Eko 290 Barracuda VI

4.0 (2)

1 Review

Find out who is using EKO 290 Barracuda VI

1 wishlisted

4 saved

Page last updated Oct 22, 2025

Pricing and availability

Store

Reviews

Price

^* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Edit description

The EKO 290 Barracuda VI is a captivating choice for musicians who crave the vintage allure of a semi-hollowbody guitar combined with modern playability. Designed to deliver a rich, resonant tone with a touch of classic rock and jazz vibes, this guitar stands out with its distinctive semi-hollow construction. The Barracuda VI is well-suited for both stage and studio settings, offering versatile tonal options that cater to a wide range of musical styles.

Crafted with a laminated maple body, the Barracuda VI ensures durability while providing a warm, balanced sound. The set-in mahogany neck adds to the guitar's robust structure, enhancing sustain and playability. Its versatile electronics include dual humbucking pickups, which are perfect for achieving everything from smooth, mellow tones to more aggressive, biting sounds. The guitar's control layout is intuitive, featuring separate volume and tone knobs for precise sound shaping.

Whether you're a seasoned performer or an aspiring guitarist, the EKO 290 Barracuda VI offers a unique blend of vintage style and modern functionality, making it a reliable companion for any musical journey.

Key Features:

Semi-hollowbody design with laminated maple construction
Set-in mahogany neck for improved sustain
Dual humbucking pickups for versatile tonal range
Separate volume and tone controls for each pickup
Classic rock and jazz vibe with modern playability
Ideal for both stage and studio use

Reviews

Add review

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about EKO 290 Barracuda VI.

Use cases and applications

0 0

EKO 290 Barracuda struggles with high gain, especially with fuzztortions, making it challenging to play at proper volume levels without feedback.
Source
0 0

Jazz musicians often tape over f-holes to manage feedback, despite aesthetic concerns, indicating a common practice for hollowbody guitars in high-gain environments.
Source

Mods and upgrades

0 0

Some owners recommend stuffing the body with foam or towels to minimize feedback, a practical solution for semi-hollow guitars prone to resonance issues.
Source
0 0

An unconventional method involves taping over f-holes from the inside using duct tape and aesthetically pleasing material to reduce feedback without altering exterior appearance.
Source
0 0

Wrapping unpotted single coils with plumber's tape is suggested to reduce microphonic feedback without needing to wax pot the pickups.
Source

Features and functionality

0 0

The body of the EKO 290 Barracuda is completely hollow, which contributes to feedback issues when using high gain pedals like fuzz and overdrive.
Source
0 0

Rolling off the tone pot can help reduce feedback, making it a quick adjustment for live play to manage sound issues.
Source

User experience

0 0

Owners note that unpotted single coils are prone to microphonic feedback, suggesting potential wax potting or using plumber's tape to wrap coils as a solution.
Source

Build quality

0 0

The EKO 290 Barracuda's completely hollow body causes the top to resonate significantly, leading to increased feedback at high volumes.
Source

Add review

4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

mickeyboy

over 5 years ago

Eko Barracuda...well worth checking out !

The original Eko Barracuda was made by Eko guitars in Recanati Italy. The guitar was an improved design following on from the first version of the model...The 290. Improvements included a much better system of joining the bolt on neck to the body of the guitar. Eko increased the thickness of the neck pocket and reduced the thickness of the neck heel.This change resulted in a much sturdier mating of neck to body. Other changes included improved single coil pickups. I own both an earlier 290 (1963) and a later Barracuda (1974) as shown here. The later Barracuda model just feels a better build quality. The guitar is extremely playable once it has been set up properly and a full range of tones is achievable, from warm jazzy sounds to overdriven rock or anything inbetween..a versatile instrument for sure. In recent years they appear to becoming very collactable and are attracting increased prices on the likes of Reverb (although be wary, some sellers are asking exhorbitant asking prices). If you are into older vintage hollowbody guitars that are still affordable then you might want to check out the Eko Barracuda. Its not a Gibson 335, thats for sure but it has a distinctive charm and I just love both of my Eko's There is a wonderful website dedicated to these fantastic old Italian guitars called Fetishguitars.com..check it out. Incidentaly, Eko manufactured guitars throughout the later part of the 60's and early 70's for Vox. The equivalent models in the Vox lineup included The Bobcat and Lynx models...basically rebadged Eko's with asthetic changes ..but they were Eko's all the same !