The H-740 was introduced in 1980 as a re-named version of the HLP, now part of Hondo's Standard Series. Shortly before the name change came a new headstock to avoid lawsuits, and along with the name change came the introduction of Samick's trademark "S-Diamond" headstock inlay. Around 1981, the new Sunrise logo appeared.
Note: some examples have no diamond inlay at all.
The H-740 joined the Deluxe Series unchanged in 1981. For 1982, it received a new headstock and matching truss rod cover, and trapezoid inlays. In 1984, the H-740 was essentially replaced by the H-7370/EG-1736, which was then the budget LP-style guitar in the lineup.
All H-740 models were made in Incheon, Korea by Samick.
The H-737 was the next step down in their LP-style lineup, and the H-748 was the top model.
H-740 (1980-1981)[]
- Standard Series (1980)
- Deluxe Series (1981)
- $179.95 est. MSRP (1980)
- $209.95 est. MSRP (1981, Lotus L-510)
Body:
- Laminated Nato body with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
- 47mm thick body
Neck:
- Bolt-on Nato 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-bound 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
- Raised 4-ply pickguard
- Fish shaped truss rod cover
- Black speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (W)
- Wine (WI)
- Burgundy (BG)
- Red Sunburst (RS)
- Brown Sunburst (BS)
- Antique Brown Sunburst (AB)
Also branded as:
- Arirang
- Crestline
- Custom
- Hondo H-745
- Hondo H-746
- Horugel
- Johnny Guitar 43-345
- Lori LP-90
- Lotus L-510
- Samick
- Seville S-115
- Vibra 3199
- Westminster W-480
- Zapp
HD-740 (Standard Series)[]
Same as H-740 , but with DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers and inlaid Mother of Pearl Script logo.
- 1980
- $249.95 MSRP (1980, Bently 2223)
Also branded as:
- Bently 2223
- Harmony
- Hondo HD-742
- Hondo HD-761
- Lotus LP-570
- Seville S-148
- (Un-branded) 161DM
- Vibra 6199
HS-740 (Standard Series)[]
H-740 with set neck, solid Ash body, and Maple neck.
Also available: HDS-740
Also branded as:
- Lori
- Mansfield M60
- Includes DiMarzios
- Salvarez EG-1702
H-740 N (Standard Series)[]
Same as H-740, but with solid Ash body, Maple neck, black inlays and Natural finish.
- $249.95 MSRP (1981, Lotus L-510 N)
Also available: HD-740 N
Also branded as:
- Lotus L-510 N
HL-740[]
Left-handed H-740.
Also branded as:
- Crestline
H-740 (Deluxe Series)[]
- 1982-1983
- $279.95 MSRP (1983)
Body:
- Laminated Nato body with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
- 47mm thick body
Neck:
- Bolt-on Nato neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock with volute
- Silk-screened Sunrise logo
- Silk-screened Deluxe Series logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound 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
- Raised single-ply white pickguard
- Raised 2-ply black/white pickguard
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover
- Black or White Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Metallic Red (MR)
- Tobacco Sunburst (BS)
- Burgundy Sunburst (BGS)
Also branded as:
- Discovery 740
- Sonata
HD-740 (Deluxe Series)[]
Same as H-740, but with DiMarzio K-10 humbuckers and inlaid Mother of Pearl Sunrise logo.
- 1982
HS-740 (Deluxe Series)[]
Same as H-740 but with Schaller 455 combination bridge/tailpiece.
- 1982-1983
- $299.95 MSRP
- $339.95 MSRP (RW)
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Metallic Red (MR)
- Cherry (CH)
- Tobacco Sunburst (BS)
- Burgundy Sunburst (BGS)
- Solid Rosewood body, Natural finish (RW)
H-740 (Deluxe Series Mark II)[]
Body:
- Laminated Nato body with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
- 47mm thick body
Neck:
- Bolt-on Nato neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid trapezoid inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Silk-screened Sunrise logo
- Silk-screened Deluxe Series logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-bound headstock and body, front and back (Version 1)
- Single-bound headstock and body, front and back (Version 2)
- Triple-bound headstock and body, front and back (Version 3)
- Bound fretboard
Electronics:
- Two chrome covered X-14 humbuckers (Ver. 1)
- Two uncovered white X-14s (Ver. 2)
- Two uncovered zebra X-14s (Ver. 3)
- 3-way switch
- 2 coil tap mini-switches (Ver. 2)
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Engraved Sunrise logo
- Raised, single-ply white pickguard
- Deluxe headstock truss rod cover
- White Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Burgundy (BG)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Burgundy Sunburst (BGS)
H-740 (Revival Series)[]
Body:
- Laminated Nato body with arched top
- Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
- Belly carve
- 47mm thick body
Neck:
- Bolt-on Nato neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid block inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Silk-screened Revival Series logo
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-bound body (front) and fretboard
Electronics:
- Two uncovered zebra X-14 humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- 14:1 ratio Grover Rotomatc tuning machines
- Raised, single-ply white pickguard
- Deluxe headstock truss rod cover
- White Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
H-745 (Deluxe Series)[]
Note: Some examples did not include S-diamond inlay.
- 1981-1982
Body:
- Solid Walnut body with arched top
- 1/16" "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer
- Belly carve
Neck:
- Bolt-on Flame Maple neck
- Stained Rosewood fretboard with Pearloid trapezoid inlays
- Wavy headstock (1981)
- Deluxe headstock (1982)
- Tiger Tail Maple headstock veneer
- Mother of Pearl Script logo inlay (1981)
- Silk-screened Sunrise logo (1982)
- S-Diamond headstock inlay
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-bound headstock and body (front)
- Celluloid bound fretboard
Electronics:
- Two covered humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- Individually enclosed tuning machines
- Flat-mounted pickguard
- Tortoise shell plastics
- 3-ply pickguard
- Truss rod cover
- Control cavity covers
- White single-ply pickguard (1982)
- Fish shaped truss rod cover (1981)
- Headstock matching truss rod cover (1982)
- Gold speed knobs (1981)
- Gold bell knobs (1982)
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Walnut (WA)
Also branded as:
- Antares ALK-28
- Masada
- Samick
- West W-230