Well, I've had one of these for about a year now and use it as a travel bass. I really enjoy playing it but I appreciate its shortcomings. It does need a strap to stabalise it and is easier played standing rather than sitting but a strap can help fix that, even when playing it in your lap. It's also naturally neck heavy. The jack socket would be better placed on the front face and not on the arse end so if you're playing it in classical guitar pose, the jack plug isn't sticking into your thigh. Other than that, I love it as a go anywhere, chuck it in the car instrument. Each to their own I guess, but then I've bought it now so I have to like it.
All the guitarists are wondering "Why is he calling it 'little'?" A headless design makes more sense to me in a travel bass. But then you need a fancy tuning system that would raise the price.
I have one of these, heavily modded. It comes with me when I'm adventuring away from home in my VW camper. It plays well enough, sounds surprisingly decent, and while the ergonomics aren't ideal it's still usable and is good fun. It's 100% better than not being able to practice at all for those of us that don't stay in hotels and simply don't have room for a full sized bass on our travels.
I think out of the box it doesn't sound half bad. I like the way it looks...almost medieval - I want this for my punk band. Put some blunt, metal knobs around the bottom edge and you have yourself a decent bludgeon for those extra rowdy fans. Change the strings and add a damn pickup in the middle - it can only get better. For comparison's sake, I currently use a 30" scale, Ibanez tmb30 for my classic rock band. Out of the box those Ibanez sound like sh**, had to put flatwounds, new pickups and tone controls just for it to be decent. The 30" scale is a breeze though and it looks the part for classic rock in cream colour but...still neck heavy and too large to be energetic with...just sayin'. Despite your "meh" rating, I think some of the other comments beg to differ. Good job on the presentation and I will "like" this video to rid you of the lobster hand !
Honestly, it sounded very good to me. It’s silly even to play it without a strap. And am I going to ship a new cheap bass to me everywhere I go? That’s a silly idea to me.
@@russellzauner I'm just saying that the Mikro is a perfectly good, inexpensive short scale that with equally inexpensive headless hardware would be a reliable travel bass.
@@LowEndLobster There is a TB'er with a Headless 5 string Mikro. He used the hipshot hardware which costs more than the bass but is very satisfied with the result. Gigged with it for years before Covid.
I bought one for the weird factor on stage. I rarely play sitting down, even when practicing, so that wasn't an issue for me. But, I got tired of the burpy sound that I had to manage with a Mole bass boost. One thing that helped was flats. I didn't hate it, but the novelty wore off fast.
As you pointed out, the first thing that came to me is ergonomics, especially while sitting. It would be easy to cause injury to wrist and shoulder. May be better if played standing with a strap.
Indeed, though even then the small body does not make it comfortable in terms of right arm position. Having a wider body would not sacrifice portability but increase comfort a lot.
I bought the white version off eBay for £89, which I was pleased about, I wouldn't pay much more for one. It definitely needs a strap to play it. The stock strings need changing, they're awful; once the strings are changed for decent short scale the bass sounds nice. It does great for easy travel & practice. I definitely agree that the pickup should have been placed in the middle of the body instead of near the bridge. Once these basses are setup correctly also with a strap added it plays well but takes a little getting used to with the neck dive. It isn't a beginner bass, it isn't the easiest bass to play. I feel the bass serves its purpose. Thanks for your review. Bless
I saw your post for this on Reverb, and I was allllmost going to order it. But I had a thought - "wait, Lobster is already listing a bass that has no video, and looks brand new. Maybe it wasn't all that good, I should wait". I'm glad I did, that little bass is cute but entirely gutless.
Thanks Alex! Funny enough, I actually had the "unlisted" video in the ad ;P. So folks unknowingly had a preview of this vid hahaha. I try not to post basses without the associated vids, and I definitely try to price things to move. Just sold for 100 shipped this morning ;P
My thought was it would get that lightish rock and roll bass that early Beatles I think had. I wonder what Hofner have in mind for it.? And of course get to work with your effects rack and amp settings to get this to work probably
Great channel with excellent reviews If you're looking at travel basses...or generally smaller basses with biiiigggg sound...I'd recommend having a look at a Kala Ubass. I picked one up for £150ish about 2 years ago... Great space saver and brilliant, upright style, sound
Enjoyed the video. I cant see the point, as if you were worried about travelling with a bass, then another short scale wouldn't be much bigger, and more comfortable to play?
Thanks Dave! Bingo! We're going to be checking some other short scale basses including one extremely suitable for Travel without being labeled as a "travel bass"- AND it's playable and comfortable and sounds great! Stay tuned :)
I can just see you trying the “look how small the box is.....and look at the tiny little bag....isn’t it cute, honey....” “........sigh......yeh......real cute...” Thank you for sharing and reminding me “travel basses are usually a bad idea” Cheers
I agree that the tone is not great, I have a kramer 420s that I've been learning on that sounds better to me. I'm currently overseas and bought the shorty specifically for this deployment, as I've only been playing for a little over a year so taking 6 months off would set me back a bit. As mentioned by others, I rest the body between my legs like a banjo, angling the neck upward, it helps because it's so neck heavy...I probably didn't hate it quite as much as you because I'm such a noob, and don't have much to compare to, but I know exactly what you mean. It wants to slide off your leg and the neck wants to fall down and feels heavy. I've learned a few new songs on it, so I'm grateful for that, but I'll have yamaha bb434 waiting for me when I get home, so hopefully it sounds and plays better than my kramer. You did make the hofner sound pretty great though to be honest...I've only heard it through a vox headphone amp, and some cheap joyo 10w amp I ordered on Amazon, plus I'm not very good so it sounds extra bad. Price point I agree is pretty high for what you get, but I'll probably hang on to it.
