EKO Ranger XII

I have no idea what year it was made, it has twenty-one frets, i believe the tuners have been replace, and they suck they stay in tune but are a pain in the butt to turn.

The sound is very mellow for a dreadnaught guitar, though i suppose that is because of the massive wood block for the bolt on neck. I like the fact that i can put overdrive on it without really having to worry about feedback.

The action is amazing feels really good compared to most twelve strings i have played.

By my guess its at least 40 years old so it must have been built preatty good.

I've been playing for about for years and this is my thirtieth guitar, yea i know my friends call me a guitar whore. I like the guitar though, i'll never get rid of it, well not till tomorrow at least maybe longer if i don't find a good deal soon.

This came to me for $175 , and in a week a lady came into the music store I used to work in, to show me the Ranger XII she'd gotten at a garage sale for $60! She wanted to know if I considered a good purchase. Yes, it was.
I was mortified. It was in much better shape than one i'd paid nearly 3 times as much for...!
Anyway, it's surely the easiest 12-string acoustic neck ever made, thanks to the "zero" fret near the headstock. Very nice action. I think it's from the mid-"sixties and is a copy of a Framus, or at least inspired by Framus designs.
It has a huge block of wood like a 4x 4 inside under the heel. I think this was intended to make these guitars survive worldwide export and sough handling in transit.
Surfboard epoxy varnishes also provide durability, but dampen the sound. Laminated? Probably.
These guitars say Torino on them, but were really made in Racconatta Italy, where they made the electrics for Vox. Like the Phantom XII, which had a similar neck and zero fret. The bridge was a bone with 12 peg hole. Shadowed tobacco sunbust finish.

It sounded fine. But the wood was cracking from tension. A bright sound.

Seeing the guitar self-destruct, I added a tailpiece harp & covered up the peg holes with a veneer of rosewood. The Volume went down a lot, but the installation of an EMG undersaddle pickup with preamp solved the problem. It's primarily a performance guitar used with an amp. I stripped and saned the finish to stop the cracks from showing and it smoothed out beautifully.
I have to give it a 5 for requiring that much work, but the playability induced me to keep it and improve its condition.

It's been around 40 years at least. It will last at least that in the future. The frets have no wear at all. I have gigged with it using no other 12-string as backup.

I've performed in public since 1966. I have a Yamaha 12 from 1977 I use to be heard in rooms with no amp, so this guitar is strictly for amplifying. No other neck compares to it except the Vox Phantom.

I bought my EKO Ranger XII from a secondhand store in 1988. I just happened to see it in the shop window as I was driving past, amidst all the secondhand furniture & bits and bobs. I recognised it instantly as an EKO as I'd owned a six string version since the 70's. I paid ??45.00 for it, which may have been a little overpriced at the time, as the chrome plated plastic machine heads were chipped and stiff, as well as the scratch plate had a couple of quite deep marks on it. It looked like someome had been using a crocodile clip to mic it up at some stage. However, I didn't quibble, because overall it was in good shape & I wanted it. I used the guitar 'as was' for a number of years, including live & studio settings and it never let me down. Although these guitars were never marketed as expensive intruments, the build quality & tone of the instrument are excellent. They came with an adjustable bridge saddle which allows for easy adjutment of the action. I own a couple of other more classy acoustic guitars, but I'll always play my EKO XII. I let the six string go in the early 90's as it was surplas to requirements, but I've no plans to give up my XII. Back in 2001, I decided some restoration was needed. The scratch plate was rubbed down using a mixture of 'Brasso' & polish until the marks had completely dissappeared. (You'd never know!)I also replaced the machine heads with some genuine replacement parts from Brandoni Guitars.(brandoniguitars.co.uk) The EKO factory closed in 1987. Roberto Brandoni aquired the entire inventory of remaining stock, some parts over 40yrs old. I believe the machine heads I bought were probably made for a later model as the pegs are chrome plated metal - much better actually. My EKO, I would say dates back to around the mid-sixties, maybe even earlier, it's difficult to determine. The badge on the headstock says EKO in black on a white background. All the other copies I've seen from this period are white on black. Does anyone know how to date these guitars? The light brown label on the inside says, 'modello RANGER XII. I had a friend who bought one new in the late seventies & it was much lighter, earlier models are heavy beasts! I've read on the 'net'opinions that the tops are laminated as oppose to solid wood, but from what I've read on the Brandoni web site, I'm not sure. The top of mine has matured to an almost orange colour. There are a couple of small cracks in the laquer, but this is very common on old 'Rangers'.

