Screw on top of front pickup, whart a pain!!

[sweetmarie58]

First off, let me tell you that I'm a beginner. That being said, I own a Hamer Slammer with two pick ups. Both pick ups have screws on top and bottom, standard I presume. The method I'm learning has me resting my thumb on top of the front pick up when strumming the E and A string.

The screw on top of the front pick up is starting to get on my nerves, I can feel it when resting my thumb on it. Am I putting too much pressure on my thumb? Seems like they could have used something else to secure the pick up knowing that the thumb would be resting on it quite frequently? Anybody else share the same views?

Thanks anyone for advice.

[sickest beast]

try resting your thumb on the neck just near the heel that meets the body.

[southernrocker]

get a thumb rest. or make one. I know what you mean, if my thumb don't feel good, I don't feel good.

[thirtypoint87]

Your thumb should be resting *lightly* on the pickup; it could be that you're digging in a little more than you need to.

....and best of luck with the bass!

[GeoffByrne]

Has the screw got sharp edges from being tightened with a screwdriver? I find this happens occasionally, so I take a small flat file & take the edges off - much more comfortable.

[sweetmarie58]

Originally Posted by thirtypoint87

Your thumb should be resting *lightly* on the pickup; it could be that you're digging in a little more than you need to.

....and best of luck with the bass!

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

Has the screw got sharp edges from being tightened with a screwdriver? I find this happens occasionally, so I take a small flat file & take the edges off - much more comfortable.

Originally Posted by sickest beast

try resting your thumb on the neck just near the heel that meets the body.

Originally Posted by southernrocker

get a thumb rest. or make one. I know what you mean, if my thumb don't feel good, I don't feel good.

Wow, all good ideas.
It is possible I'm putting too much pressure on my thumb.

The screw is not pointy or rough, it's just a normal screw that's getting the best of me, lol.

Think I'll try and make a thumb rest, yeah, goint to start with that. Tks everyone.

[202dy]

Try floating thumb technique. It is far more versatile than mounting your thumb anywhere on the guitar.

The thumb rests lightly over the E and on the A when playing the D and G strings. This allows for automatic muting of the D and G when playing and take the A and the E out of the sonic picture altogether. When you want to play the A string you pull your thumb back a little bit. When you play the E string you can either lift your thumb or pull back as you did with the A string. This technique eliminates wolf tones. If used correctly it can prevent pulling hard on the strings.

[Pilgrim]

Thumb rest: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bass_thumbrest.htm

Choose one - don't bother to make one. Suggest you try try taping it down in various positions to see what works for you.

[bass player 48]

Originally Posted by thirtypoint87

Your thumb should be resting *lightly* on the pickup; it could be that you're digging in a little more than you need to.

....and best of luck with the bass!

What he said!

ALSO - Practice a whole bunch more and you'll get 6 burning finger tips that will make you forget all about that mildly uncomfortable thumb.

[hanx]

I think maybe what hea means is that way that the screws stick out obstructing most of the side on a "P" pick-up? like on fender P and most low end models. They do get in the way a fair bit. The screws on active pick-ups and humbuckers etc. seem a lot more friendly in their positioning, they're recessed into the pick-up.

how much damage would i risk doing trying to put a thumb-rest on an Agathis bass body?