Within the space dedicated to Eko Guitars, Guitar Show 2026 will feature one of the most interesting lines for those looking for an accessible instrument with a clearly defined personality: the Aurora series.
Designed as a natural next step for players who have already developed an initial connection with the instrument and want to move up in quality, Aurora works around a concrete balance between aesthetics, comfort and sound performance. The result is a family of guitars that does more than simply “work”: it encourages players to play more, experiment and explore new nuances.
The new Aurora Series by Eko Guitars is the result of recent evolution within the Italian brand’s R&D department. Every element contributes to a distinct identity: from the refined design featuring a flamed top and paulownia body, to the calibrated sound achieved through a careful selection of pickups—leading to the choice of H610 ceramic humbuckers with coil-split functionality. The project is rounded out by locking tuners, a 2-pivot Modern Tremolo bridge, and an included gig bag: a practical set of features designed for the real-world use of the instrument.
Fire 400 Aurora Flamed Grey Burst: balance and immediacy
The Fire 400 Aurora Flamed Grey Burst occupies a very precise space: offering a lightweight, easy-to-handle and direct instrument, without compromising on careful construction.
The pawlonia body helps keep the weight down, while the flamed maple veneer top adds an aesthetic element that immediately gives the instrument a more refined feel. The roasted maple neck, with its Low C profile and satin finish, provides a smooth grip, making the guitar particularly accessible even during longer playing sessions.
From a sonic perspective, the configuration with two ceramic H610 humbuckers delivers a full and defined output, with the possibility of expanding the tonal palette thanks to the push-pull coil split. This solution makes it possible to move from fuller sounds to more open registers with an immediate gesture, without complications.
In this sense, Massimo Varini also highlighted how instruments of this type are able to offer an extremely balanced response that can be used in different contexts, underlining how easily it is possible to move from a full sound to a more open one while always maintaining control and definition.
The 628 mm short scale, together with locking tuners and a two-pivot tremolo bridge, completes a setup designed to be stable yet responsive.
Fire 401 Aurora Flamed Amber Burst: brightness and response
Alongside the 400, the Fire 401 Aurora Flamed Amber Burst maintains the same design architecture, but introduces a significant variation on the fingerboard: roasted maple.
This detail changes the response under the fingers and the overall sonic perception, delivering greater brightness and a more defined attack. It is a subtle but tangible difference, especially noticeable in lighter dynamics and more articulated passages.Elia Garutti also pointed out how this configuration makes the instrument particularly responsive to touch, with an immediate reaction that allows precise work both on clean tones and on more driven sounds.
For the rest, we find the same key elements of the series:
- pawlonia body and flamed top
- roasted neck with Low C profile
- 628 mm short scale
- dual humbuckers with coil split
- stable hardware with locking tuners and modern tremolo
The result is an instrument consistent with the Aurora philosophy, but with a slightly different voice, more incisive in the higher frequencies.
The Fire 400 and 401 share much more than what sets them apart: the same compact ergonomics, the same technical approach, the same underlying concept. What changes, however, is the response, the feel, and the way the instrument reacts to touch.
It is precisely within this space that the Aurora series finds its meaning, not by offering a single solution, but by providing real variations on a solid design foundation. This direction also emerges clearly in practical use: instruments designed to accompany musicians in real situations, from daily practice to the live context.
Come to Guitar Show and try them out!
Specifications and materials only tell part of the story. At Guitar Show 2026, it will be possible to compare these models directly, perceive the differences between laurel and roasted maple fingerboards, test the response of the pickups in split mode and verify how the short scale affects playing.
Don’t miss this opportunity and visit the stand in the Silent area, Hall 33, booths 3031b-3031a-3052b-3052a!