Ever pass on a bass because the pickups aren't "comfortable"?

[HamOnTheCob]

Note: I assume this is only an issue if you're a finger style player.

On the BPU group on FaceBook someone asked for thoughts on soapbar pickups vs MusicMan pickups, and while everyone seems to jump right into the TONAL aspects of these options, for me it's something completely different - I rely on using my pickups as thumb rests, and many of these are simply not comfortable feeling to me.

One bass I've always absolutely loved is the Peavey Cirrus. I think they are gorgeous to look at, they balance like a dream, and the tone just oozes from them for days. Truly, one of the most captivating experiences in my life was being glued to Donnie Castleman (he's a TB member and an absolute monster on bass) playing a Cirrus with Terry Fator at The Mirage in Las Vegas a few years ago. I'd always been drawn to Cirrus basses, but after seeing that show I was 100% sold on giving up all the other basses I owned and finally getting a Cirrus like I'd considered for years. I couldn't wait to go check one out at my favorite local music store where I knew there was one hanging on the wall. As soon as I started playing it my beaming enthusiasm turned to a slumping sigh. I understand they call these "VFL Pickups" and was shocked to learn it doesn't stand for "Very F------ Long". It really does feel uncomfortable (to me) to rest my thumb on the end of one of their pickups and play normally because they're so inexplicably lengthy. I had a similar experience trying out an Ibanez BTB, which is another bass I've long admired the look and sound of.

As for the MusicMan pickups, the 4-string versions have those "flanges" or whatever they're called where the pickup screws go, which aren't ideal (for me), and the 5-string versions suffer the same length drawback as the aforementioned long soapbars. I've owned a few basses with MM pickups, and while I've been able to manage, they never did feel very natural as thumb rests.

Anyone else have similar stories where you would otherwise love everything about a bass if it just didn't feel uncomfortable because of the pickups? A lot of time on this site is spent on the tone of this pickup or that one, and a lot is devoted to the feeling of certain necks and strings, but I don't recall the topic of pickup comfort ever being discussed. A quick search didn't turn up anything.

Jacob

 

[Watchootognbout]

Not me.
I can adapt to differences.
Every bass doesn't have to be the same as the other.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

No. I would fashion some sort of rest or cover or something to go over the edge of the pickup to make it more comfortable.

 

[twc1313]

For me I had to get rid of my TBird due to the overall feeling of wrestling the thing while playing it. Neck dive and length aside, the pickups just always felt weird to me and floating also just was yuk for me. A shame because the Tbird tone is such beefy goodness.

Something odd that I noticed is the Sterling by Musicman Ray34s have a MM pickup but with a rounded side on the top for your thumb; it feels and works great. What I don't get is why don't the upgrade the EBMM to have that curve as well? It is a nice improvement.

 

[lz4005]

Nope. But I've added thumbrests to a bunch.

 

[GIBrat51]

"...they never did feel natural as thumb rests..." Yeah, well... I do understand, and I have a few basses with pickups that make poor thumb rests, too. But, I gotta say, I seriously doubt that "Makes a good thumb rest" is very high on the "good pickup" check list... Personally, I try not to use them at all; but, some of them are awfully tempting. Floating hand; an actual thumb rest; or the bridge cover on a couple, is what I try to use...

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I always thought a good idea for those people who use the bridge pup on a Jazz as a thumb rest but want the same feel from a Precision, would be to use the bridge cover hole to mount a long block in that position. The edge of the bridge would keep it from moving. Then there would no need to ruin your bass with extra holes. Even if the bass didn't originally come with a bridge cover, if you wanted to resell the bass, you could just throw a cover on to fill the holes.

 

[LowEndOperative]

I feel the same way about traditional 2x single coils (jazz bass style).

Of course, if I could buy my CIJ Jaguar back...

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I seriously doubt that "Makes a good thumb rest" is very high on the "good pickup" check list

You would be surprised by how important it is to some people. Floating would be the ideal way to go.

 

[wvbass]

I know where you are coming from. "Makes a good thumbrest" can be pretty important. I have had the opposite problem with a Peavey. The Sarzo pickups end too close to the E string. I fashioned a thumbrest that extends the top of the neck pickup to make it more comfortable. That is a lot easier problem to solve than the pickup being too long.

FWIW, I play with an anchored thumb, a movable anchor, a floating thumb, or with my thumb...it just depends on what I am trying to do at the time.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I assume this is only an issue if you're a finger style player.

Not really. I've gotten in the habit of hooking my pinky under the bridge pickup to stabilize my picking hand.

 

[GIBrat51]

You would be surprised by how important it is to some people. Floating would be the ideal way to go.

Sorry; didn't make myself as clear as I should have. I meant the pickup company's check list... Obviously, it's important to lots of players - else we wouldn't be having this discussion...

 

[jakka1]

I think the Pickups on Musicman HS and HH basses provide some of the best thumb rests out there... but maybe that's just me. They have a nice bevel on the upper edge that is very comfortable. I've always wondered why the single H models have a different pickup cover?

 

[RyanOh]

Yes, the Westone Rail instantly came to mind.

This guy has mastered it though...

 

[RED J]

 

[AngelCrusher]

Sorry, no. I float my thumb to mute strings.

 

[wraub]

Not a problem at all.

 

[Felken]

I rest my thumb in the strings.

 

[lostreality]

I normally play with a pick so the floating thumb comes naturally if I use my fingers. That said, the Sterling/SB4 don't really offer a good place to rest your thumb. Either you're plucking directly over the pickup or right on top of the bridge

 

[Pet Sounds]

I don't know if it's a deal-killer, necessarily, but I've found the EBMM Sterling 4H and the Pedulla Rapture with the single soapbar are difficult in this regard. (I've owned both.)