Hondo II LP copy (Now with audio)

Spyke

I was notified of a Hondo II LP copy for sale on one of the other forums we here at the office frequent.

It was going for a steal, I couldn't resist. At the end, it cost a little more than the sale price due to the shipping from Bloemfontein and the packaging for transport. In the end, still a good price.

I asked a few questions here about the headstock being a 'lawsuit' or not, turns out it isn't. Not much of a serial number either - unless this one made it's way from overseas as I've searched the 'serial' and it came up exactly in another post elsewhere on the web. Apparently these were fitted with DiMarzio pups.

Anyhoo, one day with the courier and it was mine - and a lot rougher than imagined, but fairly solid for the most part. Tuners were poked, scratch plate warped, binding yellowed and cracked and there's a piece missing from the binding on the neck, top side, 4th fret. The pots were loose and the knobs mismatched and missing.

Last night consisted of a full strip down and clean. Checked the wiring and reassembled with a set of old strings I had lying around. Didn't bother with intonation and truss rod adjustment just yet, that's tonights story - along with new strings.

Tuners are still poked, the Ibanez set I have don't fit, I'll replace those soon enough. Scratch plate was straightened after a few minutes in the oven and under books.

How does it play / sound? Awesome!
What an awesome sound - warm and full with a little bite when you need it. New strings can only improve the sound. I've noticed that I prefer the 24 3/4" scale length over the Fender like 25 1/2", so this feels great. It's heavy, uncomfortable and bulky - and I'm in love.

Balls... I was planning on flipping this one. >☹

Pics will follow

FatBoy

Lekke man! Would love to see the before and after pics on this one, and remember the sound clips!

I think I need to go round my old home town and check some barns, I'm sure someone's oupa used to play guitar or something!

Spyke

Not a music related link this, but this is the mother of all 'barn finds'.

http://www.intuh.net/barnfinds/

'Barn find' being a term used for a valuable item stumbled upon that is presumably forgotten about. Diamond in the rough if you will. It's used for stuff found in attics, basements, barns, sheds and the like.

Spyke

Herewith - pics!

and the eina binding issue

Heath

man oh man , what a nice find , won't take to much work to make her a nice guitar ,

Squonk

Looks very well made. lekker colour as well ?

Spyke

Squonk wrote Looks very well made. lekker colour as well ?

Apart from the bolt on hardware, yes. It seems very well made and constructed. Needs a serious fret dress, that will have to wait though.

On the list of things to address:
Tuners
Knobs
Binding
Jack (not bad or broken, but needs replacing)
Saddles / saddle bar

Could also do with a new nut.

Spyke

Oh ja,

Speed knobs or bell knobs?

Bell

Speed

nick

Spyke wrote Oh ja,

Speed knobs or bell knobs?

Bell

Speed

my hohner LP had 0054-B which I really liked.

WantzChas

I'd say bell, has a more classic look to it.

Spyke

nick wrote my hohner LP had 0054-B which I really liked.

I'm also leaning towards the black speed - 0054-B, but the bell does have a classic look to it

Heath

i personally like the speed knobs , they are better to play with . , but i suspect they would have come with bell knobs , if you going for the orginal look

Explorerlover

Spyke, I have a set of brand new Sperzel Trim lock tuners if you are interested [still in box]. They're satin black in colour. Not sure whether you'd want black ones as they won't go with the rest of the guitar. They look like these

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/1/Sperzel_Tuners/Pictures.html#details

PM me if you are keen

inflames

I would go for 0054-B, these will look great on the guitar.

Spyke

Here's a sound clip. Quick cover of Mr Jack from SOAD.

All Hondo, into a DS1, DI into my Accer lappie. Audacity.
Right channel is bridge pup, left is neck.

These 'buckers just want to distort! I so need to test it on a valve amp.

Linky

FatBoy

Hey that sounds lekka! Can't wait to hear it on a proper amp! I bet you are quite chuffed with it?

Spyke

I am...! One refinished Epiphone Special for sale soon... ?