So much of it depends on having a well fitted instrument and good mechanics from the beginning.

I'd almost given up on bass after about 6 months of never being able to play for more than 20 minutes at a time, and it not sounding the way I wanted it too.

Then I got new strings and with pointers (and loaner tools) from a luthier friend, got the action where it worked for me. Now playing is one of the ways I work out the cramps from sitting at the dayjob.

Clearly he’s not the only one, but I used to see him around the Bay Area from time to time

Consider guitar. Much more forgiving than cello.

• Right upper extremity radicular symptoms in a C6, C7 distribution

• Loss of cervical lordosis
  C2-C3 anterolisthesis, mobility with flexion extension, 2.6 mm

• Loss of lumbar lordosis

• C5-C6 large left central, foraminal extrusion compressing the exiting left C6 nerve root. Right foraminal protrusion. Bilateral uncovertebral spurring. Moderate right and moderate to severe left foraminal stenosis.

That's (some of) what I already have, violin or none. ​

I had a friend who was convinced all the bad attitudes we saw from violin players came from them always having a tension headache and cramped neck.

The bass means you'll have your left hand up at shoulder level a lot, and bowing is a full right arm movement. If you're like me, you'll also be standing the whole time. I know people who can play upright while sitting, but I'm not one of them.

The cello takes less arm swing, and the left arm doesn't need to come up as high.

Depending on strings, style, and setup, the bass can require a lot more left hand strength, and if you're doing a lot of thumping/slapping pizz without amplification (think bluegrass) right hand too.

There are some rental options, but they tend to either be very badly maintained student instruments, or very expensive rentals with very expensive mandatory insurance.

Either way, you're going to get something that doesn't fit you as well as your own instrument.

For a while I was regularly traveling from Dallas to Chicago and Phoenix. I wanted to play in the Chicago and Phoenix sessions. The cheapest, best option was to find beater basses and set them up with new strings and a little love.

I got the one in Phoenix for free. Like pianos, a lot of people inherit them and leave it in the corner.

With proper tetris skills, I've gotten mains, monitors, soundboard, mics & stands, and an upright bass in a hyundai accent hatchback.

The passenger just has to accept the neck of the bass as an armrest.

So the fastback/FWD configuration actually does have at least one advantage.  Huh.

No apologies. I know lots of great musicians who love their stick bass. And the really good ones make very good sound. The really good ones cost quite a bit, and still don't quite do it for me.

Of course, it's different for those lucky few bassists that have a fixed position in an orchestra.

His use of chorus and delay, along with loopback is enjoyable.

With around 250 to 300 hrs of more work I could join him on my electric bass.