Question on thumb resting...

[Knavery]

Hello Everyone:

I have a question about thumb resting and wanted your inputs. I have an MIA Amercan Series Fender Jazz, and when I play, I tend to rest my thumb on the pick-up closer to the neck. After playing for a while however, I notice the pick-up gets pushed down a tad. Is there a way to remedy this? Can I ruin the mechanism that keeps them in place? Thanks for the input.

 

[Hollow Man]

I assume that when you say the pickup gets pushed "down", you mean pushing the pickup away from the low E/B on your bass and closer to the G string, as opposed to deeper into the body of your bass. My first thought would be to tighten the screws that keep the pickup in place, although that would likely lower the pickups away from the strings. If you like your pickup's current location, try putting a shim into the pickup cavity to keep the pickups from moving away from the strings when you tighten the screws.

 

[Iritan]

If I were you, I wouldn't really worry that much. I'm no guitar technician, but I cannot see it badly affected the electronics or instrument.

 

[SamHD]

I had the same problem my old P-J GTX bass. I took the pickups out, and put a piece of silicone fuel tubing used for remote controlled cars in between the pickup and the cavity. The screws run through the tubing.

(kind of like this)


Bottom of pickup here
........... __|__
Tubing > { | }
.............. |
Screw....> |

It acts like a spring, making the pickup snugger, yet still allows for adjustment (if you need to push the pickup deeper)

Hope that "drawing" makes sense.

 

[Sammy Camden]

I use a thumbrest. I works wonderfully. Have been for about 35 years or so now. Made the switch from playing with my thumb in the late 60s so began using a thumbrest then in place of the fingerrest/tugbar.