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.
The OFFICIAL (kinda) HONDO THREAD!!
- Thread starter bluerimedeyes
- Start date
I have never owned or tried a Hondo bass. However my first guitar was a Hondo H-75 electric guitar I bought when I was younger. I love that guitar and used to play the crap out of it, then I picked up bass. I still have that guitar though nearly 15 years later and it still sounds like a gem. I really want to get back into playing it.
Hello fellow Hondo owners. I recently took up bass after being given an old Hondo II from my uncle. As I generally have no idea when it comes to instruments, this thread has been a good read with lots of great information.
I have a similar looking Hondo to the OP's and a couple of others I've seen in this thread.
It looks quite worn out, but plays alright (although I'm not the greatest judge on bass sounds). I was actually thinking of fixing it up here and there. That, or buy just buy a new bass down the track if it's going to be too much hassle/cost anyway.
No complaints about the headstock and neck really. I'm definitely going to buy some new strings though as the ones on it currently (nickel roundwound) are quite old. I was thinking of getting nickel flatwound after some research.
It originally had a bridge and cover on it, but I took them off as I prefer it without them. But as you can see from this photo, the bridge is quite rusted and ugly. I want to replace it, but not sure if a cheap one like this will suffice? Should I spend more money on a good bridge?
The pick ups kind of worry me. As you can see, the one under the D and G strings seems sunken under the pick up cover and both are quite rusted. I tend to find that my D and G strings play a lot less 'bassy' than E and A, but not sure whether the reason is more due to my amp or something else. So not sure if it's worth buying new pick ups. I'd have no idea how to install new ones, that's for sure.
The volume and tone knobs, as you can see, are quite old and rusted. They are also quite temperamental and tend to create buzzing and scratching noises through the amp if fiddled around with or knocked. Probably a wiring issue. Are the knobs themselves easy to replace?
Cosmetically, I'm thinking of sanding it down and spraying it some sort of silver colour. What's the best paint to use? Also would probably get a new pick guard. Would it be easy to find one to fit this bass? Other minor things like a new strap and strap locks I'm in the process of replacing.
I'm new to all this and advice would be great.
That all said, I'm really enjoying learning on this bass.
I have a similar looking Hondo to the OP's and a couple of others I've seen in this thread.
It looks quite worn out, but plays alright (although I'm not the greatest judge on bass sounds). I was actually thinking of fixing it up here and there. That, or buy just buy a new bass down the track if it's going to be too much hassle/cost anyway.
No complaints about the headstock and neck really. I'm definitely going to buy some new strings though as the ones on it currently (nickel roundwound) are quite old. I was thinking of getting nickel flatwound after some research.
It originally had a bridge and cover on it, but I took them off as I prefer it without them. But as you can see from this photo, the bridge is quite rusted and ugly. I want to replace it, but not sure if a cheap one like this will suffice? Should I spend more money on a good bridge?
The pick ups kind of worry me. As you can see, the one under the D and G strings seems sunken under the pick up cover and both are quite rusted. I tend to find that my D and G strings play a lot less 'bassy' than E and A, but not sure whether the reason is more due to my amp or something else. So not sure if it's worth buying new pick ups. I'd have no idea how to install new ones, that's for sure.
The volume and tone knobs, as you can see, are quite old and rusted. They are also quite temperamental and tend to create buzzing and scratching noises through the amp if fiddled around with or knocked. Probably a wiring issue. Are the knobs themselves easy to replace?
Cosmetically, I'm thinking of sanding it down and spraying it some sort of silver colour. What's the best paint to use? Also would probably get a new pick guard. Would it be easy to find one to fit this bass? Other minor things like a new strap and strap locks I'm in the process of replacing.
I'm new to all this and advice would be great.
That all said, I'm really enjoying learning on this bass.
I say NO! to major changes. The joy of a hondo is that they are decent-to-great 'vintage' budget basses. Spending all that money modding the bass would be an inefficient waste at worst and would kill the mojo at best. New strings, a VERY thourough cleaning and a pro setup (and a new pickguard) may do wonders for the bass. Wonders! At the very least start with these things before you spend a couple of hundred dollars modding a bass worth less than a couple hundred of dollars into a bass worth less than a hundred dollars.
For less than $100 bucks you can usually pick up a decent squire on CL.
IMVHO Honor thy Hondo!
edit: Also, my Hondos don't have paint, its some kind of laminate that I've heard is hellacious to remove.
For less than $100 bucks you can usually pick up a decent squire on CL.
IMVHO Honor thy Hondo!
edit: Also, my Hondos don't have paint, its some kind of laminate that I've heard is hellacious to remove.
Attachments
Kyri said:
Ahhh! Don't make the same mistake I did! I wanted flatwounds too. And then I played on them.
