Hondo Guitar Serial Number Lookup
Jun 06, 2015 Samick Musical Instrument Company. Entry-level guitars. Hondo initially produced a line of classical. I have a samick guitar serial number.
Hondo guitars started in Texas in the late 1960s, teaming up with the Korean company Samick to manufacture guitars to American specifications, at low prices spurred by cheap Korean labor. The quality from Korea was considered subpar, but the prices kept Hondo in business. In the late ‘70s, some Hondo models went into production in Japan. They were generally regarded as being a little better. While most early Hondos were knockoffs of other popular guitar models from Fender and Gibson, the ‘80s saw Hondo introducing their own models.
Regardless of the model, however, there are several easy ways to identify a Hondo guitar. Look at the headstock. Hondo guitars will say Hondo or Hondo II on the headstock, usually in gold lettering. Look at the truss rod cover located on the headstock. It may also say Hondo on it.
Some models put the name on the truss rod cover instead of the headstock end. Look at the back of the headstock to see where the guitar was made. The vast majority of Hondos were made in Korea. Some were made in Japan. A very few were made in America.
If it says that it is made in Mexico, Indonesia or some other country, it is not a Hondo. Look at the back of the electric guitar at the neck joint. Hondos with bolt-on necks had joint plates decorated with a big H on them. In time, that part may be replaced, so you may not see an H, but it was on the originals. Look in the sound hole of a Hondo acoustic guitar.
You will see a sticker that says Hondo and also lists the model of the guitar, such as H 155 or H 18-12.
I have a Hondo II Les Paul copy I bought at a pawn shop several years ago, because the action was sweeter than ANY guitar I had ever played. I decided to fix it up some, i.e. Replace missing pieces, etc, and have hit a brick wall. I need a pot cavity plate for it.
A Les Paul plate won't fit, and the Epiphone/import plate is too big. Does anyone know where I might find the correct plate? Like most posts I have seen, there were NO NUMBERS OF ANY KIND ON IT, but there are a couple of things that I have noticed. It does have the Gibson trapezoid inlay on the headstock, and all of the position markers on the neck are dots, not the square or trapezoidal. Also the pot switches are short shaft, and while the pickups might be humbuckers, they are single coil in a double coil case. Can anyone tell me anything about this guitar, it would be much appreciated. Hi, I picked one up yesterday in the charity shop for £50.
Looking online for more info on manufacture date but like many of you, it's proving to be a real struggle. So great to read about all your guitars and back stories to them!
I bought with the intension of ripping ou the pickups to put in my Schecter C-1 (cause the active pickups in there suck - duncan designed). The previous owner had used it for pyrotechnics on stage and has some burn marks. Also stuck what looks like masking tape all over, looks naff! But once I got it home and plugged it in I was amazed, now I want to keep it and fix it up nice. Now the best guitar I own. Just recently built myself an SG style guitar but that's sitting on the back burner now I have this new toy. Serial number reads 0090190 on bolt on neck plate.
I assume dimarzio pups from the awesome sound, Kluson Deluxe tuners and the R/T switch is down by the tone and volume knobs. Happy to post picturs if anyone wants to see?
Like everyone on this site, would love to fin a site that gives serial numbers some meaning! Ryan (gorilla-rock-n-roll.bandcamp.com). Bought this beauty from a pawn shop in Augusta Maine for about $60.00.mostly for fun to replace the no name Les Paul copy (first ever electric guitar I ever owned at 12 years old and stupidly traded for some long forgotten item). Cleaned up the pots, set it up, restrung it and WOW! Sounds a lot better than I ever thought a knock off would.
So here's the specs: Can anyone out there help me? Hondo 2 lettering with what appears to be a true attempt at copying the Gibson headstock. Sunburst paint scheme. Slight divit in top of headstock, square inlays. DiMarzio pickups sticker on pick guard, and a sticker serial number on back of HDLP-2BS. I would say definately not maple, some sort of compressed wood.
If you didn't see words 'Hondo II on the headstock and didn't pick it up (it's a lot lighter) you'd swear it may be an actual Gibson Les Paul just from image alone. I love this little guitar and am really interested if anybody can make sense of the serial or the production era, or the original selling price. Thanks so much!! ::: Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?::: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No::: numbers at all.:: hondo was build the les paul copies between 1979 and 1981: I've still have mine 35+ years and back plate has number I bought mine for $5 in 1987 from a rummage sale.
