Hondo Formula 1 H-785 1980s

No sales tax for US customers outside California. 

The Hondo Formula 1 H-785, made in the 1980s, is a bold and rare electric guitar designed for fast, high-octane playing. This model features a striking Transparent Red finish over a contoured body with sharp double cutaways, giving it a sleek, performance-driven aesthetic that stands out on any stage.

Built for speed and precision, the H-785 boasts a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with a fast-playing slim neck profile—perfect for shred, hard rock, and metal styles. Equipped with dual humbuckers and a 3-way selector switch, this guitar delivers a wide range of tones, from thick rhythm crunch to cutting leads. The chrome hardware, vintage-style tremolo bridge, and bold styling reflect the peak of 1980s guitar design.

Whether you're a collector of quirky vintage guitars or looking for an affordable shred machine with tons of character, this Hondo Formula 1 H-785 is a rare gem from the golden age of guitar excess.

The guitar is in excellent condition.  It came in looking pretty filthy, but it cleaned up very nicely.  There are some dings here and there - it isn't perfect, but it is cleaner than most. 

The guitar appears to be all original.  The frets are in excellent condition.  The neck relief is very flat.  We set it up with 10-46 strings, and there is a touch of fretting out in the lower register.  There is a finish check line across the neck seam where it hits the body.  Hondo used a wild looking joint there - the guitar is not neck-thru-body constructed.  The joint includes a zigzag, presumably to offer more surface area in the joint.  There is no wood or glue separation there - just a line in the finish.

A gig bag is included.

No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.

• Color: Transparent Red
• Weight: 7lbs 11oz
• Body: Ash
• Neck: Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Dot
• Frets: Original
• Fret Count: 24
• Nut: New, made in our shop
• Nut width: 1-5/8"
• Radius: 12"
• Scale: 24.75"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: .84"
• Neck thickness at 12th fret: .95"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Overall Length: 40-1/2"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-13/16"
• String gauge: 10-46
• Hardware Color: Gold
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Open coil X-14 humbucker
• Bridge Pickup Reading: Active
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Open coil X-14 humbucker
• Neck Pickup Reading: Active
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Original
• Knobs: Original
• Switch: 3 Way + 3db active boost mini switch, coil tap mini switch, phase reverse mini switch
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: Gig bag
• Notes: Finish crack at neck/body. See pics.

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.