@@LowEndLobster I played so many years standing that I would probably drop the bass without it even sitting. For me it's like driving a car without a seat belt, it feels like something is missing... I actually put the strap over my shoulder first thing before I ever pick up the bass. I use dunlop strap locks, if it matters
There is a shorty version of the violin bass now with only one pickup in the neck position so maybe that’s a better option. I don’t like the position of this pickup too.
I have not! That'd be an interesting one to do a comparison with as there are several manufacturers of cheap violin basses like Epiphone, Hofner, and Harley Benton
@@LowEndLobster I think people would be interested. My experience is very little just from trying them in stores, but I leaned toward the Epiphone for sure, even though it is heavier. Go for it man!
Now that you have jumped into to wee travel bass pond , are you considering a review of the traveler bass? They have a little headless P bass that although considerably more expensive, is quite a bit nicer than the Hofner. The traveler actually sounds and plays like a little precision with cool festures Also, a little strip of sandpaper tape on the bottom might help it grip your leg to mitigate slippage, but probably not worth the effort
Thanks! Great question. I totally plan on checking those out in the future, though the next "travel" bass on the block isn't even marketed as one but is the same length roughly as the Hofner but MUCH more usable and playable (especially without a strap).
I've seen a really small travel bass by mayonnaise company or how ever its spelled that's super short but sounds amazing I'm trying to find out if it's more companies that make those small basses if you no of any can you list a few thanks Mr Lobster
The Hofner Shorty doesn’t sound bad. I believe you made passing reference in this video to the Traveler TB-4P, a medium-scale P-style bass with a Mustang pickup with tuning gears recessed into the body. I bought it new for around $425 and I like it a lot. Some of the discomfort and imbalance in playing the Hofner Shorty could possibly be alleviated by trying it with a strap.
Thanks Sam! IMO if an instrument needs a strap to even be playable, it should come with one. I think that the biggest issue is the lack of forearm support resulting in weird angles. Even with a strap, that issue would persist.
I use my Kala Journeyman as my travel bass. Paired with a Vox bass AP2-BS amp plug and ear buds. Not great for upper register stuff but it is still fun for those nights stuck in a hotel room. I also have a short scale oil can bass made by Bohemian Guitars that is a good travel instrument.
Maybe playing it with the body in between the legs would have been better. I own a Traveller ultralight, and I find that is the only way to play it comfortably
Wish you tried it with a strap. It would have been a more complete review. The ergonomics might have been better with the strap stabilizing it, especially if you played it standing up.
I like this bass, but I'm aware of its shortcomings. The neck is heavy even playing standing with a strap there's this imbalance issue, also I notice maybe the distance between strings is a wee bit too big and that small body feels weird at start, but I like the sound of it and I honestly didn't pay that much for it, I got it in China for about 500 RMB which is roughly 70 USD. Maybe it is an acceptable bass for that price, but of course not for 200 bucks!
Thanks a lot for your reviews. They are great. Should be interesting test if the hofner violin shorty its a better option. Also should be great the two traveler guitars basses they have.
Lobster: first of all I am loving your tee shirt. As they say "that's dope!" Lol. As to the bass, well I agree with the one claw rating. I was laughing when you first put it on your lap, you were by the facial expression: "Umm, where's the bass body? How am I supposed to use this thing?" Lmao. BTW, I loved that 3 way panel discussion you were on with Bully and Johnny Long. It was very cool 😎. Anyhow, great video review as always and catch you on the next one 🦞
You expect too much from this little instrument. It is what it is, as premised in your preamble, i.e. a travel bass for rehearsal on the road, to take on holidays, and something with which to have a bit of fun. If it doesn't fit your bill, stick with your Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacher or whatever is your poison, and put up with the travel headaches of full-scale instruments!
Thanks Clement. I understand what you're saying, but for the price I don't think it's a well executed instrument - travel or not. IMO the Jackson Minion is a superior instrument, similar in size, has two better sounding pickups, better ergonomics, and is $20-ish cheaper. I think there's too many concessions here in the name of portability that detract from the overall comfort and usability.
Hey lobster I have a question I am a TH-cam musician as well and I am trying to get a better sound quality on my bass guitar videos do you have any recommendations and what do you use to record your bass guitar
Hi Lj, I go from my amp's direct line out (amp is Orange Crush 50 BXT) straight into my focusrite. I don't use any effects or anything. I'll be doing a video on my signal chain and setup at some point :)
You have the focusrite interface I just purchased the irig it’s coming along but something better is coming soon but I’ll be checking out that video thanks for reaching out
Nice review, you didn’t even tried it standing up. You know there are bass players that don’t play just in their bedroom. Now I have to search for another video on this bass.
Thanks! This is true, but I don't do any of my reviews with a strap or standing (but I do play with one when I'm gigging or whatever of course). IMO strap balance can be impacted by the type/quality of the strap as well as the build of the player. Lots of variables outside of the bass which I choose not to factor in my reviews. I do believe that an instrument should be able to be played without a strap. If one is required to even operate an instrument, I'd consider that a flaw considering mostly every other bass we've done a video on has no issue without one. Just my opinion though!
