EKON guitar

stufisher · December 2020

Hi all,

Does anyone know anything about EKON guitars?

I've started to relearn guitar after 40 years and I'm trying to decide whether to rejuvenate my old acoustic (bought in 1979).

Is it worth it or is it pointless? Should I just buy a new guitar?

I can't find anything about EKON guitars apart from the label inside the guitar which states "hand crafted in Japan".

Any insights would be welcome.

Thanks.

Stuart

drofluf · December 2020

Don’t anything about them but it might be worth getting an experienced player to give it a once over. Nothing is more likely to get you to give up than a hard to play instrument; I was in a similar position relearning in my mid-fifties and I made much more progress when I had a comfortable instrument to play.

stufisher · December 2020

Thanks for response ... I'm fast approaching a similar conclusion.
If the guitar is worth re-engineering/overhauling then I might go that route but I suspect it's a cheapo of its era and modern range, choice, playability is so much improved that would be more sensible.

I'll hold out for a few days to see if anyone knows anything about EKON and then decide.

Thanks again.

Andy79 · December 2020

We may need to see a photo to get a grip on it

barnstorm · December 2020

If it needs anything more than a good set-up I'd just get a decent cheapie for now. If you decide to stick with playing you can always get the old guitar sorted later on, assuming your attachment to it is worth the cost of a neck reset or refretting or whatever else it might need.

As above, a pic or two might help and would be interesting to see if nothing else. Is it a Martin-style guitar?

stufisher · December 2020

Thanks all. As suggested, I've taken some pics and created a link to a Dropbox folder. Hope it is accessible.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0fto6tay12cfr2g/AACdWw2BEBcm-CFfpJzbpTGIa?dl=0

Andy79 · December 2020

barnstorm · December 2020

If you haven't already had a good peer inside and you can be bothered, there might be some information on the neck block or a stamp somewhere on the centre strip. It's not a very educated guess, but with a gun to my head I'd say it has something to do with Yamaki or Moridaira.

stufisher · December 2020

Ta muchly. I'll have a butcher's.

stufisher · December 2020

OK ... so the only marking visible inside the sound chamber (apart from the label shown in the pics) is a printed number on the neck block.
Methinks it will be a manufacturing part number so I guess the guitar will be a cheapo mass-produced instrument made to emulate other marques.

Thanks for your help thus far.

Stu

ICBM · December 2020

As already said, a very standard low-budget Dreadnought, similar to the models Fender and others had made there in the 80s. The machineheads are the giveaway that it isn't anything really good, even without checking if it's a solid top (it almost certainly isn't). It probably sounds quite 'old' and not too bad for what it is, but it has no great value.

stufisher · December 2020

Thank you. I think that seals the deal. Ironically, I've just been playing it through my amp and it's hard to play cleanly (old strings, fingertips not tough enough yet, action too high).
Time for something more appropriate for an old boy starting out again.

ICBM · December 2020

stufisher said:

Thank you. I think that seals the deal. Ironically, I've just been playing it through my amp and it's hard to play cleanly (old strings, fingertips not tough enough yet, action too high).
Time for something more appropriate for an old boy starting out again.

Probably the right decision if you have no sentimental attachment to it - if it needs a set-up and any other work, if you have to pay a professional to do that it could cost half what the guitar is worth, and it probably still won’t be the easiest thing to play.

A more modern small-bodied electro-acoustic - if you do want to amplify it - would be a much better bet. This guitar isn’t junk, but it’s probably more suitable for someone who wants a big strumming sound to just bash out open chords.

barnstorm · December 2020

Let us know what you end up with, and don't let the Ekon go to the dump even if it is hard to play and uneconomical to sort out – there are lots of people interested in obscure Japanese guitars, some of whom have spent a crazy amount of time trying to figure out which factories made which short-lived brands. (FWIW my guesses are based on the appointments and model # convention, and then the fact that you'll find the same signature for a Mr/Mrs Iwai on some Morris guitars of the same period.)

stufisher · December 2020

Wonderful advice. You guys are brill.
Thanks all. I'll retain the EKON of course and will happily publicise what I select and why.

Right now I'm thinking a LAG Tramontane ... any personal insights or knowledge of such will be gratefully received?

Kittyfrisk · December 2020

Sounds like the Ekon would be a good candidate for setting up as a slide guitar.
I have a LAG Tramontane T200D 12 string. Nice guitar, solid cedar top, fairly plain, sounds nice, well put together & good value.
Worth a look at them if you can, or take a low priced speculative punt on one like I did

stufisher · December 2020

Intersting thought, thanks.

I had an in-depth discussion with my local guitar shop/tech specialist about the EKON today ... he examined/played guitar and concluded that it's one of the better ones from that era, plays reasonably, is in great nick for 40+ years old and is worth some TLC. He thought it'd sell for £150 to £200 which was a boost!

Whilst in the shop I played some guitars and I've been hugely uplifted by a Tanglewood TW5 Winterleaf ... to my great surprise. I was ambivalent previously but this is lovely ... sound, feel, tone, look.

Are there any reasons NOT to buy such a guitar?

I've bought some maintenance accessories to refresh my EKON so as I feared ... I'll now have two acoustics!

drofluf · December 2020

stufisher said:

Intersting thought, thanks.

I've bought some maintenance accessories to refresh my EKON so as I feared ... I'll now have two acoustics!

Well that’s a start

There’s a thread on Tanglewoods https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/196070/tanglewood-acoustics#latest not played one myself but they seem well liked by those who have.

stufisher · December 2020

Thanks for the link. Going back to shop today to play again and buy it or walk away.

stufisher · December 2020

Just to bring this thread to a close, as promised, for those that are remotely interested:

EKON is worth keeping so I'll show it some love

I've bought a Tanglewood TW5 BK Winterleaf

Thanks to you all for your advice and insights. You've made the last few days very easy for me.

Best,

Stu

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