Check out my invention for bass

[rolleharris]

Interesting idea. Hope it works out for you

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

Not my thing either, but I can definitely see how alot of players would enjoy it. Good on ya!

 

[xander8280]

I dig it, it's tighter than a thumb rest, and the chrome look of it would would work great for basses; even black would work. It's sleeker and I love resting on my E string. Great idea, call up warmoth man!!!

 

[Hekbass]

Glad to hear that you have a provisional filed. However, I am sure that you are aware that is NOT yet a Patent - it is only a placeholder that allows you a year of protection to develop and market the item before you file for the REAL Patent, and it is only valid IF you file before the year is up and the Patent is issued down the road. I don't think that you can list the Bass Rail as "Patent Pending" until you file for the Utility Patent.

I have looked up some other thumb rest Patents, and at first glance, it does not seem that there is anything exactly like this. The real issue, though, may be defending your Patent from someone that says that this is not too different than the wood or plastic ones currently available.

Anyway - good luck with it and PM me if I can offer any further advice.

I can list it as patent pending. I contacted the USPTO multiple times directly, and they repeatedly advised it was ok to do so. The book 'The Idiot's Guide to Cashing in on Your Inventions' confirms this. I know the "Idiot's" books are dismissed by some, but they're usually pretty damn good. This one is no exception. Its author has patented, marketed, and licensed dozens of successful items.

And yes, I do know exactly what a provisional patent is. But... SHHHHH!! We don't want people to know that!

Thanks for your input!

 

[Hekbass]

Interesting idea. Hope it works out for you

Thank you!

 

[Hekbass]

I dig it, it's tighter than a thumb rest, and the chrome look of it would would work great for basses; even black would work. It's sleeker and I love resting on my E string. Great idea, call up warmoth man!!!

Thanks, man! Yeah, Warmoth is definitely a company I will be contacting. Also Fender, Hipshot, and several others. Hopefully one of them will work with me on a licensing deal!

 

[shaggy_k]

Mate, with your permission I'd like to do the same on my main bass. I've been meaning to do something similar but it looks like you've nailed it. Good work.

 

[gavinspoon]

I'm afraid that it's not a new idea. I've seen various custom made basses with a similar concept. There was a topic on here a few years back with loads of pictures of a particular luthiers basses with these sorts of things on.

I can't find the topic, but remember it well because it inspired me to add one to my Hohner steinberger copy.i bought a cheap guitar string retainer bar off eBay and just screwed it in. Works great.

 

[Smilodon]

Neat idea. I don'tfeel the need for it on my bass with EMG 40 pickups (They are perfect thumb rests) but on basses with P-pickups this should work really well. The small protrusions for the screw holes isn't very comfortable as thumb rests...


There is a cleaner way of making it, though. Instead of having screw mounts you could simply drill two holes slightly smaller than the diameter of the metal rod used. The holes should be about 3 cm into the body. If you then shape the rod as a staple you could simply hammer it in place. If you want it advanced you could make two holes from the pickup route and put a couple of nuts on the prongs for the height adjustment,

I wonder if making it out of an actual length of bass string would be feasible?

You'd get the "feel" of string, down to the flexibility, etc. Just a thought. Well, not exactly, since it wouldn't be as long as a string, but maybe you could figure some way of of having the tension adjustable. Eh, probably too complicated for a thumb rest...

I don't think there will be necessary with a whole lot of tension if it's a thick string that only have to span a couple of inches.

 

[gavinspoon]

It was an Atlansia bass I think, that I first saw with this concept.

There's a pic here Invalid Link Removed

 

[FretlessMainly]

I'd love to see a pic of your thumb rest. Got any links?

The edge on this feels more round than it looks. I also have one on my Jag bass. And hey, I do think your idea is a good, just not for me, although if you moved it 3/4" further from the E string...

 

[fuzzy beard]

I like bridge and pickup gaurds! I use them to anchor my pinkie while floating my thumb.


And man they look classy as hell!

 

[soundtweaker]

You mean that big chrome thing around the bridge pick up? Yikes.
I'd love to see it from different angles. I think I'm just missing something...

Not the chrome piece but the aluminum piece thats inside that just above the B String.
Heres another angle.

 

[musicman666]

I'll take one!

 

[Robertjoel]

I'm normally fine with resting my thumb on my pickup, but this is a fantastic idea, I'd love to try it.

 

[Ric5]

I made something similar to this for my Rick bass. But it attaches in the pickup guard hole.

View attachment 276533

I see you also modded the saddles to get a wider string spacing ... +1

 

[soundtweaker]

I see you also modded the saddles to get a wider string spacing ... +1

Yea had to do it. My fingers are too fat for that narrow spacing.

 

[EtherealEntity]

Really clever! I've experienced the same issue but never thought of this!

 

[Hekbass]

I'm afraid that it's not a new idea. I've seen various custom made basses with a similar concept. There was a topic on here a few years back with loads of pictures of a particular luthiers basses with these sorts of things on.

I can't find the topic, but remember it well because it inspired me to add one to my Hohner steinberger copy.i bought a cheap guitar string retainer bar off eBay and just screwed it in. Works great.

--EDIT-- I searched high and low and never saw that. Atlansia?!?!? HUH? I had never heard of that company. Jeez. I did a pretty thorough patent search through the USPTO records, and only something by Mr. Hartley Peavey came up, but it was not similar at all to my idea.

Many bass players have seen my idea already, including people like Bryan Beller and Damien Erksine. It struck them both as something new and clever, leading me to believe that they also have not heard of this Atlansia thing (whoever they are.) *shrug* Oh, well.

Well, we'll see where this goes, then...

 

[Hekbass]

It was an Atlansia bass I think, that I first saw with this concept.

There's a pic here Invalid Link Removed

That company is Japanese...from what I know patents are often not internationally valid - just in their country or continent. That's probably why no American musician so far has known about this, and I didn't find it on the USPTO website.

If guys steeped in the bass industry like Bryan Beller and Damien Erksine haven't heard of this, it's gotta make you wonder...these Atlansia people aren't doing a great job of promoting their product. I think that, at best, their patent probably applies in their own country. *shrug* Again, I'll give it time and look into it further, of course.