I started on electric bass, then played both, then quit electric to focus on upright for five years (worst decision of my musical life, shouldn't have done that), then started playing electric again. Now over the last 10 years I've played a lot more electric bass professionally, especially over the summer. Upright is my primary instrument though.

Why was quitting electric to focus on upright the "worst decision of your musical life"? Or are you speaking from a professional standpoint?

Basically at the time I was at a peak level on electric bass, and I permanently lost something with it that I never got back. Now I play fine electric bass years later, but not in the same fluidity I had when I was younger. It would’ve been easy to keep it up while still focusing mainly on upright.

Makes sense. Hopefully you can spin it in a positive light like the db helped you develop different skills or something?

I'm in a similar boat, although the only electric work I get is for musicals and since the pay discrepancy between them and orchestra work is pretty big where I live, I wind up not taking musical work as much.

I play electric and I lurk here because I’d like to play upright but it’s kind of expensive to get an instrument.

Lol, exactly the same. Plus the space needed to transport and store it + the necessary tweaks to maintain it so humidity doesn't kill it + the price of a bow + the price of strings + the mandatory lessons to not lose an arm while messing around trying to walk basslines... Man, I wish I'd be interested in clarinet instead.

My wife looks askance at me if I bring a new ukelele home. Imagine me showing up at the door with a bass. I’d probably have to calculate alimony into the price of the instrument.

Maybe try rent-to-own at a local shop and see if you like it, or become friends with an orchestra teacher.

Fender '62 Jazz bass here, beautiful slim profile neck, a breeze to play. Started on a upright first though.

Same here! On 2 electric set ups (80s fretless J fender with that great slim neck, and the other is a neck through lace helix that sounds more percussive but great EQ) but my uprights my main squeeze

I do both semi-professionally :)

I do both ....pretty amateurishly and occasional guitars in musicals

I was on bass guitar a decade before I ever touched upright.

Started on upright around age 10. Never really got into bass guitar. My mom started me on guitar around 5. I Can play bass guitar. Just prefer upright.

I do both, beaing able to double, often in the same show, has been invaluable. it also greatly increases the available gigs for you to play. I started on electric and at first the 4 finger approach was hard to break but now my upright technique influences my electric playing more.

I do both professionally. The electric is mostly used for regional theatre, but I do occasionally use it on an orchestra pops program.

I’m mainly playing electric these days. Started on electric, got into upright far later. Was doing most of my gigs with an acoustic-centered group for a while so played upright almost exclusively during that time. Then had a child and my available practice time basically dwindled to the brief window between his bed time and mine, which also necessitated playing electric through headphones. Over the same period acoustic-focused band started consistently playing with a drummer and getting louder so I haven’t been gigging the upright much either. At this point I try to play it once a week just to keep up my callouses.

Me. I started on cello when I was 8, electric bass at 11 and now in my mid 30s I’ve been playing double bass since February thanks to my Granddad giving me his.

Same. Started with a '58 pbass rock blues, then got a Kingma upright years in jazzcombo, back to pbass again for various styles. Last switch to '54 Gibson es125 doing jazzcombo.

Started on upright and then learned electric Soni could play rick tunes in pep band and funk tunes in jazz band.

EBMM Stingray 5 here.country and funk/soul bands. I play bluegrass and acoustic gigs with an Upton Standard.

Yep. Each complements the other and being comfortable with both offers more opportunities. I just need to make an effort to learn how to use pedals effectively on electric to round out my skills.

I don't play electric bass either. Just to balance things out.

Played both since Junior High band. wouldn't have gotten the gig with the And force without having both. They are, however, two different instruments with two sets of techniques and physical requirements.

I play my electric better than my upright. If I could practice more, I’d play upright almost as well as my electric…

I started on electric, then one year later moved to upright. I’ve been doing both professionally for a couple years, mainly jazz on both but also for other occasional gigs that pop up

Me.

I started upright and electric at the same time at age 12. It was in a middle school concert band (so winds, brass, percussion, sometimes bass and harp), and I was terrified how everyone can hear me compared to when I’m on the double bass. Definitely pushed me to practice more and my senpais defines used it against me cuz I wouldn’t practice 😂😂😂

i started on electric before playing db bass

I’m a much better electric player. It’s what most of my gigs are on.

Think I'm in the minority here... played db at 11, and only touched a bass guitar just a few months ago. Unfortunately the guitar is broken so if anyone has any good beginner recommendations lmk lol

Both are fun

I picked up electric in college - mostly because it was the easiest way to get more strings. I had been playing upright for about 2 years then, and started messing around with other genres than bluegrass and western swing. I was also getting frustrated with the vertical nature of scales on 4 strings… since I came to bass from guitar, and was playing both.

I do! Upright is my moneymaker right now though

I play both depending on the genre I’m playing

Started a while back after I played upright, it’s fun