NGD: '63 Eko 500-3V

[Kinx]

Have you ever been drunk shopping for a guitar online and then didn't remember the purchase until the next day afternoon, when tracking messages started to appear in your phone? I did. That's how I got this guitar. I got it from Bucharest, Romania (of all places) and it finally arrived few days ago, '63 Eko 500-3V. I was pretty terified at first from the sole pic I've recieved, since it is obviously missing some frets, one bridge tuner and one saddle. But the price was still quite nice, so I went ahead with it.

IMG_5035 by kinx001 kinx001, on Flickr

after closer inspecition, I was kinda relieved that everything else is in a pretty good shape. all the electronics are working, despite the fact there was some kind of active electronics mod under the pickguard years ago

IMG_5047 by kinx001 kinx001, on Flickr

I was scared by the bridge, but gotoh tune o matic is a direct replacement - will go with that.

IMG_5072 by kinx001 kinx001, on Flickr

I am pretty stoked to hear it play I am still looking for that single tuner though, does anyone have any idea where to get it?

[mgeek]

Hahah drunkbuying! Love it...done it with records a few times but not a guitar

That tuner is a Van Ghent, used on quite a few European models at the time, email this guy, he usually has NOS sets and various odd ones

https://projectguitarparts.co.uk/Pages/ ... parts.html

[Kinx]

hey, thanks I just realized I know this website, he's listing NOS tuners just like this as a set - worst case scenario, I'll have to buy the set and then sell these after cleaning one by one. I would like to buy just a single one, since the rest seems to be working fine. I was originally thinking about replacement white tip Klusons, but it would be much cooler to keep these "rugby ball" Van Ghents in.

I am really stoked for the bridge tho. the gotoh tune o matic is a perfect fit and it matches the original bridge closely, even though the fretboard radius is a bit funny in the middle of the neck (amateur fret levelling I suppose?) . And of course the body is made of plywood But I don't care about that, I've already had pleasant experiences with plywood bodied guitars before. Neck shape is super lovely too - a bit thinner profile than my '72 Jazzmaster neck, closer to a pre-cbs strat.

[mgeek]

hey, thanks I just realized I know this website, he's listing NOS tuners just like this as a set - worst case scenario, I'll have to buy the set and then sell these after cleaning one by one. I would like to buy just a single one, since the rest seems to be working fine. I was originally thinking about replacement white tip Klusons, but it would be much cooler to keep these "rugby ball" Van Ghents in.

Email him, he does have various odd bits and pieces, he may well sell you one! He's the kind of guy who has drawers full
There's also https://www.guitarage.nl/

I did have a set of these kicking around a while back, they aren't too hard to find. Great tuners too, I think, despite looking kinda basic.

[LVC]

Another source for the tuners — note they have the whole set in both 3x3 and 6-in-line configurations. No affiliation.

[Sweetfinger]

They may be plywood, but it's that old, "don't make it like that anymore" plywood that is lighter and has a brighter sound when you tap it. I love old EKOs. I'm trying to figure out what the electronics were. It looks like a rotary switch up there.

[Kinx]

yep, the rotary switch engages the active circuit in and out - it works when switched out, but it looks like most of the active electronics is gone anyway. I want to preserve the original switching by safely disconnecting it and hooking the rotary (I'm getting a new one) to the pickups for more stage ready switching - everything as reversible as possible. The routing for the rotary is there anyway, so I want to use it.

[Kinx]

I finally got it back. It's the surfiest thing ever !!!! bridge pickup is super thin, but based on demos I was able to dig up, it is probably supposed to be this way. It measures around 8.5k, so it isn't broken. Vibrato is crazy - it has much broader range than standard Jazzmaster unit.

I recorded a quick demo of it right after I got home, I'll do some proper recording tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/snELxyjq2qY

[windmill]

Thanks

look forward to hearing more of this.

[mgeek]

I finally got it back. It's the surfiest thing ever !!!! bridge pickup is super thin, but based on demos I was able to dig up, it is probably supposed to be this way. It measures around 8.5k, so it isn't broken. Vibrato is crazy - it has much broader range than standard Jazzmaster unit.

Woah that sounds great!

I've got a lot of time for thin, trebly sounds. Guitarists love to go on about warmth but when it comes to performances/recording/anything with other musicians playing too a thinner sound 9 times out of 10 works better.

[Kinx]

I finally got it back. It's the surfiest thing ever !!!! bridge pickup is super thin, but based on demos I was able to dig up, it is probably supposed to be this way. It measures around 8.5k, so it isn't broken. Vibrato is crazy - it has much broader range than standard Jazzmaster unit.

Woah that sounds great!

I've got a lot of time for thin, trebly sounds. Guitarists love to go on about warmth but when it comes to performances/recording/anything with other musicians playing too a thinner sound 9 times out of 10 works better.

I agree, I really like my guitar sounds "focused" and not interfering with other instruments (unless I want them to ) - this is however pretty extreme, like even more extrem "strangle switch" on Jaguar.

I had no luck in finding wiring diagram for these, I would like to try it without all the passive electronics just for kicks, but I don't want to mess with it without the diagram.

[Kinx]

I made a slightly better demo for the Eko - showcasing all pickup options. It's like a strat from hell now ))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FayCDq45kA

[windmill]

Thanks for posting this

It sounds like fun !

[surfin_bird]

What a beauty, this is a drunken decision you shouldn't feel ashamed for.

[Kinx]

I just started a youtube channel with my buddy and the Eko featured in this thread is thoroughly reviewed in our first episode, check it out We deffinitely appreciate any kind of feedback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeElq7kWSH0