Here's a vintage sleeper that turned out way cooler than expected. This early‑'80s Hondo II HDLP features a 3‑piece alder body, and the bottom plank has legit fiddleback figuring visible through the original translucent cherry finish. Total accident, total win — it gives the guitar a subtle tiger‑stripe vibe you normally see on Gibsons or Taylors, not on a Hondo.

And the surprises don't stop there. Under the hood, this one is loaded with a matched pair of USA‑made DiMarzio humbuckers — black, open‑coil, no covers — and they look perfect against the cherry/burgundy finish. These came from the era when Hondo partnered with DiMarzio for their higher‑end models, and they deliver that unmistakable '80s punch: tight lows, snarling mids, and harmonics for days.

Features:

• Early‑80s Hondo II HDLP
• 3‑piece alder body (bottom plank with fiddleback figure)
• Original translucent cherry finish
• USA DiMarzio neck & bridge humbuckers (black open‑coil)
• Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard
• 24.75" scale
• Vintage hardware
• Medium action, strong sustain
• Tight, punchy, 80s‑ready tone

• Freshly revived and set up by BL Custom:

  • Dialed‑in relief
  • Optimized bridge height
  • Intonated in Eb
  • Nut repaired and seated
  • Electronics cleaned
  • Frets polished
  • Plays great with one minor buzz spot at the 15th fret (common neck‑joint rise on vintage imports)

Tone & Feel

This guitar sits in a unique tonal space. The alder body gives it a quicker, tighter attack than a typical mahogany LP — almost Strat‑like in its bite — but the LP shape still brings the sustain and midrange authority. The result is a heavy, articulate voice that stays clear under gain.

Think classic rock and '80s metal, but with more focus and less mud.

A killer vintage import with real character, real tone, and a USA pickup set that punches way above its weight. If you want something with 80s grit and 40 years of seasoning behind it, this one delivers.

No case included.