This guitar is ideal for folk music, ballads and soft rock etc. The sound is crisp and loud! Sounds beautiful when the strings are picked. Often played by members of Genesis in the early seventies.

Has an adjustable bridge saddle. However if the action is set too low you may experience buzzing. On the other hand, a lot of barr chord work will be hard going, if the action is not set reasonably low.

These guitars were built to last, apart from the machine heads, the build quality is excellent.

brandoniguitars.co.uk supply most spares parts including the neck.

I've been playing this guitar for almost twenty years, alongside my Fender Telecaster, Yamaha acoustic (early model, much better than recent models)and my Aria electro acoustic. I bought it on the strength of my experience with the 'Ranger' 6 string. It maesures up well against most acoustic 12 strings I've ever played. If it were stolen or damaged I would try and replace it if possible. I guess ebay would be a good starting place!

My EKO was bought in 1964. I was a 16 year old who was listening to the radio one day when I heard an Austarlian group called the Seekers playing their latest song. I heard this wonderful sounding guitar which I later discoverd was a 12 string. I was hooked!! Off to the music store and there it was. An EKO Ranger XII. I paid 45 pounds sterling ( which was a lot of money for me at the time ) and I've been playing it ever since. She's my best mate! Alway's there when required, doesn't argue with me and never complains. I've just fitted a new set of Elixir Light gauge strings which have given it a new lease on life. She really sings well with these strings. I would agree with all of the comments that I have read on this site. They are almost indestructable and I'm sure that when I pass on it will become a family heirloom.

As you could probably guess from the previous paragraph, I was influenced by the 60's music so Simon & Garfunkel, Beatles etc is the style of music that I like to play. The sound is full in range with a range of textures to suit the song. It is ideal for picking but also full rich chord tones are heavenly!

My guitar has never been touched since purchase and that is now 41 years. It is now strating to become a little worn around some of the frets but for now still holds the tone well. It's finish is still pretty original. Only a couple of small chips when I dropped it onto a concrete floor ( when the strap peg broke! ) The colour still looks to me the same with a light amber top with dark brown timber at the sides and back. A very heavy clear finish has not discoloured and still looks very passable. The machine heads in my model seem to be made of aluminium. They are still the original ones, with the exception of one which I damaged in the afore mentioned accident. They have worked reliably for all these years with only an occassional lube!

Although I have never played this guitar in a professional sense, I'm convinced that it would hold it's own in any company. Everything about this guitar is dependable. It has never let me down and has always accepted what ever I have thrown at it. It has survived living in 3 different climatic regions of the world and there is absolutely no evidence of any deterioration of the finish. A testament to the craftsmen who constructed it.

not applicable! never been required!!!

After 41 years of ownership my EKO is still going strong! In fact, I believe my Ranger 12 is becoming better with age, unlike the owner!!! My eldest son has already made overtures to me saying he would love to own it when I move on from this world. "If it were stolen" Well...she was stolen from my home when I had a break in! I had been away for a few day's, only to find on return that my beloved guitar wasn't sitting in it's rightful placce in the lounge. I could care not for any of the other electrical appliances that were taken, only my guitar! A full range of Anglo Saxon expletives didn't help the feeling of loss. To rub salt in, it was fathers day the next day!! On the morning of fathers day there was a knock on the door. It was the police! The local P.C. had the best fathers day present of all, my EKO!! Apparently, the thieves had decided that the EKO was just too heavy and dumped it in a bush in a park! Again, its construction integrity came through with fying colours!! In conclusion, my EKO Ranger XII has been my best mate for all of these years and I will still be playing her until the day I die!

I inherited my Ranger XII from my father. He bought it around about 1970 and for nearly 25 years i lay in a vinyl soft case in my Grandmother's attic. A testament to its maker certainly it survived and even though the string we rusted over it could still make a beautiful sound. Not only that but i moved it from the UK to Ausralia and i know the airline staff weren't gentle with is because my hardcase which I bought new for the trip was quite dented and scuffed when i arrived in Brisbane.

My RXII has what was probably a sunburst finish which has faded to a pleasant orange, mahogany sides and a rosewood neck. 21 jumbo frets (+ a 0 fret near the nut) and block inlays. Whilst the tuning keys are chome cheap rubbish i polished them up and WD40ed them (very carefyully!) and them work like a charm. No pickup but very easy to mike.

