EKO DUKE
- 50W, 1-12 in. speaker combo designed for bass or electronic organ, tube chassis, single channel, front black control panel, two inputs, three knobs (v, b, t), black covering, black and white checkered grille, mfg. late 1960s.
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The LoDuca Bros. musical distribution company was formed in 1941 by brothers Tom and Guy LoDuca. Capitalizing on money made through their accordion-based vaudeville act, lessons, and accordion repair, the LoDucas began importing and selling Italian accordions. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the LoDucas built up a musical distributorship with accordions and sheet music. By the late 1950s, they were handling Magnatone amplifiers and guitars.
In 1961, the LoDucas teamed up with Italy-based Oliviero Pigini & Company to import guitars. Pigini, one of the LoDuca's accordion manufacturers, had formed the EKO company in anticipation of the boom in the guitar market.
By 1967, EKO had established dealers in 57 countries around the world. In the later 1960s, Eko started to produce their own amplifiers (at least with their name on them). Amplifiers only lasted a short time compared to how long their guitars were on the market (it is unsure if LoDuca ever offered them). During the late 1960s and early 1970s the guitar market began to get soft, and many guitar builders began to go out of business. EKO continued on, but cut back the number of models offered.
The EKO company kept producing models until 1985. By the mid-1980s, the LoDuca Bros. company had begun concentrating on guitar case production, and stopped importing the final Alembic-styled set-neck guitars that were being produced. The original EKO company's holdings were liquidated in 1987.
Currently, the EKO trademark has again been revived in Italy, and appears on entry level solid body guitars and now amplifiers built in various countries. The revived company is offering a wide range of acoustic, classical, and solid body electric guitars and amplifiers - all with contemporary market designs. In the late 2000s, EKO introduced their higher-end Lorenz line of tube amplifiers. EKO history source: Michael Wright, Guitar Stories, Volume One.
In 1961, the LoDucas teamed up with Italy-based Oliviero Pigini & Company to import guitars. Pigini, one of the LoDuca's accordion manufacturers, had formed the EKO company in anticipation of the boom in the guitar market.
By 1967, EKO had established dealers in 57 countries around the world. In the later 1960s, Eko started to produce their own amplifiers (at least with their name on them). Amplifiers only lasted a short time compared to how long their guitars were on the market (it is unsure if LoDuca ever offered them). During the late 1960s and early 1970s the guitar market began to get soft, and many guitar builders began to go out of business. EKO continued on, but cut back the number of models offered.
The EKO company kept producing models until 1985. By the mid-1980s, the LoDuca Bros. company had begun concentrating on guitar case production, and stopped importing the final Alembic-styled set-neck guitars that were being produced. The original EKO company's holdings were liquidated in 1987.
Currently, the EKO trademark has again been revived in Italy, and appears on entry level solid body guitars and now amplifiers built in various countries. The revived company is offering a wide range of acoustic, classical, and solid body electric guitars and amplifiers - all with contemporary market designs. In the late 2000s, EKO introduced their higher-end Lorenz line of tube amplifiers. EKO history source: Michael Wright, Guitar Stories, Volume One.
Amplifiers currently produced since circa 2000 in Asia. Distributed by the EKO Music Group in Italy and in the U.S. by IBC Trading USA LLC in New Jersey. Amplifiers and speaker cabinets previously produced in Recanati, Italy from circa 1967 through the 1970s. Previously distributed by LoDuca Brothers in Milwaukee, WI.
EKO Guitar Amplifiers Models
EKO HERALD I
- 10W, 1-10 in. speaker guitar combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, vibrato, front silver control panel, two inputs, four knobs (v, tone, i, s), footswitch jack, green/brown covering, brown grille, mfg. early 1970s.
EKO PRINCE
- 50W, 1-12 in. speaker combo guitar amp, tube chassis, two channels, vibrato, front black control panel, four inputs, eight knobs (Ch. 1: vibrato speed, vibrato intensity, v, t, m/l, Ch. 2: v, t, m/l), black covering, black and white check...
EKO HEARLD JUNIOR
- 10W, 1-10 in. speaker guitar combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, vibrato, front silver control panel, two inputs, four knobs (v, tone, i, s), footswitch jack, brown covering, brown grille, mfg. early 1970s.
EKO Prince Reverb
- similar to the Prince, except has a reverb circuit, reverb controls, and ten knobs (Ch. 1: vibrato speed, vibrato intensity, v, t, m/l, r intensity, r brilliance, Ch. 2: v, t, m/l), mfg. late 1960s.
EKO HEARLD III BASS
- 30W, 1-12 in. speaker bass combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, front silver control panel, two inputs, three knobs (v, t, b), black covering, brown grille, mfg. early 1970s.
EKO SUPER DUKE
- 100W, 2-12 in. speaker piggyback configuration designed for bass or electronic organ, tube chassis, single channel, front black control panel, two inputs, three knobs (v, b, t), black covering, black and white checkered grille, mfg. late...
EKO VALET
- 30W, 1-10 in. speaker combo guitar amp, tube chassis, single channel, vibrato, front black control panel, two inputs, four knobs (v, tone, s, i), black covering, black and white checkered grille, mfg. late 1960s.
EKO VISCOUNT
- 100W, 2-12 in. speaker piggyback configuration guitar amp, tube chassis, two channels, front black control panel, four inputs, eight knobs (Ch. 1: vibrato speed, vibrato intensity, v, t, m/l, Ch. 2: v, t, m/l), black covering, black and w...
EKO Viscount Reverb
- similar to the Viscount, except has a reverb circuit, reverb controls, and ten knobs (Ch. 1: vibrato speed, vibrato intensity, v, t, m/l, r intensity, r brilliance, Ch. 2: v, t, m/l), mfg. late 1960s.