Is there there Renaissance instruments that deserved obselescence more so than the family of Viole da gamba?

Question

Gut strings that go quickly out of tune, gut frets that slide up the neck, an unknurled bow which requires the player to control the dynamics with a finger on the bowstrings, a bridge low enough to make it easy to play 4 or 5 strings at once but tricky to play on just one, a bowing techniques that requires the player to rotate the instrument into the bow to reach some of the strings while supporting the instrument with the knees-I mean, does anything sound more awkward to play? I gave up when I started to develop tendinitis from all the awkward body positions required to play them in a traditional manner.

Answer 1

More sackbutt!!

Answer 2

I'll vote for the krumhorn. You can't change the dynamic without changing the pitch. It's closest modern equivalent is the kazoo.