A New Cheapie (Hondo Content)

[FL Knifemaker]

I really like inexpensive but great sounding basses like that. Enjoy!

I have more fun bringing old eBay finds back to life and playing them than playing my expensive ones or customs. Now I'm searching for a bass to put a Dark Star pickup in. I'm keeping an eye out for a Peavy G Bass in the black Holofleck finish I love my DS'd T-45 but at almost 13 pounds, it's a HAWG.

 

[rustynuts]

I have more fun bringing old eBay finds back to life and playing them than playing my expensive ones or customs.

I can relate to that....In the past few months I've "brought back" an '03 MIA body, and to a much lesser extent an '82 Ovation and a '94 Cowpoke. Working on a '93 MIA P Deluxe right now. It's kind of peaceful and relaxing as well as fun to do.

Any pics of your earlier projects?

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I'm an Electra nut so I've renovated a few of them over the past 5 years.

This is my Phoenix, before and after. I had a guy that paints hotrods do the body. I made the pickguard and totally rebuilt the booster/preamp. Of about 15 Electras I've owned this is the magic one. It looked like a turd so I gave it a facelift.

Before........

 

[FL Knifemaker]

After...........

Here's a link to another one:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4209465&postcount=30

 

[JimmyM]

Rick Nielsen would be proud, Knifey!

 

[rustynuts]

Very nice!

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Rick Nielsen would be proud, Knifey!

Thanks!
The closest I come to playing a gig hanging out with a friends Psychobilly band. I can't play and upright so the "Hotrod" Electra fits right in. The guy that painted the body for me builds and paints hotrods. He laid down the weathered red and primer on the body

 

[FL Knifemaker]

It cleaned up pretty well. New pickguard, tugbar, knobs, screws, strings, electronics and lots of elbow grease. As expected the stock pup sounds warm and punchy. Overall, I couldn't be happier. It's a rock solid P bass for under $300

 

[Fetusyolk]

very much resembles a Peavey T-40

 

[etechstan]

Had a Hondo Explorer guitar back in '78 had a beautiful woodgrain finish, no plywood. That's another one I miss.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Had a Hondo Explorer guitar back in '78 had a beautiful woodgrain finish, no plywood. That's another one I miss.

I've owned two 80's MIJ Fenders. I would put the all wood Hondos in the same league as far as build quality. Add in the Grover tuners and string through bridge as a bonus. IMHO, the stock Hondo P pups sound MUCH better than any Fender P pups but that's just my opinion.

If I ever find an Explorer like you had, I would jump on it

 

[Tricia]

I saw this on the bay and couldn't pass it up. I've played a few over the years and always found the build quality to be excellent. While some Hondos have plywood bodies and cheezy hardware, this one is solid wood and has original Grover tuners and the unique Hondo string through body bridge. The stock Hondo pups are fantastic. I've had a set in one of my other P basses for years. For just under 200 bucks shipped, it arrived at my home in a new gig bag

I bought it as a project and based on the ebay photos, that's what I was expecting. As it turns out the original finish is very nice on both the neck and body. There are a few MINOR dings but..... The natural finish has taken a really nice aged look and I'm not going to touch it There is NO fret wear and everything works perfectly including the trussrod.

After tweeking the setup to my liking, I couldn't be happier. It weighs just a hair over 9lbs and feels just like a CIJ Fender neck profile with the 1 5/8" neck width.

Minor mods is all I'm going to do. First, a carbon fiber nut to space the strings out just slightly across the neck. The white pickguad is getting tossed as well in favor of an Abalone one I have sitting here. When I do that, I'll also install a wiring kit with new pots and caps and sheild the cavity. New knobs to compliment the pickguard are also a must. After that, strap locks and a set of LaBella strings and it will be ready to rock

Here it is as it arrived today

My bass is so similar!

 

[P. Aaron]

Nice solid lookin' instrument. Nice score!

I saw a 5-string Squire at GC for $199.00 out the door! Nice wide flat neck, but it weighed a ton, or I might've adopted it.