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. Walgreens weekly ad. 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. Browse Hondo products and enjoy free shipping on thousands of Hondo gear & 30 day returns. 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. A few Hond guitar headstocks It’s not very fashionable, I know, but I like ‘80s music. I should be too old for it, but I sat out the ‘70s listening to acoustic music from the 1920s and ‘30s and playing classical guitar. I began listening to rock again in the early ‘80s, beginning with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads. Boy could he play! Anyhow, the metal, hair, and power pop bands of those days all put good, strong guitar soloing up front in the mix, and I enjoyed it. (I automatically block out vocals and lyrics, by the way, so I pay no attention to them!) Among the bands I liked was the Canadian outfit Loverboy, who had a hot lead guitarist in Paul Dean. You may be aware of the rare Kramer Paul Dean Signature guitar, but you are likely to be surprised that there was in fact an earlier “signature” model produced by Hondo, of all people! Indeed, several! 1983 Hondo Paul Dean II Electric Guitar (Hondo PD-2) Loverboy was founded in Calgary in 1980 and released its first record in Canada in that year. ![]() They caught on big and for most of the decade cranked out hits including probably their signature tune, (Everybody’s) Working for the Weekend. It didn’t take long for guitarist Dean to begin working with guitarmakers on a guitar design he could call his own. Apparently he had some prototypes made by a Western Canadian company, though those my never have gone into production. At some point thereafter he apparently hooked up with Jerry Freed of International Music Corporation (IMC) of Fort Worth, Texas, the owner of the Hondo brand name.
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