Il Paesaggio dell'Eccellenza ALGAM EKO - Brochure Eko Rokes

Brochure created in the 1960s by Eko to advertise what would become the iconic guitar of Italian beat music at the time. The guitar grew out of a relationship with the beat group Rokes, was exported to the United States as Rocket, then for legal reasons (Rocket had already been registered by Gretsch for a drum kit) the name changed to Rok. The model was designed in 1965, initially used exclusively by the Rokes then launched commercially in 1966-67. It is said to have been inspired by the Gibson Flying V, in fact there are numerous similarities. But the Flying V, initially built in a few examples in 1958, had only left the memory of a resounding commercial failure. The only rock star of international prominence who used it was Dave Davies of the Kinks, who was occasionally seen with a Flying V in 1966, while Gibson was resuming production of the model. But by that time the Rokes were already playing with Eko's Rokes guitar on stages all over Italy. It was not until 1967 that Hendrix would give the Flying V a television visibility and fame that still endures in heavy-metal parts, while Rokes models were already depicted in Eko catalogs spread throughout mono. More evidence of Olivieto Pigini prophetic genius. Many identify the shape of these guitars with an arrow, but these were the years of space conquest and it is more correct to remember them as the rocket (rocket) guitars.