Hondo

Hondo was one of the defining affordable import names of the 1970s and 1980s. The brand grew from a partnership between Fort Worth-based IMC and Korean manufacturer Samick, then expanded from entry instruments into Hondo II, Deluxe and a short-lived Japanese Professional Series. Most Hondos were Korean-made; “Hondo = Japanese” is one of the common shortcuts to avoid.

MODEL SEARCH

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OVERVIEW

What to know quickly

ORIGIN Hondo emerged from an IMC / Samick partnership around 1969.

MAIN PRODUCTION Most classic Hondo production was Korean, largely associated with Samick.

JAPAN EXCEPTION The early-1980s Professional Series was a higher-tier Japanese line; it should not be used to describe every Hondo.

Country of origin is the first correction. A Korean Hondo II and Japanese Professional Series guitar may look related but belong to different quality and value conversations.

IDENTIFY YOUR GUITAR

Which Hondo do you have?

Hondo model names and numbers can be inconsistent in used listings, so photographs matter: headstock logo, neck plate, pickups, bridge and country marking should all be documented.

Read the logo style. Hondo, Hondo II and later branding help narrow the period.
Find the model number. H-series, Deluxe, Professional and Revival designations matter more than body-shape nicknames.
Check country markings. Do not assume Japan because the guitar looks 1980s.
Identify factory pickups. Some higher-tier Hondo II instruments used DiMarzio pickups, a useful original-spec clue.
Watch copy-era shapes. LP-, Strat-, Explorer- and other familiar outlines were used across multiple tiers.

SERIES & CURRENT RETAIL GUIDE

Hondo moved from entry copies into several distinct tiers

Hondo / early Hondo II Acoustic and electric copies Often $150–$400 used Entry / mass-market import

Deluxe / Hondo II upgrades Improved hardware and finishes Often $250–$500 used Better Korean-made instruments

Professional Series Early-1980s Japanese models Often $350–$900+ used Higher-tier / collectible

Revival / unusual models H78 and other later designs Model-specific Specialty used market

Hondo is discontinued; ranges are broad current used-market guidance rather than new retail.

USED VALUE GUIDE

The ordinary Hondo market is affordable, but exceptions matter

Guitar Center showed roughly twenty used Hondo guitars in late September 2026, including Hondo II, Professional and Revival examples. Most common guitars remain in the low hundreds, while better models climb higher.

COMMON HONDO II Often roughly $200–$400.

BETTER / DELUXE Often around $300–$550.

PROFESSIONAL / REVIVAL Can reach $600–$900+ depending on exact model.

Verify origin. Japanese Professional models should not be confused with ordinary Korean Hondo II instruments.
Inspect hardware wear. Budget-era tuners, bridges and pots may now be the weak point.
Check fret and neck condition. A cheap vintage guitar can become an expensive repair.
Identify original pickups. Factory DiMarzio-equipped versions deserve different comparables.
Avoid “lawsuit” inflation. Copy styling alone does not create premium value.

CURRENT USED MARKET

See what the market is doing now

Search the full model number plus Hondo II / Professional / Revival. Generic “Hondo Les Paul copy” listings hide the information that actually sets value.

Search Hondo on Reverb Vintage Hondo and Hondo II examples ↗ Used Hondo at Guitar Center Current used dealer inventory ↗

COMPARE

What else lives in this neighborhood?

Hondo belongs beside other affordable Korean and Japanese import brands of the 1970s/1980s, with Japanese Professional models treated separately.

COMPARE WITH Samick · core Korean manufacturing context

COMPARE WITH Cort · another major Korean production story

COMPARE WITH Aria Pro II / Vantage · better Japanese-era comparison for higher-tier Hondos

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Before you buy—or price—one

Japan myth. Only some Hondo lines were Japanese-made.
Model-number gaps. Used sellers frequently omit the designation.
Hardware replacement. Common upgrades can obscure original tier.
Copy-shape hype. A familiar outline is not a value grade.
Repair economics. Neck or fret work can exceed the market value of common examples.

HISTORY & COMMENTARY

One of the brands that taught the market Korean guitars could improve quickly

Hondo grew from a partnership between IMC in Texas and Samick in Korea. Through the 1970s the brand became a huge international entry-level seller and gradually raised specifications.

By the late 1970s Hondo II models could include better hardware and U.S.-made DiMarzio pickups, while the Professional Series briefly moved upmarket with Japanese production. That progression makes Hondo more interesting than a simple “cheap copy” label.

WHAT PLAYERS LIKE

Why a Hondo can be worth picking up

Period personality. Hondo captures the look of the 1970s/1980s import boom.
Low entry cost. Many remain inexpensive player or project guitars.
Interesting exceptions. Professional and Revival models reward deeper research.
Samick connection. Hondo provides a useful chapter in Korean guitar-manufacturing history.
Large surviving supply. The name still surfaces regularly in used stores.

CURRENT RETAIL & REFERENCE

Used Hondo at Guitar Center Current used-market examples ↗ Matsumoku · Factory History Context for Japanese Professional-era manufacturing ↗ Reverb · Hondo Market Current used examples and sold-search starting point ↗

Public primary-source Hondo archives are limited; factory claims should stay tied to documented model/era evidence.