With the sort of rubbish this guitar has taken since it was bought you'd tend to think that the sound would be effected. Not at all! i was very pleasantly surprised after replacing the saddle and strings that it was one of the most beutiful instruments i've ever heard! I play rhythm guitar in a gigging band around Brisbane and i never hesitate to put this guitar onstage, we do everything from metal to punk to van halen and joe satriani and whilst i will still be more comfortable playing my six string for a little longer the day's not far off when i say my Ranger is my weapon of choice

This guitar beautiful! apart from a slight crack in the varnish on the back this guitar is still finished brilliantly 30-something years after it was made. I did crack a saddle when refitting it but that was probably my own fault rather than the design.

Completely dependable, i would gig without a backup if my band would let me!

the rear strap button is a bit loose but i'm replacing at this very moment it so theres not much point talking about that!

Dunno! I can see having to pleace some things in the next five years and the EKO site isn't very helpful. But as far as it has needed fixing neither me or my father have had problems with it.

LOVE IT! Get one if you don't have one! Water torture and hot irons for the thief that touches this work of art

I was first attracted to the 12 string as a young teenager after hearing a song by the Hollies called "So Lonely" and loved the sound, I decided there and then I wanted one, I bought this guitar brand new a number of years later, remembering the song I went for the model with the built in bridge pickup, a single knob being the volume control.
I'd tried quite a few others, Guild etc but liked the sound from this one plus the neck seemed to compliment my less than nimble fingers, wide enough to accomodate them but thin enough to bar comfortably, my only quibble is that there is no adjustable bridge because of the pickup, not a big deal in the long term as the guitar has remained as rock solid as it was the day I bought it something like 30 years ago.
22 frets, rectangular MOP inlays, large scalloped scratchplate which looks quite stylish even today, not sure about the woods that it's constructed from but while searching the web for some info, I found a repairers site which stated that the top is in fact plywood, and showed a couple of pictures of one and the state it was in before repair so I've no reason to doubt it, weird though.

I like people like Neil Young/CSNY, "The Needle and the Damage Done" just sounds brilliant on this guitar, The Eagles "Hotel California" and others by them are really effective when jamming with some mates.
I currently don't have any amplification for it but even without the sound is full and rich, so honeyed yet pick nearer the bridge and suddenly it's all sharps and jangles, I can't say I've ever heard a more rounded 12 string at any price and it fits the bill for many different playing styles.

The shop didn't have anyone who could tune a 12 string (or couldn't be bothered) so it was unplayable, I'd never owned one before so was stuck for about a week before I found someone who showed me the ropes (or strings) :0)
Everything was then fine but the wirewound strings were hell on my fingers so I shopped around and got some tapewound ones which were so much better, Framus Black Rose comes to mind but it was a long time ago so don't quote me :0)
The one minor flaw with the build which remains to this day, the internal lead from the volume control which goes down to the pickup or jack was only stuck in place with a bit of what looked like masking tape and needless to say came adrift in a very short time, pretty shoddy work but I've never really found a solution to it.
All in all though I was completely delighted with the rest of it and over the years the sound if anything has become even better and the action is still as good today as it ever was, kudos to the italian bloke/s who built it (internal wire apart).

Given that it's built like a brick outhouse and has lasted me around 30 years, never having had a case or cover and I've got 4 kids now I'd guess that it might last a bit longer (probably outlast me) as it's in lovely condition still, there are however a few very minor and very small dents mostly not even enough to actually break the varnish.
I've never gigged with it (I don't) but I believe it would stand up to a life on the road with little problem, I do give it a damn good hammering sometimes when I'm being slightly more enthusiastic than usual and strap buttons have never been a problem and even now there is no crackle from the one control on it, all in all, solid and reliable, certainly a winner in this catagory.

Never needed to contact them and I doubt that the new company, Yamaha if I've been informed correctly, will be interested somehow.

Been playing on and off for my own amusement for nearly 40 years, started with some real cheap and junk solid electrics, bought the Eko, later had 3 Les Paul Copies, only one of which was any good, currently only have the Eko and a small no name 6 string accoustic though I have also a couple of keyboards.
If the Eko were stolen I'd be pretty upset, the old lady and I have been through a lot together and share a load of memories, would I buy another, I'm not sure, I'm pretty sentimental about this one and don't know if another would be the same even if it were identical in every way.
I love everything about this old guitar, sound, looks and action, nothing I don't like apart from that damned wire ;0)
Wish it had? .. maybe a wrapround tailpiece and a bridge but that would be a different guitar, wouldn't it, on reflection, nothing!
Last comment, maybe I'm biased because I've had it so long but I'd recommend this instrument to anyone who wants 12 strings, beginner or professional, you really need to hear one of these old ladies sing in the hands of someone who can play well to appreciate just how excellent it is but even a beginner can sound good in a very short time.
In good condition with decent strings I think you'd find it hard to beat at any price and given that they are still around what I paid originally, bang for buck ... awww ... just go find one and buy it :0))

Purchased new in 1983 in Rome, Italy. Suppose she was made that year or in the previous year.
Made in Italy, Recanati.
Sunburst top. No pickups.
Mahogany fretboard, large neck but thin
Jumbo frets
The tuners are the only feature in which Eko should have spent a bit more money. The hardware is really poor.