@@LowEndLobster that’s all true too, and the bass is most likely to be a diver, played stand up anyway. But , and this is my opinion, I get very much get the feeling that you do not like this bass from the moment you opened the bag. I mean, it’s your channel, right? But you show to much of your personal taste. Imagine a chef reviewing dishes, but he/she only likes meat and potatoes. Well that’s my perception anyway. Cheers.
That right hand position would throw me as well. I feel like the ibanez ehb is a better way to travel light. I've seen people with steinberger guitars just throw them in the overhead locker on a flight. A dream for bassists....
@@LowEndLobster Agreed. I'd totally have the Bootlegger if they were available more easily over here in the UK. Just don't want to get one and then find I don't like it. Do you have any thoughts on the Hofner Ignition, Lobster?
LOL. number 3! 😂 I have the bass too. However, I don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be. You can play quite well with a reasonable belt. Both sitting and standing Of course you have to change your mind and get used to the strange design. Did you give him a second chance? It's not bad for kids or for traveling. But frets are too sharp for me. And I generally don't like fretted basses. That's why I'm selling it again. Fretless is my love! ❤ Greetings and Happy Easter 🐰🦞🎸
Why oh why did they put that pickup at the bridge which doomed it to that thin sound? It would have sounded SO much better if they moved it three inches forward~
It’s a bit to awkward and plinky sounding. I’d move the pickup to center or even below the neck. Neck and tuners yes. The body needs to go back to the drawing board. Great review. Thanks for keeping it real and honest.
A one claw H.L.K. level rating is what I would give it on esthetics alone. I would rather pay the extra 80 to 200 dollars for a traveler bass. Maybe Hofner will get it right on their next gen?
Indeed. Even the steinberger didn't have it this bad though. Shaving off this much body definitely impacts functionality without improving portability that much IMO
I just saw a Spanish guy (I'm guessing, since it was in Spanish and he had kinduva Spanish accent) on the guitar and he used a sand-filled wrist or ankle weight right above the lower strap pin.
you got to use a strap with these shapes, it sounds good to me, if the action (which you neglect to even mention) is a good as the action on my shorty guitars, I want one, I live in a tiny council flat, with no spare rooms or storage spaces, so least is more on my planet, and it's very cheap, c'mon, let's see you play a Geddy Lee bass line with this, bet you it rocks
@@LowEndLobster I’m excited for this video you speak of, 🍿 I have only seen good reviews on the Jackson Minion, but there are not enough videos of it so this will be fun to watch. Cheers. 😎
Traveler bass would be better ergonomically and has a built in headphone amp. A bit more expensive new, but probably close in price to Hofner used. I have a video abut the Traveler on my channel.
Wow, a single pickup by the bridge has limited capability. Too bad I didn't know that before I bought a Stingray. And the problem with the no-body hand position is why Steinberger never sold a single bass guitar; except I guess, for mine. You're wrong. I own a Hofner shorty bass. I have no problem playing it sitting down with a strap, and the tone kicks when the amp is set properly. But hey, as they say, your mileage may vary. Apparently quite a bit when you're playing it.
You are too strict with the little one! 😉 After all, it is from Höfner, THE traditional company from Germany! The Builders of the Beatles Bass! 🎸 Almost a year ago I found a Höfner 165 from 1967 at our recycling yard! It was very well preserved. Barely had any scratches. only one pickup was dead. I paid €3.5 for it! And cleaned and oiled it a bit. And sold it for €275.😇 But I think it was too cheap. With you in the USA, people ask $1000 and more for it. well, over is over....😢 Greetings from good old Germany Tom
Hey Lobster, so this comment is TOTALLY unrelated to your review of this Hofner bass. BUT you should check out the Naughty Boy translucent "Armstrong meets Stingray bass" on Amazon right now for $310. Something tells me you might want to review it because it's new and I don't believe there are any other TH-camrs that have either seen it yet, or know about it. I've kind of learned a bit about your taste in basses, and think you will really find it interesting. I'm gonna pick one up w my Xmas bonus, other than the ridiculously heavy weight it's kind of one of the coolest looking bass guitars I've seen in a while, plus at that price it would be a killer platform for your type of upgrades. Lemme know if you find it as intriguing as I did when I stumbled across it the other day on Amazon. Cheers!
I own one,decent tone,bad playability but folks it weights like 2 kilos. For those bassists who have to play 4-5 hours in one night is a pretty usefull tool
Every time I see one of these I envision some hack modder who decided to re-sculpt a full size body, then kept nipping off more and more until they looked at it and said oh-oh!
These"things" are not so bad as you say. I own a shorty Guitar and a friend this Bass in white. Do you dont have a strap??? Why you dont try to play with a strap in the review? That isn't fair to these type of product! They arent playable in the right way without a strap. They are head-heavy even with a strap (costructionwise) but they are great for what they are. Other travellers starts at 5-600 €/$ and they are other concepts. 1/5 isnt fair for your type of "review". Sorry i like youre channel but this wasnt a real fair review!
Thanks Lucky! I think this is pretty fair as the overall quality and playability of the instrument is very much sub par. For $20 less you can get a Jackson Minion which has two pickups, is roughly the same length (I have both basses here), higher quality build, better hardware (appears to be same bridge), better electronics, and has a body that sits on the lap properly and is comfortable. I appreciate the feedback though!
