However it's known that some later original designs were Japanese - Tokai is a name that's bandied about in relation to some models, others are Matsumoku - "MMK" brand pickups & Matsumoku-stamped neckplates have been reported.
As far as the LP copies are concerned, it's suggested that the higher-end, set-neck guitars were MIJ. Personally, I'd really like some clarification about this, because I have a set-neck Hondo LP which I'm restoring/ rebuilding at the moment - and to be honest, it's a complete mass of contradictions!
Mine's a model HS-740, it has a long-tenon set neck, carved top & appears to be constructed entirely from maple, making it light for an LP. I'd guess it's from around 1978-ish, since it has Hondo's "post lawsuit" headstock shape, but does not have DiMarzios, which I think started to be fitted from about 1979.
The body/neck is very well constructed & finished, which makes me tend to think it's MIJ - however the hardware & electrics (with the exception of the unbranded pickups) are pretty cheap & poor quality - identical to a low-end plywood Hondo LP I owned previously. It's almost as though the body/neck & hardware are from two different instruments - although this is obviously not actually the case.
This is quite likely going to remain yet another of those unresolved questions about vintage Oriental guitars!
Jon.Statistics: Posted by Bassassin — Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:16 pm
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