Hondo 830 Fame Series

I actually own 2 of these in Lefty, both purchased "used" within the past few years. Overall body layout and electronics (pickup, V/T controls) are just your standard "P" bass copy. Early/ mid 1980's made in Korea (I have seen folks confused about these as made in Japan).

Again, standard P bass like tones. The factory electronics are nothing special, I find that they lack any individual personality. I'd rate them a 7 stock. I have swapped out for aftermarket P bass stuff (Dimarzio, Duncan, Bartolini)in both basses and they respond very well to whatever your favorite P bass replacement may be. So the 8 rating reflects how well they respond to replacement of the stock P bass electronics.

One of the 2 is finished in a very nice vintage 2-tone sunburst w/ matching headstock; the other is an even nicer walnut brown burst with laminated flamed maple top w/ matching headstock. Both have full scale maple fretbords and very high quality Grover Tuners, and string thru body bridges. This is the area where I want to come to the defense of these Fame Series basses. I think alot of folks have gotten hold of beat/abused ones, but mine were both in very good to excellent condition when i got them. have been very pleased relative to the finish and overall build quality. Everything is tight and well aligned, as mentioned the hardware is good/ excellent, the frets are well finished, the neck has a very comfortable vintage P bass-like profile and with proper setup and trussrod adjustments they can be dialed in to provide very low action. It's easy to see why some would think these were Japan post-lawsuit era imports.

One of the high points- these 2 are going on 30 years old and unlike sone cheap Squire, they're built like tanks. anyone who maintains their instrument would have no trouble keeping these up to speed, they are simple p bass copies after all. Very solid and makes great platform for swapping/ experimenting with different pickups, etc. From a reliability standpoint I would use them on a gig without a backup anytime, but like any p bass it would be pretty much a one dimensional deal sound-wise.

For a 1980's Hondo? Are you kidding me? If you can do a good setup and change a pickup there's nothing here that requires any support anyway...

I've been playing for over 30 years, have owned everything high end to low end, currently have over 100 basses in my collection(yikes!)including lots of vintage Fenders. The main thing I've learned: Expensive doesn't guarantee good and cheap doesn't guarantee bad. Relative value is all about what works for you. IF you like P basses in general- and you want or need a P bass that you don't have to worry about- and IF you find one of these in very good to excellent condition- BUY IT. It won't cost you much (I payed less than $200 for either one I have) and with a bit of tweaking you will be more than pleased. I have alot of fun with them and certainly find them far superior to any Squier or SX or other sub-$200 P bass I've owned.

I Brought Mine Second Hand Of A Local Antiques Shop, Heard Someone Had A Left Handed Bass Going, Got Mine For ??85 With Megadeath Golden Cogs Which Were Fitted By The Last Owner. The Sunburst Finish Was Really Nice.

It Gives A Nice Low Toned Sound When Used On Persific Settings But Is Even Better When You Play Around. I Like The Twang The Strings Give When You Strum With A Pick.

Well Because Mine Was Second Hand The Pegs Are A Lil Rusty But There Holding In Strong. Everything Is In Order With Mine So Its Great. Only A Small Section of The Plate Is Damaged And Thats At The Back.

Its Really Solid For Wood, Hell Its Even Stronger Then My Electric Guitar, Its Lasted 26 Years And Its Excellent.

Its Great. I Wish I Asked How Much The Tuner Cogs Cost Cos There High Standard So My Bass Can Fetch About ??300. But Yeh This Is A Great Bass Guitar To Get. Id I Lost It Id Probs Have To Buy A Different Bass But Id Deffo Try Get This One Again.

It's abeautiful bass. I have through the years owned many basses. And the Hondo 930, Has always been my fave. Even with passive pickups I get a great sound. The red finish has gotten many compliments. I found mine in a pawn shop around 1984. Paid $65.00 for it. Love it.
I did have to have the nut replaced. But for the age of the insturment I think it was just from age, and use.

I have not had any problems with buzzing. or background noise. Except when the cord jack needed adjusting. But again that was normal considering the useage. I play through a Randall amp. with a noise gate. And play all venues of music. I find that the sound i get fits nomatter where, or what I play.

I did adjust the action down a little. To make it faster. But with the bridge being the way it is. I had no problems getting the harmonics adjusted. The Grover tuning pegs are great.

I have never had to adjust the neck. Beautiful finish, that still looks like new. I have had other basses that after playing for a couple of years the finish wore off(from sweat, and rubbing wile playing). This bass has a very durable finish. When ever I play I make sure it goeg with me. I have and will in the future use it as my main bass.

As mentioned the only thing I have had to replase was the nut. I still think that with the ammount that I use it. That that was a normal thing.
Bought it from a pawn shop so I never checked about a warrenty.

I have been playing for about 25 years. I would buy another if I could find one. The only thing that I might consider changing, would be to an active system. But even at that I would want it done so that I could change it back to passive.
I have owned many basses, and the 830 is still my fave.

looks and feels like an american made fender p bass but hondo stylee. has the string through body,maple neck, and nice grover tuners. precision style with split coil pickups. 1 vol and 1 tone control. black body and black pickguard with black matching headstock.

sounds classic, with a deep tone. i like it.

i had to adjust the neck and bridge a little bit to get the feel i want, but it wasnt so bad.

this bass is pretty damn solid as a rock. its very sturdy and can handle the wildest situations.

for the price i bought it for, it is an amzing deal. the only thing i would change down the road are the factory pickups and put in some seymour duncan quarter pounder p bass pickups.

I got this bass second hand from a pawn shop for $200 AUD. I have no idea of where its from or anything. Its a real peice of crap, even for a first bass. It has 20 frets.

it gets 2 because it has 2 knobs.

To put it bluntly, this bass sounds terrible. The hiss from it was louder than the actual bass. It has a really dull, mirky sound like you are playing at the bottom of a swamp.

The action was actually fairly good, and didn't require any adjustments. The pickups were on a funny angle, and I had to straighten them. At one stage, the nut actually crumbled like it was made of a chalky rock. It had holes in it from what I guess is someone removing a thumb rest.

This bass was terrible in everyway, so I never used it infront of anyone. The finish was durable, as were the strap buttons. Infact, the bass was built like a brick.

This bass is a joke.

I am not sure when or where it was made.This guitar has 20 frets.This guitar also is a laminated top.It has 1 volume and 1 tone control and no selectors.Customized pick guard with two single coil and 1 humbucker.the pick ups zigzag each other.the electronics are active.the neck is maple.My lovely guitar has a burgindy finish .It has a string thru body bridge and it is a precision guitar.The tuners are grover tuners.

Just put it this way it is pretty damn strong.