Good wood, low action. Hate, too heavy but I guess that's how they figured it would last forever.
compared it to a Yamaha 12 string, I think the Ranger 12 still sounds better.

Suspect it was made in the 60`s.I bought it second hand twenty-eight years ago and have played it almost every day since.Very rarely needs re-tuned.I fitted a schaller pick-up just to hear how it sounded amplified and was not disappointed.There is one crack in the heavy laquer finish but it`s hardly noticable as it follows the grain of the wood.

As I play mainly folk and C&W the rich mellow tone suits perfectly and is loud enough to allow picking styles to be heard across a crowded room.Although a bit heavy it is comfortable to hold with or without a strap.

When I got it the action had already been set-up so I`ve left it that way.It is solidly built and has taken years of knocking about at parties,gigs etc.,but just keeps coming back for more.By far the most robust guitar I have ever owned.The deep laquered finish has not lost any of its lustre despite its age.I do polish it regularly.

The only thing I`ve had to do to it is replace the tuning pegs but if as I suspect the guitar is nearly 40 years old then that`s not a bad record.There is a crack in the scratch plate but because of the dark colour it is not too obvious.Other than that the guitar is solid and have come to depend on it like an old friend.

I had problems obtaining the new tuning pegs and will probably have to have a new scratch plate custom made but in view of its age `I`m not too surprised.

I`ve been playing for almost forty years and would not like to have to part with my Eko 12.I also own the six string Ranger(not in as good a condition) and an Art & Lutherie.If you can manage to lay your hands on an old Eko I would think it would be a good investment for your music if not for your pocket.

I bought my (baby) guitar new in 1974. Played it in many bands since and she has always given me excellent service. Sometimes I only use as a 6 string which is great for backing a lead gutar. I did the action myself about 12 years ago and have not needed to touch it since. The timbers are beautiful and I polish the guitar every 3-4 months. It still looks great. I have fitted a George L pick up and play through a Behringer GX212 amp. Sounds great with a bit of chorus.

Unplugged the sound is very "folky" and mellow when played lightly. The guitar can take a real hammering though but sting sounds great. Very full sound through an amp.

From what I remember back in '74 the set up action was a touch high. However, since lowering it you can play barre chords all day.
The workmanship on the guitar is great. My friends love playing it as well.

Played it just about everyday since '74. Still sounds as good as ever.
The guitar can take some real rough stuff. Always polishes up great.
Only problem I have ever had is with a machine head.

Never needed

I've been playing guitar for 30+ years and have owned other acoustics - but none as good as this. I also play a Fender Strat which is laso nice but I just love my EKO. I've never been tempted to trade it because it is so great. If it was stolen - what can I say, I'd loose a friend. I have never seen another EKO 12 in all my years of playing so I guess they are quite rare?

I bought this guitar 25 years ago from a shop in Windsor. It is, as they all were, Italian. 21 frets, laminated glowing orange top with a wood pattern that makes you want to polish it and wonder, Nature at its best.The wood used is not known but it feels like a substantial piece of rainforest. My EKO has a 'fuller figure' just like Italian ladies of a 'certain age. Comfortable to hold and play. Nice thin rounded neck that allows for easy playing. Hard leatherette case to keep her, (cos this guitar is all woman) warm and safe. Easy to tune by use of Nickel plated wings. Aluminium adujustable bridge with a tailpiece that takes substantial pegs.

I play folk and my EKO is perfect for this. No rattles, buzzing or unwanted noises just pure clear sound, rich or bright or rich and bright, this guitar lets the player choose. Loud or soft are options and not decided for you. It holds tuning well. I love it.

The guitar is still set up as I bought it, no problems with action fit or finish. It has needed no repairs and all is still working, and looking, as the day I bought it.

This guitar has withstood use, abuse, gigs, lifts, stairs, fields, drunken sessions and others playing it. It is a tank amongst guitars.

No need for repairs or contact with the company. It came with a one year warranty.

I love this guitar because it feels so right. It works and does all I ask of it. I have been playing for over 25 years and I never tire of hearing the sounds it can make. If it was lost or stolen I would buy another but I have a gut feeling that a replacement would not feel or be the same. She is the only one I have.