I anchor it against the E string and float when I play the E string, actually I do that on all basses I think.
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Rickenbacker 4003: Where do you rest your thumb?
- Thread starter Corbusier
- Start date
If you do that you may not be able to play anything at all due to all the extra concentration required to think about where you put your thumb.
Edit: spelling
Last edited:
1. Before I removed my pickup cover, I usually rested my thumb on top of the neck pickup, or floated. Sometimes I still do, when I want to get a mellower tone. Also, over the end of the fingerboard, Geezer style, for even more mellow sometimes. I also experimented with resting my thumb on the cover and playing next to the bridge, I've seen others do that but it wasn't comfortable for me.
2. Yes, I removed my pickup cover, and installed a Cove Treble Bezel, which is now my usual spot for thumb resting.
2. Yes, I removed my pickup cover, and installed a Cove Treble Bezel, which is now my usual spot for thumb resting.
Removed the cover and put on a treble bezel from http://www.tubeampology.com/
Also got a Zero-Mod thumb rest (sorry, no file photo) from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Net result: I use neither as an anchor. I sometimes like anchor points when I'm plucking E/A strings at times but otherwise I get into it and the thumb becomes irrelevant...except as a mute when on D/G etc. The Zero-Mod is too far forward and the bezel...well, I wish I got the coved one but it's where I'd want to play. I don't usually play with pick, but I totally get that it's a great hand rest.
I only have one Ric. I agree it's a different feel and I never got used to it. The Jazz basses get a lot more play time, but only a Ric sounds like a Ric.
Also got a Zero-Mod thumb rest (sorry, no file photo) from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Net result: I use neither as an anchor. I sometimes like anchor points when I'm plucking E/A strings at times but otherwise I get into it and the thumb becomes irrelevant...except as a mute when on D/G etc. The Zero-Mod is too far forward and the bezel...well, I wish I got the coved one but it's where I'd want to play. I don't usually play with pick, but I totally get that it's a great hand rest.
I only have one Ric. I agree it's a different feel and I never got used to it. The Jazz basses get a lot more play time, but only a Ric sounds like a Ric.
It's funny how that works; I tell people that a Ric either works for you or it doesn't. I bought my first Ric in 1980, and it was stolen in 1989. I spent years hoping to find it again, while acquiring a series of other basses. For many years my main bass was a '72 Fender Telecaster Bass, followed by an '82 Vintage 57 Reissue Precision. Now, the P is a very nice instrument, but I finally got another Ric (two, actually) in 2015, and from the moment I picked it up, it felt like coming home after a long absence. It just felt right in a way that no other bass has. The Precision now feels coarse in comparison. I'm just glad that there are so many different instruments available so that we can find one the that best fits us.
Regardless of the instrument brand / model, I'll have generally two positions - neck and bridge areas. Just acquired a 4003 a month ago after a long overdue decision to do so and I couldn't be happier.
I naturally gravitated to rest my thumb across the short side of the bridge pickup cover where it locks into the bezel, with the length of my thumb (x) oriented parallel to the strings and the width (y) oriented perpendicular to the overall top of the guitar's surface.
Requires slight adjustment to the angle of attack with the index and middle fingers, which actually seems to be improving my articulation, sensitivity and speed.
Overall, it feels extremely secure and I can't imagine any other way for the bridge location. Seem like this may have been an unintended consequence of the design as it seems like most players are referring to the floating thumb in a more forward position toward the neck. When I play along this area, I'm resting upon the side of the fretboard where it overlaps the body. Not nearly as secure, but I never dig in like I will at the bridge so it's not an issue.
I naturally gravitated to rest my thumb across the short side of the bridge pickup cover where it locks into the bezel, with the length of my thumb (x) oriented parallel to the strings and the width (y) oriented perpendicular to the overall top of the guitar's surface.
Requires slight adjustment to the angle of attack with the index and middle fingers, which actually seems to be improving my articulation, sensitivity and speed.
Overall, it feels extremely secure and I can't imagine any other way for the bridge location. Seem like this may have been an unintended consequence of the design as it seems like most players are referring to the floating thumb in a more forward position toward the neck. When I play along this area, I'm resting upon the side of the fretboard where it overlaps the body. Not nearly as secure, but I never dig in like I will at the bridge so it's not an issue.
