EKO Kiwi Cherry / Made In Italy (Recanati) / Single Cut Les Paul Type / First Generation From 1973

Carefully inspected and meticulously set up by our luthier workshop, this guitar is a 1973 pre-owned instrument in very good overall condition.
New strings installed (Ernie Ball Slinky 9-46).

Overall condition: 8/10
Frets: 8/10
Truss rod OK
Electronics OK
100% original, no modifications.

EKO Kiwi Cherry
Year: 1973 (First Generation)
Made in Italy (Recanati)
Weight: 3.420 kg
Solid-body electric guitar, Gibson Les Paul style
Body: Mahogany
Body type: Chambered
Top: Arched top
Neck: Maple, bolt-on
Neck profile: Slim Taper C Shape
Fingerboard: Rosewood
21 medium vintage frets
Zero fret
Nut width: 41,8 mm
Radius: 9.5"
Scale length: 24.75" (628 mm)
Tailpiece: Stop tailpiece
Pickups: 2 P90-style single coils
Controls: 2 Volume / 2 Tone
Selector switch: 3-position Fender-style
Tuners: Chrome Eko Deluxe open-gear tuners

Eko is one of those great Italian brands that left a mark on the 1960s and 1970s with an approach very different from American manufacturers. Built in Recanati, Italy, Eko guitars had a true identity: bold design, often surprisingly refined craftsmanship for the era, and above all, an instantly recognizable sonic character. Even today, the brand’s vintage Italian models are sought after for their unique charm and far more original personality compared to many Japanese or American productions from the same period.

The 1973 Kiwi perfectly represents this philosophy. You can clearly feel that Eko wanted to offer its own European answer to the Gibson Les Paul, directly competing with American models while maintaining a distinctly Italian identity in both design and construction. The single-cut silhouette obviously recalls the Les Paul, but as soon as you pick it up, the instrument’s personality feels completely different.

What immediately stands out with this guitar is its incredible acoustic resonance. The chambered body provides truly exceptional natural vibration and gives the instrument a very lively feel under the fingers. Every note responds instantly with plenty of air and dynamics. Even unplugged, the guitar is loud and resonant, which explains the remarkable sustain of this model. And that is probably the most surprising aspect: despite its bolt-on neck, the Kiwi develops absolutely outstanding sustain, comparable to some excellent set-neck guitars. Notes ring out for a long time with rich harmonics and a genuine vintage-style natural compression.

The P90-style pickups are also a huge success. They deliver that incredibly appealing vintage character, somewhere between the warmth of an old humbucker and the sharp attack of a single coil. The sound is full of personality, highly organic, with huge dynamics and a tremendous amount of nuance under the fingers. You can achieve very open, sparkling clean tones, almost Fender-like in spirit, but also thick, aggressive crunch tones with the bite typical of great vintage P90s. These pickups respond beautifully to touch and truly make the instrument feel alive in your hands.

The neck is another excellent surprise. The slim taper profile is extremely comfortable — fairly thin without feeling flat — with a very fast and natural playing feel. You get that fluid sensation typical of the best Italian productions from the 1970s. The guitar plays effortlessly, with a lightweight and responsive feel that immediately makes you want to keep playing.

In the end, this Eko Kiwi is much more than a simple Italian Les Paul copy. It is a guitar with a real identity: extremely resonant, expressive, and charming, combining the magic of vintage Italian craftsmanship with a truly unique sonic personality. A rare and unusual model that absolutely deserves to be rediscovered today.