Was missing line input, nut, bridge (both pc.s), tuners,pot cover,knobs, and of course strings. Over the years I have fixed it to very playable. I have given it to a neighbors' son who is handicapped, they moved and I found it laying on top of our garbage dumpster. Mine MUST be rare because I havent seen one like it anywhere. The body is layered 'plywood',I guess you would call it, and body is flat. After all its life's abuse, God only knows what happened to it B4 the rummage sale, it is a screamer. I play this scratched/knicked up, one-dented fret, switch-knob missing boat anchor over my MIJ strat, ovation, and my NJ warlock for the fact that its action is awesome, never played a more confortabley curved neck and the sound is from soppy sad to pure evil.
I would love to find one like this in mint shape or even see a picture of what it is supposed to look like. Mine will NEVER be pristine. That would take an act of a higher power, but I would never sell it. Anyone have any info on the 'plywood solid bodied' Hondo 2's or if you know someone selling one in great shape please email badcorocks@msn.com Thank you. : Had One in 1979, WIne Red was my first guitar.
I was 16 then. Paid 199.99 New. Wish I would not have sold her.: Found the same one on line for 180.00 plus shipping, but am leary about buying a used guitar on line. For those of you that still have yours, hang on too 'em. Was a great Japanese Guitar for cheap.
Played sounded/good. Would to here what mine would sound like with a Duncan JB and 59 like I have in my Epi Special II (Which sounds awseome).: Peace and Greetings fron the gold US of A Bought mine in 1978 still have it, just bought my son a Fender squire. I've just let mine see light after moving house about 15 months ago. Been using a newly aquied Strat so she's been left a bit forgotten. Having fired her up again i reallise she's in need of a bit of attenion so I've been surfing with an aim to rewire and came across the guitarsite.
I bought her 2nd hand in 1977ish for £75 which was an absolute fortune. I've had her set her up to a great action. Over the years there's been the poo poo comments from 'those who know' 'it's plywood!!'
But they reconsider when they hear the tone and sustain!! Rip it up, Johnny. : I've just let mine see light after moving house about 15 months ago.: Been using a newly aquied Strat so she's been left a bit forgotten.: Having fired her up again i reallise she's in need of a bit of attenion so I've been surfing with an aim to rewire and came across the guitarsite.: I bought her 2nd hand in 1977ish for £75 which was an absolute fortune. I've had her set her up to a great action. Over the years there's been the poo poo comments from 'those who know' 'it's plywood!!' But they reconsider when they hear the tone and sustain!!: Rip it up,: Johnny i have a Hondo II Les Paul copy 1969 solid swomp ash body its heavey its 22 frets on a shourt neck and i need to replace the fingerboard can any one help me fined the corect size of this fingerboard please mike at twicflic@gmail.com.
These guitars are getting even more rare as the days go. I was on eBay the other day and I was trying to find other Hondo II Les Paul copies for sale. The funny thing was that I could not find any!
I am the guy who thought I had a $300 buyer for my 1974 Hondo II Les Paul copy back in September of 2007. I still firmly believe that my guitar is worth $300 all day long without its hardshell case. I bought a TKL hardshell case for the Hondo in October of 2007 which came with a 1995 Samick Artist Series Les Paul copy.
I ended up getting $200 for the Samick on eBay even though it had messed up tuners. What a nice axe but I needed the money. As for my Hondo, I will continue to keep it until I receive an offer I'm comfortable with. If anyone is interested, I want $400 for the Hondo plus the hardshell case.: I'm fixing up my brother-in-law's Hondo II, which he got off a mate for next to nothing.: It's not working, has a broken bridge, is missing the nut and a fret board inlay.
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Lucky for me I have all the parts & wiring off another LP (a mate was gonna paint the body, and um, his parent's threw it out in a cleanup).: I've told him these guitars are semi-collectable, so he's pretty happy with his score. You could be the first girl around here, heh. Congratulations on your guitar purchase!
I had no idea that Hondo guitars were produced in Argentina. If you would like to find out more about your Hondo II, please let me know and I will try to help.: Hey, first girl around here?: I'm in Argentina, I have just bought my Hondo II today at an auction sale.
I want to know everything about her. Or him, I guess it's a she. And 'she' it's at the luthier now, getting beautiful, so I can't wait to play it at home! I read great things about it but I want to learn more.
So if you have any information, let me know!: Greetings from Buenos Aires,: Clara V. Hi, just dropping by to clarify a little mistake here.
