Al Heeley Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I've wondered for ages about those little thumb rests some people have on their vintage basses, the ones below the strings but I've alway been embarassed to ask and feel stupid. You know, the one screwed into the scratchplate near the vol knob. What's it all about? How does a thumb rest below the strings work? What's its real purpose? Surely it's entirely impractical as a position to offer any support to the right hand when playing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxrossell Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='Al Heeley' post='681878' date='Dec 12 2009, 01:16 AM']I've wondered for ages about those little thumb rests some people have on their vintage basses, the ones below the strings but I've alway been embarassed to ask and feel stupid. You know, the one screwed into the scratchplate near the vol knob. What's it all about? How does a thumb rest below the strings work? What's its real purpose? Surely it's entirely impractical as a position to offer any support to the right hand when playing?[/quote] Nah, it's back in the day when people used to play the strings with their thumbs, the rests would be for the other fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 That's it pretty much & I think some players just like the old style look. I have always repositioned mine above the strings as I do use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 same as ashtrays...clutter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I like the ashtrays, over the pickup at least. It really aided me in getting a good right hand position for slap and I sorely missed it when I sold the P bass and got a Stingray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 On my Stingray, I felt I needed a thumbrest, but I didn't want to "spoil" the look of the bass. Because all the knobs and pickguard screws are chrome finish, I bought a chrome-finish mirror-mounting screw and positioned it above the E string. It blends in pretty well with the pearloid scratchplate and could almost pass as a (curiously-sited) extra control knob. I'd be pretty lost without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 sorry guys for the negative opinions on thumb or finger rests i play finger style and move around to create differing tones...wouldnt be any good to me i dont think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 on the treble side they are referred to as tug bars. as max said they were placed there in the 50's because players switching over from uprights found them useful aids for hand positioning. the fingers were placed on the edge facing away from the player to increase leverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I've got copies of the official Fender spare parts list from the late 60s/early 70s in which our little black plastic friend is referred to as a finger rest. However I quite like the sound of tug bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 And I 'defiled' my AV 62 RI with an ebony one. Never use it but it's staying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 [quote name='The Bass Doc' post='685534' date='Dec 15 2009, 06:27 PM']I've got copies of the official Fender spare parts list from the late 60s/early 70s in which our little black plastic friend is referred to as a finger rest. However I quite like the sound of tug bar.[/quote] fancy a pint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 [quote name='mrcrow' post='685626' date='Dec 15 2009, 08:54 PM'] fancy a pint [/quote] Cracker! The tug bar thing was something i picked up on the talkbass forum. Yanks eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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