The worst neckdive ever on a Hofner Shorty Deluxe Black Travel Guitar

[@TheTwangKings]

With this guitar, you need to understand how to balance it. You need to wear it higher (than shown in the video - like jazz guitarists), and angle the neck up a little - like jazz guitarists do. Then you can hold it down with the right hand resting on it. No problem once you get the strap length right. I've been playing it for years, and have gotten to love the little guitar. The neck feels great, and I love the tuneable wraparound bridge - that's some nice German engineering! And it really sings.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thats a good tip, but having to hold it down with the right hand is limiting for a lot of people including me.

[@TheTwangKings]

​@@GeorgeVGuitars Yes, I admit it's an acquired taste - not natural... at first. But if you really like the guitar, you'll get used to it. And if your technique doesn't include right arm movement, only wrist, you're fine.

[@imaginableAudio]

Well can't you just attach a mini counter weight at the bottom of the body? It seems like an easy fix.

[@TheTwangKings]

​@@imaginableAudio It would take a significant amount of weight to counterbalance the neck. It would look really funny with a brick hanging off the bottom end, LOL.

[@imaginableAudio]

@@TheTwangKings you can attach a divers mini counter weights to the end of a guitar strap. Also, is the neck dive really bad?

[@Cliffolaus]

Very good, informative and detailed review! 👏👏👍 I'm surprised nobody here has mentioned the Steinberger Spirit. I was looking at both of these (online) and ended up getting the Steinberg. Not real crazy about the Tremlo bridge, but i pretty much fixed that by wedging it in with a couple of picks. No more tuning issues! I've had this now for about 5-6 years and absolutely LOVE IT!!! The only other thing I don't really like is the 3 Pickups. 2 would've been fine. But I can live with it! Great sounding, very solid little guitar, nice action and so much fun to play!

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you. I have to try one

[@ChristosNikolisOfficial]

Hi! Nice review :-) I have a question. In 9:34 you say: “The 3-way switch is too close to the tone pot, rendering both useless.” May I ask why you say that - is it because from an electronic circuit efficiency perspective they should’ve been further away, or is it because of ergonomics (you end up messing the tone while trying to switch) ?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Ergonomics. Switches and knobs need to be operated fast, without having to look at them or manipulate them with finger tips.

[@timalderton7234]

The balance is a problem. For its main use of practice when travelling though, attach a strap to the rear button only, passing it under your legs and sit on it. This holds the body down rather than trying to hold the neck up. For standing use, a headstock lace as used for acoustics works pretty well, if not very rock and roll. The sound and quality are remarkable for its cost; another £25 for a plug amp with some basic modelling and an input jack, and you're good to go! Anywhere.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Well said 👀

[@TheTwangKings]

No problem, once you get the strap length and angle right.

[@jeromewagschal9485]

That is cool 🙂 I own two original Shorties from the 80's and 4 Chinese reissues, the Chinese models have been completely customized and I love them... I didn't think much of the two-humbucker model because the absence of a neck pickup makes it sound louder ( no magnet pull where the strings resonate the most ) but after your excellent video I might get one 🙂🙂 Thanks 👍👍

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Nice :>

[@JeffreyNeilFuertes]

If I may suggest, tie the strap to the head stock. Just like the acoustic guitar where the strap is tied pn the head stock using a shoe lace. Be resourceful, find ways to adopt.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I mentioned that in the video ;)

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I would not have thought the Shorty Deluxe would’ve been top-heavy with the extra pickup included in it. The regular one with only one pickup, more likely. Shouldn’t the presence of the neck pickup influence the body weight? My Traveler Guitar TravelCaster hasn’t got this issue, although its body is more like that of a Stratocaster with everything surrounding the scratch plate cut away. My current Telecaster model is also prone to frequent neck dive. That’s because the body is extra light due to semi-hollow chambering with the neck being a standard Tele neck further encumbered by an extra string retainer. I’ve currently got a canvas strap attached to it that helps hold it in place. I thought about getting a studded dog collar-style strap instead.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah it was almost unplayable :/

[@fledglingcovers9639]

Hey George, Nice meeting you a couple weeks back and great review of my Shorty. thanks also for the service and restring. if you get a chance check out my covers channel.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Nice meeting you too. I have subscribed to your channel, keep the good covers coming! 🎶

[@garyhillard9308]

Great review! Why not just move the strap button onto the back of the peg head?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Its not enough, the neck is massive compared to the body. Needs a tie around the nut, like an acoustic.