Definetly Hondos are not produced in Argentina (we have astonishing luthiers doing great guitars here though.). I own a 1979 Hondo II Les Paul, and it is in great shape. I traded it for a painting of mine some 15 years ago.
It has been my main guitar since then, regardless the fact that I have other three good axes and had an american Fender Stratocaster for a long time. Never mind the plywood body! It sounds amazigly good: great sustain, warm tone, very similar to a Gibson. Has two Dimarzios and I use it with flatwound strings. The sound is very similar to the gibson in the band The XX. I was surprised yerterday when I saw one in an internet marketplace (same model as mine, but redwine. Mine is black) and they were asking some 400 U$S dollars.
Last time I did a search some 2 years ago, there was one for 180 U$S. I guess they will wind up being a real collector's item. Who knows how much will they end up costing? I will not sell mine anyway. : Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No: numbers at all.
I picked up a beautiful Hondo II Les Paul Copy back in October of last year. I paid $50 for it originally but she needed a couple of new strings (which came with the guitar), one tuning knob, and a good cleaning. I have only practiced with my Hondo less than a handful of times and I played one song on it. I guess I'm afraid of wrecking the thing because they are highly collectible now.
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A few people said that these were originally manufactured and produced in 1978. I would have to argue the point and say that mine was made in 1974 only because the Serial Number sticker on the neck plate says H740WI.
Mine even has the rare head stock symbol. Also, she has minor fretboard wear and black aging spots in the beautiful dark red body. As for the patina, I accidentally cleaned it all off but the guitar looks better than when I first bought it. I can send pictures if anyone wants to take a look. One thing you must understand is that Hondo was never actually sued by Gibson. My father (who also buys and sells expensive guitars) told me this and he even sent me a link. These guitars are valuable though, despite that tidbit of information.
There is a guy in my area who may be interested in buying mine for $300! I was complacent about selling her but for $300, I will say a short goodbye. I need the money right now anyways.
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My car insurance payment is due in October and I want an American Fender Stratocaster or a real Gibson Les Paul. :: Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?:: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No:: numbers at all.
I also have a Hondo Les Paul look alike, however I had no idea the guitar was so valuable. I bought mine at a garage sale a couple years back for 35 dollars and it worked just fine. Thanks for the info:: I picked up a beautiful Hondo II Les Paul Copy back in October of last year. I paid $50 for it originally but she needed a couple of new strings (which came with the guitar), one tuning knob, and a good cleaning. I have only practiced with my Hondo less than a handful of times and I played one song on it. I guess I'm afraid of wrecking the thing because they are highly collectible now.
A few people said that these were originally manufactured and produced in 1978. I would have to argue the point and say that mine was made in 1974 only because the Serial Number sticker on the neck plate says H740WI. Mine even has the rare head stock symbol. Also, she has minor fretboard wear and black aging spots in the beautiful dark red body.
As for the patina, I accidentally cleaned it all off but the guitar looks better than when I first bought it. I can send pictures if anyone wants to take a look. One thing you must understand is that Hondo was never actually sued by Gibson. My father (who also buys and sells expensive guitars) told me this and he even sent me a link.
These guitars are valuable though, despite that tidbit of information. There is a guy in my area who may be interested in buying mine for $300! I was complacent about selling her but for $300, I will say a short goodbye. I need the money right now anyways. My car insurance payment is due in October and I want an American Fender Stratocaster or a real Gibson Les Paul. I purchased a Hondo II new in 1978 from Texas Toms Music in Houston, Texas.
Paid 199.99 and had a set of Grovers put on for $40 bucks. I have played it since then and still play it every week. It is blonde and has the number HDLP-2N on neckplate. Had to have it refretted last year.
I have never pick up any guitar that has the feel or the sound. It has the original open coil humbuckers.
I have no idea of the value. I found this site looking up some old Epiphone guitars that i have. Epiphone has a site that with serical numbers will give you where it was made, what year and production number. Anyone know of a Hondo site like this. Curious if this may be one of the mistakes. Hey James, I exchanged a squier stratocaster against a hondo II (hdlp 2N, a blonde lp-copy like yours) yesterday.
I've found a site with some reviews on hondo guitars: maybe you've already found it too. Do you have any other interesting information on this guitar, or tips? I really like it and I think I did a good deal. How about you? Oh, and one thing I read and really liked it that it originally has Dimarzio humbuckers. It sounds great for what i've heard of it.
