Hondo was founded by Freed and Tommy Moore in 1969 with the intention to open up guitar production in Korea, at that time a non-player in the guitar game. Japan had taken over from Europe as the primary supplier of budget-level guitars during the 1960s. I have a old hondo H35 acoustic guitar and i've been trying to find another one thats exactally the same ( without all the scratches of course) but i.
Hondo was an American guitar company and brand owned by IMC, and later Musicorp, that produced a range of entry level to high end acoustic guitars, electric guitars and basses with designs primarily based on those of classic models such as the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul. From 1972 to 1989 the guitars were mainly produced in Korea by Samick, with the short-lived Professional Series being made in Japan. In 2005, the J.B. Player brand replaced the Hondo name.
History[edit]
The Hondo guitar company was originally formed in 1969 when Jerry Freed and Tommy Moore of the International Music Corporation (IMC) of Fort Worth, Texas, formed a joint-venture with Korean manufacturer Samick Company. IMC's intent was to introduce modern manufacturing techniques and American/Japanese quality standards to the Korean guitar manufacturing industry. The Hondo concept was to offer an organized product line and solid entry-level market instruments at a fair market price.
Hondo II banjo played by jazz band
By 1975, Hondo had distributors in 70 countries worldwide, and had expanded to producing stringed instruments at the time. In 1976, over 22,000 of the Bi-Centennialbanjos were sold. The company also made improvements to the finish quality on their products, introduced scalloped bracing on acoustics, and began using a higher quality brand of tuning machines.
Hondo was one of the first overseas guitar builders to feature American-built DiMarzio pickups on the import instruments beginning in 1978. By this year, a number of Hondo II models featured designs based on classic American favorites. In 1979, over 790,000 Hondo instruments were sold worldwide. In 1980, the Professional Series was introduced, featuring higher-end Japanese-made models, produced by Tokai and Matsumoku (Only the Professional Series models were made in Japan, all other Hondos were made in Korea). These models were sold until 1983, alongside the Korean lineup (which became the Deluxe Series in 1981). At that point, the product line consisted of 485 different models.
In 1985, IMC acquired major interest in the Charvel/Jackson Company, and began dedicating more time and interest in the higher end guitar market. The Hondo trademark went into mothballs around 1989. However, Jerry Freed started the Jerry Freed International Company in 1989, and acquired the rights to the Hondo trademark in 1991. Freed began distribution of a new line of Hondo guitars produced in India, China and Taiwan. In 1993, the revamped company was relocated to Stuart, Florida.
The Hondo Guitar Company was purchased by the MBT International (now Musicorp) in 1995.[1] The Hondo product line was revamped for improved quality while maintaining student-friendly prices. Hondo celebrated their 25th year of manufacturing electric guitars in 1997. Musicorp also owns and distributes J.B. Player instruments which replaced Hondo in 2005.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
^'MBT: Musicorp parent acquires Hondo Guitar. (MBT International Inc.; Musicorp.; Hondo Guitar Co.)'. Music Trades (March 1, 1995). Archived from the original on 2016-03-09.Cite uses deprecated parameter |dead-url= (help)
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hondo_(guitar_company)&oldid=883521766'
Hondo Guitars & Basses
Hondo was a U.S based company who manufactured both entry level guitars and basses. In 1985, they were later replaced by J.B. Player.
Hondo were originally formed in 1969 and by 1975 they had distributors in 70 various countries worldwide. The designs of their guitars and basses are reminiscent of more expensive guitars and basses from companies such as Les Paul and Fender.
Caring For your Guitar
Replace the strings - After a while guitar strings begin to age and you may find your guitar or bass sounding rather dull. New strings can breathe new life into your guitar or bass
Buying a case - Buying a case is a great way to ensure that your bass or guitar remains undamaged and safe
Treating the fretboard - After a while grime begins to build up and can harm the fretboard, this can easily be solved by treating the fretboard with lemon oil
Which case do I buy for my guitar or bass?
To know which guitar case you want, you must first know the different types of cases which are available:
Hard case - Hard cases are typically the best choice if you wish to have maximum protection for your guitar or bass, especially when moving around and travelling
Soft case - The soft case, more commonly known as a gig bag, is ideal for people who are on the go and need a cheap way to protect their bass or guitar. Soft cases do not provide a lot of protection compared to hard cases
Hybrid case - Hybrid cases are almost like a combination between both a soft case and a hard case. They are easy to carry around and offer more protection compared to a soft case
Consider how and where you use your guitar to determine which is the right case for you.