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Post subject: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:31 am
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Just being curious:

I'm no bassist but I have one which I use for my own recordings because I don't like programmed basslines. So I play them myself.

I don't have much experience with basses and I always wondered, why thumb rests often are installed UNDER the strings instead of above the strings???

I mean, I either play with pick or I use my finger tips. When I use my finger tips, the thumb rest should be above the strings so that I can rest my thumb on it while picking with the other fingers.

I have a Mexican Preci and the thumb rest was mounted to the pickguard under(!) the strings! :roll:
Same with the partially visible bass left of my Preci, which I have sold already a while ago.
Doesn't make sense to me!See holes of removed thumb rest on pic:

Image

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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:54 pm
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The thumb rest was put below the strings at the beginning. the idea was that bass players would use it while using their thumb to play. later on the thumb rest was moved to the top, as it really wasn't functional. I just like the retro look.


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:56 pm
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When Leo Fender designed the electric Bass, he believed that the player would strum the strings with the thumb. Players decided that finger style or picks were more usable and that negated the 'tug bar' underneath the strings.

Beaten to the punch!

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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:55 pm
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I see!

Thank you very much for the replies! :)

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:18 pm
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Agree with what Seizure and Loxfan said. It also makes a good place for your chewing gum if you have to sing.


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:26 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Agree with what Seizure and Loxfan said. It also makes a good place for your chewing gum if you have to sing.


:lol:

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:44 pm
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They are all wrong !!!!! The thumbrest is from Vontar Sector 7 in the Barzan Star Cluster. 31. 007611 light years from Earth.


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:23 pm
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Later in the 70s it was put above the strings then later has been taken of.

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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:30 pm
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Here's a shot of one of each:

Image

I actually used the tug bar on the red one (Duck Dunn Signature) the other day while playing notes with my thumb! I don't use the one on the white one ('70s P) that much - tempted to take it off but we'll see...

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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:06 am
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As unexperienced as I am with playing bass, I certainly would prefer the right version (the white bass) or no thumb rest at all.

I only play simple bass lines in my recordings due to lack of practice and experience.
If I use my thumb on any of the strings, I usually rest my other fingers on the higher strings.

Thank you for all your answers and insight, guys!
Appreciate your help. :)

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:33 pm
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As mentioned elsewhere here over the years, all 8 of my Fender, Cort and Ibanez basses have had the thumb rest mounted in the upper location, adjacent to the E or B string and close to the base of the neck. I learned a long time ago to NOT anchor my right thumb on the top of the pickups because that force can eventually tear the pickup mounting screws loose. I also do not anchor to the top most string (E or B) because, especially while recording, that very slight noise generated by the thumb resting on or releasing from the top string drives sound engineers up the wall. These two symptoms are eliminated by using a thumb rest as shown in a photo in this thread of the white bass with the black pickguard.

Everyone has their own style, and no one way is right for everyone, but for clean sound without popping and to keep the pickups in place, the high mount rest works for me.

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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:12 pm
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PaducahLuke wrote:

Everyone has their own style, and no one way is right for everyone, but for clean sound without popping and to keep the pickups in place, the high mount rest works for me.


Good advice for a beginner bass player like me, thanx!
Even though they look and feel so similar, bass and guitar are waaaayyyy different.

Looking forward to find a bass player for my band so I can concentrate on my guitars again, when recording. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:18 pm
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Having the thumb rest on the bottom is just for the vintage look of it for me. I like the way it looks. It calls attention to the bass. If I go see a band and the bassist has the thumb rest on the bottom it peaks my interest to decide if I think the bass is a real vintage instrument or if it (thumb rest) has just been put there for looks. It's kind of the same when I see a t-rest on top. I have 70's era basses that have both over and under and the mounting of t-rests seems to always be in the exact same place on the guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:54 pm
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Hi, Stroker - For right handed basses, the instructions that are packed with most standard sized thumb rests 'suggest' that the pick guard screw closest to the neck pickup be used for the right thumb rest screw location and a new 1/16 inch hole 3/8 inch deep should be marked through the left thumb rest screw hole and drilled through the pickguard. That places the thumb rest on P-Basses and J-basses WITH a pick guard, at a slight angle to the strings. On basses that do not have a pick guard, the mounting can become a little more flexible. On my 1986 Power Jazz Bass Special, I have it mounted completely parallel to the strings, 1/2 inch above the 'E' string. My thumb anchors at the left end of all my thumb rests, so the angled rest or the parallel rest positioning makes little difference to me.

I have also installed a 'Thumb-Tug Anti-Scratch Pad' under all my rests. This is a flat, thin piece of leather-look vinyl that extends 1/2 inch above the thumb rest and protects the body wood from finger nail scratches or wear from the thumb being on the rest. You can see that in the photo of my J-bass below:

Image


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Post subject: Re: Thumb rest on Precision basses
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:29 pm
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They put them in various places, because,,,,,,Bass players are often...

"All Thumbs" :D


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