'63 EKO 700 4V Gold -sparkled, 4 pickups, Tremolo EX+ code VA77
Perfect condition near mint. Nice neck with good frets ..only the first five with more obvious signs of wear but playable.
The design of the three missing shoulders is a classic of the Italian
industry of the 1960s. Almost all manufacturers had one in their catalog and
originally that small handle allowed you to play seated while maintaining the
classic setting with the neck tilted upwards. In an era of complexes and long
hair, it soon became an indispensable stylistic innovation, the "Ultra Modern
Shape preferred by Professionals". In the United States, the third cutaway is
called, not without irony, the shark-bit, and it was used by National in '62 to
shape the body of the Glenwood 99 like the map of the USA.
The Eko 700 went into production in '61 and was launched in style at the
Milan Fair in '62 with the first color catalog. Everything betrays spatial
inspiration. These are the years of the conquest of space, of Sputnik and of
course the Stratocaster. On the keyboard there are the flying saucer shaped
markers characteristic of the entire first Eko production. At the same time, the
Wandré Oval, the UFO of Pioli, the Moon-shaped Spazial of Crucianelli and the
Rokes rocket were born. Most of the production was covered with plastic. The
back of the black or mother-of-pearl body matched the available front coverings
which were red, blue, silver and gold beads, white mother-of-pearl and, finally,
hazelnut: a disturbing imitation of the wood grain. With the latter option, the
back of the body was covered with a fluorescent imitation of the briar and the
handle was often finished with a brindle purple. On some specimens the type of
plastic "spaghetti Bolognese" already seen on other models was also used.