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The OFFICIAL (kinda) HONDO THREAD!!

#261
omie said:
Without pictures its as if your bass doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

So true!
bfddf8b1.jpg
 
#267
#271
I walked into a pawn shop last week and spotted a Hondo Flame series P-bass that looked just like mine! I had never seen one quite like mine so I was understandably interested. I took it down and looked it all over and was impressed with how good of condition it was in. Then I noticed that it had a Duncan 1/4 pounder in it and I realized that this WAS my bass!

Background story;
A couple years ago (actually, about 4) I was playing in one of the praise groups at church, and one of the other groups was looking for a bass player. A fairly new guy at church said he could play, but that he didnt have a bass. As I dont play 4-string anymore, and had this Hondo, I offered to let him use it until he could come up with one of his own. He used it for a couple years, and then got mad at somebody and left the church. He offered to give the bass back, so I asked him if he was still playing around with it and he said yes. I told him I wasnt using it, and as long as he was enjoying it, to go ahead and keep it. I new where he lived, and every 6 months or so we would connect and I'd ask him if he was still playing it and he'd say yes. The last time I had talked with him was just after the first of the year.

So anyway, I go up to the counter and tell them my story and ask who pawned it. they say that cant tell me, so I ask them if they can tell me if it isnt someone. They say yes, we can do that. So I give them the guys name, they look it up and say that cant tell me. So now I know it was him. So I go out and call the guy-no answer. No answer for the next week (the store is holding it for me). Evidently the guy skipped town so now I have to but the bass back.
 
#272
ampegfuzz said:
Depends on the era. A pic would help.
Click to expand...

Here is my 70's (?) Hondo P-Bass. In about 1989-ish, I defretted it :hiding: and took off the broken pickguard and replaced it with a bit of plexiglass. A couple years ago I added the Jazz pickup :ninja: . Notice the original crappy Fender-type bridge. At one time I had a Badass II on it.

Any info on it would be great. I wish I woulda left it a little more stock, but whattaya gonna do?
 

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#273
Ol'Bass'ead said:
I walked into a pawn shop last week and spotted a Hondo Flame series P-bass that looked just like mine! I had never seen one quite like mine so I was understandably interested. I took it down and looked it all over and was impressed with how good of condition it was in. Then I noticed that it had a Duncan 1/4 pounder in it and I realized that this WAS my bass!

Background story;
A couple years ago (actually, about 4) I was playing in one of the praise groups at church, and one of the other groups was looking for a bass player. A fairly new guy at church said he could play, but that he didnt have a bass. As I dont play 4-string anymore, and had this Hondo, I offered to let him use it until he could come up with one of his own. He used it for a couple years, and then got mad at somebody and left the church. He offered to give the bass back, so I asked him if he was still playing around with it and he said yes. I told him I wasnt using it, and as long as he was enjoying it, to go ahead and keep it. I new where he lived, and every 6 months or so we would connect and I'd ask him if he was still playing it and he'd say yes. The last time I had talked with him was just after the first of the year.

So anyway, I go up to the counter and tell them my story and ask who pawned it. they say that cant tell me, so I ask them if they can tell me if it isnt someone. They say yes, we can do that. So I give them the guys name, they look it up and say that cant tell me. So now I know it was him. So I go out and call the guy-no answer. No answer for the next week (the store is holding it for me). Evidently the guy skipped town so now I have to but the bass back.
Click to expand...

That really sucks. I can't understand why someone would pawn something that wasn't theirs.
 
#274
twocargar said:
Here is my 70's (?) Hondo P-Bass. In about 1989-ish, I defretted it :hiding: and took off the broken pickguard and replaced it with a bit of plexiglass. A couple years ago I added the Jazz pickup :ninja: . Notice the original crappy Fender-type bridge. At one time I had a Badass II on it.

Any info on it would be great. I wish I woulda left it a little more stock, but whattaya gonna do?
Click to expand...

I would take the body to a local shop and just hold a pickguard over it to see how close it fits and just make adjustments. It looks like you make luck out with little mods.
 
#277
Hi all, found this forum while trying to find info about this Hondo Bass I just scored in a second hand furniture shop in Colville Washington near here. I was not even in the market for a bass but when I spotted it I new a first class instrument when I see one. I owned a music store back in the 90's and remember Hondo's as being well built for the money. This one is a gem and seems in almost perfect condition. Must have been bought as a student bass and never played much. Came with a Crate B10 XL and semi hard case for $130. Such a deal. So I officially wish to join the club.

Hondobass.jpg
 
#278
Has anyone figured out how the serial numbers go? Like for dating things.

I recorded a few bass tracks today and it really cuts through a mix nice, just a hint of a buzz on the low E. But the tone is as good as any Bass I've used and all mine always had upgraded PU.

From what I read here, this is one of the good ones possibly from the mid 70's?

Hondoserial.jpg
 
#280
It all started when a low-cost but in need of repair Hondo Fame showed up. Came with Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounders and the best aftermarket(factory-installed) tuners. Repairs: re-attach neck, rewire, repair shielding(it came with copper foil shielding but it was not connected to ground properly).
Orange.jpg


I LOVE the neck on this bass. So I kept looking. Then this like-new and probably hardly-played Hondo Fame showed up. Someone had wrecked the wiring so I re-did that and sanded/cleaned the input jack. It was listed as "no sound comes out". No problem.
Red2.jpg


Then, this one appeared in an estate sale, also hardly played. This one had the same oxidized input jack needing cleaning but that was all.
Billy.jpg


All 3 have the same GREAT-to-me neck. The latest 2 may get SD's put in them.
The last two cost about what a Rondo bass costs BUT they have 30 year old wood, better tuners(Schallers), and MUCH better bridges.
 
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