Question about bridge cover

[JIO]

It all depends on your playing style/needs, and where you normally play. I palm-mute often but not every second. I also play mostly over the bridge pu area. (both fingers and pick) Having said this, for me a bridge cover is always in the way for articulated palm muting. I have one J w/the neck pu cover, but generally I prefer not to have it in the way. Love the look (good for photo-ops) but for playing - full off. James Jamerson left both on his P-bass so as usual, to each their own.

 

[Badass MOFO]

Sorry, Badass MOFO, I misread your post.
OK, the pickup cover on the P-bass is actually a little bigger as the P-bass pickup has a larger "footprint", if you will, than the Jazz, and the Jazz cover has slightly rounded edges, the P-bass one is more squarish in shape.

No problemo!
So, my next stupid question is: With the p/u cover on, ..and for that matter, the bridge cover too, how did Fender intend you play it? With a pic?
What is the lower black bar for? Is it a thumb rest for playing the G string? My '73 is drilled for an upper thumb rest. This makes sense when there is a p/u cover in the way but I always see P's with a p/u cover and that lower rest.
I'm thinking how I'd play it if I get the covers for mine.

 

[Batmensch]

No problemo!
So, my next stupid question is: With the p/u cover on, ..and for that matter, the bridge cover too, how did Fender intend you play it? With a pic?
What is the lower black bar for? Is it a thumb rest for playing the G string? My '73 is drilled for an upper thumb rest. This makes sense when there is a p/u cover in the way but I always see P's with a p/u cover and that lower rest.
I'm thinking how I'd play it if I get the covers for mine.

The original design involving the covers and the thumb rest (Positioned originally below the G string near the end of the neck ) was Leo Fender's idea. He thought the way people would play was to anchor their wrist/palm on the pickup cover and grabbing the thumb rest with their fingers (it was called a tug bar then) and plucking the strings with their thumb.I believe he bridge cover was more or less there to compliment the pickup cover and to prevent folks from scratching themselves on the exposed saddle screws when playing with a pick. I may be wrong about that second bit. As it turned out, some players did play like that for a while, but then they started playing more with their fingers like today and sometimes removed the cover altogether so they could use the pickup as a thumbrest. Eventually, enough people ere doing it that it gave Fender a reason to remove the covers altogether as a cost cutting move.

 

[jamro217]

I wish they'd make a bass with a pickup cover made out of barbed wire. That'll teach you to leave it on!

 

[FitzFitz]

I believe he bridge cover was more or less there to compliment the pickup cover and to prevent folks from scratching themselves on the exposed saddle screws when playing with a pick. I may be wrong about that second bit.

Could be wrong, but I had heard Leo placed the covers on for aesthetic reasons, because he found the pickups and bridge "unsightly." But I can see the practical use in having a pickup cover when playing with your thumb.

 

[KeithAlanK]

I was a clean slate when I got my 1st bass, a '62 Precision. Had been playing guitar for over a year and wanted to expand.
This was the mid '70s and I was into prog and metal like Deep Purple, Yes, Rush, Floyd, etc.

Mere weeks later both covers were gone, as well as the tugbar and flats, because they all got in the way of where and how I wanted to play.
But to this day I love the way they look. The original design is sleek and sexy.