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Hondo Love!

jazzmonkey

jazzmonkey

Mar 7, 2010
290
0
48
N.VA
#1
Greetings,

Just picked up this late '70s - early '80s Hondo Deluxe 830. Traded it for a 2006 Squier Standard Jazz in walnut satin.

All I had to do was a little neck shimming to correct the neck pitch, put some fresh foam under the PUPs, and a little truss rod tweak, and this thing was ready.

I've read mixed reviews on Hondo instruments, but I think I struck Gold here. I feel kinda bad, since I think this is a WAY BETTER BASS than the Squier that I traded. He did initiate contact with me through my for sale ad in CL, plus I brought my amp so we could evaluate, and he seemed happy to trade.

Granted this thing is pretty worn, could probably use some minor fretwork, and the finish is checking on the skunk stripe on the back of the neck, but these are minor problems IMO. The old neck on this thing is really straight though, and man does it roar! Alder body, maple neck, matching headstock, and it even has a string-thru-body design!

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Gotta tell ya, this thing blows me away! The tone is amazing! It really brings the thunder! Nice hollow grind, and super punchy.

I dare say, this sounds better than the '09 American Standard P that I played at a local music shop a few weeks ago, through a 400w Fender Bassman 2x10 combo! I have been playing the Hondo on my little practice amp which is a TE Boxer 30, pretty weak, but sounds OK. I also have a really old probably late '70s yamaha single 15" combo amp, and it really complements this bass well, guess it's that all vintage tone!

This thing is louder than any other bass that I have owned, including the active ones. I am still in disbelief. I took a look inside the control cavity just to see what was going on, and the pickups are wired in series, I'm sure this is pretty typical of Ps right? I also discovered a sticker on the bottom of the PUP that says designed by Kent Armstrong.

Anyway, just wanted to share my recent find with everyone. Please respond with your thoughts on Hondo basses, I would love to hear of some other folks' experiences with these things.

Peace,
jm
 
#2
Lots of Hondo love here! Their P bass pickups are some of the best ever made, IMHO. I actually bought a really BEATER Hondo at a pawn shop for $125 just for the pickup. I had that pickup in several basses over the years and will use it again in a future build.

I had my Fame series Hondo posted for sale here and finally pulled it off the market. It's just too damn nice to part with. It's built as good as any American Fender, has a great feeling neck and awesome P bass tone.

I added the pickguard and tugbar from another project bass I had. The fretboard has a nice grain and the entire bass has yellowed nicely over the years.
 

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#4
Yeah, same bridge for sure. That is one thing I had not mentioned. I'm actually getting ready to post another thread over in the hardware section looking for recommendations for a replacement.

I like the brass saddles, the only problem is that they won't allow the E and G strings to be lowered enough. It must not be stock for this bass, I dunno. I would love to still use these saddles, maybe filing a groove in the front kinda like a badass bridge?
 
#6
Tommygunn said:
Shim the neck. It worked for me, not I get pretty low action on it.
Click to expand...

Nooooooooo!!!!!! :(

Send the saddles to me and I will mill about .030 off them. Just include return postage, it will take me all of 5 minutes and the fix will be RIGHT. DON'T change the bridge!! The string through design is part of what makes the bass sounds so good!! :)

You could also file a groove in the saddles to make them lower where the string rests. I wouldn't put a shim in the neck unless there was a serious neck issue and even then, I'd rather build the pocket up and re-mill it so it's all solid.
 
#7
I didn't change the bridge. You put a small piece of paper (slit of credit card works well) in the neck pocket and bolt the neck back on, it raises the height of the neck so you don't have to bottom out your saddles.

A lot of basses come from the factory with shims, my musicman did
 
#8
I have a bench grinder, maybe I could do it myself and just grind the front-bottom ends of each saddle to get them right? I am just afraid that I won't get the angle right. Maybe I should just send them to you FL-KM?
 
#9
Tommygunn said:
I didn't change the bridge. You put a small piece of paper (slit of credit card works well) in the neck pocket and bolt the neck back on, it raises the height of the neck so you don't have to bottom out your saddles.

A lot of basses come from the factory with shims, my musicman did
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:scowl: Nooooooooo!!!!!!! Just because someone else did it, doesn't make it right :( The problem is at the bridge. I would much prefer to address the bridge :)
 
#10
jazzmonkey said:
I have a bench grinder, maybe I could do it myself and just grind the front-bottom ends of each saddle to get them right? I am just afraid that I won't get the angle right. Maybe I should just send them to you FL-KM?
Click to expand...

I can mill them and have them on the way back the same day they arrive. Shoot me a PM

Filing the grooves isn't a bad option if you have some needle files. That way you can take them down a little at a time.
 
#13
jazzmonkey said:
I already shimmed the neck once with a show flyer folded to make the proper neck pitch angle. Nothing professional by any means, but it does work.

FL-KM, I'm getting the impression you don't like neck shims.
Click to expand...

The neck/body fit can be what makes or breaks how a bass performs. Everytime I get a new bass, I take the neck off, deburr the screw holes and clean out any debris or chips that end up between the neck and pocket. Many companies just predrill the holes and shoot the scews in. That results in the neck actually sitting on wood burrs and chips that the drilling creates instead of a perfect contact between the neck and pocket. IMHO, gaps and poor fit like that kill sustain.

The other thing I HATE is those *** Damn "adjust a tilt" neck systems. All that does is provide the factory an easy way to adjust the necks during assembly to overcome shoddy/sloppy production of the necks and body pockets. :)

Yes, I'm picky about how things go together :ninja:
 
#14
I think that's a mid 80's model, but I'm not positive. I owned a late 70's Hondo Les Paul copy guitar (in the late 70's). The logo was different. I knew someone with a mid 80's P type model bass, from Sears, that had the exact same bridge.
 
#18
Craig_S said:
I think that's a mid 80's model, but I'm not positive. I owned a late 70's Hondo Les Paul copy guitar (in the late 70's). The logo was different. I knew someone with a mid 80's P type model bass, from Sears, that had the exact same bridge.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure when Hondos and the other Matsumoku factory basses started being produced by other companies. They all shared logos :) Here's an Electra that I had that's identical to Jazzmonkey's except for the color. It was a nice sounding bass even though it had a plywood body.
 

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#19
I have a Hondo deluxe 830 in candy apple red that I found in the trash in my hometown.
Has a white cover P bass pick up ,strings through the body & the brass bridge saddles.
It sounds great! It's my soundman's favorite bass that I own.
 

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