ezietsman wrote
Rene, I think you need to take a close look to some cellos next time you get the chance. In terms of playability (compared to an electric guitar) those things are horrendous. The strings are very high off the fingerboard when you get to the upper registers and it is common for the cellists (I personally know two very good ones) to press the strings down with their left thumb before 'fretting' (they call it fingering) the notes.
It's the same (at least) with a double bass - though I think the strings are nylon or nylon core and so there's some compensation there.
As I will happily bore anybody with the telling, I once stood in a club in Wolverhampton about 3 meters away from Danny Thompson. I could see those big strings and that high action. I remember how nimble a player he was (and still is). And in particular I remember his making a barre (one finger, none of that using the middle finger for help) and running it up and down the neck of that double bass with utter ease, not to mention at speed and with great accuracy. Generally his performance was mind blowing, but I was particularly impressed by the physical aspect of what he was doing.
Good cello and double bass players have amazing technique and, I would think, considerable left hand strength.
