possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

[CTN]

ok so I refinished that explorer bass a while ago.

I had bought a thumbrest for it as well, but since I don't really play bass much, I didn't know where to put it on the body.

Can anyone tell me what the hell thumbrests are for, where they usually go, and perhaps some alternate positions to put them?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

My Pbass has a thumb rest. I never use it. I rest my thumb on the edge of the pickup or in the same spot on the body if im playing one that doesnt have a middle P pickup

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Used to be a fingerbar actually. and it would be below the pickups and strings to grab on to so you can pick more consistently with your thumb which you can also do. But if you wanna use it as a thumbrest, then closer to the neck on top of the strings where there is usually empty space. Now you can pick there more comfortable and get a deeper richer tone when you do.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

I guess it depends on where you most like to pluck the strings - after that, it should just be a case of positioning the rest accordingly. As none of mine have a rest, I tend to use a convenient pickup, or in the case of the Crafter, the very end of the neck.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

I also use the pickups as a thumbrest. Everyone has their own favorite position, so it's really up to you and your style. Personally, I prefer it pretty much in the middle between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. I had an Ibanez SR700 for 10 years that had a reverse P pickup in the neck, so it was near the middle. Since then, my style favors that position. My main bass has soapbars that are closer to the neck, which throws me off every time, but you get used to it. I'd still prefer it in the middle though.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

If it's a bona-fide thumb rest, it goes wherever you want to rest your thumb. For me, that's like this:


However, they were designed as finger rests, and placed like this probably until the mid '70's:

Since electric bass (i.e. "bass guitar") was a new thing in the '50's, it was figured that people would play slow 1's and 5's with their thumbs. However, most people just ignored the rests, removed them, or relocated them to the bass side of the neck. Even when I do play with my thumb, I don't want to rest my fingers anywhere; I want to keep them free for alternate plucking and muting.

And on some basses, you'll even see them on both sides:

My main bass came with a tortoise guard and the rest on the bottom. I switched over to a white guard that didn't have the holes for the thumb rest, and used the opportunity to move the rest to the top. To do it, I used one of the pickguard screw holes, and added one of my own:


The location is basically up to you, in other words.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

I have a Jazz bass copy and use the edge of the neck pickup, which is pretty close to the middle. That way I can lean my hand either way to get different tones. Using a thumb rest is great when you really have to bring the thunder, cause your thumb adds lots of strength.

 

[kilphody]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Who the f uses a thumb rest? I play slap nasty with all ten fingers.. My girl calls it the dancing spiders.. lol
PC

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Location of the thumbrest? I'm assuming you don't care about re-creating an authentic looking something, so my answer is 100% practical.

First thing I recommend is making sure that when you do install it, it is parallel to the strings, not sitting at an angle. That will make it easier to use, and to reposition your hand a bit depending on the demands of the song/riff.

Secondly, I recommend that you cut or sand away the bottom half of the thumbrest. There is no need for it to be as tall as it is (assuming it is the normal size of most thumbrests). Your thumb can rest quite nicely on it at about half the height, and the reduced profile allows more options for placement, including partly under the E string if that's where your hand is most comfortable.

 

[CTN]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

hmmm... lotta food for thought, thanks fellas.

I think I'm just gonna give it some time and play more and see what works for me. I might not even need it. when I want to rest my thumb, I usually do it in the valley sorta area of the upper part of the body (again, explorer shape). It's really close to the edge of the pickup anyway, so it seems to work for me.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

I really like thumb rests, and when I need to use my thumb I simply take my thumb off the rest. Not too hard.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

no need for one at all really

 

[JohnJohn]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Don't use them or anchor my thumb personally.
I prefer to keep my hand free to move up and down the strings and back and forth between the neck and the bridge.
I find it gives me more control over the sound and easier to transitions between techniques.

But in terms of placing one I think itsaBass pretty much nailed it.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Don't use them or anchor my thumb personally.
I prefer to keep my hand free to move up and down the strings and back and forth between the neck and the bridge.
I find it gives me more control over the sound and easier to transitions between techniques.

Seriously? There is NOTHING about anchoring your thumb on anything that prevents you from moving your hand wherever you want to move it to, whenever you want to move it. You are not gluing your thumb to anything. You can anchor your thumb on a pickup, and then in the next instant anchor it on the E string or even the neck. If you choose not to anchor it at all, at any time, that's your business. But anchoring a thumb gives fingerpickers' hands and fingers additional leverage and strength, and it's just plain silly to use freedom of movement as a reason not to anchor. Easier to transition between techniques? It's not true for me, but I can believe it for you. More control over the sound? I'm not buying it.

I really like thumb rests, and when I need to use my thumb I simply take my thumb off the rest. Not too hard.

Bingo.


IMO there hasn't been any good thumbrest locations pictured so far in this thread. Here is my version of a well designed, well located thumbrest:

 

[JohnJohn]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Yup, seriously.
But that's what works for me.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: possibly dumb question: thumbrest location?

Can anyone tell me what the hell thumbrests are for

Distraction.

where they usually go

Usually, in the bin.

and perhaps some alternate positions to put them?

uh, huh huhuh... :banana: