Hondo acoustic guitar

Rocker · February 2015

Yesterday in a charity shop in Dublin, I saw a black Hondo acoustic guitar with a €50 price tag. Looked in reasonable condition, I did not play it but it looked OK. Bargain or firewood?

John_P · February 2015

(should be in the acoustic section)

You need to try it to be sure, but I'd suggest closer to firewood than bargain. Hondo (not Honda) were a super cheap brand that couldn't hold a candle to modern budget brands. Always worth trying though - at that price if it's playable it could be handy for a travel/camping acoustic that you won't worry about damaging.

Sassafras · February 2015

I can think of cheaper firewood if you just want to keep warm.

usedtobe · February 2015

Never seen a Hondo acoustic...

DartmoorHedgehog · March 2015

In the '70s and '80s they made everything from cheap tat to some really nice instruments. I've got an '80s HL5 FBB (Gibson L5 copy) and they're superb. I've also got a similar age Hondo 12-string Martin copy and it's certainly not as well made by any means, but not utter crap and sounds good, grover tuners etc (although it's not as nice as a modern Tanglewood or similar).

So give it a try as had been mentioned - could be rubbish, could be OK.

ICBM · March 2015

Some of them are very nice for old plywood guitars. Some are possibly closer to firewood, but not most of them.

True story:

Many years ago I had a Hondo Everly Brothers copy. I also had a Lowden, which was a beautifully-made, beautiful-sounding guitar but totally not 'me'. (I like Neil Young-type acoustic sounds, all thump and mids rather than clarity and delicacy.) I thought the Hondo almost sounded better, and I'm really not kidding - it was certainly not as responsive or subtle, but it had that old-acoustic sort of sound and midrange warmth which the Lowden couldn't do. One day when we needed money for something and I was thinking about selling the Hondo to pay for it, I did a silly thing… I got my wife to sit in a chair facing the other way while I played both guitars at random for a few minutes, and asked her which sounded better.

She picked the Hondo

. So I sold the Lowden. :-O

I later sold the Hondo, I think it was after I got a Taylor but I can't remember for sure. I then missed having a cheaper guitar, and spotted a Hondo J200 copy going cheap so I bought that as well. It wasn't bad, but not a patch on the Everly.

For €50 I'd buy one unless it was in poor condition - chances are it will be at least OK.

Rocker · March 2015

Thanks guys, I will try it out if it is still in the shop when next there. I hope to find a Gibson L5 clone sometime. And a Hofner Shorty (which I will modify). Here's hoping....

ICBM · March 2015

Rocker said:

And a Hofner Shorty (which I will modify). Here's hoping....

If I remember rightly there's the remains of a Shorty in the loft at the shop - if I remember next time I'm over, I'll see what's wrong with it and/or how much they want for it as-is, if you want it for a project.

Frankieabbot · March 2015

Buy it for 50 sovs. Have a good look at it and see if viable to get it set up.....if not then flog it on the bay for 80 sovs (buyer pays for postage/courier).

Rocker · March 2015

Thanks @ICBM. If you find it, please send me a PM.

DartmoorHedgehog · March 2015

Rocker said:

I hope to find a Gibson L5 clone sometime.

There are a couple on ebay at the moment (if you search for "Hondo Fat Boy" you'll find them). One's up for £250, which is ridiculously good value IMO - I certainly wouldn't part with mine for that.

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