1982 ad featuring Deluxe Series H-935 BS (Version 1)
The H-935, introduced in 1981, was Hondo's Korean-made Gibson ES-335 copy. Being one of their most highly regarded models today, it was developed using techniques learned from Matsumoku and Tokai. In fact, it's really more of a copy of the Japanese-made Professional Series H-1060 than of a Gibson, strictly speaking. The H-935 was finally phased out in 1989 as Hondo ended production and Samick switched focus to it's own brand (making it one of the longest-lasting Hondo models), but it essentially lived on as the Samick SA.
All H-935 models were made in Incheon, Korea by Samick.
Related models:
H-935 (Deluxe Series)[]
1981 H-935 BS (Version 1)
The H-935 was first introduced as a Deluxe Series model in 1981. These early models can be identified by their similarity to the H-1060; a smaller pickguard, gold hardware, brass nut, gold speed knobs and Hondo II Script logo . In late 1981/early 1982, it switched to the newer Sunrise logo and black speed knobs. Shortly after, the logo changed to a large Deluxe Series logo in the center of the headstock, often with no Hondo logo at all. Finally, the Deluxe Series logo moved to the truss rod cover and the Sunrise logo was always included. However, the changes in features were gradual and not always universal, so these are just general guidelines.
- ~1981-1982 (Version 1 & 2)
- ~1983-1984 (Version 2, 3 & 4)
- $359.95 MSRP (1983)
- $289.50 CAD (Canada, 1982)
Body:
- Laminated Nato arched top, back & sides
- Book-matched striped Nato veneer, top and back (Version 1 & 2)
- Laminated Maple arched top, back & sides (N, CS & HS)
- Nato center block
- 1 3/4" thick
Set-in neck detail
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Set-in Rock Maple neck (N, CS & HS)
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Deluxe headstock with volute
- Silk-screened Script logo (Version 1)
- Silk-screened Deluxe Series logo (Version 1)
- Silk-screened Sunrise logo (Version 1, 2, 3 & 4)
- 22 medium-jumbo frets
- 24 5/8" scale
Binding:
- Celluloid
- Single-ply body, front and back (Version 1)
- Single-ply body, painted f-holes (Version 2)
- Single-ply body (painted f-holes) and neck (Version 3)
- Single-ply body (painted f-holes), neck and headstock (Version 4)
Walnut finish
Electronics:
- Two covered humbuckers
- Two uncovered humbuckers (Version 1 & 2)
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware (Version 1 & 2)
- Chrome hardware
- Brass nut (Version 1)
- Small pickguard (Version 1 & 2)
- Oversized pickguard
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover
- Schaller style tuner keys (Version 1 & 2)
- Keystone style tuner keys
Cover of 1981 Deluxe Series catalog
- Black Witch Hat knobs (earliest examples only)
- Black or Gold "notched" speed knobs (Version 1 & 2)
- Black speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece (Version 1 & 2)
- Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (WH)
- Walnut (WA)
- Natural (N)
- Cherry (CH)
- Cherry Sunburst (CHS/CS/RS)
- Brown Sunburst (BS)
Optional Hardshell Case
- Honey Sunburst (HS)
- Burgundy Sunburst (BGS)
Also branded as:
- Antoria Rockstar (Version 2)
- Discovery by Harmony (Version 4)
- Harmony H-9350 (Version 1, 2 & 4)
- Seville S-935 (Version 1)
- Starforce (Version 4)
H-935 RW[]
H-935 with laminated Rosewood top, back and sides.