@@LowEndLobster Thanx for your reply. Dont know the Jackson...i will check it. yes 200 is to much i agree. They are actually 159/169€ i think and at the time we bought our 2 they're Bass 149 and Guitar 129 Euro here in Germany. That was absolutely ok for the quality. BUT: No chance to play it right without a strap. My Point was the unmotivated "style" from your review without trying it with a strap. Anyway. Stay healthy and have a nice Holiday.
Regardless the ballance - it works better when you hold it like classic guitar with step under left leg. Here is my videos with this little guy: th-cam.com/video/VSLkPAqN3CE/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/RAXx3Kr40S4/w-d-xo.html
There are 10 guitars visible in the background. All those guitars, and you can't find one strap for the demo? Not a good review. I've had a Hofner Shorty for a few years, and play it at least once every week on stage, and have no issues with it at all. I did lower the strings just a bit, but it was a 5-minute job. No problem.
I appreciate the feedback. I don't wear a strap sitting down in any of my reviews for the sake of consistency and to not add any more variables (strap type and personal build can impact balance a lot). Of course I use a strap for a gig or jam scenario, but alas this is how I do my reviews. Those 10 basses in the background you mentioned all have no problem being played without a strap, so I think my criticism is pretty fair. Glad you're enjoying your shorty though!
It sounded a lot better than I expected it to sound. And who doesn’t desire a bass that is the same length as their arm???
Thanks Rev! hahah this is true, however turns out the Jackson Minion is the same length (I have one here) and is 20 bucks less
@@LowEndLobster - I tried a Jackson Minion in the local music shop. I don’t have the biggest hands, but boy was that think dinky!! I couldn’t play it.
Honestly I'd just much rather get a violin bass, it's roughly the same size and there's more comfort in playing
Well, I've had one of these for about a year now and use it as a travel bass. I really enjoy playing it but I appreciate its shortcomings. It does need a strap to stabalise it and is easier played standing rather than sitting but a strap can help fix that, even when playing it in your lap. It's also naturally neck heavy. The jack socket would be better placed on the front face and not on the arse end so if you're playing it in classical guitar pose, the jack plug isn't sticking into your thigh. Other than that, I love it as a go anywhere, chuck it in the car instrument. Each to their own I guess, but then I've bought it now so I have to like it.
Thanks JB!
All the guitarists are wondering "Why is he calling it 'little'?"
A headless design makes more sense to me in a travel bass. But then you need a fancy tuning system that would raise the price.
True, however the Jackson Minion is the same length (though shorter scale and fewer frets), and has all standard hardware, and is 20 bucks less ;P.
I have one of these, heavily modded. It comes with me when I'm adventuring away from home in my VW camper. It plays well enough, sounds surprisingly decent, and while the ergonomics aren't ideal it's still usable and is good fun. It's 100% better than not being able to practice at all for those of us that don't stay in hotels and simply don't have room for a full sized bass on our travels.
I think out of the box it doesn't sound half bad. I like the way it looks...almost medieval - I want this for my punk band. Put some blunt, metal knobs around the bottom edge and you have yourself a decent bludgeon for those extra rowdy fans. Change the strings and add a damn pickup in the middle - it can only get better. For comparison's sake, I currently use a 30" scale, Ibanez tmb30 for my classic rock band. Out of the box those Ibanez sound like sh**, had to put flatwounds, new pickups and tone controls just for it to be decent. The 30" scale is a breeze though and it looks the part for classic rock in cream colour but...still neck heavy and too large to be energetic with...just sayin'.
Despite your "meh" rating, I think some of the other comments beg to differ.
Good job on the presentation and I will "like" this video to rid you of the lobster hand !
Honestly, it sounded very good to me. It’s silly even to play it without a strap. And am I going to ship a new cheap bass to me everywhere I go? That’s a silly idea to me.
Stand up and play; the only way to practice
That's clearly not the case XD
Headless Mikro conversion for the win.
You're not making me not want to make that washburn hollow body with the busted headstock and perfect fingerboard into a very short scale jack cassidy
*headless Jack Cassidy
@@russellzauner I'm just saying that the Mikro is a perfectly good, inexpensive short scale that with equally inexpensive headless hardware would be a reliable travel bass.
You crazy... I like it ;P
@@LowEndLobster There is a TB'er with a Headless 5 string Mikro. He used the hipshot hardware which costs more than the bass but is very satisfied with the result. Gigged with it for years before Covid.
I bought one for the weird factor on stage. I rarely play sitting down, even when practicing, so that wasn't an issue for me. But, I got tired of the burpy sound that I had to manage with a Mole bass boost. One thing that helped was flats. I didn't hate it, but the novelty wore off fast.
As you pointed out, the first thing that came to me is ergonomics, especially while sitting. It would be easy to cause injury to wrist and shoulder. May be better if played standing with a strap.
Indeed, though even then the small body does not make it comfortable in terms of right arm position. Having a wider body would not sacrifice portability but increase comfort a lot.
I bought the white version off eBay for £89, which I was pleased about, I wouldn't pay much more for one. It definitely needs a strap to play it. The stock strings need changing, they're awful; once the strings are changed for decent short scale the bass sounds nice. It does great for easy travel & practice. I definitely agree that the pickup should have been placed in the middle of the body instead of near the bridge. Once these basses are setup correctly also with a strap added it plays well but takes a little getting used to with the neck dive. It isn't a beginner bass, it isn't the easiest bass to play. I feel the bass serves its purpose.
Thanks for your review.
Bless
Thanks! Any new videos forthcoming? 🙂😎
I'm a drummer who wants to start playing bass too..this one looks perfect for me!
