Eko ST 351 HSS MN Fiesta Red

The ST351: the spirit of the 1950s in an accessible electric guitar

With the ST351, Italian manufacturer Eko revisits the key features of a silhouette that has been part of the electric guitar landscape since the 1950s. The double-cutaway body, pickguard and bridge/vibrato unit immediately evoke this now-iconic family of instruments. The Fiesta Red finishing highlights this retro inspiration, while the maple key gives the guitar a bright visual identity.

Designed as an accessible input into the world of electric guitar, this ST351 is nevertheless more than a traditional-looking instrument. Its bridge humbucker complements the two single-coil pickups to offer a broader tonal palette. That is the appeal of this HSS version: retaining classic tones while providing a denser register for overdriven passages.

A guitar for beginners to discover their own style

The Eko ST351 HSS is primarily aimed at beginner guitarists who want to explore several styles with a single instrument. Blues, pop, funk or rock: its configuration makes it possible to move from a clean accompaniment to a more forceful riff without changing guitars. It is therefore well suited to varied learning, as musical preferences take shape from one song to the next.

The double cutaway provides easier access to the upper reaches of the neck, an advantage when gradually approaching melodies and solos. The maple neck, attached to the body with four screws, combines a classic construction with satin finishing. The key, meanwhile, is made of varnished maple: a useful distinction between the playing surface and the finishing on the back of the neck.

The vibrato also makes it possible to explore pitch modulation and add a gentle wavering effect to a sustained note or chord. For a first instrument, this range of approaches provides plenty of scope for working on both rhythmic precision and expressiveness, without confining the player to a single register.

From traditional clean tones to more muscular rock sounds thanks to the HSS pickups

The ST351’s sonic character is first and foremost built around its three pickups in an HSS configuration. Positioned near the bridge, the humbucker delivers a thicker response and the presence required for overdriven sounds. It is well suited to rock rhythms and melodic lines that call for greater body, while complementing the airier textures of the two single-coil pickups.

The single-coil pickups, installed in the middle and near the neck, preserve the spirit of Strat-style tones. They are well suited to clean accompaniments, arpeggios and blues phrases with good clarity. Pickup selection thus becomes a genuine expressive tool, helping adapt the guitar’s tonal character to the role it needs to play in the song.

The 5-way selector provides access to each pickup individually, as well as two intermediate combinations wired in parallel. These offer more scooped, velvety tones, useful for lightening up a rhythm part or adding nuance to a clean sound. This layout makes tonal changes easy to understand from the very first playing sessions.

The instrument’s construction combines a poplar body with a maple neck and key. This combination contributes to a clear, articulate response, although pickup selection and amplifier settings remain decisive in the final result. The individual saddles allow the action and intonation of each string to be adjusted, making it possible to tailor the instrument’s comfort and accuracy to its intended use.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	HHS	Original Strings	Eko 10/46
Fretboard: side markers	Yes	Scalloped	Double
Type of tuners	Die-cast	Body	Poplar
Category	ST	Bridge / tailpiece	Strat type with independent saddles
Format	Stratocaster	Vibrato	Standard
Truss Rod	Double-action	Nbre of pickups	3
Strings	Metal	Neck Pickup	Single-coil
Nbr of strings	6	Middle pickup	Single coil
Neck	Roasted maple	Bridge pickup	Humbucker
Neck format	C low profile	Electronics	Passive
Radius	14 "	Selector	5-position
Nut Width	42 mm	Settings	2x tone, 1 Volume
Fingerboard	Roasted maple	Color	Red
Marker	Point	Colours	Fiesta Red
Nbrs of frets	22	Finishing	Glossy
Scale (mm)	650 mm	Origin	China
Tuning pegs	Diecast	Hardware	Chromed

Type	Strat-style electric guitar.	Saddles	individually adjustable for setting the action and intonation of each string.
Body wood	poplar.	Pickguard	vintage-style, aged appearance.
Shape	double-cutaway design for easier access to the higher frets.	Pickup configuration	HSS.
Body finishing	gloss.	Selection	each pickup individually, plus two intermediate combinations wired in parallel.
Neck wood	maple.	Brand	Eko.
Construction	bolt-on neck, 4-point attachment.	Model	ST351 HSS.
Neck finishing	satin.	Positioning	versatile guitar particularly suited to beginners.
Key	varnished maple.	Aesthetics	vintage-inspired 1950s design.
Bridge	bridge block with classic tremolo.