i posted about this a long while ago on another forum:

http://www.bodybridge.com/

i can't seem to figure out how to post a pic with this mac i'm on, but regardless, this little doohickey is pretty cool. it's a cushioned arch you lie on that lets your back slowly stretch.

i tried it and like it much more than inversion machines, which seemed to pull my knees. also like it over those giant body ball things, which i think pose some safety hazards for the less equilibrium minded amongst us.

bodybridge looks slightly torturous, but feels great.

i love a good back stretch!

You could do the same thing with a bigger $30 swiss ball and use the rest of the money to by a new cymbal or two, plus you could use it as the occassional chair to improve you posture. Better yet, work yourself into learning a wrestler's back bridge (face up, feet flat or on toes, resting on hands advancing to forehead), which will exponentially improve your back and neck strength and flexibility.  And we all need a strong back lest we fall off our thrones in the middle of that 20 minute drum solo