It'll double as a drum stick ;P
Did you start? I started in January and am loving it. The drum background makes it so much easier than I thought it would be.
I could maybe take out the electronics on one of these and put on a Roland midi pickup, but idk if it’s even worth that. It does have 24 frets though.
Thanks! That's an idea, though I'd probably find a better platform for such guts
@@LowEndLobster true. The body probably isn’t big enough to fit the MIDI module either
I saw your post for this on Reverb, and I was allllmost going to order it. But I had a thought - "wait, Lobster is already listing a bass that has no video, and looks brand new. Maybe it wasn't all that good, I should wait". I'm glad I did, that little bass is cute but entirely gutless.
Thanks Alex! Funny enough, I actually had the "unlisted" video in the ad ;P. So folks unknowingly had a preview of this vid hahaha. I try not to post basses without the associated vids, and I definitely try to price things to move. Just sold for 100 shipped this morning ;P
My thought was it would get that lightish rock and roll bass that early Beatles I think had. I wonder what Hofner have in mind for it.?
And of course get to work with your effects rack and amp settings to get this to work probably
Great channel with excellent reviews
If you're looking at travel basses...or generally smaller basses with biiiigggg sound...I'd recommend having a look at a Kala Ubass.
I picked one up for £150ish about 2 years ago... Great space saver and brilliant, upright style, sound
Thanks Paul!
Enjoyed the video. I cant see the point, as if you were worried about travelling with a bass, then another short scale wouldn't be much bigger, and more comfortable to play?
Thanks Dave! Bingo! We're going to be checking some other short scale basses including one extremely suitable for Travel without being labeled as a "travel bass"- AND it's playable and comfortable and sounds great! Stay tuned :)
@@LowEndLobster Thanks, I will look forward to that.
One can’t properly play bass with non flannel pants. Flannel make the grooves softer and warmer. Pants are the new tone wood.
Wearin my tone pants XD
I can just see you trying the “look how small the box is.....and look at the tiny little bag....isn’t it cute, honey....”
“........sigh......yeh......real cute...”
Thank you for sharing and reminding me “travel basses are usually a bad idea”
Cheers
Thanks Tommy! We'll be looking at an awesome "travel" bass that's not marketed as such real soon :)
@@LowEndLobster AWESOME”!!!! One of those little beautiful basses?
Have a great day.
I agree that the tone is not great, I have a kramer 420s that I've been learning on that sounds better to me. I'm currently overseas and bought the shorty specifically for this deployment, as I've only been playing for a little over a year so taking 6 months off would set me back a bit. As mentioned by others, I rest the body between my legs like a banjo, angling the neck upward, it helps because it's so neck heavy...I probably didn't hate it quite as much as you because I'm such a noob, and don't have much to compare to, but I know exactly what you mean. It wants to slide off your leg and the neck wants to fall down and feels heavy. I've learned a few new songs on it, so I'm grateful for that, but I'll have yamaha bb434 waiting for me when I get home, so hopefully it sounds and plays better than my kramer. You did make the hofner sound pretty great though to be honest...I've only heard it through a vox headphone amp, and some cheap joyo 10w amp I ordered on Amazon, plus I'm not very good so it sounds extra bad. Price point I agree is pretty high for what you get, but I'll probably hang on to it.
I was curious about this particular bass. Not anymore. Thanks Lobster!
Thanks Michael! Glad you found this helpful :)
Wonder how it hangs on the strap. If it's anything like the spirt basses itll be terrible without the pivot thingy on the back.
I didn't even bother I was so bleh on this instrument hahaha. Honestly, if an instrument requires a strap to even play... it should come with one.
You're bound to have a strap somewhere? I always wear a strap, even sitting...
I honestly hate wearing a strap. I have several, but I usually test sitting down strapless ;)
@@LowEndLobster I played so many years standing that I would probably drop the bass without it even sitting. For me it's like driving a car without a seat belt, it feels like something is missing... I actually put the strap over my shoulder first thing before I ever pick up the bass. I use dunlop strap locks, if it matters
Lobsters don't wear straps?
Is that a short scale neck similar to a P Bass short scale? 30"?
There is a shorty version of the violin bass now with only one pickup in the neck position so maybe that’s a better option. I don’t like the position of this pickup too.
Nice honest review that we all need. Have you done a review on the viola bass?
I have not! That'd be an interesting one to do a comparison with as there are several manufacturers of cheap violin basses like Epiphone, Hofner, and Harley Benton
@@LowEndLobster I think people would be interested. My experience is very little just from trying them in stores, but I leaned toward the Epiphone for sure, even though it is heavier. Go for it man!
Now that you have jumped into to wee travel bass pond , are you considering a review of the traveler bass? They have a little headless P bass that although considerably more expensive, is quite a bit nicer than the Hofner. The traveler actually sounds and plays like a little precision with cool festures
Also, a little strip of sandpaper tape on the bottom might help it grip your leg to mitigate slippage, but probably not worth the effort
Thanks! Great question. I totally plan on checking those out in the future, though the next "travel" bass on the block isn't even marketed as one but is the same length roughly as the Hofner but MUCH more usable and playable (especially without a strap).
I've seen a really small travel bass by mayonnaise company or how ever its spelled that's super short but sounds amazing I'm trying to find out if it's more companies that make those small basses if you no of any can you list a few thanks Mr Lobster
Oh yeah! I saw those, they look interesting.
