EKO Rio Bravo 12

I play it since 1980, it was very good at the beginning, now it is fantastic. Very bright sound, excellent volume, very solid body. I never needed to fix anything. I still travel with it after 26 years (using a solid box).

Very well done, accurate and solid. Not very good the pickup. Great the adjustable bridge, still I play with the original! The wood was surely well selected.

I never felt the need of a backup. It was always (and it still is) reliable.

I'm happy for my choice, my EKO Riobravo 12 is one of my best friends.

Mine is Italian from 1975. With all the beauty and passion of the country without the temperament. Better to play now than new (or is it me?). Neck is unbelievably straight, the woods have a sapina that defines classic - could have been made by Riva. See Google "boats, riva"

Started playing Eagles songs, sounded brill, now play everyting - try Fendando by Abba - honestly!
Makes great songs sound better, live.

Over 30 years it (she?) has performed like a virtuoso. Only now do I feel the need to send her to the shop for some fettling. Original features, set up - adjustable bridge - have all performed brilliantly. Quality shows over time. Riva again comes to mind.

I played this guitar on stage for 5 years until the fashion changed. Still played it regularly for it's sheer beauty of sound. Bridge is now very worn, hence being in the shop. First sound hole pick up is being replaced, neck being skimmed, can't wait to have it(her) back.

First time in the shop in 30 years!!! Never had to contact the original company, just enjoyed playing.
One day these beautiful instruments will be worth their true values.

This was my first real guitar. A bit ambitious looking back, but what a great choice. I've bought and sold Les Pauls, 355's Tele's and Strats, the only one that still moves me is this EKO Rio Grande 12. Thank God I kept it. Tried a Tak 12 worth many hundreds (thousands?) the other week - not a patch. How much will mine be worth with a Martin style bridge and a pro internal pick up? No where near enough!

70's 12 string acoustic. Aluminum nut, cast vintage tuners, some type of pearl inlay (faux? not sure, pretty though), glued on neck ( not like other bolt on Eko's) Mahogany back and sides with a Solid Spruce top. Also has zero fret.

What a sound! Rich and complex , yet smooth and satisfying. Playing the Supertramp song " Give A Little Bit" sounds just like the real thing. Chords sustain rather nicely."Every Rose has its thorn" by Poison is easily duplicated if not improved upon. One of the best sounding 12 strings around IMO.

The inlays on the headstock appear to be MOP, but I am not sure because of the heavy clearcoat on top. The fretboard inlays are plastic and have been since the day I got it. I think somebody removed and replaced them. I have no idea why anybody would do this. It only adds to the look of the guitar , so functionality is not compromised. Still looks good. The bridge was my only concern when I purchased this instrument. The pegholes were not properly aligned with the nut so the bridge saddle had to be notched to accomodate proper alignment. Not only did this put stress on the strings, but it also made the tuning unstable. I decided to fix this by plugging the holes and re-drilling new ones to perfect alignment. Much better now and guitar stays in tune perfectly. Guitar is built like a tank. There are no finish cracks and all of the joints are still good.

LikeI said before, built like a tank. No problems since the bridge repair/mod.

Great hunk of wood. Plays nicely, is easy on the hands and sounds just as good if not better that guitars costing hundreds more. I refuse to part with it. If I come across another, I'll probably buy it (if I have the cash)!

I bought this guitar about 1970 four use in a four piece folk band.

It was made in Italy although the company is long gone, it has a solid top with a 21 frets and a neck of rosewood with MOP inlays, the tuners are of reasonable quality and still opperate perfectly 30 plus years later.The sides are also of rosewood and it is finished in a high gloss laquer and it is a traditional dreadnought shape.

For a 12 string the neck is incredably good and very playable, in fact with the exception of the Taylor 655 and 855, this is the best 12 string I have had the pleasure of playing.

I liked the sound when I bought it, but it has just got better and better with age.

It has very rich tones that are very well supported by the traditional twelve string ring.

This is a guitar that gives me goose bumps when I play it.

Over a period of time I have adjusted the action downward and it is as good as any five grand models.

This guitar is still as good as new, cased in a hard case from new, the only change in the finish is that the sound board has darkened over the years, but the laquer is still as good as new.

I played semi pro for 12 years and despited some miss handling my guitar is as good today as 32 years ago, so much so that in the past two years I have ventured into performing again.

This has been that most reliable bit of kit I have had over the years, and that is why I still have it.

In the years I have owned this guitar I have had no cause to contact them.

I am extreamly pleased with this guitar and if I had to replace it I would find it very difficult.

I have recently had the pleasure of trying both the Talor 655 and 855, and these are probably as close to the same playing experience as my Rio Bravo.