What is this?

[Skeletomania]

I'm relatively new to playing bass and I saw a bassist played a bass with this. I was wondering what does it do.

 

[brothernewt]

a thumbrest. or on the lower side, theoretically, a finger rest. put your finger there to anchor it and pluck the strings with your thumb. mostly they don't get used, they just look "vintage".

 

[BadB]

I believe it's a rest for your fingers while playing bass with your thumb or a pick.

 

[JimmyM]

He may be talking about the mutes on the bridge. Those are little felt pieces that deaden the strings a little to make the bass sound more thuddy.

 

[brothernewt]

if you look at the larger image... the thumb/finger rest is circled.

 

[Pan]

strange as it may seem . . . many people played with the thumb in the early days. I saw horrible large plastic picks too with curled edges to hook the strings with. Even picks made of green felt.
Who on earth would consider resting your thumb on a pickup and using your fingers?

 

[j-raj]

He may be talking about the mutes on the bridge. Those are little felt pieces that deaden the strings a little to make the bass sound more thuddy.

open the thumbnail and look at what is circled in blue....

 

[JimmyM]

I must be losing my eyesight. I had to focus for a couple seconds before I even saw that circle. OK, never mind.

 

[iriegnome]

It is a Finger Rest. Years ago, bass players played using their thumb. Bill Wyman used this style in the early days of the Stones!

 

[ras1983]

let chime in and say that's a mighty fine bass that is.