Have you seen vb Custom bass capella?
The Hofner Shorty doesn’t sound bad. I believe you made passing reference in this video to the Traveler TB-4P, a medium-scale P-style bass with a Mustang pickup with tuning gears recessed into the body. I bought it new for around $425 and I like it a lot.
Some of the discomfort and imbalance in playing the Hofner Shorty could possibly be alleviated by trying it with a strap.
Thanks Sam! IMO if an instrument needs a strap to even be playable, it should come with one. I think that the biggest issue is the lack of forearm support resulting in weird angles. Even with a strap, that issue would persist.
Would. You rather play a Fender mustang?
Yes.
@@LowEndLobster I heard that I did...
I always play sitting, this was illuminating, thanks!!
I use my Kala Journeyman as my travel bass. Paired with a Vox bass AP2-BS amp plug and ear buds. Not great for upper register stuff but it is still fun for those nights stuck in a hotel room. I also have a short scale oil can bass made by Bohemian Guitars that is a good travel instrument.
Thanks Billy! I briefly had a Kala and I agree that it's a much better travel instrument (mine was a hollow body and didn't need an amp).
Maybe playing it with the body in between the legs would have been better. I own a Traveller ultralight, and I find that is the only way to play it comfortably
I should try that, I don't think I've ever tried the spanish guitar style position honestly. Worst case I'll look silly ;P
Wish you tried it with a strap. It would have been a more complete review. The ergonomics might have been better with the strap stabilizing it, especially if you played it standing up.
what does Paul MaCartney think ?
I don't think he'd be seen playing this one hehe
I’d take a Jackson Minion over that any day of the week
Yup! This is a precursor to the minions ;P
Wow Sounds very good.😮
PS I’d like to swap my Music Man StingRay5 for a Hofner Shorty Bass??? My Bass is with the case, and brand new! I’ve never 😮used it!
Just bought it, but the NECK DIVE problem drives me crazy. How did you fix it?
By returning the bass hahah
@@LowEndLobster did you experience the same problem? lol
Yes, the bass is atrocious in all aspects. Balance, tone, ergonomics, playability
I like this bass, but I'm aware of its shortcomings. The neck is heavy even playing standing with a strap there's this imbalance issue, also I notice maybe the distance between strings is a wee bit too big and that small body feels weird at start, but I like the sound of it and I honestly didn't pay that much for it, I got it in China for about 500 RMB which is roughly 70 USD. Maybe it is an acceptable bass for that price, but of course not for 200 bucks!
Thanks a lot for your reviews. They are great. Should be interesting test if the hofner violin shorty its a better option. Also should be great the two traveler guitars basses they have.
Lobster: first of all I am loving your tee shirt. As they say "that's dope!" Lol. As to the bass, well I agree with the one claw rating. I was laughing when you first put it on your lap, you were by the facial expression: "Umm, where's the bass body? How am I supposed to use this thing?" Lmao. BTW, I loved that 3 way panel discussion you were on with Bully and Johnny Long. It was very cool 😎. Anyhow, great video review as always and catch you on the next one 🦞
Thanks Road King! :)
honestly, i was expecting it to not sound as decent as it did, reminds me of the steinbergers; take that as you will!
Thanks coolguy!
Yeah I think I'm sold.
Thanks Rusty!
You expect too much from this little instrument. It is what it is, as premised in your preamble, i.e. a travel bass for rehearsal on the road, to take on holidays, and something with which to have a bit of fun. If it doesn't fit your bill, stick with your Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacher or whatever is your poison, and put up with the travel headaches of full-scale instruments!
Thanks Clement. I understand what you're saying, but for the price I don't think it's a well executed instrument - travel or not. IMO the Jackson Minion is a superior instrument, similar in size, has two better sounding pickups, better ergonomics, and is $20-ish cheaper. I think there's too many concessions here in the name of portability that detract from the overall comfort and usability.
Hey lobster I have a question I am a TH-cam musician as well and I am trying to get a better sound quality on my bass guitar videos do you have any recommendations and what do you use to record your bass guitar
Hi Lj, I go from my amp's direct line out (amp is Orange Crush 50 BXT) straight into my focusrite. I don't use any effects or anything. I'll be doing a video on my signal chain and setup at some point :)
You have the focusrite interface I just purchased the irig it’s coming along but something better is coming soon but I’ll be checking out that video thanks for reaching out
Have you seen the new Hofner violin shorty bass? That one looks a lot more appealing to me than this one.
Nice review, you didn’t even tried it standing up. You know there are bass players that don’t play just in their bedroom. Now I have to search for another video on this bass.
Thanks! This is true, but I don't do any of my reviews with a strap or standing (but I do play with one when I'm gigging or whatever of course). IMO strap balance can be impacted by the type/quality of the strap as well as the build of the player. Lots of variables outside of the bass which I choose not to factor in my reviews. I do believe that an instrument should be able to be played without a strap. If one is required to even operate an instrument, I'd consider that a flaw considering mostly every other bass we've done a video on has no issue without one. Just my opinion though!
@@LowEndLobster that’s all true too, and the bass is most likely to be a diver, played stand up anyway. But , and this is my opinion, I get very much get the feeling that you do not like this bass from the moment you opened the bag. I mean, it’s your channel, right? But you show to much of your personal taste. Imagine a chef reviewing dishes, but he/she only likes meat and potatoes. Well that’s my perception anyway. Cheers.
That right hand position would throw me as well. I feel like the ibanez ehb is a better way to travel light.
