Eko Cobra 600, c.1966, Sunburst, Vintage Electric, Gig Bag - Used
EKO was the largest guitar exporter in Europe during the 1960s, operating out of Recanati, Italy, and at their peak they were producing instruments at a volume and quality level that genuinely rivaled what was coming out of American and Japanese factories simultaneously. The Cobra was one of their most successful and enduring models — a Strat-inspired solidbody with a mahogany body, laminated maple neck, and the kind of Italian craftsmanship that gave these instruments their distinctive personality. The 600 designation indicates the two-pickup configuration, each pickup routed through a 4-way tone switch that includes an all-pickups-off position — a feature that tells you something about how seriously EKO approached the design. The vibrato tailpiece is the real period detail: smooth, musical, and surprisingly stable for a sixty-year-old system.
At 5 lbs 11 oz this is a featherweight instrument that wears effortlessly on a strap or in the lap, and the 24.5" short scale keeps the playing feel light and comfortable. The neck is straight and stable — no structural concerns — and the frets show some honest wear consistent with six decades of playing but no dead spots. It plays surprisingly well, with that particular open, chimey, slightly unpredictable character that Italian guitars from this era have and that no modern instrument quite replicates. Super vibey and cool. An indie rock dream in the most literal sense — this is the guitar that sounds right on a four-track at two in the morning.
Condition is Very Good. The finish shows checking throughout consistent with a sixty-year-old instrument that has been loved and played — natural, expected, and part of what these guitars look like when they have actually lived. No structural damage. Check the photos for the full cosmetic picture. Comes with a gig bag.
A genuinely rare piece of Italian guitar history, playable and ready to go.
- Make: EKO
- Model: Cobra 600
- Year: c.1966
- Country of origin: Italy (Recanati)
- Body: Mahogany, solidbody, Strat-inspired shape, 1.5" depth
- Neck: Laminated maple, bolt-on, straight and stable
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Scale length: 24.5"
- Nut width: 1 11/16"
- Frets: 21 (some wear, playable, no dead spots)
- Pickups: 2x single-coil
- Controls: Volume, 4-way tone switch (including all-pickups-off position)
- Bridge: Vibrato tailpiece
- Finish: Sunburst polyester — checking throughout, cosmetic only
- Weight: 5 lbs 11 oz
- Modifications: None confirmed
- Includes: Gig bag
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
