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Post subject: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:56 am
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On the early 50's-60's Fenders, they have the thumb rest at the bottom of the G string. What purpose does it serve? On the 70's and later they have either it above the E string, which I understand why, a place for your thumb, but at the bottom of the G string you can't really play. Can someone enlighten me as to why the original thumbrests were in such a weird spot?
Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:17 am
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wferguson wrote:
On the early 50's-60's Fenders, they have the thumb rest at the bottom of the G string. What purpose does it serve? On the 70's and later they have either it above the E string, which I understand why, a place for your thumb, but at the bottom of the G string you can't really play. Can someone enlighten me as to why the original thumbrests were in such a weird spot?
Thanks


there were plenty of bassists playing with their thumb while hooking the fingers on this rest, therefore the the naming seems not to be quite correct; but fender also named his strat-whammy "tremolo" (should be called "vibrato") and brought up some reversed tuning-pegs on his early basses (kinda strange :wink: )... only leo knows why, we'll ask him in heaven. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:25 am
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Gibson also had a "tug bar" on the early EB0 basses for the player using his thumb.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:44 am
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Thanks for answering that! To me it's kind of weird to play with my thumb, just my personal style I guess. No to answer your question, the reason the tuners were reversed was because Leo actually took them off bass violins. Fender being the maverick he was, no one made electric bass tuners, well because there were no electric basses! On my violin bass, the tuners are reversed, so that's why the early tuners are like that.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:48 am
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wferguson wrote:
Thanks for answering that! To me it's kind of weird to play with my thumb, just my personal style I guess. No to answer your question, the reason the tuners were reversed was because Leo actually took them off bass violins. Fender being the maverick he was, no one made electric bass tuners, well because there were no electric basses! On my violin bass, the tuners are reversed, so that's why the early tuners are like that.


one thing leads to another... thanks for sharing. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:36 am
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Did I miss something about tuners ? I personally like how the original "reverse" tuners looked but thats where my love affair ends,I have owned a few Japanese re-issues with them along with couple of sets so cheap I could'nt pass'em up.
But as far as fit and function the were well constructed but not even one set of them turned smoothly,they always seemed to be just a tiny bit too tight for my taste,they stayed in tune and looked badass but even after lubing'em up and with wear and tear of contant use they stayed tight,some were worse than others (barely wanting to turn)but it was a enough of a turn off that I never used them again.
And L.H.Blow nailed it,the thumb-rest in the Original below the string mounting was probably more of a just not knowing any better type of feature,the bass was'nt old enuff yet(available to the public) they had nothing else to compar it too.
Now it seems completely obsolete in use,they now only come with a select few(and expensive I may add)highend vintage re-issue models,but leave it too old faithful; Fender Japan to offer way more than their share of basses which come with a thumbrest from the factory,I cannot even go on their site without getting teary eyed :(
Adam :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:00 am
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lawsuitbass wrote:
Did I miss something about tuners ? I personally like how the original "reverse" tuners looked but thats where my love affair ends...

...And L.H.Blow nailed it,the thumb-rest in the Original below the string mounting was probably more of a just not knowing any better type of feature,the bass was'nt old enuff yet(available to the public) they had nothing else to compar it too.


as far as i remember my '62 preci also had reverse tuners. leo never dropped a tiny little screw, so he used stuff laying around in his stocks...

...and he wasn't faultless (despite his genius), i can't imagine a high demand on lower-mounted finger-rests, but i guess him rather conservative in this period, so he just left the part as it was till the '70s (which was cbs anyway).
(interesting theme, btw :mrgreen: )

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:18 am
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lawsuitbass wrote:
Did I miss something about tuners ? I personally like how the original "reverse" tuners looked but thats where my love affair ends,I have owned a few Japanese re-issues with them along with couple of sets so cheap I could'nt pass'em up.
But as far as fit and function the were well constructed but not even one set of them turned smoothly,they always seemed to be just a tiny bit too tight for my taste,they stayed in tune and looked badass but even after lubing'em up and with wear and tear of contant use they stayed tight,some were worse than others (barely wanting to turn)but it was a enough of a turn off that I never used them again.
Adam :mrgreen:

AMEN!!! My '64 Precision has its original tuners, put new strings on it the other day, and man! The G tuner only wanted to turn twice, before it locks up, kind of like locking tuners, except it locks too soon! Planning on getting some vintage reissues, looks old but performs ALOT better! And I could relate this to how vintage is not always better.....

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:03 am
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Fender Thumbrest! It does anything you want it to do. It slices, it dices, it minces it chops!

Actually it's a remembrance from a bygone age. I like the retro look because I came from that era. When I bought new basses, they had thumbrests, pickup covers and bridge covers.

I personally like the look and the way I play they don't get in the way.

Two out of three have both on them and the third will get them, as well as new knobs soon.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:43 am
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When Leo Fender placed the finger rest (which he called a tug bar) originally below the G string he did it because it was his belief the instrument would be played with the thumb. Many players back then, if not most, did thumb-it or pick-it. Styles of play evolved and by the mid 60's finger style was catching on quickly. This was the same time CBS bought out Fender. CBS would move the tug-bar above the E-string to make it a thumb-rest as finger style was becoming the predominant method of play. I've seen lots of modified instruments with two rests installed and others where the rest was moved or removed all together.

On a Precision a commonly used but unintentional thumb rest is the top pickup cover.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:33 am
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+ Again. Good call BD.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:56 pm
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I'm not much of a bass player, mostly 6 strings but when I pick up a bass I naturally use my thumb or a pick. It feels weird to me to finger pick, I have to force myself to do it.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:42 pm
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THUMBREST ? WHAT DOES IT DO ? Better yet,What Does'nt it do ? Sorry... there's actaually quit a bit it does'nt do,I'll go sit down now and think about what I just said,Again I am Tru :oops: ly sorry

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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:43 pm
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where can i get one because i want to put one on my squire jazz for style * style *


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Post subject: Re: Fender Thumbrest, what does it do?
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:51 pm
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aceysboy wrote:
where can i get one because i want to put one on my squire jazz for style * style *


you better ask on the jazz bass-forum, we're only in for precis... :mrgreen:

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