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The OFFICIAL (kinda) HONDO THREAD!!

First I'll take a number if they are still being given out. Second here my two Hondo's and both play great. The natural is a Deluxe Series 880 and the black one is a Formula 1. I don't know the year they were made. Minor things done to each but both play just fine and sound fine.

I'm not one of these elitist-type who looks down my nose at Hondo's. I'd like to think I can make darn near any bass sound good by the way I play it.

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Oh, man....
I bought a Hondo II Precision (black with black scratchplate and maple neck with the Fender style headstock) from a friend's Mum's catalogue back in the late 70s.
That was a very cool bass. Sounded great and played very well. I got seduced by the idea of 'real' basses and sold it for a stupidly low price to a friend.......Come to think of it, he may still have it....
 
I just found a Hondo p-bass with natural body and a skunk striped neck. I'm on vacation and am going back tomorrow to buy it for a super low price. The neck has a small back bow to it, so I'm going to check the truss rod out before I sink any money into. I think it will pull because it seems to be in great shape and is missing a string. I'll post up some pics.
 
Just found this thread and thought I'd show you the Hondo my son and I just rebuilt. He is playing in his HS 'rock band' class this year, so we spent the summer getting it ready.

I bought it from a friend for $60 a couple of years ago, and it was in pretty sad condition. Here is a before and after, and I'll post a couple of more in a minute. The inspiration was Eddie meets Flea.
 

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Now the back. Some of my pics were too big to post I guess.

So what are these worth nowadays (not that he would sell it, he LOVES it)
 

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Actually most Hondo basses are not selling for much of anything these days. The later years of Hondo made them mostly a joke in just about every way. Longhorns, Ric Copies, early to mid 70's lawsuit basses are still a moderate priced bass some of the Ric's fetching upwards of $600+ and the Longhorns getting right about $500, but I have not seen many Hondo's out there go for more than $50 to $75, which if you find what you want would be a real steal!
 
I just got mine a few weeks ago -- Deluxe Series 830.

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Not selling for much is right -- I paid $27 :cool: Body is some kind of lauan plywood. It's not delaminating and it holds fasteners well. String tree, volume and tone knobs, and bridge are made of brass.

I like the original bridge, but the saddles were missing, so I put on a spare bridge I had sitting around until I get around to making a new set. Leveled/crowned/polished the frets, glued the magnets back onto the pickups, resoldered the electronics, flattened the warped pickguard, shielded the electronics cavity, removed the skateboard stickers, gave it probably the first decent setup it's ever had... I guess that's about it.

Not much to look at, but after about a weekend's worth of work, it's a nice player.
 
ok kids. Help... I have been a Hondo Longhorn owner since 1982. Bought it new. I was only aware that the longhorn (model 1181) was only made for 2 years and only in the Hondo II. I just saw that on Ebay someone was selling a Hondo Longhorn that had a Professional and not a II??? Fake? Someone changed something? Did they make a Professional?
 
Just found this thread and thought I'd show you the Hondo my son and I just rebuilt. He is playing in his HS 'rock band' class this year, so we spent the summer getting it ready.

I bought it from a friend for $60 a couple of years ago, and it was in pretty sad condition. Here is a before and after, and I'll post a couple of more in a minute. The inspiration was Eddie meets Flea.

This is cool! What pickup is that?
 
Hey all, I found a hondo flying v bass with a emg p pickup, nick was stright, really in good shape, sounded great, exept the 13th fret on the g string was flat as kansas. They wanted $125.00 for it. Still thinking about going back n getting it. What do you all think? yae or nae?
 
Hey all, I found a hondo flying v bass with a emg p pickup, nick was stright, really in good shape, sounded great, exept the 13th fret on the g string was flat as kansas. They wanted $125.00 for it. Still thinking about going back n getting it. What do you all think? yae or nae?

Please at least snap a pic. And you don't need to play that high :) go for it.
 
I'm thinking I will go n see if they still have it, If so I just mite bring it home wit me. Anything else I should look for? Don't know a thing about these Hondo's. Are they a decent bass? All I know is I love the flying v style! Love the 80's and I think this bass wants me! lol:bassist:
 
Hey guys I'm thinking of scoring this at a local pawn shop and joining the cult!! anybody ever seen a hondo like this before?? any info would be great, thanks
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don't be fooled by the price tag, I wouldn't drop that much on it, the pawn shop just marks everything for twice(or more) than what they'll take.

First I'll take a number if they are still being given out. Second here my two Hondo's and both play great. The natural is a Deluxe Series 880 and the black one is a Formula 1. I don't know the year they were made. Minor things done to each but both play just fine and sound fine.

I'm not one of these elitist-type who looks down my nose at Hondo's. I'd like to think I can make darn near any bass sound good by the way I play it.

DSCF7513.jpg

Well dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians!!..Never thought I'd see one, let alone TWO of these H880's on here!!...Let me add a third one to that list!!...

Here's it is with the original neck, which was better suited to shoot arrows from...

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And how it is now...Allparts "J" neck with maple fretboard, gold speed knobs replacing the stock black ones, new (in 2005) Fender pots, and seymour Duncan Quarter-Pounder pickup...

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Dad bought it for me for Christmas in 1980-something brand new, and I've held onto it all these years...Aside from SEVERE neck dive, and it weighs a ton, it plays and sounds great!!...

Also that Kustom amp takes me back...The year before I got the Hondo, dad bought me this for Christmas....

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BTW...Still have the amp also...It's sitting right next to me, where the pic was taken....:bassist: :D

Now what's the secret handshake???....:hiding:
 
Can anyone tell me about the Hondo Ric copies? Model number, what years they were made? that kind of stuff. I have one, but cannot find much information about them at all. I was hoping someone in here might know a thing or 2 about them.