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stingray 5 question

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by FalsehoodBass, Nov 25, 2001.

  1. Nov 25, 2001 #1
    FalsehoodBass

    FalsehoodBass

    Jul 22, 2001
    Denver, CO
    Where do you put your thumb??

    I've played them before and it seems like they're using a new pickup cover or something.. i normally play pick, so maybe i just hadn't noticed before.

    ok, what i'm talking about... when I play fingerstyle I anchor my thumb on the pickup... but the Ray-5 i played the other day had a rounded pickup cover, and my thumb kept slipping off... does anybody know what i'm talking about, and if so, what do you do about it?

    Thanks
    Brian.
     
  2. Nov 25, 2001 #2
    jbandbabyj

    jbandbabyj

    Mar 14, 2000
    Portland Oregon - Yes it is raining right now.
    I know what you're talking about... but it's not really a problem for me. Most of the time I use the B-string as the thumb achor, and when I'm playing the B, I use the pick-up or the edge of the pickguard.
     
  3. Nov 25, 2001 #3
    lowfrez

    lowfrez Guest

    Aug 15, 2001
    the castle of aaaaaaaaaagghhh
    that's what i do and it works great. Are you really playing that hard that your thumb is sliding off the pickup?
     
  4. Nov 25, 2001 #4
    FalsehoodBass

    FalsehoodBass

    Jul 22, 2001
    Denver, CO
    i don't think i'm playing so hard.. but i normally rest the weight of my hand there.... its never been a problem with any other bass.. but the curved pickup is just making my thumb slip right off... i could see it getting annoying...
     
  5. Nov 25, 2001 #5
    barroso

    barroso

    Aug 16, 2000
    Italia
    this is the reason i am not so confortable with the stingray. i love the stingray but i'm used to rest my thumb on a pickup and this is not so confortable with the ray, other than that a GREAT bass!
     
  6. Nov 25, 2001 #6
    ldiezman

    ldiezman

    Jul 11, 2001
    Nashville
    I don't recall that being a terrible problem for me.. my thumb really doesn't stay in one place for long. i'm forever moving it around.. but when it is resting i think i lightly place it over the b string. if you let all of the weight of you hand rest on your thumb, how can you acquire speed. not that speed is everything but I find that keeping you hand loose and free allows for better movement and what not.. IMO of course
    ;)
     
  7. Nov 25, 2001 #7
    boogiebass

    boogiebass

    Aug 16, 2000
    Speaking from a technique standpoint, you'd really be better off to wean yourself away from anchoring your thumb on anything but a string. That way, you have another right hand muting option at all times. Anchoring on the B string on a 'Ray 5 is the way to go, IMO. When you play the B, there's no reason why you can't allow your hand to "float" without anchoring on anything. Check out Jaco or Jack Bruce on video sometime and notice what they do with the right hand. Same with Jack Casady. You'll find they move it around and use it for tone and delivering notes rather than keeping it welded to a p/u. Of course, guys like Duck Dunn were p/u thumb players so, obviously, it can work. Less flexibility that way, however.