Okay people. I have a serious issue I need to discuss with you. I was just pitched a story that I have to share, and it’s a story that has affected me at a very personal level.

When I was 16 years old, I had saved my pennies to buy a kick ass electric guitar. I needed something better than a Fender Hot Rod Telecaster, or a Gibson Flying V. I needed a Hondo Stratocaster. Hondos were made with designs based on the designs of lame models like the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul. But unlike Fenders and Gibsons, Hondos had life! The 1986 Hondo guitar I was salivating over was made in Korea and was a mind sucking black with a blazing white pickguard. I loved the frets because they promised to scrape my fingers, releasing my rock ‘n roll blood making me feel alive! I was told that the jack would make the most awesome sound when I was playing, something akin to “grrrblapphhhbrrrriingzzzzphhhh.” The pickup switch was even more incredible because somehow it was supposed to mimic the sound of the jack, but completely backwards. Very satanic dude.

I gathered my pennies together (which happened to be in my father’s wallet) and took them down to the guitar store on Broadway in downtown San Diego and there she was in the display window. I could smell her pheromones through the glass. It was all I could do to keep my pants on as I ran into the store and bum rushed the display to embrace my new love.

When I got her home, I plugged her in and started jamming. But what was this? No blood on my fingers. No “grrrblapphhhbrrrriingzzzzphhhh” from the jack. No nothing of the rock ‘n roll Satanism I was promised. I’m like “WTF?” I looked the guitar over and saw something curious on the headstock. The Hondo label was affixed rather shiftily. I took my little pinky nail and started scraping at it. What was under the Hondo label was the most shocking thing I have ever seen. It said “Fender.” I heard about counterfeit guitars on the market, but I never thought I’d be duped.

Fast-forward 23 years. David Szabados of Legendary Tones has heroically championed the persecution of counterfeit guitar manufacturers and is trying to spread the word virally. Check out his YouTube video below and do your part by spreading the word for consumers to do their research before plunking down a load of cash for a sweet Paul Reed Smith.