NGD - Hondo HL5FBB Fat Boy Project

HarrySeven

I’ve always had a soft spot for MIJ/MIK Jazz boxes, particularly Antoria Jazzstar, Hondo Fat Boy and Encore 302, etc - surprisingly good quality guitars.

So, when this turned up, looking much the worse for wear...I was very tempted.

’85-‘89 MIK (Samick) Hondo HL5FBB.

https://i.imgur.com/XOhsvIT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RmdnRbM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nhFpqU6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DzuOCdd.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IuUnWEz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Rwk3Ygx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fK0gUO4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gf20rZk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TAaSInx.jpg

After an evening’s work (glue/clamp the fretboard, replace the machine heads with Grovers, dig a bridge out, oil the fretboard, clean/polish the frets, etc), things improved somewhat...

https://i.imgur.com/wrZMaCw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YvgkCsX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Nlu3KWL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0ocldjO.jpg

Specs (from the Hondo/Samick Wiki):

1985-1989

$449.95 MSRP (1984)

Body:

Laminated Maple arched top, back and sides

Venetian cutaway

Neck:

Set-in Maple neck w/ laminated Rosewood strip

Rosewood fretboard w/ Mother of Pearl block inlays

Fatboy headstock

Silk-screened Sunrise logo

22 frets (plus zero-fret)

25.5" scale

Binding:

Double-ply body (front & rear), neck and headstock

Double-ply heel cap

Single-ply f-holes

Fret-edge binding (1985-1988)

1989 HL5-FB

Electronics:

Two cream X-14 humbuckers

3-way switch

2 Vol, 2 Tone, 1 Master Vol

Hardware:

Chrome hardware

Grover Rotomatic tuning machines

Lubricated, die-cast tuning machines (1989)

Fish shaped truss rod cover

Triangular truss rod cover (1986-1989)

2-ply black/white pickguard

Amber Bell knobs

Rosewood bridge with Trapeze tailpiece

Finishes:

Natural Blonde (B)

Cherry Sunburst (CS)

Tobacco Sunburst (TSB)

Honey Glow (HG)

Also branded as:

Antoria EG-794 Jazzstar

Tenebrous

I quite like that.

Henrytwang

Doesn’t look too bad, there are a few problems but nothing that can’t be fixed as you’re already showing .These guitars were well made and remain quite popular. Nice find!

YellowLedBetterMan

I expected it to be a pile of shit given that it's a H7 weekend special.

Lo and behold, I actually rather like it.

Kittyfrisk

Nice find (yet again...).
Both of my Hondo HL5FBB's have Grovers as standard, one still has the original stickers at headstock & heel.
Very well made guitars, I reckon they must have pushed Hondo's manufacture/sales cost ratio in a negative way.
Happy to supply any photo's that you might want to use for comparison.
P.S. If you ever find a spare original tailpiece, I'll have it   

HarrySeven

Found some pics of a couple of my previous associated models:

Jazzstar:

https://i.imgur.com/NeFbgnm.jpg


Encore 302:

https://i.imgur.com/CARMhUw.jpg

Kittyfrisk

More different variations of fretboard end shapes, normal/zero frets, f-hole location, headstock shapes and bridge types.
I wonder how many types were made & in how many factories ?
So many puzzles... 

Edit: I just checked & then remembered that I had forgotten (!) that although identical in most respects, one is a 'Hondo' & the other a 'Revival Hondo'.
So, add TRC differences & headstock branding to the list 

Kittyfrisk

https://i.imgur.com/T4Kqo3d.jpg

artiebear

Great project guitar. Interesting to see the zero fret, more Gretsch than Gibson.

HarrySeven

Kittyfrisk said:

More different variations of fretboard end shapes, normal/zero frets, f-hole location, headstock shapes and bridge types.
I wonder how many types were made & in how many factories ?
So many puzzles... 

From what I understand, a non-exhaustive list of Samick variants is something like:

*Hondo II HL5

*Hondo II HDL5

*Hondo H-794

*Revival HL5

*Orion FA-25

*Hondo HL5-FB

*Antoria EG-794
  *Antoria H-794

*Antares ASA-25

*Samick HJ
  *Marathon MJG-1000
  *Sebring JS-20

Funkfingers

Needs a Kahler. :-p

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

Needs a Kahler. :-p

It actually does!

saltyseadog

Lovely job you've done there.

Kittyfrisk

HarrySeven said:

Kittyfrisk said:

More different variations of fretboard end shapes, normal/zero frets, f-hole location, headstock shapes and bridge types.
I wonder how many types were made & in how many factories ?
So many puzzles... 

From what I understand, a non-exhaustive list of Samick variants is something like:

*Hondo II HL5

*Hondo II HDL5

*Hondo H-794

*Revival HL5

*Orion FA-25

*Hondo HL5-FB

*Antoria EG-794
  *Antoria H-794

*Antares ASA-25

*Samick HJ
  *Marathon MJG-1000
  *Sebring JS-20

Just checked & my Hondo & Revival have the same HL 5FBB label designation, although someone has appended one with biro 

HarrySeven

@Kittyfrisk - re. biro - I bet that was tricky!

Kittyfrisk

Proves it's authentic & unique :-D