Thumb Rest in the way? Can you float with one?

[owensea777]

When I get my new bass I'm going to install a thumbrest (depending on this thread). Has anyone experienced difficulty muting strings while the thumb's on the 'rest? Any other problems? Has anyone actually taken a thumbrest off that they installed?

(1)Basically I'm thinking that while playing the D or G string quickly, the E string (or A) may be difficult to keep muted.

(2)Of course, this would be no problem if it is easy to float the thumb down on the E or A string. Is it?

Obviously I've never played a bass with a thumbrest and would like some advice. Plus I'm a poor college kid and don't want to waste any money (yea I know they are cheap but let's just say I'm a really poor college kid).

[JimmyM]

Thumbrests are totally unnecessary. I have taken them off the basses I have that had them originally. Unfortunately, I never put them in a safe place, so they're gone now.

[owensea777]

If someone has installed one and then uninstalled one, please let me know.
JimmyM, could you float your thumb with the thumbrest?

[JimmyM]

Sure. I hardly ever had my thumb near where the thumbrest is anyway. When I anchor, I usually anchor on the pickup, but most of the time I float.