Hondo II Professional Les Paul - anybody know anything about them?

imalrightjack

Can anybody help identify this, down to model, possible year - or even value?  Thanks!

ICBM

Mid 80s, made in Japan (I think by Matsumoku), probably worth about £200.

I don't know what the model number is but it's essentially a copy of the Gibson 'The Paul' of around 1980, and is probably quite a well-made, fairly high quality guitar - maybe a bit better than the price would suggest, which isn't helped by the Hondo name which is generally less desirable than some of the other Japanese brands of the era.

imalrightjack

Thanks, @ICBM - appreciated.

guitars4you

Imported into the UK in the 80's by JHS (Hornby Skewes) who now import and promote the Vintage Guitar Brand - At the time various UK importers would run/promote various brands like Westone, Westbury etc with many coming from Matsumoku as icbm quotes above - some might have been made in the Samick facility

Hondo11 at the time was not seen as the first choice line to buy as a dealer but they are okay - It was a USA brand name - some had Dimarzio p/ups - Later there was a tie up with the owners of Hondo and Charvel/Jackson (company called IMC) but eventually like many of those 80's brand names they just disappeared

Not sure what else to say

imalrightjack

@guitars4you - I don't think there's much left for you to add - thank you also

Sarge

It's a H-1020 , or if they're DiMarzio pickups (which they aren't, they're MMK45's) it's a HD-1020.
All the Hondo II Professional series were Matsumoku built, the top price you will ever get for these is £150 in minty condition.
They're nice guitars but pretty low on the Matsumoku quality scale to be honest, I've had a couple of the H-1010 double cut versions and they're massively heavy but fun to play.

imalrightjack

A-ha! Thanks, @ ;

More info:

http://samick.wikia.com/wiki/H-1020

Sarge

Oh and it's 1980 or 1981. what's the serial number on the neck plate?

guitars4you

Sarge said:

It's a H-1020 , or if they're DiMarzio pickups (which they aren't, they're MMK45's) it's a HD-1020.
All the Hondo II Professional series were Matsumoku built, the top price you will ever get for these is £150 in minty condition.
They're nice guitars but pretty low on the Matsumoku quality scale to be honest, I've had a couple of the H-1010 double cut versions and they're massively heavy but fun to play.

crikey Sarge that's good info on the Hondo's - I sold a few new ones at the time, but against Westone the brand never sold as well in the UK - probably agree with your £150ish evaluation

pintspiller

I saw a Westone for sale in Paignton yesterday. £150. I remember back in the pre-Squier days, these were what to buy, and I had to make do with a plywood Hondo II.

Sarge

guitars4you said:

Sarge said:

It's a H-1020 , or if they're DiMarzio pickups (which they aren't, they're MMK45's) it's a HD-1020.
All the Hondo II Professional series were Matsumoku built, the top price you will ever get for these is £150 in minty condition.
They're nice guitars but pretty low on the Matsumoku quality scale to be honest, I've had a couple of the H-1010 double cut versions and they're massively heavy but fun to play.

crikey Sarge that's good info on the Hondo's - I sold a few new ones at the time, but against Westone the brand never sold as well in the UK - probably agree with your £150ish evaluation

@guitars4you ;I love 70s/80s Jap guitars, Westone especially as the quality is up there with the Arias from the same place but the prices are significantly lower.
I do have a thing for the Jap Hondo pro too, if anyone has a Hondo Genesis copy or  a Lead II copy (H-1052 available......I'm interested

guitars4you

Sarge said:

guitars4you said:

Sarge said:

It's a H-1020 , or if they're DiMarzio pickups (which they aren't, they're MMK45's) it's a HD-1020.
All the Hondo II Professional series were Matsumoku built, the top price you will ever get for these is £150 in minty condition.
They're nice guitars but pretty low on the Matsumoku quality scale to be honest, I've had a couple of the H-1010 double cut versions and they're massively heavy but fun to play.

crikey Sarge that's good info on the Hondo's - I sold a few new ones at the time, but against Westone the brand never sold as well in the UK - probably agree with your £150ish evaluation

@guitars4you ;I love 70s/80s Jap guitars, Westone especially as the quality is up there with the Arias from the same place but the prices are significantly lower.
I do have a thing for the Jap Hondo pro too, if anyone has a Hondo Genesis copy or  a Lead II copy (H-1052 available......I'm interested

looks like I know what your Mastermind specialist subject will be

Amazing how much variety that guitars collection can take these days - create a theme that is of interest and get into it - Yet they won't cost anything like a few vintage models from F&G

Sarge

My old H-1010 and H-1015 bass

ICBM

I'm a big fan of Arias, partly because my first electric guitar was one, but mostly because they just seemed to have a bit more style than the other Matsumoku brands.

Westones and Hondos are decent enough quality but always seemed a bit 'lumpy'. I like Westburys too, the double-cut Standards are really nice.

imalrightjack

@Sarge the serial number is 0070115.

Sarge

Ah then it's a 1980 model.

imalrightjack

Sarge said:

Ah then it's a 1980 model.

Thanks!  Anybody want to buy it?

guitars4you

@sarge - that H-1015 bass reminds me of SD Curlee models from the USA that were from around that period

Sarge

@guitars4you ; yeah a little, b ut the Curlees had a much more interesting neck through deal going on, covet!

guitars4you

Sarge said:

@guitars4you ; yeah a little, b ut the Curlees had a much more interesting neck through deal going on, covet!

yep ! - it was more the generic shape and vibe that made me think that way - don't know who started that craze and shape but it is of a period - I know a bit of a Gibson DC LP Special/Jnr about it but those Jap models of the 80's did have a theme about them

ICBM

Sarge said:

Ah then it's a 1980 model.

They were quick off the mark given that it's a 'The Paul' copy and I don't think those came out until late 1978!