H-935 (Deluxe Series Mark II)[]
1983 H-935 (Version 4)
- 1982-1984
Body:
- Laminated Nato arched top, back & sides
- Laminated Maple arched top, back & sides (Sunburst finishes)
- 1/16" "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer; front, back and sides (TT, Version 5)
- Nato center block
- 1 3/4" thick
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Set-in Rock Maple neck (Sunburst finishes)
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Deluxe headstock with volute
- Silk-screened Sunrise logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body, painted f-holes (Version 2)
- Single-ply body (painted f-holes), neck and headstock (Version 4)
- Triple-ply body and headstock, single ply neck and painted f-holes (Version 5)
- Fret-edge binding (Version 5)
Electronics:
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gold hardware (Version 2)
- Oversized pickguard
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover with Deluxe Mark II silk-screen
- Keystone tuner buttons
- 14:1 ratio Grover Rotomatic tuners (Version 5)
- Black speed knobs (Version 2 & 4)
- Amber bell knobs (Version 5)
- Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Walnut (WA)
- Cherry (CH)
- Red Sunburst (RS)
- Cherry Sunburst (CHS)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Honey Sunburst (HS)
- Burgundy Sunburst (BGS)
Also branded as:
- Antoria Rockstar (Version 5)
H-935 (Revival Series / Fame Series)[]
1985 H-935 RS/TT (Version 5)
This version of the H-935 most commonly seen with Revival logo, but also Fame logo and Martin-style "Hondo Guitars" logo. All specs the same.
Body:
- Laminated Nato arched top, back & sides (BS & Solid finishes)
- Laminated Maple arched top, back & sides (Natural & Sunburst finishes)
- 1/16" "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer, front, back and sides (TT)
- Nato center block
- 1 3/4" thick
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Set-in Rock Maple neck (Natural & Sunburst finishes)
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Small dot inlays (late 1989)
1984 H-935 (Martin-style logo)
- Volute (1984-1987)
- Silk-screened Revival logo
- Silk-screened Martin logo
- Silk-screened Fame Broadway logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (painted f-holes), neck and headstock (Version 4)
- Triple-ply body and headstock, single ply neck and painted f-holes (Version 5, TT)
- Fret-edge binding
Electronics:
- Two covered X-14 humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gold hardware (TT)
- 14:1 ratio Grover Rotomatic tuners
- Oversized pickguard
- Deluxe-style truss rod cover (1984-1986)
- Triangular truss rod cover (1987-1989)
- Bell shaped truss rod cover (late 1989 / 1990?)
- Black speed knobs (Version 4)
- Gold speed/Amber bell knobs (Version 5)
- Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Martin-style "Hondo Guitars" logo detail
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Cherry (CH)
- Walnut (WA)
- Burgundy (BG)
- Natural (N)
- Brown Sunburst (BS)
- Red Sunburst (RS)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Dark Cherry, Tiger Tail top (CH/TT)
- Red Sunburst, Tiger Tail top (RS/TT)
- Tobacco Tint, Tiger Tail top (TT)
Also branded as:
1987 Phantom VES5 RS/TT
- Eagle E-42
- Mako TG-2
- Phantom VES5
- Chrome hardware w/ TT top
- Black Bell knobs
- Series A
- Starforce PH-8
- Vista
HDS-945[]
In 1982, the HDS-945 was introduced as the top-of-the-line H-935 variation with genuine DiMarzio and Schaller parts. It was the only variant of the H-935 given it's own model number. It was discontinued in early 1983, as it disappeared in the Spring 1983 catalog.
- 1982-1983
- $449.95 MSRP (1983)
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back & sides
- Maple center block
- 1 3/4" thick
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Deluxe headstock with volute
- Silk-screened Deluxe Series logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front and back), neck and headstock
Electronics:
- Two uncovered DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Short pickguard
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover
- Schaller tuners
- Black bell knobs
- Schaller 456 combination bridge/tailpiece
Finishes:
- Natural (N)
- Cherry (CH)
- Yellow tinted Natural (Y/N)
Also branded as:
- Harmony HEA-200
Harmony HEA-200[]
Body:
- Laminated Nato arched top, back & sides
- Book-matched flame Nato veneer, top and back
- Maple center block
- 1 3/4" thick
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Arched headstock with volute
- Silk-screened Harmony logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body (front and back) and headstock
- Double-ply neck with fret-edge-binding
- Painted f-holes
Electronics:
- Two uncovered DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Fish shaped truss rod cover
- Schaller tuners
- Black bell knobs
- Schaller 456 combination bridge/tailpiece
Finishes:
- Cherry (CH)