Product: EKO ST-EC Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
04/19/2004
at
10:47am
by
Ken S.
Email: stonn<at>jps dot net
Features
:
No Opinion
N/A
Sound
:
10
This is an update to my earlier review. I replaced the neck and middle pickups with a stacked Anderson hum cancelling pickup in the neck position, and a Kinman VN Blues pickup in the middle position. This resulted in a major improvement in sound. No more hum!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
N/A
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
N/A
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
N/A
Product: EKO ST-EC Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Price Paid: US $175
Submitted
09/09/2003
at
05:48pm
by
Ken S.
Email: stonn at jps<dot>net
Features
:
8
This is a copy of the vintage strat built in the 1950s and 1960s. I think it has 21 frets. The body is poplar, and the neck is maple, with a maple fretboard. I believe the non-locking tuners are copies of Klusons. A vintage-style tremolo is included, along with the standard 3 single-coil pickups. If humbuckers with coil-tapping were present in the neck and bridge areas, I'd give it a 10.
Sound
:
10
Great for blues and rock. Using an ADA MP-1 preamp, Marshall EL84 20/20 power amp, ADA MicroCab and Alesis Nanoverb. The guitar has the usual hum when you turn up the amp and you're using only one single-coil pickup. When combining the neck and middle pickups, the hum is drastically reduced. A wide variety of sounds are possible, anywhere from crystal clear to screaming overdrive. This type of guitar is used by guitarists like country artists for its clean sound, and guitarists like Richie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen for the overdrive sound. Eko makes a copy of the Malmsteen guitar if you like having scalloped frets. Sound quality is quite good and compares well with the real Fender Clapton strat.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Great set-up, great fit and finish. No flaws.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
The guitar I bought was essentially new -- so far I've had no problems.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I don't think Eko makes these any more. I haven't tried to contact them.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing for 35 years. This is an excellent strat.
Product: EKO ST-EC Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Price Paid: US $200
Submitted
07/26/2003
at
02:33pm
by
zzzz
Features
:
8
Made in Italy 2001. 21 Frets. Solid poplar. Volume, tone, tone. 5 way switch. S/S/S pickups with covers. Hard rock maple neck. Black finish like Clapton's Blackie. Stratocsaster style with vintage tremolo and bridge. 25 1/2 scale.
Sound
:
8
Sounds great for all kinds of music especially gospel, blues and rock. Play with a Fender Frontman 25R. Nice quiet pickups with good output. This is a great quality guitar and these are cheap if you can find one. Nice vintage tone. I am thinking of putting in some Tex Mex pickups because I like a hotter output.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Set up was good. Nice fret work and quality components was ready to play out of box.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
Quality components would depend on it in a gig situation but would always have a backup.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
n/a
Overall Rating
:
9
I have been playing over 20 years. I would buy again especially for $200. Quality similar to that of a 50's Re-issue Mexican strat or a Mexican Jimmy Vaughan strat. Basically a $600 strat for $200. Plus you get the EKO vibe as they were the maker of Vox instruments in the 60's. Made in Italy beats Korean, Indonesian and Chinese quality.
