View source for Eko Guitars

{{Short description|Italian manufacturer of guitars}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = Eko Music Group
| logo             = [[Image:eko-logo-basic.gif|Eko logo]]
| caption          =
| type             = [[Private company|Private]]
| predecessor      =
| successor        =
| foundation       = {{Start date|1959}}
| founder          = Oliviero Pigini
| defunct          = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| location_city    = [[Recanati]]
| location_country = Italy
| locations        =
| area_served      = Worldwide
| key_people       =
| industry         =
| products         =
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| net_income       =
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| homepage         = {{URL|https://www.ekoguitars.it/en/}}
| footnotes        =
}}
'''Eko''' is an Italian manufacturer of [[electric guitars]], [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic guitar]]s and similar instruments, catering to professional level and manufacturing largely for export. It is located in [[Recanati]], [[Marche]].
==Products==
===Guitars===
Their products include [[classical guitar]]s, [[12-string guitar]]s, [[arch top guitar]]s, [[electric guitar]]s and [[acoustic bass guitar]]s.
Eko gained high popularity during the [[rock 'n' roll]] craze of the 1960s, becoming the largest guitar exporter in Europe. Their electric models were often highly ornamented with pearl, featured 3 or 4 pickups and recognizable "rocker" switches for pickup selection. The acoustic models were popular in country and folk rock bands of the late '60s. The best-known models of the '60s include:
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal
| image1   = Eko 400 Ekomaster.png       |width1=77
| caption1 = Eko 400-4V Ekomaster (1960–1962)
| image2   = Eko 500-4 (1962-1965).png   |width2=79
| caption2 = Eko 500 (1962–1965)
<!--
| image3   = Eko Condor 820-4V Scott.png |width3=79
| caption3 = <br/><br/>Eko 820-4V Condor (1964-1967)
| image4   = Eko CX7S (1982).jpg         |width4=132
| caption4 = Eko CX7S (1982)
-->
| image5   = EKO RANGER 12.JPG           |width5=107
| caption5 = Eko Ranger 12 string
| image6   = Estonbass.jpg               |width6=79
| caption6 = Eston bass, fretless but with markers (1980s)
}}
* [[Eko 400 Ekomaster]] ([[Fender Jaguar]] shape with flat-top,  [[Hagström]]-style control panel),
* [[Eko 500]] (Fender Jaguar lookalike),
* [[Eko 700]] (original triple-cutaway design with "hockey stick" head),
* [[Eko 290]] (also known as Eko Barracuda, semi-hollow flat-top electric),
* [[Eko Rokes]] (rocket-shaped electric, made popular by an Italian pop band of the same name, The Rokes)
* [[Eko Kadett]] ('67 original double cutaway with characteristic long "horns") and
* [[Eko Ranger]] (the best-selling Eko product, acoustic in 6 and 12-string version).
* [[Eko 995]] (violin bodied 4 string bass wildly popular in the late 60's)
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal
| image1   = Vox & Eko, Wunjo Guitars.png|width1=246
| caption1 = Eko teardrop, [[Vox Mark III|Vox Mark]], and [[Vox Phantom]] (Wunjo Guitars, London)
| image2   = 1968 Vox Ultrasonic in Cherry Red Finish.jpg |width2=105
| caption2 = [[Vox Ultrasonic]] (1968)
}}
Eko also produced guitars for [[Vox (musical equipment)|Vox]] in the '60s, in the USA they were distributed through LoDuca brothers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
* [[Vox Mark III]]
* [[Vox Phantom]]
* [[Vox Ultrasonic]]
In the UK the instruments were imported by [[Rose-Morris, London]].
{{anchor|Eston}}
In [[Australia]] their instruments were imported by [[Rose Music]] and often, but not always, branded with their [[house brand]] '''Eston'''.
Eko guitar has been manufacturing guitars since the early 60s and continue to through present day.
As of 2015, Eko guitars were imported and distributed in the United States by Kelley Distribution of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
===Other musical instruments===
<gallery heights=90>
File:Eko Tiger Organ.png|EKO Tiger combo organ<ref>{{cite web |title=EKO Tiger/Tigermate |url=http://www.combo-organ.com/Others/others.htm#Eko |work=Combo Organ Heaven (combo-organ.com)}}</ref>
File:Eko micky.jpg|EKO Micky combo organ<ref>{{cite web |title=Orange Organs |url=http://www.combo-organ.com/Orange/orange.htm |work=Combo Organ Heaven (combo-organ.com)}}</ref>
File:EKO Bass Pedal K1 (1970s).jpg|EKO Bass Pedal K1 (1970s)
File:Eko ComputeRhythm.png|EKO ComputeRhythm (1972)<ref>{{cite web |title=EKO Computerhythm |url=http://www.synthmaster.de/ekodrum.htm |work=synthemaster.de }}</ref>
File:EKO Viscount.jpg|EKO Viscount amp head (top)
File:Grafeq.jpg|EKO equalizer 10-band [[graphic equalizer]]
File:All Wahs lead to Cluster ( Part II ).jpg|EKO Strepitoso wah pedal (top)
</gallery>
==See also==
{{Portal|Italy|Companies}}
* [[List of Italian companies|List of Italian Companies]]
* [[Vox (musical equipment)]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Eko}}
;Official sites
* [http://ekousaguitars.com/ U.S. Eko website]
* [http://www.ekomusicgroup.com/ Eko Music Group] (Italy)
** [http://www.ekoguitars.it/ Eko guitars] (Italy)
[[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of Italy]]
[[Category:Electronics companies of Italy]]
[[Category:Italian brands]]
[[Category:Guitar manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Electronic organ manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Marche]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1959]]
[[Category:Italian companies established in 1959]]
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