Flatwounds are 'Ye Olde Classical' if that makes sense. If you plan to play metal/hip hop like your profile says, rounds are the way to go.
I have an offbrand P-Bass that has flats on it and I use it for acoustic sets. It sounds very dead, especially if you play them too often.
Btw, beautiful bass you have. Good luck with music, I wish you the best.
Cheers for that. I did read around and it mentioned that roundwounds were more suited to rock (which I mainly play, I only really listen to hip-hop occasionally), but I didn't think the sound difference was that dramatic. If it's going to help the sound when playing rock, then I'd definitely go for rounds. I guess I was drawn to flats due to the 'feel'.
Flatwounds are fine for rock. It's all a matter of personal preference really, and the type(s) of rock you play I guess. I have flats on my Hondo and I think it sounds great for just about any rock context, especially through a VT Bass pedal...
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 642
- 68
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
My second bass was a used Hondo P-Bass copy I bought when I was 16 or 17. It had what looked like a small humbucker rather than the standard "Split" pickup so I turned it into a "Proper" P-bass with a DiMarzio pickup and a new pick guard. I used my dad's router, made the appropriate modifications, and came up with something that actually sounded pretty good! Had a crappy neck that gave me trouble later on though.
I also own a Hondo (P-Bass again) I bought off of E-Bay for about $30! I stripped it down, removed and replaced all the hardware, pulled the frets, filled the slots, added a vintage alnico pickup to replace the cheap pickup it came with, and refinished it with tung oil and nitrocellulose lacquer. It is strung with black nylon-tape strings and has a really cool "Wooden" upright tone that is to die for!
I also own a Hondo (P-Bass again) I bought off of E-Bay for about $30! I stripped it down, removed and replaced all the hardware, pulled the frets, filled the slots, added a vintage alnico pickup to replace the cheap pickup it came with, and refinished it with tung oil and nitrocellulose lacquer. It is strung with black nylon-tape strings and has a really cool "Wooden" upright tone that is to die for!
Hello fellow Hondo owners. I recently took up bass after being given an old Hondo II from my uncle. As I generally have no idea when it comes to instruments, this thread has been a good read with lots of great information.
I have a similar looking Hondo to the OP's and a couple of others I've seen in this thread.
It looks quite worn out, but plays alright (although I'm not the greatest judge on bass sounds). I was actually thinking of fixing it up here and there. That, or buy just buy a new bass down the track if it's going to be too much hassle/cost anyway.
No complaints about the headstock and neck really. I'm definitely going to buy some new strings though as the ones on it currently (nickel roundwound) are quite old. I was thinking of getting nickel flatwound after some research.
It originally had a bridge and cover on it, but I took them off as I prefer it without them. But as you can see from this photo, the bridge is quite rusted and ugly. I want to replace it, but not sure if a cheap one like this will suffice? Should I spend more money on a good bridge?
The pick ups kind of worry me. As you can see, the one under the D and G strings seems sunken under the pick up cover and both are quite rusted. I tend to find that my D and G strings play a lot less 'bassy' than E and A, but not sure whether the reason is more due to my amp or something else. So not sure if it's worth buying new pick ups. I'd have no idea how to install new ones, that's for sure.
The volume and tone knobs, as you can see, are quite old and rusted. They are also quite temperamental and tend to create buzzing and scratching noises through the amp if fiddled around with or knocked. Probably a wiring issue. Are the knobs themselves easy to replace?
Cosmetically, I'm thinking of sanding it down and spraying it some sort of silver colour. What's the best paint to use? Also would probably get a new pick guard. Would it be easy to find one to fit this bass? Other minor things like a new strap and strap locks I'm in the process of replacing.
I'm new to all this and advice would be great.
That all said, I'm really enjoying learning on this bass.
Dude, you know how much people pay for a "Road Worn" or some "Relic'd" Fender Custom Shop P-Bass that has similar wear?
That thing's got CHARACTER man!!!!
EDIT: That pickup is easily repairable. looks like the coil part has separated itself from the cover. on a "Real" Fender P-Bass, the cover is easily removable from the bobbin (actual pickup assembly) and many (mine does) use expanded foam rubber behind the pickup to hold it in place and to act as a spring that you would adjust your height against. if you do not want to use foam rubber, a dab of rubber cement would do the trick as well. Also, a good music store would probably charge you about $50 for a good setup (plus strings) and would fix your pickup as well.
I really wish I could find out more about the Hondo's. There is just so much informtion that is missing... I am specifically looking for H1181 Longhorn info.
Anybody have any idea on the body wood of the deluxe 880's (explorer). I just got a lpb one. Fun as hell!