Greetings from belgium. : Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No: numbers at all. I have a hondo2 L.P.
Copy I bought at a flea market about 15 yrs. It was in very ruff shape. I actually gave it to a neighbor's kid to learn on and i guess he got bored of it.
I found it in the dumpster and picked it back out! I would love to know where it was before i got it, lol.
But, it is an awesome guitar for what it is. I put a few new pieces on it but I think the neck has seen better days. I had it adjusted but it still buzzes at the bottom. It is a solid body and like most of yours' it has no #'s and I cant find any info on getting parts.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO ON HONDO OR WHERE TO GET PARTS FOR THIS on-going restoration project, PLEASE email me. I just bought one for $80. It says 'Hardo II' on the headstock rather than 'Hondo II' A long time ago I read a story on the net about a mistake made at the factory. Supposedly, the ones with the errors on the headstock are rare and possibly worth some money. By the way, mine has the numbers 'HDLP-2W1' on the neck-plate.
That's probably the model number cuz my buddy's Hondo II (his doesn't have the error) has the same number. My Hondo sounds better than my Epiphone LP. I can't believe the amazing tones I can get from this thing. Perhaps somebody should start a website about Hondos. If anybody knows anything else about the error on the headstock, please tell me.: Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No: numbers at all.
I have a Hondo 742 delux Les Paul that I bought in Virginia and have had since 1982. Beautiful guitar!
Great burgundy flame finish.tiger maple top, set neck, rose wood fingerboard. Pearl inlay,cream color binding. Plays awsome. They were made from 1978 to 1982 till the Gibson lawsuit shut down production, not so much for the exact shape of a les paul, so much as the exact shape of the gibson copywrited 'mustache shape' of the headstock. As I have heard the set neck varietys were made in japan, and some of the bolt on variety were made in koria, but I have no idea how many, or when. Great guitars though. Treat it nice.
As I said, I've had mine over 20 years now. Db Fallon Nevada USA. Hi Just looking for other Hondo II Les Paul owners and spotted your postings. Do you still have one? I brought my Hondo II Les Paul brand-new back in 1977 when I was 16, I've still got the thing! Only problem is that I didn't touch it for almost 20 years (got married and had kids, an-so-on) now i'm trying to play again.
I'm building a replica of a Matchless Spitfire tube Amp to go with the very blue, grubby sounding (cool) humbucker pickups. Cheers from Chris Melbourne, Victoria Australia.: Can anyone tell me when Hondo II made the Les Paul copies?: I picked one up.I have torn it apart and found zip.No: numbers at all. One of the least popular models made by Hondo the HLP-2N, was pretty to look at great to play and has an amazing range. Downsides, the machine heads are crap and need to be replaced, the bridge saddles have very little in the way of fine tuning and the pots tend to produce immense static at the 8-10 range. Overall a nice axe, value.to a collector around $300 to $500 to an average Joe looking for another guitar to use in his garage band, maybe $80 to $125 depending on the condition of the body and neck. My 13 year old son has one that was given to him, after about $50 invested for new machine heads, bridge, truss rod cover and a set of strings all at wholesale price, he has a real player on his hands, feels and sounds like the real thing, even has real D'Marzio humbucker pickups in it from the factory. In its day it was a hidden treasure for under $500, today depending on condition, it can be parts or a real player.
Most of the ones I've seen are all in use except for one on Ebay that the seller is asking like $125 just for the body and neck with no guts. That is in no way worth it, the value is in the Humbuckers and the Mustache Headstock, those two characteristics make the Hondo II series of LP clones the best for the buck, well at least in their heyday. Rock it, mellow it, drop in some Blues, and just enjoy it, do any work it needs to keep it up, you'll be glad you did. Bobcat Bigg Lead Guitarist and singer of DEMS ( Diverse Extreme Music Styles). Bobcat Bigg, searching the internet, there is not one single reference to HONDO II serial numbers/model numbers and dating.
Even Wikipedia has very limited information. I wonder if you know anything about the HLP 2 BS model, i.e.: country it was made, how the model number came about, etc. I have just bought mine, so not interested in selling, don't care for valuation either (beauty is in the eye of the beholder.), but I am curious that a relatively well known make has so little info on the web (my other 'lawsuit era' is a CSL.and although fewer japanese guitars with that particular label have been made/are about, there is plenty of info on them.).