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What happened to the thumb guard?

M

mrb1974

Dec 1, 2010
12
0
#1
Hi,

Back in the mid 70's I bought a Fender Precision Bass and it had the thumb guard on the top of the face of the guitar - so you could actually hang your thumb on it.
I remember because my teacher mentioned that they finally moved it to a good spot.
After 35 years away from the bass, I just bought a Godin Freeway 4 with active pickups but I've noticed on all the basses I've looked at that I haven't seen any with the thumb guard in the same place as my old Fender.
Aside from getting used to playing again, I'm going to have to figure out how to hook my thumb on the bass so I can practice.
I'm curious as to why companies removed them.
Anyway, it's no big deal. I don't have my first bass anymore but a college buddy does, so I'm going to visit him and make sure of the model and year.
If anybody has any tips for a 54 year old beginner - just let me know. Things have certainly changed.

mrb1974
 
#3
After years of electric bass people developed different techniques which can be impeded by the thumb rest. You can use a pickup or start out with movable anchor or floating thumb. Search either of those and you'll get what they are.
 
#5
The "thumb guard" used to be on the bottom because it used to be a "tug bar", i.e. you used your fingers to hold the guitar while you plucked the strings with your thumb. It was then moved to the top as "finger style" playing became more popular. i.e you rest your thumb on it. Not sure why it disappeared, but I just use the top of the pickup to rest my thumb.
 
#6
erigod23 said:
What I dont understand is the thumb guard on the bottom of the bass. I can't think of a practical use for that. Can someone tell me?
Click to expand...

When they first started making P-basses the thumb rest was known as the tug bar and was placed below the G string as it was supposed to be used as an anchor for the hands when plucking the strings with your thumb. It was moved above the E-string as techniques shifted and people started playing more finger style, and eventually went away as more advanced techniques became common and people removed them (or it could have simply been because other manufacturers didn't have them so they cut them out to save money).

Edit - Looks like cbrophy beat me to it.
 
#8
BobaFret said:
After years of electric bass people developed different techniques which can be impeded by the thumb rest. You can use a pickup or start out with movable anchor or floating thumb. Search either of those and you'll get what they are.
Click to expand...

+1
Different techniques also meant that many players started to play nearer to the bridge. In they early years most players were plucking closer to the neck.

The most important point however is that with good right hand technique you are not supposed to 'hang' your thumb on anything, but to let the shoulder do the job of carrying the arm and use the thumb only for orientation (anchored thumb) or muting (floating thumb).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
cbrophy said:
The "thumb guard" used to be on the bottom because it used to be a "tug bar", i.e. you used your fingers to hold the guitar while you plucked the strings with your thumb. It was then moved to the top as "finger style" playing became more popular. i.e you rest your thumb on it. Not sure why it disappeared, but I just use the top of the pickup to rest my thumb.
Click to expand...
This.
 

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