Hondo Guitar Serial Numbers

Most guitar manufacturers put a serial number on each instrument they produce. This number can be used to date a guitar and in some cases tell where it was made. Serial numbers tend to be stamped or written somewhere on the headstock or neck joint of the guitar. On some acoustic guitars, the serial number is on the inside of the sound hole. Serial numbers are often at least four digits long, and they sometimes include letters.

However, having referenced all Hondo Revival H935 serial numbers I can find with the information at the Tokai Registry, every number matches. Tokai did not build guitars in Korea until around 2000 but there is almost solid proof below that the Revival H935 was made in Korea in the Fame H935 section.

Search the area around the serial number for a date stamp. Not all guitar brands use date stamps, but if you find one, you have your answer.

Look for the brand name decal on the guitar's headstock. Each guitar brand uses a different set of serial numbers, so you need to identify your guitar before you attempt to use the serial number to learn when it was made.

This is a rare vintage Hondo acoustic guitar. It is made by Hondo Guitars, Established 1969. It was made by the American company, International Music Company. It measures 41'. The serial number is 8500801. The model number is H 18-N and was modeled after the Martin D 18. I believe that it might be one of the 'law suit' guitars. Serial numbers Tokai uses a seven-digit serial number usually pressed into the back of the headstock for the Gibson model replicas. Love Rocks use the first digit of the serial number for the year, 10XXXXX=1981 and starting in 1989 Love Rocks use the first two digits for the year, 89XXXXX=1989. Regardless of the model, however, there are several easy ways to identify a Hondo guitar. Look at the headstock. 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.

Determine the type of guitar (such as Gibson Les Paul or SG, Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster) if possible. This can help when you are researching serial numbers. This information is often written on the headstock or truss rod cover. An online search of the brand name can help you do this.

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. Discussion in 'Other Guitar Discussion' started by Leedsoronto, Apr 9, 2018. Valuation Reports for Used Hondo Guitars Acoustic Guitar Products. Email: password. To narrow your search results, enter the model number in the Search box above. You can change the order of the results by clicking on a column header ('Model', 'Year', etc.) Search results 1 - 50.

Visit the manufacturer's website and look for serial number information. Many guitar makers have brand-specific serial number information on their web pages, usually in the 'Support,' 'FAQ,' or 'Info' sections. Sometimes third-party websites also have solid information on guitar serial numbers.

Email the serial number to the manufacturer and ask for help. Attach a few high-quality pictures of the guitar to the email to assist the manufacturer.

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]

Hondo 2 Guitars

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.

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