Gee i feel like a beginner asking this..

[Chronicle]

But i would like to know.. what the hell is that black thing near the strings on the pickguard? I heard it was for your thumb but it's not on the right side :scowl:

 

[Ben Lesser]

It's used to root your fingers on, so you can pluck with your thumb. Gives a nice meaty tone.

 

[BR Audio]

I think thumb-rest is the proper name for it.
Some basses have them above E string.. for the "thumb-rest"

 

[Chronicle]

yeah, i thought it would make more sense to put it on the top you know? lol i don't really thumb pluck, so i wouldnt have use for it on the bottom.

 

[jsbass]

i must be weird, but when i play fingerstyle, i dont mount my thumb anywhere, just more comfortable for me

 

[rayzak]

i must be weird, but when i play fingerstyle, i dont mount my thumb anywhere, just more comfortable for me

I mount mine on the E, but if i'm playing the E I let it float.

 

[jonathan_matos5]

you made me get drool all over my keyboard

 

[WillBuckingham]

I've read that before fender basses were widely played, they thought people would plant their fingers there and play with their thumbs. Then double bassists started just using double bass pizz technique, and that caught on.

 

[Kickin'Fruit]

Why do I feel like thumb plucking is only for people who don't know how to play a bass? Not saying it's wrong, but I just get that impression.

 

[Spencer!]

you made me get drool all over my keyboard

Seriously. I wouldn't mind owning a Fender with that finish!

 

[jonly]

Why do I feel like thumb plucking is only for people who don't know how to play a bass? Not saying it's wrong, but I just get that impression.

Because you're too young to remember it being very common, I would assume.

 

[wdinc01]

Why do I feel like thumb plucking is only for people who don't know how to play a bass? Not saying it's wrong, but I just get that impression.

Hey, I'm sure there's quite a few great bassists who use thumb style. It's just whatever works for them.

But yeah, when Leo Fender made the bass, I believe that upright players used their thumb or something at the time. So he figured that that would carry over to the electric bass. Most people, though, used their fingers, so that thing because a bit useless. I think they moved the thumbrest above the E-string in like the 70's before they just said "You know what? Forget this!" and just took it off, since alot of people just took it off anyway. I think that's the same reason you don't see ashtrays on a normal J-bass now.

And yes, that is a very VERY nice finish.

 

[Chronicle]

I stole that bass off another thread.. i only have a MIM sunburst jazz bass :/

 

[Kickin'Fruit]

Ah I see, yeah there is a picture of Bob Dylan with a Fender Jazz playing like that. Seems it's the only way TO play when you have both of the covers on. Is this an acceptable way to play? I guess I was always under this impression it was "improper"

 

[Chronicle]

Ah I see, yeah there is a picture of Bob Dylan with a Fender Jazz playing like that. Seems it's the only way TO play when you have both of the covers on. Is this an acceptable way to play? I guess I was always under this impression it was "improper"

I ordered both covers for my Jazz bass and when i got them.. i soon discovered there would be very limited room to play in. So i only put the bottom half on.

Next week or maybe sooner i will post a picture of my jbass with the custom designed neck plate and jazz bass cover

 

[Rick_no7]

Sting still plays that way from what I've seen in videos.

 

[steveb98]

It's a finger rest or some call it the tug-bar. In the beginning some bass players played with their thumb. They would rest their fingers on the tug-bar and pluck with their thumb.

 

[jonathan_matos5]

Ah I see, yeah there is a picture of Bob Dylan with a Fender Jazz playing like that. Seems it's the only way TO play when you have both of the covers on. Is this an acceptable way to play? I guess I was always under this impression it was "improper"

you can anchor your thumb on the end of the neck or not anchor it at all. i used to hate the ashtrays but now the more i look at them the more i like them.

 

[Jazzin']

Well since the electric bass guitar was created as a way for guitarists to be able to play bass without having to learn a completely different instrument (the double bass), maybe thats the way guitarits would play an electric bass.

 

[Sippy]

Yea I let my thumb anchor on the immediate top string.. if I'm striking the G i'm anchored on the D if I'm striking the A I'm anchored on the E.... etc.