The HLP was Hondo's first Les Paul copy, Introduced in 1973. For the first two years, they were made by Matsumoku in Japan. However, they are very rare and noticeably different from the typical HLP. After 1974, all HLPs were made in Korea by Samick. Around late 1979, the headstock was redesigned to avoid lawsuits following the famous Gibson/Ibanez lawsuit. In 1980, it was re-named the H-740.
Note: The stock bridge on these models commonly failed, caving in at the center due to insufficiently durable metal. This lead to the creation of the Wide Tune-O-Matic in 1981, however, the original design was also revised with a more durable metal and continued in use.
The HDC is the double-cutaway version of the HLP.
HLP-2[]
1978 HLP-2 WI
- 1976-1979
- $149.95 MSRP (1977)
Body:
- Laminated Nato body with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
Neck:
- Bolt-on Nato neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid block inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Wavy headstock
- Silk-screened Block logo (1976-1977)
- Silk-screened Script logo (1977-1979)
- Mother of Pearl split-diamond inlay
- 22 frets
- Zero fret (LP-29)
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound headstock and body (front and back)
- Bound fretboard
- Black binding (White finish)
Electronics:
- Two single coil pickups with humbucker-style covers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Circa 1976 (Note Block style logos)
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Individually enclosed tuning machines
- Raised 4-ply pickguard
- Fish shaped truss rod cover
- Witch Hat knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Wine Red (WI, W1 or W)
- White (W)
- Red Sunburst (RS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (BS)
- Antique Brown Sunburst (AB)
- Natural (N)
- Gold top, Black back/sides (G)
- Antique Red Sunburst
Also branded as:
- Allegretto
- Bently
- Drifter DLPS
- Global E-90
- Harmony H-90
- Horugel EG-1702
- Lark KE-15
- Lori LP-90S
- Lotus LPRS
- Mark II LP-200
- Royce RO-619
- Tele-Star LP-50 & LP-65
- (Un-branded) LP-29
- Vibra 3199
- Westminster
HLP-2N[]
1977 HLP-2N
The HLP-2N is distinct from the HLP-2 in that it features a solid Ash body, Maple neck and fretboard with black inlays and natural finish.
- 1977-1979
- $169.95 MSRP (1977)
- $179.95 MSRP (1979)
Body:
- Solid Ash body with bent-ply Ash top
Neck:
- Bolt-on Maple neck
- Maple fretboard with black block inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Silk-screened Block logo (1976-1977)
- Silk-screened Script logo (1977-1979)
- Mother of Pearl split-diamond inlay
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound headstock and body (front and back)
- Bound fretboard
Electronics:
- Two single coil pickups with humbucker-style covers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Individually enclosed tuning machines
- Raised 4-ply pickguard
- Fish shaped truss rod cover
- Witch Hat knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Natural (N)
Also branded as:
- Vibra 3299
HDLP-2[]
The HDLP-2 is distinct from the HLP-2 in that it features stock DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers and a Mother of Pearl Script logo inlay.
1978 HDLP-2 BS
- 1978-1979
- $229.95 MSRP (1978)
Also branded as:
- Bently
- Lotus LP(XX)D
- Royce RO-622
- (Unbranded) WD-220
- Vantage V-100
HLPS-2[]
The HLPS-2 is distinct from the HLP-2 in that it features a set-in Maple neck, solid Ash body and Mother of Pearl "Hondo II" inlay.
- $229.95 (1979, Drifter DLPS)
Also available:
- HLPS-2N
- HDLPS-2
- HDLPS-2N
Also branded as:
- Drifter DLPS
HLPC-2[]
The HLPC-2 is distinct from the HLP-2N in that it features a "German Carved" body made of solid Ash, belly carve and double-bound fretboard (with fret edge binding), headstock and body (front). It also lacks the Mother of Pearl split diamond inlay on the headstock. Otherwise, all specs are the same as the HLP-2N. It seems to have been loosely inspired by the Ibanez 2671 model.
Some examples featured the Fatboy headstock.
Finishes:
- Natural (N)
- Wine Red (W)
Also branded as:
- Arirang
- Global H-99
- Harmony H-7000
HLP (Japanese)[]
Japanese HLP with aftermarket bridge/tailpiece and pickups.
Very little is known about the Japanese-made HLP, except that it was built by Matsumoku and before the name change to "Hondo II". It likely served as a template for the Korean HLP.
They are fairly rare, but not necessarily worth much more because of it. A fair price would be around what a similar early '70s Ibanez LP copy sells for.
- 1972-1973
Body:
- Mahogany "Pancake" body
- Maple veneers front and back
Neck:
- Bolt-on 3-pc laminated Maple neck
- Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid block inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Silk-screened Hondo logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound headstock
- Double-bound body and fretboard
Electronics:
- Two humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Natural
H-740[]
1980 H-740 BS
- 1980-1983
Body:
- Laminate body construction with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
- 47mm thick body
Neck:
- Nato bolt-on neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid block inlays
- Wavy headstock
- Silk-screened Script logo
- S-Diamond headstock inlay
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply headstock and body (front and back)
- Celluloid bound fretboard
Electronics:
- Two single coil pickups with humbucker-style covers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Individually enclosed tuning machines
- Fish shaped truss rod cover (1980-81)
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover (1982-83)
- Black speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece (1980-81)
- Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece (1982-83)
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (W)
- Wine (WI)
- Red Sunburst (RS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (BS)
- Antique Brown Sunburst (AB)
Vantage V-100[]
The first ever Vantage-branded guitar.
- 1978
Body:
- Laminate body construction with arched top and Maple veneer
Neck:
- Nato bolt-on neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Mother of Pearl block inlays
- Split-diamond Mother of Pearl headstock inlay
- Open Book headstock
- Silk-screened Vantage logo
- Mother of Pearl split-diamond inlay
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound headstock and body (front and back)
- Bound fretboard
Electronics:
- Two DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Individually enclosed tuning machines
- 5-ply raised pickguard
- Fish shaped truss rod cover
- Witch Hat knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (BS)
- Brown Sunburst (BS)