Thumb rest? Yes or no.

[Yahboy]

Guys, I play a Sterling ray 4. The position that I get the sound I like is 1/2 way between the base of the neck and pickup. I want to add a thumb rest in this position. I hate to screw one on. Double stick tape will eventually turn loose plus does not look as good. Bass has a black pickguard & I have a black thumb rest. Its not like i am adding one to Fodera. Thoughts?

I suggest try make some adjust on you playing tecnic.
In earlier day I start learning playing bass, a bassist teach me pluck the G string then the plucking finger stop right D string, same with others string. And it become a problem to me when pluck the E string, there are no support after pluck it.
So I put a Thumbrest beside E string.

After a years, I found that kind of plucking skill cause lacking tone dynamic , it is like hit and rest, hit and rest plucking style. And make choke tone effect on stopping string.It also cause fast double finger has different feel on E string vs others .

So, I start learning flooding hand and use the palm or thumb mute the E and A string when plucking D and G string. This skills make me play the Ti flat with no floopy feel at all even low action.
This skill also let me play easy and comfort on tight string spacing bass.

Hopehelp.

 

[vid1900]

Those "Command Strips" won't come loose, and won't leave any glue behind.

 

[blastoff]

3m VHB. its the good stuff

 

[PockySteve]

No on a thumbrest.

 

[kalle74]

Use 3M tape.

This.

 

[Clemouze]

Guys, I play a Sterling ray 4. The position that I get the sound I like is 1/2 way between the base of the neck and pickup. I want to add a thumb rest in this position. I hate to screw one on. Double stick tape will eventually turn loose plus does not look as good. Bass has a black pickguard & I have a black thumb rest. Its not like i am adding one to Fodera. Thoughts?

See my ramp, sticked with blu-tack , crafted with layers of a black pickguard.
On jazz bass neck pickup spot

 

[moreblues]

No

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

A bass is an instrument. An instrument is a tool to convey your art like a brush is to a painter or a hammer to a sculptor. Do whatever modifications you need to make it easy for you to express your self. If you can't do that to your current instrument, sell it and buy one that you won't worry doing modifications.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Guys, I play a Sterling ray 4. The position that I get the sound I like is 1/2 way between the base of the neck and pickup. I want to add a thumb rest in this position. I hate to screw one on. Double stick tape will eventually turn loose plus does not look as good. Bass has a black pickguard & I have a black thumb rest. Its not like i am adding one to Fodera. Thoughts?

Do what you need to do. Personally, I wouldn't do it. Find a place on the bass to rest your thumb and use your tone knob on the bass and/or amp to shape your tone. It's a Ray, so it should be easy to dial in "your" tone.

 

[Killing Floor]

I don’t use a thumbrest most of the time but I have a couple Fenders with them and find myself using it. So why not? Your bass isn’t going to lose value because of a thumb rest. Make it yours.

 

[darwin-bass]

No, no thumb rest. A thumb rest is a crutch and an anchor. It keeps your hand in one position so you can't vary your tone and can contribute to poor right hand muting technique by keeping your thumb from being involved in string muting.

I used to use a thumb rest. Now that I don't, my playing is better. I suspect I'm not alone and that others could benefit from being liberated from the thumb rest.

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

Guys, I play a Sterling ray 4. The position that I get the sound I like is 1/2 way between the base of the neck and pickup. I want to add a thumb rest in this position. I hate to screw one on. Double stick tape will eventually turn loose plus does not look as good. Bass has a black pickguard & I have a black thumb rest. Its not like i am adding one to Fodera. Thoughts?

it's your bass; if it'll make you happy, do it. if you end up hating it just unscrew it and pull it off. not like 2 little screwholes will ruin the bass

 

[elgranluis]

Most of my basses have a thumb rest (or tug bar) ( that’s how they came from the factory). I alwayS anchor my finger on the lowest string , so for me, thumb Rests are merely aesthetic. Having said that, as long as it’s not one of those “extra long” ones, go ahead.

 

[IamGroot]

I "hid" the thumbrest on my StingKitty in the bow using double sided tape. The tape is more powerful than it seems: I can pick up the bass by the thumbrest, and we all know how heavy 'rays are.
View attachment 3841173

Gorgeous bass

 

[Seedpicker]

I vote yes, but also that most thumb rests are in poor positions (and too tall). Mine are right next to the lowest string (E or A, depending on if it's a 4 or 5). When I'm playing the lowest string, my thumb is on the side of the thumb rest. When I'm not playing the lowest string, my thumb is on top of the thumb rest, damping the lowest string.

View attachment 3840937

Nordstrands? Nice!

 

[sawzalot]

I use zero-mods on almost all my MusicMans. Works great.

 

[micguy]

Nordstrands? Nice!

On that bass, the bridge is a Norstrand. The neck is a Dimarzio model P. Both companies make good stuff, and, in this case, they play nicely with each other (via a rather unique circuit). Looking at my little herd, Nordstrand is (at least currently) in the lead as far as pickup count goes - good pickups, great people to do business with.

 

[Seedpicker]

Yes!

I make wooden thumb rests for my basses and stick them on with double-stick mounting tape.

I "hid" the thumbrest on my StingKitty in the bow using double sided tape.

what kind of doublesided tape are you guys using?