Members waw423 Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 My father bought me a Fender Bass he found sitting in a pawn shop. Long story short its a fender bass with pickup covers and bridge covers but I have no idea where to put my right thumb. Its kind of akward to place it on the pickup cover and its even more akward to place it above the pickguard. It has a thumb rest near the bottem of the pickgaurd but I dont really slap bass at all. I play more of a Rock style and never slap or whatever. Any pointers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hunter6 Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 If need be, you can always just unscrew the pickup cover over the pickup so you have the pickup to use as a rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wilki29 Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 If need be, you can always just unscrew the pickup cover over the pickup so you have the pickup to use as a rest. probably the best way to go about it. What kind of fender, and what year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s4001 Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Taking them off always works best for me. I guess if you play with a pick or are a genius like Marcus Miller, you can leave it on. More importantly: Fender bass, pawn shop, pickup covers - got pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xOriginalNinjax Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Taking them off always works best for me. I guess if you play with a pick or are a genius like Marcus Miller, you can leave it on.More importantly: Fender bass, pawn shop, pickup covers - got pics? +190812391279075082734098172349187412 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members waw423 Posted April 8, 2007 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 well I dont have a camera on me but its white and orange on some parts (looks like rust or stains??? ) It was up for 200 dollers. The pickup cover is really rusted and it looks kinda cool so i dont want to remove it really. The paint is sorta feeling off. the serial is faded but i think i can make out a 2 in the middle. So how do other players play these basses?I play mostly Sabbeth and Cream in my band so......... I need to finger pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members waw423 Posted April 8, 2007 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 oh its a jazz bass btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Detox Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anesthesia Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 just rest your finger on the Low E, then float when you have to play that string Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 I was just playing a Marcus Miller today. It was a little awkward, but I rested my thumb on the cover going over the neck pup, and I played the strings below it (closer to the bridge). It worked...but I think I'd end up taking it off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beginner01 Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 can't ya just relocate teh thumb rest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members waw423 Posted April 8, 2007 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Hmmm Would it be a bad idea to put the thumb rest on top so i can rest it there as if it was a pup? Does this mark the wood? Or just the pickguard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Take the covers off but don't throw them away. You may want them in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grumpy_Polecat Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Probably the first mod ever done to a bass was to dump the ashtray. From a player's standpoint it's really hard to understand why they were on there in the first place! Almost as puzzling as why the thumbrest is below the G string... So, take it off, put the parts in a ziplock bag (which wasn't invented until the mid 70s, and explains why so many old basses just don't have 'em anymore) and toss the bag in the case's compartment. Or, do what Anesthesia said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ToeJamFootball Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Probably the first mod ever done to a bass was to dump the ashtray. From a player's standpoint it's really hard to understand why they were on there in the first place!Almost as puzzling as why the thumbrest is below the G string...So, take it off, put the parts in a ziplock bag (which wasn't invented until the mid 70s, and explains why so many old basses just don't have 'em anymore) and toss the bag in the case's compartment.Or, do what Anesthesia said.The rest is below the G string to pluck the strings with your thumb I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FourStringFury Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 i'd just use the string one above where you're using and the neck for the E. that's how i would od it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jateca Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 If you want a different thumbrest I have a suggestion: Certain effects pedal companies (Roland and Boss in particular) include these little adhesive rubber feet with some of their compact pedals. These are meant to help attach the pedal to a floorboard, but they also make great non-permanent thumbrests! They're almost exactly the same height off the body as a jazz bass bridge pickup, they stay stuck for ages (had one on my jaguar for a month or two now), they can easily be cut to size to fit your needs and they don't mark the body at all (tested out on a squier 1st) I called up Roland asking for a few more and they sent me 4 of the things for free, might be worth checking out if you want another option. Or just learn the foating thumb technique, a lot of bassists use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fealach Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 If you need to anchor your thumb somewhere, you can try the edge of the fretboard. I wouldn't want ot move the "finger rest" or whatever it's called from where it is, I don't like making holes in basses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Or just learn to play without a thumbrest / anchor point - better in the long run anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jateca Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Or just learn to play without a thumbrest / anchor point - better in the long run anyway. I've heard a few bassists say that this technique is better, but I've never found out why. I can do it and all, but I can't feel any real advantages. Can you explain how it helps you? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 I've heard a few bassists say that this technique is better, but I've never found out why. I can do it and all, but I can't feel any real advantages. Can you explain how it helps you?cheers Well, basically, it makes you focus on proper right hand technique without using thumb position as a crutch and it lets you vary your picking point up/down the strings for different tonal effects. Only playing with your thumb anchored to one point really limits you in lots of ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 I take them off , a set of flats is enough for me if I want thud , so no mutes or mute covers (pickup covers) Fender style of course. I don't care about looks either, but if you were to use them , this may be a good way . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AunShui Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Can we get a serial number or something? EDIT: sorry, i didn't read that it was faded off. is there any way to take a picture with a cell phone or something, or borrow a camera from a friend? Also- I'm pretty sure the finger rest is below the G string because early bassists would rest their other 4 fingers on it while playing with their thumb. Of course, everyone who played bass before the 1970's could have just been lefty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jateca Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Well, basically, it makes you focus on proper right hand technique without using thumb position as a crutch and it lets you vary your picking point up/down the strings for different tonal effects. Only playing with your thumb anchored to one point really limits you in lots of ways. Ah I see what you mean now. I shift my hand position all the time when playing, but I do tend to have a few particular anchor points along my playing area (hence the rubber thumb rest thing I mentioned earlier) that I hang my thumb off of. I was thinking of the 'thumbless' hand technique, kinda like what cliff Burton used to do. I've always found it lacked control for aggressive plucking styles. Worked for him though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny Duart Posted April 8, 2007 Members Share Posted April 8, 2007 Just take the stuff off of it. It just gets in the way and serves absolutely no purpose. I understand that the bridge cover makes a great ashtray.Peace, Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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