I've seen people with steinberger guitars just throw them in the overhead locker on a flight. A dream for bassists....
Yeah, even the Steiny Spirit which I do not like is a better option than this. At least the little leg flap on the Spirit keeps the bass in place!
@@LowEndLobster Agreed. I'd totally have the Bootlegger if they were available more easily over here in the UK. Just don't want to get one and then find I don't like it. Do you have any thoughts on the Hofner Ignition, Lobster?
Traveler basses have always seemed odd to me in terms of build and design. Have you tried the Asbury traveler bass?
Thanks James! I have not, those are super super tiny lol
I understand this is a travel bass but do you think you could gig with it?
Thanks for this funny video. I love Hofner. Brilliant instruments.
LOL. number 3! 😂
I have the bass too.
However, I don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be. You can play quite well with a reasonable belt. Both sitting and standing
Of course you have to change your mind and get used to the strange design. Did you give him a second chance?
It's not bad for kids or for traveling.
But frets are too sharp for me.
And I generally don't like fretted basses.
That's why I'm selling it again. Fretless is my love! ❤
Greetings and Happy Easter
🐰🦞🎸
Please csn you tell me the precise dimensions of the bass ? Many thanks
Why oh why did they put that pickup at the bridge which doomed it to that thin sound? It would have sounded SO much better if they moved it three inches forward~
Agreed!... and maybe made the body like 15% bigger.
I have the money $$$ to purchase the Hofner Shorty Bass.. Where’s the best place to order my Bass from???
It’s a bit to awkward and plinky sounding. I’d move the pickup to center or even below the neck. Neck and tuners yes. The body needs to go back to the drawing board. Great review. Thanks for keeping it real and honest.
Thanks Rick!
Do you think this would take the bottom four of a Bass VI strings set to get that sound? Cheers
does the bag have shoulder straps?
I think it had one, but was not setup to be worn like a backpack from what I remember.
Great honest review. Would love to see a sandberg on the channel
Thanks Crayon! I think I'll be checking out an Electra line at some point in the new year.
@@LowEndLobster great stuff , keep the great videos coming
Only hofner I’ve played was a violin bass and I had a weird time with the ergonomics
Thanks SKNuts! Some have caught my eye, though I'm not really a fan of the beetle/beatle bass style for that very reason.
@@LowEndLobster yeah the club seems a lot more appealing to me
@@sknuts6429 Same! I've seen some interesting finishes drop from the cheap line recently too
A one claw H.L.K. level rating is what I would give it on esthetics alone.
I would rather pay the extra 80 to 200 dollars for a traveler bass.
Maybe Hofner will get it right on their next gen?
I wonder if they'll even do a next gen. Honestly, this isn't much smaller than a regular short scale.
That's the common issue for (almost) body-less guitars and basses.
Indeed. Even the steinberger didn't have it this bad though. Shaving off this much body definitely impacts functionality without improving portability that much IMO
Needs more weight to it and maybe a larger lower horn to make it more ergo. 🤷🏻♂️
Neat concept though
Indeed, they definitely trimmed off a little too much here
cool review! dont know how you managed to play a bass without the body but you made it work 🤷🏾♂️
I don't feel good about it ;P ahahahaha, so uncomfortable. Felt good to play a bass with a body afterwards
I'd love to see you do a review of the Bootlegger or a Westone Rail
do you sell a shirt like the one you are wearing in this video?
its adorable
Don't feed it after midnight
@@LowEndLobster 🤣
I just saw a Spanish guy (I'm guessing, since it was in Spanish and he had kinduva Spanish accent) on the guitar and he used a sand-filled wrist or ankle weight right above the lower strap pin.
I will stick with my Fender Player Series PJ Mustang Bass. ❤️
Thanks Willis! How do you like that Mustang? I've been wanting to have a peek at one of those
you got to use a strap with these shapes, it sounds good to me, if the action (which you neglect to even mention) is a good as the action on my shorty guitars, I want one, I live in a tiny council flat, with no spare rooms or storage spaces, so least is more on my planet, and it's very cheap, c'mon, let's see you play a Geddy Lee bass line with this, bet you it rocks
Thanks Rolla! Eh, I'm not a strap player. For the $200, there's a lot better out there. A loooot better.
So fetch a strap?? Then it's comfortable.
Kind of cool but awkward. Would rather a Jackson Minion bass for travel or a couch bass. ( and they come in purple! )
Agreed! They're the same length too, found that out after I shot this. Shooting minion vid tomorrow, will def do a size comparison.
@@LowEndLobster I’m excited for this video you speak of, 🍿 I have only seen good reviews on the Jackson Minion, but there are not enough videos of it so this will be fun to watch. Cheers. 😎
Video was good. But where do I get that shirt?
Yikes. Great review! Maybe check out Tiny Boy Bass? The name is silly, but I got the Precision bass model for my four year old and it is nice!
That name is silly, but sure!
Play it with a pick makes it so much more comfortable.
What bass is a good travel bass ?
Traveler bass would be better ergonomically and has a built in headphone amp. A bit more expensive new, but probably close in price to Hofner used. I have a video abut the Traveler on my channel.
Thanks Kevin! Do you still have your Traveler?
@@LowEndLobster I do not. The headless Ibanez does for me what I had the Traveler for.
It's small but anyone know how heavy it is?
Wow, a single pickup by the bridge has limited capability. Too bad I didn't know that before I bought a Stingray. And the problem with the no-body hand position is why Steinberger never sold a single bass guitar; except I guess, for mine.