The sound is rich but no way jammed; you can hear perfectly the single strings in a chord. It is warm but not too much. It is crispy, also in the bass strings. It is not too full, like it is compressed, so I think that she does better in the rock-pop songs with other instruments than in a single player folksong. I do not play folksongs, but I use her in the rock-pop songs that need a 12-string guitar (e.g. Hotel California, Wish you were here, L.Z.'s Tangerine, some Supertramp's songs) and she fits perfectly in all those tunes.

The most astonishing feature, in a low price guitar like this, is the absence of buzzes in every sigle fret. I never had need to adjust the truss rod or fitting the frets.
Many years from now the guitar fell down and the neck broke into two parts where the neck is assembled to the tailpiece. I fixed it with a wood glue and it recovered perfectly.

Exception made to the broken neck, the guitar is like brand new after 20 years. There is no wear at all in the body or in the neck.
I traveled with her for a long time and I did not have any problem.

Never had need of such a support (besides the fact that Eko went out of business for a long time)

I played her for 20 years. I own also a Fender strat, an Eko KW-1 6 string acoustic and and Eko 6 string classical.
If she were stolen I would buy her again.

I bought this guitar new in 1978, in London England. It was made in Recanati - Italy. It is the same standard Ranger XII that was available at the time. The slim neck is fantastic, with plenty of room across the fingerboard and it also widens out as you move up past the 3rd, 5th and 12th frets. Mother of pearl inlay squares also used.
It was a light 'Sunburst' finish originally, but after 5 years or so, it turned into a 'browny orange' colour, which is in no way displeasing. Included accesories, which I still have in the original plastic bag, are spare pegs and a small metal torque bar for the truss rod. Height adjustable saddle bridge and simple chrome (yellowed with age) tuning gears complete the guitar.
Also, I have another EKO Ranger XII, that I bought and keep in Italy, so when I go to my relatives for the holidays, I can strum away when the urge takes me. It has a black finish, the sound is similar, but the neck is fatter at the 1st fret unlike my older version.

I love Simon & Garfunkel, the Beatles and even John Denver. This guitar made me feel that I could REALLY play my favourite songs, although it took me a while to get to grips with the 12 strings. From 'wispy' sounds to metallic treble, mellow bass and full rich tones, my EKO RXII does the lot. I have played a few other 12 string acoustics since then, but for the price, I do not think it can be bettered. Take off the tone strings and it is a pretty nifty 6 string too, thanks to the slim neck !

The shop had already set up the guitar, so when I picked it up from the 'hook' it was ready to play, apart from a slight tune up. Low action, no buzzing and light gauge strings made it my ideal first time buy. In fact, I never needed another 12 string. The finish is very good, and after 23 years or so, only a very small laquer crack is visible on the neck and you cannot feel it as you play anyway. Okay, so the overall finish and hardware will never match a top quality Guild, Gibson or Fender, but then neither will the price, so why worry ?

Over 23 years of Parties, Church Folk Masses, Theatre work, Travel, Buses, Cars and worst of all, me ! This instrument took the lot without fail, always producing the goods at any occasion from inside its solid wood block guts. It's very well made. Reliable and durable without doubt, this is the only guitar I would need on an acoustic music gig, apart from maybe another EKO RXII with only 6 strings fitted.

Never dealt with the Company. Never needed to.
What better way to give tribute to this brilliant instrument !

