Höfner Shorty Violin Bass BK

It might look cool, but that’s where most of the positives end. The neck is thick, bulky, and has an awkward drop, making it uncomfortable to play for extended periods. The pickup is noisy and the overall sound is overly bright and crackling, lacking the warmth you’d expect from a Höfner bass.

While the build is solid, it doesn’t make up for the poor playability and sound. It’s a cheap option, and it feels that way too, both in terms of comfort and performance. If you’re up to spending a couple more bucks doing some modifications, it could be turned into something decent though, but out of the box, it's just not a great bass.