You're wrong. I own a Hofner shorty bass. I have no problem playing it sitting down with a strap, and the tone kicks when the amp is set properly. But hey, as they say, your mileage may vary. Apparently quite a bit when you're playing it.
Well one claw isn't good, but one good thing is you didn't go psyber psychotic playing Cyberpunk!
XD yes I survived, inching my way through the game haha
Lobster 🦞 how about you put your magic touch on it ? Your upgrades are great..oh and play with a strap..💙👊😎
I put the magic into selling it quickly ;P. We'll be looking at a much more fun (and overall better) small instrument very soon.
Thks
You are too strict with the little one! 😉
After all, it is from Höfner, THE traditional company from Germany! The Builders of the Beatles Bass! 🎸
Almost a year ago I found a Höfner 165 from 1967 at our recycling yard!
It was very well preserved. Barely had any scratches. only one pickup was dead.
I paid €3.5 for it! And cleaned and oiled it a bit.
And sold it for €275.😇
But I think it was too cheap. With you in the USA, people ask $1000 and more for it.
well, over is over....😢
Greetings from good old Germany Tom
Hey Lobster, so this comment is TOTALLY unrelated to your review of this Hofner bass.
BUT you should check out the Naughty Boy translucent "Armstrong meets Stingray bass" on Amazon right now for $310.
Something tells me you might want to review it because it's new and I don't believe there are any other TH-camrs that have either seen it yet, or know about it.
I've kind of learned a bit about your taste in basses, and think you will really find it interesting.
I'm gonna pick one up w my Xmas bonus, other than the ridiculously heavy weight it's kind of one of the coolest looking bass guitars I've seen in a while, plus at that price it would be a killer platform for your type of upgrades.
Lemme know if you find it as intriguing as I did when I stumbled across it the other day on Amazon.
Cheers!
I'm down! Having trouble finding it. Email me a link! Channel name at gmail :). Thanks man!
Does. It have big Bass sound, tell the truth sounds knuckly though
We'll be looking at a much better small bass soon that has an even bigger sound :)
Certainly no more awkward to play than a Steinberger and it's less than half the price in the UK.
It's a bit more awkward! Steinberger at least has the mostly useless plastic fold out leg flap ;P
That was a Hofner Shorty guitar by the way
I own one,decent tone,bad playability but folks it weights like 2 kilos. For those bassists who have to play 4-5 hours in one night is a pretty usefull tool
Every time I see one of these I envision some hack modder who decided to re-sculpt a full size body, then kept nipping off more and more until they looked at it and said oh-oh!
They've designed a body so aerodynamic that it doesn't exist
It's bigger than I thought it would be...
Same length as my Jackson Minion and way less fun to play.
Crab ✌ a low end fiddle crustations,,,!
Thanks Paul!
These"things" are not so bad as you say. I own a shorty Guitar and a friend this Bass in white. Do you dont have a strap??? Why you dont try to play with a strap in the review? That isn't fair to these type of product! They arent playable in the right way without a strap. They are head-heavy even with a strap (costructionwise) but they are great for what they are. Other travellers starts at 5-600 €/$ and they are other concepts. 1/5 isnt fair for your type of "review". Sorry i like youre channel but this wasnt a real fair review!
Thanks Lucky! I think this is pretty fair as the overall quality and playability of the instrument is very much sub par. For $20 less you can get a Jackson Minion which has two pickups, is roughly the same length (I have both basses here), higher quality build, better hardware (appears to be same bridge), better electronics, and has a body that sits on the lap properly and is comfortable. I appreciate the feedback though!
@@LowEndLobster Thanx for your reply.
Dont know the Jackson...i will check it.
yes 200 is to much i agree. They are actually 159/169€ i think and at the time we bought our 2 they're Bass 149 and Guitar 129 Euro here in Germany. That was absolutely ok for the quality. BUT: No chance to play it right without a strap. My Point was the unmotivated "style" from your review without trying it with a strap. Anyway. Stay healthy and have a nice Holiday.
I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just get a strap and try it with the strap. at least see how it balances
Wish Ibanez would make a single pup Mikro.
Regardless the ballance - it works better when you hold it like classic guitar with step under left leg. Here is my videos with this little guy: th-cam.com/video/VSLkPAqN3CE/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/RAXx3Kr40S4/w-d-xo.html
Well, if I have to wear Richard Simmons shorts to make it stay on my leg that's prolly a no.
There are 10 guitars visible in the background. All those guitars, and you can't find one strap for the demo? Not a good review.
I've had a Hofner Shorty for a few years, and play it at least once every week on stage, and have no issues with it at all. I did lower the strings just a bit, but it was a 5-minute job. No problem.
I appreciate the feedback. I don't wear a strap sitting down in any of my reviews for the sake of consistency and to not add any more variables (strap type and personal build can impact balance a lot). Of course I use a strap for a gig or jam scenario, but alas this is how I do my reviews. Those 10 basses in the background you mentioned all have no problem being played without a strap, so I think my criticism is pretty fair. Glad you're enjoying your shorty though!
@@LowEndLobster I guess you don't have many Ovations, huh?
@@JoelBrothers Borrowed a Ovation Magnum once in high school and played a few acoustics, but never owned one personally.
I dunno... Travel bass and not even headless? Why?
I don't think a travel bass needs to be headless, however this one definitely made to many sacrifices IMO