I had a Hofner violin bass in the early seventies (nineteen seventies not eighteen seventies before anyone asks).
The neck was long and thin and lacked stability, a bit of a struggle to live with, so I sold it. The tone wasn't that brilliant either. Always wondered how Macca did so well with it.
Wish I still had it now though having seen the prices but i guess that's a common feeling amongst old muso's who traded quite a few instruments in those days.