Thumb rest for an acoustic?

Pbassred · #1 07-03-2009, 04:05 AM

I have aquired a cheap acoustic. Many people have posted that these never have thumb rests. Is there any reason why I shouldn't carve one and mount it? Agreed, the aditional mass might affect the sound board and the presence of my thumb cirtanly will, but at least I will playing the strings properly.

Thoughts?

**TheMutt** · #2 07-03-2009, 04:34 AM

I wouldn't add a thumbrest that needs to be screw-mounted. The top will not be able to withstand the stress, and may even crack while you are drilling. There are adhesive-backed thumbrests, but I can't tell you how effective they are. My advice? Send it back and get a 5'er to use the low B as a thumbrest, fashion a piece of metal/wood that attaches to the side of the body and extends down to where you need it, or learn the floating thumb.

JulienJeff · #3 07-03-2009, 04:47 AM

I'd do a wood thumbrest and glue it

**TheMutt** · #4 07-03-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulienJeff

I'd do a wood thumbrest and glue it

Ideally, you'd need to sand down the spot you were gluing at. It could work, but might be a bit too much work for a cheapo bass.

ctmullins · #5 07-03-2009, 07:50 AM

Use the edge of the fingerboard as a thumb rest. This will put your plucking hand farther from the bridge, but you'll probably get more volume that way, and you might even like the tone!

Sardine · #6 07-03-2009, 11:43 AM

On most flattop acoustic instruments, there are two wee little braces that run on either side of the soundhole. These are there to prevent cracks around the soundhole. Have a look inside your bass with a mirror and see if you can line up the thumb rest with one of the soundhole braces. Then there should be enough meat to support a screwed on rest. Also, if it's a cheapie, it probably has a laminated top, so it is pretty unlikely that it will crack.

Pbassred · #7 07-03-2009, 05:20 PM

it never occurred to me to fit it without adding some support underneath.

tplyons · #8 07-03-2009, 07:25 PM

I did this with an old Brownsville acoustic I had. I used a plastic Fender thumbrest, drilled two holes clean through, and glued a piece of pine on the backside of the top so I could screw it in. With a laminated top on a cheap bass, I noticed no difference in tone, just increased playability.

Then again, I'm also the guy who put a pickup cover over the sound hole and used that as a thumbrest too.

DogBone · #9 07-03-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I did this with an old Brownsville acoustic I had. I used a plastic Fender thumbrest, drilled two holes clean through, and glued a piece of pine on the backside of the top so I could screw it in. With a laminated top on a cheap bass, I noticed no difference in tone, just increased playability.

Then again, I'm also the guy who put a pickup cover over the sound hole and used that as a thumbrest too.

^^^^^^^^ This!

+1

BTW, I have a cheapo ABG and I think they are the best for tinkering and experimenting on! I've just installed a new saddle on it that I made from a blank piece of tusq, and strung it w/ D'addario Chrome flatwounds (!) and loving it!

If you go for it and install your thumbrest, please show some pics. I'm betting it will turn out great.

Peace.

Greenman · #10 07-03-2009, 07:49 PM

There are some pretty good two sided sticky tapes that stick very well to a finished surface and are film like thin. Stick your thumb rest on and if it falls off in a couple of years stick it back on. No harm to the bass.