Hondo Acoustic, Rosewood Sides and Back?

lewis · July 5th, 2006, 07:15 PM

A local pawn shop has an interesting old Hondo acoustic in stock.
Nicely ornamented fingerboard, D-28 style inlay on back. Slope shoulders, neck's kind of small but has great action. Grover tuners. The headstock says something like Hondo, est. 1969.
My curiosity is peaked because it seems to have rosewood sides and back. Looking through the soundhole shows the same dark wood as on the back.
The label on the inside I think says H-45N, or something close to that.
Did they ever use quality woods in such a "cheap" guitar?
Asking $140.

BB · July 5th, 2006, 07:43 PM

Hondo has had the reputation for cheap knock off guitars. While 90% of the Hondos I've dealt with over the years have been little more than fire wood quality wise, the other 10% have been very pleasent surprises. I've played a few of their 335 and LP knock offs that were quite good.

I'm not familier with the acoustic model mentioned. Obvious Martin rip with the heastock info provided. It sounds like it may be one of the good
( oxymoron ) Hondos though. If it plays well and sounds good, $140 is a good price. I would venture a guess it was made in the 70's or 80's as that was the heyday of Hondo. Good luck!

July 5th, 2006, 07:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,922 28 Photos	Hondo Acoustic, Rosewood Sides and Back? A local pawn shop has an interesting old Hondo acoustic in stock. Nicely ornamented fingerboard, D-28 style inlay on back. Slope shoulders, neck's kind of small but has great action. Grover tuners. The headstock says something like Hondo, est. 1969. My curiosity is peaked because it seems to have rosewood sides and back. Looking through the soundhole shows the same dark wood as on the back. The label on the inside I think says H-45N, or something close to that. Did they ever use quality woods in such a "cheap" guitar? Asking $140. __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

July 5th, 2006, 07:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,190	Hondo has had the reputation for cheap knock off guitars. While 90% of the Hondos I've dealt with over the years have been little more than fire wood quality wise, the other 10% have been very pleasent surprises. I've played a few of their 335 and LP knock offs that were quite good. I'm not familier with the acoustic model mentioned. Obvious Martin rip with the heastock info provided. It sounds like it may be one of the good ( oxymoron ) Hondos though. If it plays well and sounds good, $140 is a good price. I would venture a guess it was made in the 70's or 80's as that was the heyday of Hondo. Good luck!