Höfner Shorty Bass Root Beer
Professional music gear - detailed information and where to buy
The Höfner Shorty Root Beer is a fantastic, budget-friendly option for players seeking a compact, vintage-voiced bass. Its short scale makes it a breeze to handle, and the single humbucker delivers a seriously punchy, growly tone perfect for classic rock, Motown, and blues. It's a great starter bass, or a fun, quirky addition to a seasoned player's collection.
Product Description
- Höfner Shorty Bass Root Beer
- Electric Bass
- 80s Classic
- Body: Basswood
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Jatoba
- Frets: 24
- Nut width: 43 mm
- Scale: 76 cm (short scale 30")
- Total length: 97.5 cm
- Pickup: 1 humbucker
- Controls: Volume and tone
- Colour: Root Beer
- Includes gig bag
PROS
- • Basswood body provides a surprisingly resonant and warm tonal foundation.
- • Jatoba fingerboard offers a smooth playing experience with good durability.
- • Short 30” scale makes it incredibly easy to play, especially for beginners or smaller hands.
- • Humbucker pickup delivers a thick, growly tone ideal for rock and Motown.
CONS
- • Basswood, while warm, isn't the most tonally complex body wood available.
- • Single humbucker limits tonal versatility compared to basses with multiple pickups.
- • Short scale can feel a little floppy for experienced players used to longer scales.
- • Gig bag is basic; a hard case is recommended for protection.
Product Video
Key Features
Body Material
Basswood
Neck Material
Maple
Fingerboard
Jatoba
Pickups
1 x Humbucker (likely a Hofner custom design)
Scale Length
76 cm (30 inches)
Frets
24
Strings
Nickel-plated steel (likely .045-.105 gauge)
Weight
Approximately 8.5 lbs (3.9 kg)
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Root Beer finish itself doesn't directly impact the tone; it's a cosmetic treatment. However, the lacquer thickness might slightly alter the resonance compared to an unfinished body, but the effect is minimal.
The neck profile is a standard 'C' shape, which is generally comfortable. However, the short scale might feel cramped for those with very large hands, making stretching chords slightly more challenging.
While sharing the Hofner DNA, the Shorty’s shorter scale results in a slightly more compressed, punchier tone, lacking some of the extended low-end resonance of a full-size Violin bass.
