BeardyAndy
Strummer
Posts: 39
My main instrument is: Tanglewood TW73 E
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Post by BeardyAndy on Jul 17, 2018 11:41:11 GMT
Hi all
I've started using my old (actually my mums old) Eko again and I'm sure it didn't sound as pathetic when I first picked it up in the 90s
I've found that lighter gauge strings help with the volume and I'm not wanting to go so far as stripping back the many layers of lacquer to brighten it up but I'm wondering if a different saddle would help? Aluminium isn't the most resonant of materials, thought I could fashion a bone one to replace it. Has anyone tried this or am I fighting a losing battle??
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 17, 2018 12:04:38 GMT
Hi all
I've started using my old (actually my mums old) Eko again and I'm sure it didn't sound as pathetic when I first picked it up in the 90s
I've found that lighter gauge strings help with the volume and I'm not wanting to go so far as stripping back the many layers of lacquer to brighten it up but I'm wondering if a different saddle would help? Aluminium isn't the most resonant of materials, thought I could fashion a bone one to replace it. Has anyone tried this or am I fighting a losing battle??
Hello Andy,
I think for the relatively low cost of a bone saddle blank, it's certainly worth a try! A good Eko 6 can be a very worthy instrument, so why not?
If you do, maybe stick some pics up here of your progress?
Martin
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 17, 2018 12:30:26 GMT
I used to have an Eko Ranger 6 in the late 1960s. Served me well - excellent feel, but as you say, the volume leaves a lot to be desired. I never modded it at all though. I did buy a Ranger 12 in the 1970s, and kept it for ages. Same heavy build, excellent playable neck, pleasant tone but volume not great.
Andy, I can understand your reluctance to strip the top - I did just that on my 12er. Couldn't find anything to touch the ridiculously thick finish - ended up using a carborundum disc on power drill. Hard work even so. Finished it with less heavy duty abrasives obviously, and then some water based varnish. Didn't look too bad - volume was improved hugely! The old finish was presumably structural though - it was certainly thick enough to be so - over the following 5 years or so the bridge tilted beyond practical rescuing (having been stable for decades before)and that was that. Sold the neck and assorted hardware for decent prices though!
I'd definitely have a go at the bridge if I were you! good luck.
Keith
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 17, 2018 14:56:56 GMT
I had (and still have) the Ranger 12 (bought it in 1969). I also owned a Ranger 6 for a short while in the 90's. They do leave a little to be desired compared with modern instruments (even the budget end of the market). I don't have a clue what it is that makes them so ordinary, but I suspect the structural finish is the main culprit. Try anything you can at a reasonable cost to improve yours, but I wouldn't hold out too much hope that it will improve drastically.
What you can do, of course, is fit a pick up. That gives you much more to work with without it costing you a fortune.
Other than that, I suggest you consider it your outdoor/picnic guitar and play it when you wouldn't want to expose a better guitar to potential damage, or, as I do with my 12 string, keep it for purely nostalgic reasons.
I am very fond of mine, but there's no logic in it!
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BeardyAndy
Strummer
Posts: 39
My main instrument is: Tanglewood TW73 E
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Post by BeardyAndy on Jul 17, 2018 15:08:05 GMT
I had (and still have) the Ranger 12 (bought it in 1969). I also owned a Ranger 6 for a short while in the 90's. They do leave a little to be desired compared with modern instruments (even the budget end of the market). I don't have a clue what it is that makes them so ordinary, but I suspect the structural finish is the main culprit. Try anything you can at a reasonable cost to improve yours, but I wouldn't hold out too much hope that it will improve drastically. What you can do, of course, is fit a pick up. That gives you much more to work with without it costing you a fortune. Other than that, I suggest you consider it your outdoor/picnic guitar and play it when you wouldn't want to expose a better guitar to potential damage, or, as I do with my 12 string, keep it for purely nostalgic reasons. I am very fond of mine, but there's no logic in it! I thought there might be a few Eko fans on here wearing their rose tinted glasses!
I've just noticed that you can still buy them on Gear4music for £250 and looks like they still have the aluminium saddle!
I wonder what the new ones sound/play like? Maybe for once "they don't make 'em like they used to" could be a blessing!
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 17, 2018 15:36:30 GMT
I haven't played a new one for ages, but a few years ago they stared making them out of parts that had been stored for years (I think the original Eko went out of business in the 70's and somebody bought the stock and rights 7 or 8 years ago). One would guess that those original parts are long gone now, and they must be manufacturing them again. They have nostalgia value and not much else, I'm afraid. When you can buy a reasonably playable Epiphone (other budget guitars are available!)for just over a hundred quid, why on earth would you buy a 1960's designed monster like an Eko for 2 and a half times that?
The last one I played in a shop must have been about 7 or 8 years ago, and they were still monstrously heavy beasts with few saving graces unless you needed one to help you change a wheel on your car when you didn't have a jack available.
But my rose tinted glasses (litte round wire framed ones) have now grown into the bridge of my nose, and I still love Eko Rangers, though I couldn't possibly explain why!
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Post by acousticmusician74 on Jul 17, 2018 17:02:10 GMT
I'm a proud owner of a 1964 EKO Modello Dreadnought acoustic and I find mine too have heaps of volume, just fitted a fishman preamp pickup to her and she is sexy
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 17, 2018 17:34:26 GMT
I'm a proud owner of a 1964 EKO Modello Dreadnought acoustic and I find mine too have heaps of volume, just fitted a fishman preamp pickup to her and she is sexy Ah, yes, but it's an archtop. Totally different kettle of fish. Would love to see some pictures and sound recordings/videos,AM74. Welcome to the forum, by the way.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Jul 17, 2018 23:09:41 GMT
I learned to play on a little Eko arch top. Wish I had kept it for nostalgic reasons. Bought it second hand £7 in late 66 and part exchanged it for a second hand Ranger 6 in late 68. Although we smile about them now I think we were lucky they were around, playable, and with passable sound at a reasonable price.
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Post by lavaman on Jul 18, 2018 6:34:29 GMT
I had an Eko 12 string in the early 70s. I think it was a Ranchero. It was easy to play due to the smooth neck and inexpensive but wasn't very loud. A friend borrowed it for a gig and the neck snapped when it fell off the stage. It was a blessing in disguise as I bought a much better Yamaha FG180 afterwards.
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BeardyAndy
Strummer
Posts: 39
My main instrument is: Tanglewood TW73 E
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Post by BeardyAndy on Sept 22, 2018 11:01:03 GMT
For those of you wondering how it went...
I made up a bone saddle big enough to fit by gluing 2 together and re shaping (should've taken some pics but i always forget that kind of thing). The end result was an improvement, sound was louder and fuller but i had issues with fret buzz up past the 10th fret so i gave up and put the old one back in!
Someone with more knowledge of how these things work could probably fix the issue and end up with a better sounding guitar so in my opinion it's well worth a go if you have one collecting dust in the corner.
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