Hondo Les Pauls???

Any good at all or just total junk?? There's a couple w/bolt on necks from the 70s-80s on Craigslist for cheap. Does upgrading pups and electronics make good financial sense?

They were from the Matsomoku factory, they're about one step down from guitars like Aria Pro II's or Electras. How cheap are they going for?

I wouldn't jump on a Hondo unless it was something really special.

I remember back in the day they were pretty much considered crap....and most people opted for things like the Ibanez blazers, Aria pros, Washburn wing or stage series or even Vantage guitars like the avenger...because they were generally made better with better quality components.

Hondo Pro II teles can be a real find. The LP's, however, are DiMarzio over Ohm'd PU equipped, laminated dross. Again, IMHO.

I set up one for a friend of mine a few years ago. Played nice but probably the heaviest guitar I've ever had in my hands.

They were from the Matsomoku factory, they're about one step down from guitars like Aria Pro II's or Electras. How cheap are they going for?

Listed for $150(a 1974) & $250(a 1984), but negotiable.

I had one for several years... it was an heavy piece of junk. The tune-o-matic was so misplaced that you could not compensate, tuners were of the lowest quality available, pickups squealed like pigs... and so on.
I honestly can't think of a single reason to get one.

The first electric I ever played was one of those, many years ago. I borrowed it from a friend at school. To be honest I remember it being a total piece of junk... It could have just been a bad one I guess... But I doubt it.

I had one (one of those natural finished , 3 stripes of wood affairs) - the only remarkable thing about it was the weight - it weighed a lot more than my Black Beauty -

I think I paid £60 for it - and sold it on for the same

you'd be a lot better off with an Epiphone Les Paul

All what I figured. I will pass

Caveat Emptor, or somthing of that nature.

My first ever electric guitar was one of those, early eighties.

Don't remember much about it. Intonation was not adjustable (and off :lol:) and about every other guitar I tried played and sounded better than mine...

I'd skip if I were you...

Ha. I saw those and was mildly interested too. Then I remembered that I really don't want a humbucker guitar right now.

Did you see the "Great Beginner Chick Magnet - $140" listing? It's a Yamaha dual humbucker tele stylee.

I had one that was a real player.
I also had an Aria that was a smoker as well.

I had a Hondo II LP setneck copy that I bought new around 1980 or 81. I'm pretty sure it was MIK, but unfortunately before MIK guitars were good. Nice looking guitar, but the neck had a twist and it played lousy. Don't confuse Hondos with MIJ guitars of that era. Trust me they ain't in the same ballpark as Tokai's, Aria's, or Ibanez's of that era.

They were very inconsistent, most were so-so, but I did run across one that sounded pretty good and had about the lowest action I've ever played. The only thing was playable with lower action was a mosrite that a friend of mine had.

I had an early 80's pale blue Hondo LP.Plywood thing with a bolt-on neck...just horrible.It ended up being thrown from the roof of a tower block...Rock AND Roll!