Thumbrest, ***

[Vox Populi]

Maybe this is a n00bish question... But I've never understood... What the hell is the thumbrest doing on the bottom half of the bass? I don't put my thumb there while I play. Why isn't it up where my thumb would be, so I can rest it? What is the use of having a "thumbrest" below your strings? I've seen people who put their thumbrest on what I consider the "correct" side, but I more commonly see it on the bottom half of the bass.

[JimK]

Way back when, Leo Fender assumed players would use their thumb to pluck his bass...the 4 remaining fingers would 'cup' the 'thumb rest' below the G-string which left the thumb to do the thumping.
Also, the bridge cover had some sort foam mute...all of this was an attempt to make the P-bass emulate the URB.

I have this '70s interview with Chuck Rainey-
He was complaining about Fender getting with the program...
"Why is the thumb rest there?! Everybody moves it above the E-string".
"Why is there a cover over the pickup?! That's the best place to play the strings".
"Everybody who owns a Fender replaces the bridge".

Etc...

[Vox Populi]

I get it now, I never knew that.