I began playing in 1977, on a 'borrowed' EKO RXII, and when I gave it back, I just had to get one ! Also, I have an 'Avon' copy (Rose Morris) black Les Paul, my first electric, with a WEM 'Clubman' amp, an 'Avon' copy (Rose Morris) cherry Gibson SG short neck bass, with 'Carlsboro - Stingray' amp and Celestion cab. An Ibanez 'George Benson' guitar, NOT the GB10 or GB30, it was made before the factory was 'taken over', and lastly a Fender 'Squier' Strat, which I think is just the same as the Fender Strats that sell for mega bucks ! Also, I have a Roland RD 500 digital Piano.
If I lost the EKO, I would not go mad about finding another one as the sentimental value of my one is irreplaceable. Maybe I'd get a Takamine EN10 or EN20c..maybe....
What I love about the EKO is the fact that it brought me along as a guitar player, not to an expert level, but more than enough to make me feel confident, what do I hate about it ? Nothing and I do not think it could be added to either, without detracting from its intent, which I believe was to be the best entry level guitar I have ever seen.
What more would I like to share ? Well how about some pictures of this great guitar on the website ?
Thanks for reading my 'review'. Bye !

I bought this guitar used in Lubbock, TX in 1972. I suspect it was at least 5 years old, but in excellent condition. I had only been playing guitar about 4 years back then, but compared to Fender and Gibson acoustic 12 strings I had played, this unit simply covered the tonal range better, though maybe with slightly less "projection" or volume.

The EKO Ranger XII was made in Italy. It has what appears to be mahogany sides, back, and neck and a rosewood fretboard with block inlays. The top is an extremely close grained wood, much lighter than the back and sides, but I am not sure if it is spruce or some substitute. The finish is heavy duty transparent. It has a bolt on neck with a huge structural support block in the body cavity. The neck is a very flat (thin), even profile from nut to heel and the width is average for a 12-string. Truss rod is top side accessible at the head stock.

Tuners are open gear cheapo's with chrome knobs, but they work if you keep 'em lubed. The nut is metal (nickel?). The metal bridge saddle (aluminum?) is adjustable. The tailpiece is trapeze style. There is a 0 fret at the nut plus 21 more, medium sized.

Sound is full and resonant from low register to high strings. There is good harmonic content on the high strings, unlike some acoustic 12-strings that become thin and almost too bright in the high register.

The guitar is very solid. It has remained free of buzzes and rattles all these years. Dynamic range is good too.

Good for rhythm accompaniment with vocal, but I can also jam acoustic blues riffs without too much hand strain (but it is still a 12-string).

It is a standard acoustic body style (no cutaway) but you can comfortably reach a Barre D (10th fret E form) before you have to contort your wrist angle. And you are still not on the heel at this position.

Action is low and free of buzz. I have never adjusted the saddle since I bought it. The metal saddle and nut have held up very well. The finish is slightly yellowed after 30 to 35 years, but no crazing.

I have played this guitar live, banged it hard on rock ballads, and then backed off to sweet blues pickin' without having to stop and retune. The strap buttons mount into the big support blocks in the body cavity and have never gotten loose.

Never dealt with EKO. Don't think the reincarnation of the EKO company make acoustic 12-strings anymore. If you can find one of these Ranger XII's they are a sweet steal. I saw one in a pawn shop marked $500, but probably could have gotten it for $250. (But I already have one!)

It's a great 12-string. I play an Ovation 6-string acoustic plus strat and paul style solid body electrics. If I'm doing a solo vocal/guitar thing, I almost always grab the EKO! (and no, I am not particularly a big Melissa Ethridge fan)

Features

I think the Eko 12 was made in the 60s/70s , although it was bought as a presant for my fathers birthday (by my mother) back in '85.
It cost #160 then, which I recon was a very high price (back then) which is approx. $240.
I can't really rate it as this is the only guitar I've really played, I learnt to play on it, It was tricky as the neck was too wide for my hand (and still is) and I couldn't/can't play some chords where you have to stretch 3-4 frets, although the neck is super thin and rounded.
It has 21 frets, I don't actually know what wood it's made of, but it sure is nice, well laminated too, very tough and moderately dense.
As the guitar is not electric (hence not thousands of features), I would be rating it on quality + features.

My music is mainly rock 'n' roll, so it isn't very suitable for that but I like slow strummin music as well and that suits it perfectly,
my father has been playing the guitar 40 - 45 years, and boy he can make it sing.
The sound is full and rich with a nice bright sound on the 3rd, 5th, 7th strings especially the 9 - 12th strings, as they are steel, not wound like the rest, which have a rich mellow sound.
The guitar mostly makes a deep mellow sound when playing, but if you strum the last four, more than the rest it allows you to change the pitch whilst playing for that nice sharp bright sound.

I only really got to know the guitar until recently so I can't judge on it from the factory, all that was needed from 15 years of wear and tare was new strings, a tune up and some new pegs, only the original ones seem to fit snugly, which doesn't matter anyway, but I found the original spares that come with it.....

