Thumb rest on Bongo?

**Jornan** · 12-28-2008, 11:22 AM

I just bought a Bongo 4 HH and have discovered a problem: I don't have a place to rest my thumb when playing on the E-string! The humbuckers don't have an edge to rest the thumb on, so what do all you Bongo players do? My thumb slips of the humbuckers ...

**PeteDuBaldo** · 12-28-2008, 12:39 PM

Easy, buy a 5-string Bongo

**Eggman** · 12-28-2008, 01:04 PM

I rest my thumb on the little scooped out area on the side of the neck pickup. Seems to work for me.

Other thing you could do is just use the top three strings!!!

(sorry - couldn't resist)

**Caca de Kick** · 12-28-2008, 01:20 PM

All the dual pickup basses have that scooped edge and I've always found that to be a perfectly comfy spot as a thumbrest.

**Aussie Mark** · 12-28-2008, 01:31 PM

Edge of the pickguard works too.

**bassmonkeee** · 12-28-2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Aussie Mark

Edge of the pickguard works too.

So does the end of the fretboard.

**strummer** · 12-29-2008, 12:42 AM

Mostly I have my thumb on the neck pick up cover

**koogie2k** · 12-29-2008, 07:17 AM

I always thought the scooped area on the pup was for the thumb rest....that is what I use.

**five7** · 12-29-2008, 07:47 AM

You could mount a thumb rest from a fender jazz bass where ever you like.

**strummer** · 12-29-2008, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by 57fenderjazz

You could mount a thumb rest from a fender jazz bass where ever you like.

So true, but the tip is then to glue it onto the pick guard instead of drilling the bass.

**Jornan** · 12-29-2008, 02:19 PM

It's easy to change the pickguard, right? If I buy a new pickguard, then I can glue the thumb rest on that one, and I just change the pickguard to take it on and off? I have discovered that the corners on the humbuckers work, but I'd prefer a thumb rest

**PeteDuBaldo** · 12-29-2008, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jornan

It's easy to change the pickguard, right? If I buy a new pickguard, then I can glue the thumb rest on that one, and I just change the pickguard to take it on and off? I have discovered that the corners on the humbuckers work, but I'd prefer a thumb rest

Yep, all you have to do is remove the screws and the pickguard can lift right off!

**ronnyG** · 12-29-2008, 11:06 PM

I remember when I first got my 90 SR4 single H I installed a thumb rest down by the bridge because I liked the "punchier", tighter sound and feel from playing in that position. I made it out of plastic and did screw it on, but I removed the pick guard and put stickers all over it (not saying you should do that lol, I was a teen), but when I eventually removed the stickers and reinstalled the pick guard you could not see the 2 tiny holes left by the thumb rest.

But I never had any problems using the edge of the pick up as a thumb rest after that.

If deciding to use a thumb rest the idea with the gluing on to the pick guard might do the trick..I would use a good 2 part epoxy. Scuff up the mating surfaces on the bottom of the thumb rest and the area where you are gluing it on the pick guard with some rough sandpaper and it will probably never come off even if you chiseled it..use a quality 2 part epoxy as that is key.