My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Hot _Grits

Buttery Toneologist
here's one from leftfield:

Got a mid 60s EKO 700 for next to nothing during the weekend.

Mine is identical to this one (though not in as nice a condition):

700_061.jpg


check out the back:

700_064.jpg


shades of Valley Arts?:

700_062.jpg


check out the catalog:

700.jpg


These babies were top of the line in their day, and feature alnico 5 mini humbuckers, crazy switching (EKO was an accordian maker, and it's guitar designs reflected that), sparkle plastic, pearl and mother of toilet seat aesthetics and a 5 ply 'proxylin' pickguard.

My one plays very well considering it's age. The neck is a medium thickness D with medium frets. The radius is low and the frets medium, with a nice action and a tiny bit of buzz on the low 'e's lower positions. the body is lightweight, balances well, and is almost certainly at least semihollow by the sound of it. plugged in, the electronics are a bit dodgy and intermittent, as one would expect of 40 years of neglect, but when they do work, provide a bunch of different sounds from quite normal to quite bizarre.

I'm hoping to make this puppy giggable. Ain't nothing like blue sparkle under lights...
 
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Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

If I wanted an instrument that complex I'd by an Oberheim.
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

mabye im screwed :laugh2: but i sorta like that thing, in a messed up cool-ness way.
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Oh that is too cool!!!!

My bass player has an Italia Maranello bass that looks like some of the old Eko pieces.

And man I am still waiting on some cool funky clips from you, that guitar would be a great place to strat!
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

woah, that thing is freaky yet cool...i love the blue sparkle finish!!

-Mike
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Thats got to be one of the ugliest guitars I've ever seen. But at the same time, I'd love to have one. That would be cool to play live. Not sure that I'd have the cojones to stand on stage with it, but it'ld be a conversation piece, for sure. :)

btw - What's the knob on the bridge for?
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

the knob on the bridge is where a large spring from the vibrato unit was housed. Mine still has the spring and main moving part, but not the bar.

I'm not that hugely into weirdo guitars, but this one just tickled me. Plus it'll get me those sounds that my 'normal' guitars just won't get.

Wattage, I'll definitely have some clips up by the end of winter. And I haven't forgotten about buying your tshirt either...
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Tescio Del Ray would kill for this!
Check the PUP dimensions to see is SD mini humbuckers will fit.
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Well, they're not mini humbuckers in the 'gibson firebird or les paul deluxe' sense. Definitely will be sticking with the original pickups.
 
Re: My latest: crazy 60s italian creation...

Oh boy, that thing is ugly! Funny, I still want one.. :)

Do you know what all the switches are for?
 
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