[@TheTwangKings]

@@GeorgeVGuitars read my comment, I figured out how to get around the problem.

[@markorollo.]

i'm thinking of getting one of these, with a boss katana mini amp, but theres a problem, as a wheelchair user with a short torso i cant play a full size guitar, so thats why im looking to get this guitar, id like to try it first before buying but cant find one locally to me in store anywhere!! im sure i will sometime.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Just make sure you deal with the strap situation. Tie it around the nut and you are going to be fine I think. Other than the awful balance, it felt like a good guitar especially for how affordable it is.

[@bigbasil1908]

I have a boss katana mini. Great little amp.

[@vladkorotkevich332]

thx for such a detailed review. Considered buying this, but the thing that I should be holding the neck all the time will drive me crazy. Maybe applying additional weight to the body would solve this but arghhh))

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Nah, Vlad, not unless you stick a 5kg dumbbell on it. Only a thick leather strap wrapped around the nut will cure this.

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

It's used as a couch guitar for me so don't bother with a strap

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah but it dives regardless

[@billmartyn-smith1364]

All neck no body what do you expect my friend solved the problem by adding a small counter weight to the back his strap.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

A proper position of the strap button is what I expect. They should have put it on the back of the headstock :>>

[@bigbasil1908]

@@GeorgeVGuitars The thing is there's not really room. If you put it beneath the tuners the screw is gonna go through to the truss rod pocket. if you put it higher up between the tuners the strap is going to be folding in at the edges because there's not enough room for it. I have a shorty deluxe in my hands right now. You could put it above to tuners but then that's gonna look weird and might get in the way of the tuners if you need to quickly tune it. Maybe nickel humbucker covers would help balance it, and maybe even make up a brass plate pickguard. These deluxes seem to be a bit better balanced than the single pickup CT models (I have a couple of those too, one recent and the other one of the early chinese made shorties).

[@By-Guitars-Music]

You don't have time to put a rope round the neck on the strap ??? What?? Is a travel guitar smaller 🤔... what we expect ... I got the deluxe in my car hotel fun. Iam happy .. changed pick up for a Wilkinson sg vintage pickup .. I like it .. but great video ... good job ...

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

@@By-Guitars-Music I had 2 hours with this guitar and had to fix a pockup hight issue/record a review. You do the math ;)

[@jeebak]

Speaking of headless... I've thought about getting one, and replacing the bridge with something like the Guyker headless bridge, and cutting off the headstock, but I haven't found a used one cheap enough. I have plans to do this on my Ibanez Mikro (I found a used one cheap enough for me,) and maybe cutting the body like the Traveler Travelcaster.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah, that might work 🤟🏻

[@jeebak]

Indeed! I've also seen people DIY-ing a strap hook extensions like the old Steinberger's had. I think they extended it to around where the 12th fret is, but of course the location on a Hofner Shorty may be different based on its center of gravity.

[@vloggingismyhobby]

Which is Better in over all Especially in Tone? This Guitar or Samick JTR Veronica ?🤔

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Unfortunately I haven't tried the Veronica. But the Veronica definitely looks cooler 👀

[@leashguillermo8412]

Sr. Can you give me idea were i can buy . Im from philippines .

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Reverb.com and ebay

[@Dave_mitchz]

Someone is selling this on lazada in the Philippines

[@GitzenShiggles]

If this is a post-set up guitar, why is it out of tune?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Because it is a travel short scale guitar. Its alays out of tune 🤣

[@wyattarledge490]

Sounds good

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Suprisingly yes

[@Dave062YT]

I've just bought one of these in red.Im going to tie the strap to the headstock l.im sure that will be a big help countering neck dive .

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Lets hope you counter it

[@Dave062YT]

@@GeorgeVGuitars It does .plays great no neck dive .

[@TKevinBlanc]

Basswood is soft and light, which contributes to the neck dive. A black "bone" nut? Doubtful.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I said "molded" ;)

[@bigbasil1908]

Horn maybe, but looking at mine, it's got to be plastic.

[@deandee8082]

well ya obviously its all neck, you need to wear a strap with it or hold it in a manner it doesn't dive

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

well yeah :>

[@perroloco2395]

for this money you cant expect a better neckdrive, its all about budget and travelling

[@IHSisable]

justmake it a lapguitar

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Uuuhm, no 😳

[@mamati8439]

🙄

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

👀