This has got to be tone of the most robust guitars ever it has been smacked on walls numerous times, due to a narrow staircase, and dropped, it is still in excellent condition.
It is very strong, strings only snap with high overtightening, so it would be suitable for live playing, I could depend on it.
My father has played it for 15 years (very hard, rock and roll/ beatles stuff/songs with hard beats etc) with no problem EVER.
The finish is excellent, and I think the guitar is so strong it would probably last more than a century (depending if it doesn't get driven over by a car or somthin, it may even turn into a family heiloom lol).
Overall it's one of the best.... (built in Recanati in Italy).

I've never dealt with the company, but they are still in operation, check out www.eko.it and www.ekoguitars.com , but I doubt they would have parts/know about the guitar.
Some were made in the 60s,
This is on their website ... IN 1959 OLIVIERO PIGINI HAD A DREAM:
TO HANDCRAFT FINE ELECTRIC GUITARS IN ITALY
NOW THE DREAM IS BACK ...

is back says to me: we went out of business and were back (after being taken over by another company, maybe?

Or : Have just started to make guitars again.

Either way the website isn't complete but they have some nice electric guitars on it.........

I have no more to say but It's Excellent, I couldn't live without it and a mate of mine owns a #600 Takamine and he was impressed!

I guess this guitar was made somwhere in the late sixties/early seventies as i look on it's style... it has a justable saddle which makes the heith of the stings easy to configure. Idont know the woods, but its thick! Like a bank... IT HAS BLOCK INLAYS, very nice
Originally bought on postdelivery from Italy

I play mostly old simon & garfukles 'n that kind of things and as I still lives with my parents, im glad it isnt very loud.. It has a kindof sitharish sound on the 12th(bright bass) string, and I think I have to fix it in the saddle. but otherwise this guitar sings

I found this at my friends roof, and it had been laying among all crap for years, it was bastard dirty! There was even white paint on it. Otherwise this guitar is rocksteady! It would stand an sumo jumping on it. It weighs a ton to...

Ive been playng about 2 years and do also own a washburn D12w acoustic(sounds like a box of shoes, but its white so I ceap it. I had to buy new pluggs, strapplugg and ofcourse strings, im glad nothing else was missin, cause i fear i wouldn't found it. This is a good guitar for the price, if you are able to find one..

The Ranger Twelve is a very straight forward guitar. I've had two. The other one I had was equipped with a pickup, volume, and tone. This one does not. It has a laminated top, 21 jumbo frets. I'm not sure on the wood it is made with but my guess is mahogany. It has a big, wide neck but it is also very thin which makes for great playability. The truss rod is top accessible.

This guitar is strange. It has a deep low, as sweet mid, and a singing high. This guitar sounds like nothing I have ever played. It's seriously perfect. It really has no sound flaws. It is very full and complete in sound. This is the type of guitar needed when accompanying yourself. It has a great sound.

The sound on it is magnificant. The guitar also has the same factory setup. It was my dad's guitar and now mine, neither of us have ever bothered to change it. The action is very low so it is easy to get the twelve strings down to the fretboard. It has a six saddle trapeze tail, which was originally a twelve. It has since been changed. The only time this guitar is difficult to play is when you have thick strings. But Fender Regulars and Martin lights make it easy playing. Also, it has a huge body and a metal nut, so she is loud when needed but can quiet off to almost nothing. Marvelous versitility.

This guitar was built late sixties, early seventies. Somewhere in the seventies it was involved in a car accident. The body kept perfect, it didn't budge. What broke were the tailpiece and the tuning pegs. The saddle, I had to buy a six string, but I found original tuning pegs off of another Eko Ranger I had. They fit perfect, because other tuning pegs really don't fit. They are too far apart when put on. But this guitar is thick. This thing would survive a nuclear blast. The guitar itself is heavy but holds well over the shoulder and does not weigh you down. The strap buttons on both ends are built into wood blocks, very solid. This guitar is completely dependable, moreso than any other thing I own. (Especially cars). I could definately use this at a show without a backup. The Eko would be insulted if you did bring a backup.

Eko does not exsist anymore. Need new parts, good luck.

I have been playing for eight years. Outside of a six string acoustic -electric which took a dump on me, this is the only acoustic I really have or use. If this was stolen, I'd find the guy and use water torcher. I love this guitar because it is seriously perfect in every way. The only problem is the Ekos are not made any more, and if you need parts, you have to find a classic guitar salesman and buy parts or another guitar to strip. Not too big a problem, these guitars are not expensive.