Hondo Mandolin

Subject: Hondo Mandolin
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 11:03 PM

And no, am not talking about the John Wayne movie, honest. Have friend who found an F style "Hondo" mandolin. Wants to know if it is any good. I haven't seen it, and don't know the $$$. Anyone out there heard of these? Know the parent company? No sites, that we can find. Thanks, all

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 12:42 AM

Last month is the first I'd heard about the Hondo company, when a friend in Oregon lent me a Hondo guitar to play. I didn't care too much for the tone, actually, but it was easy playing.

According to their homepage, they've been in business since 1969; they call themselves 'moderately priced'. The guitar model I played in Oregon they present at $280 or something like that.

They say that their goal was to make the Korean guitar better.

BTW, I put "Hondo" into Google- got lots of hits.

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 03:59 AM

Hondo is a defunct 'badge' for an english distributor called John Hornby Scewes based near Leeds. They now use 'encore' and 'vintage' country of origin could be anywhere, but most probably Korea.Quality could be good but mostly low to mid. That is unless there is an american company with the same badge. Ned.

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:05 AM

I have a Hondo mandolin which I bought second hand a few years ago. It is easy to play but does not have a very bright tone. The machine head says "Hondo Mandolin established 1968." It has a pick up for an amplifier which I think has been added professionally some time after it was new.

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: nickp
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:17 AM

I had (still have - it's out on 'permanent' loan) an A-style Hondo which was pretty good by comparison with a lot of the cheap imports going. I paid about £65 so maybe $100. I think this was a mid-70's one.

I really ought to reclaim it, I think it's just gathering dust. I could do with a reliable spare.

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: ozmacca
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 05:36 AM

A friend of mine (non-playing) owns a second-hand Hondo round-backed mandolin to hang up on the wall. It has been in my spare room for a long time now, waiting for me to arrange to have the wrist-rubbing guard on the top repaired. My (playing) wife has tried it, but the very narrow neck and hard action make it very uncomfortable. It is labelled "Korea", and looks nice, but not special. It sounds middling to so-so, and all up, none of us were particularly impressed. Going to look all right on the wall, though. Price for similar models around this part of Brisbane seem to run about AUS$350 and up, which I think is dear. You could buy a lot of plaster ducks for that.

Subject: RE: Help: Hondo Mandolin
From: Gypsy
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 12:41 AM

thanks, guys. Appreciate all the input!

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,bill in cape cod
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 08:51 PM

thanks for the input - was looking for a started by this appears to be too much of a starter - since I play a few stringed instrucents already

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,bill
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 10:39 PM

found out the hondo is from China. So maybe the reason for the $$$ and shallow sound. Chinese instruments have a dirrerent sound as does mountain music

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,Alex
Date: 25 May 09 - 02:49 AM

Bought a 70's vintage hondo f on Ebay earlier this year. At that time they were made in Japan...moderate tone, nice MOP inlay. later models were made Korea I think theyare still made.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,jsap
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 06:37 PM

Have F5 Hondo made in Japan. Sounds good play reguarly. Can't find out much info on it.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 01:58 PM

Thank you you really helped my purchasing decision a lot i than you very much

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,CHA
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 07:56 PM

I have an HM 6 Hondo Mandolin that I bought in the late 50s in Japan. I'd like to know more about it. Can anybody help on this?

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 06:58 PM

I have a Hondo HMAN20 I bought it for $50 off a friend, I worked and worked trying to get it the tune and chord out right. in the end I did like I used to do on Cheap Guitars that was the same way , I put a Capo on it, and PERFECT ... so, the Top Nut was between 1/8 & 1/4 " in too far... I took it loose dilled small hole in the Top Nut and used a Push Pin to hold it in place and fooled with it till it was right. now it plays like a million bucks. so.... I really think the Mandolins are built ok , and fretted ok , but for some reason , they had a top nut off that much , and untill you fix that , they are just awful to play.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: PHJim
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 09:56 PM

Guest:Bill said,"found out the hondo is from China. So maybe the reason for the $$$ and shallow sound. Chinese instruments have a dirrerent sound as does mountain music"

You can't make a generalization like that. I've played poor sounding Chinese instruments, but I've also played super Chinese instruments. Try an Eastman and tell me that it has a "shallow" sound. They compare favourably with similarly priced Gibsons. In fact, they blow some of them away.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 04 May 12 - 06:48 AM

I may be wrong but I would guess also that has been added... I purchased one when I lived in Nashville.. It to sounded Blah... had never heard of Hondo... my husband being a fiddle player... worked on it set it up his way... and when he got thru.. I had folks think it was a kentucky...could not believe it was a Hondo.... I have a flat Iron, Kentucky and Ovation mandolin..... just ran across a Hondo yesterday and also trying to find out something about it...it is a HM 6AM......

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,anthony
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 04:05 PM

i have a hondo hmd 6 mondolin and id like to know more about it and how much its worth. if anyone can help me out id really appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 05:57 PM

just bought a hondo HMAN20 for 40 bucks ive never played but ive a lot of free time on my hands and thought it may be a good learning experience thanks for info ive read and any other input would be greatly appreciated

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 05:59 PM

sorry last message is from Jeff in Georgia thanks again

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: PHJim
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 02:02 PM

Hondo were the first really affordable F5 style mandolins that I ever saw, in the late 70s or early 80s. At that time you HAD to have a scroll on your mandolin to be considered a bluegrass player and these looked right. They were not a quality mandolin at that time and if you looked closely, you could see that the scroll was a bit wrong, a bit opener than the Gibson. It just didn't quite look right.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,Guitarslider
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 09:40 AM

I have a Hondo HMAN 20 Mandolin. Nice action and great tone. The Label inside says it was made in China for Hondo Guitar Co.Charleston SC, USA.
Possibly in early '70's.

Subject: RE: Hondo Mandolin
From: GUEST,mandoMan_guest
Date: 09 Dec 14 - 07:54 PM

I have a F-style Hondo, made in the 70's, probably in Japan. The quality is great, all solid wood and sounds really good to my ears. It has been well taken care off, no dings, no scratches. It does not really have bluegrass tone but sweeter tone, a good fit for the music styles I play (no bluegrass). I added a (glued-on, round shaped) piezo inside the body (under the bridge) so it can be played plugged-in. I did modify the bridge a little bit to make it lighter and even remove the thumb wheel screws as the action at fret#12 is perfect without them.