There is no reason to go on. I have found it.
The all-time, ultimate, absolute pinnacle of guitar adverts.
Clearly, my work here is done. In case you missed it:
Jungle animals with red ‘Laser-eyes’? Check.
Pink Bandana tied above the elbow, to indicate that the wearer is looking to sell, rather than buy, (PCP? Ritalin? Advil Cold and Sinus?)? Check.
‘One-upping’ the classic EVH-style ‘Axe’ by adding a pointy headstock? Check.
Pop-metal androgyny? Check.
The ‘Lost Chord’? Check.
Utterly unconvincing photo-collage work that could only possibly correspond to the psychological landscape of a 12-year-old boy? Check.
‘Heavy Metal’ typeset in actual-metal? Check. Let’s see that one more time.
Thank you all for supporting this website over the past two years. I am retiring to a cottage on the Aran Island of Inis Mor. Take care.
Previous Hondo coverage on P S Dot Com
5 replies on “That’s it. I’m done.”
By the time of this ad these Hondo guitars were marginally playable, generally with plywood bodies and fake Floyd Rose trems made out of pot metal. By contrast, Fender was making the Big Comeback, building really decent-if not Callaham/Vintique/Detemple level hardware and hand picked wood-guitars for the first time since Leo packed his stuff and left.
In fairness though, there was a time when those Hondos were actually halfway decent. Hondo was an importer’s brand made at at least five different facilities and some were made on the same line and fixtures as Japan market Fenders….meaning they were good. But pickups and hardware usually are not particularly good even if the wood and woodwork are.
The moral: Don’t overpay. With companies selling entirely playable new Fender clones for under $200 no Hondo other than a Longhorn or a Loverboy whoever-he-was sig model (which were always from the better plants) should bring more than a hundred dollar bill.
did you find that in KERRANG! magazine?
hey man how you been? Nah it’s from Guitar Player. c.
looks like michael jackson too!
to first commenter…hmm, fender was making crap in the era of this ad…they were still struggling between sale from CBS to FMIC. This was mid 80s and the era of the crappy elite trem bridge, the first squires from japan. Then right after that in late 80s was era of the am std, plus, ultra, etc with those cold sterile lace sensor pickups, sucky lsr roller nuts that bind, swimming pool routes that suck tone, etc.