Acoustic Bass Guitars - no place to put my thumb?

[RiseOfTheWooten]

Hi, I was mucking around on one of the acoustic bass guitars at the music shop, I would really like to get one but it felt strange not having pickups to place my thumb. My hand felt like it had to 'float' without an anchor.

What's the right approach to playing these guitars?

[Buck Naked]

Put your thumb on the string above the strings you are playing. It actually helped me play faster somehow. I used to put my thumb on the pickup but no more.

[Figjam]

And when you play the E string, you are...screwed! Well, not really, but its annoying.

[Buck Naked]

Haha well if you are playing a long piece on the E string do you really have to anchor it on anything? I mean I can play and not anchor my thumb and it's just the same.

[Joe Nerve]

You get used to it. It all falls into place, just comes kinda naturally. You can buy a thumbrest also.

[RiseOfTheWooten]

Thanks guys. So I guess it gets done without thumbrests!

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

You get used to it. It all falls into place, just comes kinda naturally. You can buy a thumbrest also.

I hadn't considered that.. it wouldn't ruin the acoustic guitar, sound or aesthetically?

[Hookus]

Should not make a difference to the guitar. Use double stick tape.

But, 'tis the reason I use a pick on my 'cousic.

[RiseOfTheWooten]

Originally Posted by Hookus

But, 'tis the reason I use a pick on my 'cousic.

I can't use a pick to save my life unfortunately. I'm so uncoordinated with the pick, I need to feel the strings on my fingertips to play.

[AxtoOx]

That's something I'm working on myself now, you just kinda press your thumb on the wood. How do you think these guys play MM's? I guess they could anchor on the pickup.

[JimmyM]

Just put it away and pick up an electric. I've always hated ABG's. Very little volume, very little quality of sound in even the best of them. Want to play acoustic bass? Get an upright

[RiseOfTheWooten]

Originally Posted by AxtoOx

How do you think these guys play MM's? I guess they could anchor on the pickup.

I read the pickup FAQ thread about the MMs. I'm still not really familiar with what they are exactly though. I know about the P's, J's, and humbuckers.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Just put it away and pick up an electric. I've always hated ABG's. Very little volume, very little quality of sound in even the best of them. Want to play acoustic bass? Get an upright

I've already got an electric bass as well as a double bass. But I was looking to buy an entry-level acoustic bass guitar just to bring it around and have fun jamming with my friends when they're on their acoustic steel string guitars. It's much easier than bringing along an elec bass and an amp (if there was an available power point) or carting along a double bass everywhere I go. I'm already expecting I won't be getting much of a sound out of the acoustic bass guitars unless I spent $1000's for a seriously well made one.

[AxtoOx]

Originally Posted by RiseOfTheWooten

I read the pickup FAQ thread about the MMs. I'm still not really familiar with what they are exactly though. I know about the P's, J's, and humbuckers.




I've already got an electric bass as well as a double bass. But I was looking to buy an entry-level acoustic bass guitar just to bring it around and have fun jamming with my friends when they're on their acoustic steel string guitars. It's much easier than bringing along an elec bass and an amp (if there was an available power point) or carting along a double bass everywhere I go. I'm already expecting I won't be getting much of a sound out of the acoustic bass guitars unless I spent $1000's for a seriously well made one.

I was reffering to Music Man Basses, an MM pup is a Music Man style humbucker,they have exposed poles, and you may be able to switch them from parellel to series, I can on my Warwick double buck which has 2 MM's on it, but on a Music Man Bass they are located in the treble position, back by the bridge, so you don't have a front pup to anchor to, they may anchor to that. I've seen Flea do it when he's not slapping. As a matter of fact, I do it to get a different sound. But I think they just put their thumb on the wood.

Edit: I just looked up at the ad, a better example would be a Line 6 which has no exposed pickups.

[Figjam]

I play MM basses.. I anchor my thumb on the pickup or right next to it (towards neck) on an angle (when i am standing). Hard to explain but i hold my bass at an angle upwards so it is possible to wedge my thumb between the E string and the side of the pickup.

That is where IMO the best tone is found on a musicman, anywhere near the pickup. Plucking near the neck lacks definition.

[Audiophage]

You could always install a thumbrest over the E string if it really bothers you.

[MikeyFingers]

A friend of mine has an acoustic/electric Ovation 4-string. I love it. It sounds good, but I have the same problem. I hate when my thumb just hovers like that.

[Verbannter]

I've been taught for the most part to lay your fingers on the string above where you're plucking, so your right hand is basically curled over the strings. (I play a 6 string however.) The only thing that I could see as a problem is your E, which you'd be forced to float unless you mod it.

[Martybass]

I've always anchored my thumb on the bottom of the neck with my ABG.

[theshadow2001]

I play a musicman as well. It was tricky resting the thumb on the pickup after changing from a jazz style bass but now I find it comfortable and can do either. Resting on the neck I find it a little trickier to play with diggin in too hard. But thats where I suggest you put your thumb on the acoustic. It'll feel wierd but you'll get used to it. i suppose the same goes for if your thumb was floating

[Mojo-Man]

.
Filed, some ebony about hight of pickup, glued to my ABG.
Works great.

[Martybass]

I remember seeing someone slap an ABG...in front of Marcus Miller...