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This is especially relevant to acoustic guitarists who want to use only one instrument for live performances while switching from, say, flat picking to slide playing.
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With Fastlok, the musician can instantly and easily adjust the action (height of strings above fretboard) for different playing styles. A new innovation with even budget-priced EKO acoustics is the Fastlok system. Enormously popular instruments on both sides of the Atlantic back then, EKO guitars are enjoying a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century.ĮKO acoustics have long been known for outstanding value and are popular throughout Europe with amateurs and professionals alike. The switches on many of the instruments were either rocker or pushbutton style.An Italian guitar manufacturer known for making quality guitars at reasonable prices, EKO’s factory in Italy was the largest guitar factory in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s. The plastic coated instruments are covered with a virtually indestructible material that is resistant to cracking if the guitar is dropped. The acoustic instruments and guitars with visible wood utilize thick laminated wood with heavy glossy finishes. Later instruments were designed with visible polepieces. The pickups on the earlier instrument feature this encasement as well. The accordion influence is very prevalent in the design as some of the new models have a sparkle or perloid plastic topping. The electrical design was much like that of a Hagström, but the shape was reminiscent of a Fender Jazzmaster. The first solid body guitar to come out of his factory was known as the Ekomaster. Eko sells the tools for the dreamĭuring the early guitar days, Piginis are based on German designed guitars. affordable instruments that can also be used at a semi-pro level if the dreams of thousands of beginners come true. The company targets the most buoyant market segment, i.e. There is still some trial-and-error in the designs but the guidelines are clearly defined: Eko’s philosophy is to offer a complete range of guitars, made with standardized solutions and industrial procedures that warrant consistent quality. Pickups (optional on the 100 and 200 series) have a sparkle or perloid plastic topping, soon to be substituted with visible polepieces. The whole production is build with glued-in necks. As far as electrical construction and finishing techniques are concerned it takes an obvious inspiration from the already established Hagström Deluxe and Standard series, but instead of aping a LesPaulish Höfner Club the shape leans towards Fender’s top-of-the-line, the recently introduced Jazzmaster. The solid bodied 400 (often called ‘Ekomaster’) is a master stroke. Wenzel Rossmeissl, who is by then reducing his own production and increasingly concentrates on Eko ’s distribution in Germany, was certainly influential in that choice. The Eko 300 is offered as an alternative to the Höfner Club or Framus Hollywood, Europe’s best selling electrics of the late 50’s. Models 100 and 200 are in direct competition to the Framus Sorella and countless other German arch tops. The company starts by building flat top and arch top acoustic instruments. He also contacts German guitar builder Wenzel Rossmeissl who is building excellent electric jazz style guitars and selling them under the brand name Roger, which is his son’s name. He speaks with Italian builders, the Paladino Brothers for advice and sets up a sales contract with them. Neither he nor his workers had any experience in guitar building, so Pigini sets out to gather information on the process. Swedish accordion manufacturer/competitor Hagström was reconverting its factory to build guitars. In 1959 Oliviero Pigini was already in the accordion manufacturing business. The Lo Duca Brothers began importing guitars from Eko. Most of the domestically manufactured instruments were expensive, so to fill the glut some manufacturers and entrepreneurs turned to importing Asian and European manufactured instruments. The British Invasion hit around the United States in 1964 and everyone wanted to learn to play guitar.