Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Hondo Deluxe 860 V..... info?
- Thread starter frankenbass2014
- Start date
Looks like a fun project to see how clean and good sounding you can make it for as little money as possible. If you are new to replacing parts and soldering, what a good one to learn on. I don't have direct knowledge of this bass but the web told me it's probably from the early to mid 80's and MIGHT have dimarzio pickups. Thanks for the pics. Post some before/after pics if you can.
Yea im pretty knowledgeable in replacing parts stuff. I actually enjoy working on these old things more than playing them lol. I always wanted a flying bass, and the $30 tag on this one made it irresistible lol. I've had thoughts on some emgs and a de-fret, but I didn't want to hack into something that might be collectible. And possible dimarzios? How would one tell? That wouldn't be half bad lol. I actually believe this bass is better quality than what I've always heard about Hondo products. The bridge is killer with what looks like massive brass saddles. It also has thru body string mounting which to, my knowledge, super cheap basses and guitars didn't have. Problem is there's very little info on this thing so its hard to say. Maybe ill refinish it black, swap in a good pup, do the de-fret and a nice polished diamond plate pick guard 
That one looks tired for sure.
Got the exact same bass here but it had a pickup issue(one half of the P was weaker) so it got a new Dimarzio DP122.
99% sure Hondos all have Dimarzio's....the ones here all do BUT age or wear or ???? = some sound a great and some not so great. The ones you have look like the black-cover ones same as Ovation used in their UB-series basses. If you take the pickups out, there is most likely labels on the underside(mine had them) like this or Dimarzio labels if post-patented:
Here's the new DP122 underside:
This one came with newer "speed" knobs:
Replacement pickups made a huge difference in this one BUT the Hondo Longhorn here with the exact same pickups sounds AMAZING as-is. If the ones you have work, sound good, and are balanced across the strings then you might just clean them up a bit and leave 'em in.
Got the exact same bass here but it had a pickup issue(one half of the P was weaker) so it got a new Dimarzio DP122.
99% sure Hondos all have Dimarzio's....the ones here all do BUT age or wear or ???? = some sound a great and some not so great. The ones you have look like the black-cover ones same as Ovation used in their UB-series basses. If you take the pickups out, there is most likely labels on the underside(mine had them) like this or Dimarzio labels if post-patented:
Here's the new DP122 underside:
This one came with newer "speed" knobs:
Replacement pickups made a huge difference in this one BUT the Hondo Longhorn here with the exact same pickups sounds AMAZING as-is. If the ones you have work, sound good, and are balanced across the strings then you might just clean them up a bit and leave 'em in.
Last edited:
Since I cant get it to make noise with the current electronics i may hot wire the pickup to the jack and see what it sounds like. After some more research on Hondo products in general I found that all Hondo guitars and basses after 1979 had dimarzios, and were only ply wood until 83 or so. So what I've got is definitely old lol. And has potential in my eyes. Im going to tear it down tomorrow since im off work and see what I can see. Hopefully this thing doesn't fight back lol
Just pulled the control cavity off and......... 
what am i looking at here? why would anyone put hot glue all over the back of the pots and wiring? Ive got a lot of work ahead of me.
what am i looking at here? why would anyone put hot glue all over the back of the pots and wiring? Ive got a lot of work ahead of me.
Yuck!
Looks like someone tried to use hot glue instead of solder. You may be able to clean it off, solder things CORRECTLY, and have a functional bass. If they dumped glue into the 1/4" jack, it may be a pain to get entirely clean. Hold on, I got pics of mine when first opened......
Here ya go. Looks like this one may have had a pot change and shielding paint added during previous ownership(s), maybe even the orange capacitor is an adder. Photo is full sized so you can see most of the connections but taken with my gig-bag cheapo cam.
Looks like someone tried to use hot glue instead of solder. You may be able to clean it off, solder things CORRECTLY, and have a functional bass. If they dumped glue into the 1/4" jack, it may be a pain to get entirely clean. Hold on, I got pics of mine when first opened......
Here ya go. Looks like this one may have had a pot change and shielding paint added during previous ownership(s), maybe even the orange capacitor is an adder. Photo is full sized so you can see most of the connections but taken with my gig-bag cheapo cam.
Last edited:
Yea that's definitely in a lot better shape than mine lol. And your cavity is a lot smaller too. Luckily the jack is clear on mine, and the glue looks like its going to pull out fairly easy. In a bit im going to pull as much of the glue out i can and got wire the pups to see if I get any useable sound.
So im looking at a definite previous pot swap. the body under each pot has been dug out to accommodate pots with shorter shafts. The hot glue was for sure used in place of solder. sound test coming as soon as I get back from town
I'd wire straight to jack, clean that thing up and play it. Looks like a cool bass, and a good V-bass is definitely a hard thing to come by. Enjoy it, and happy birthday!
-Ron
-Ron
Hot glue instead of solder.....love it!! Now I've seen everything. Post back with how it sounds!!
It's made in Japan, not Korea. The ones I have used have had good action, good necks, and very, very iffy body construction. Also I had a BC Rich copy with weird electronics.
Holy $$$$$$ this beats the duct tape I found on a P bass copy.....
Are sure a beaver didn't own it first. That thing is chewed up.
Had a Westone Concord where Blu Tac had been used instead of solder. Resourceful bunch us bass palyers.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
That nut should be in witness protection congrats she should clean up nicely enjoy your birthday.
congrats she should clean up nicely enjoy your birthday.
Sound update: what sound lol. I get some hum and very weak notes on the d and g string. I double checked the bridge ground and it is good. Then i used a new jack just to make sure it wasn't a connection problem. So it looks like its getting a new pup as well as pots and wiring lol
Just a little dig, but wouldn't a new flying V be cheaper at this point. I'm just kidding, these projects are fun to a point. I did put a new pick guard on my MIA Jazz bass and it looks great! Does that count?
I figured that after its all said and done, with a new nut, wiring and strings, and a decent used pickup, ill have around $100 in it so I can't complain lol. Besides, its not about the cost, its about the build lol. Although I am working to keep this build somewhat under the budget of my current Frankenstein build (which im yet to finish). Im currently into it $250, not counting paying someone to water jet my pick guard (aluminum diamond plate), decent strings and fret wire. It'll probably take a back burner to this more simple and straightforward project, as long as I dont have any crazy ideas along the way.
Man you know I'm just messing with you. We have all had those projects as you can see by my avatar. I just set up a new Gibson EB bass I received yesterday and put a new pick guard on my J bass this morning so I know where you're coming from. Always messing with something. Want to see the pix when you're done
