thumb rest

[jim4237]

Hey all. My wife just bought me a 30 anniversary stingray for a wedding gift. we got married in august. I've been out of the "band" scene for a while raising 5 kids and I'm just starting out again playing in my home office. I used to play all Metallica/original back in the 90's.........OK: it was a big drunk fest, But it happened. I'm trying to get into soul/blues, etc. I played with our wedding band. "mustang sally", with my new stingray. Unfortunately, our wedding videographer forgot to plug in the audio when i was playing. Nice video, but NO sound. Sucks because that was one of the reasons we wanted a video, with sound.
Anyway, I'm here playin around, and trust me, I'm not that good: But I would like to be able to play a little higher from the pickups: especially if I want to try some slap/pop.... I'm wondering if I could "install" a thumb rest higher on the body, above the pickup. Is this worth doing? Would I be ruining the value of the bass? do I need it? Thanks for the advice....

 

[AnthonyD]

Not necessary...

I think in no time at all you'll find the pick-up an excellent thumb rest - whether you playright over it, behind it or in front of it.

Slap and pop doesn't involve resting your thumb anywhere...

You can also try resting your thumb on the 'E' string at times, moving off when actually playing on the 'E' string, of course.

In no time it will become a non-issue... Give yourself just a little time.

 

[jim4237]

thanks for the advice. Sometimes I get to the point where I need/want to "pluck" the strings a little and I find myself right over the pickup. I can see how it might get in the way sometimes. I can also see the tone difference when playing above the pickup, ( meaning closer to the neck)> One of the reasons I liked the stingray, and musicman in general, is because of the "room" the body has to slap/pop without pickups in the way. It has alot of room. The downfall is NO thumb rest when needed....
Anyway, as I practice, and get back to where i was 12 yrs ago, I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions. Thanks for responding.

 

[AnthonyD]

I find that I most of the time I position my thumb along the neck-side of the pick-up without actually resting on it. This developed naturally, as I consiously used that corner of the pick-up as a thumbrest when I started with my Sterling.

As you've discovered, the right-hand positioning has an effect on your overall tome. Without a "fixed" position (e.g. installed thumbrest) you have the ability to coax different tones right out of your fingertips - literally!

 

[jim4237]

I understand the different tones i can get by moving off the pickup... I'm just learning that now. (So many options, so much time). I just want to practice all the time. But thanks for the advice. Every time I pick this bass up I either learn something, or get better at something. I guess thats all I can ask for. what made me like, (or want) a musicman bass is that i saw a video of "Flea: red hot chilli peppers", many years ago doing a commentary with river (pheonix):> Sorry, thats the only way I know how to spell it. Flea was unbelievable:>>>>>>>>>>> He did alot of slap/pop with the musucman. I may never get there, but I'm trying to get that comfortable with this bass... thanks again for the input.

 

[Aussie Mark]

When I anchor my thumb I use the edge of the SR pickguard

 

[strummer]

When I anchor my thumb I use the edge of the SR pickguard

There's also a picture somewhere on Gavins site where someone made a lot of holes in a pick guard for thumb rests.

 

[LowDownDave]

And if you REALLY want a thumb-rest and are worried about reducing the re-sale value of the bass, I don't see why you couldn't simply buy a replacement pickguard and install a thumb-rest on that one. Then if you DO decide to sell the bass (for whatever silly reason ) then you could always return the original pickguard and all is well.

And I'm assuming here the 30th Ray pickguard is unique, because if it's not you could add the thumb-rest now and replace with a new "un-holey" one in the future.

 

[Nickytwister]

In my experience if you do install a thumb rest you'll probably end up regretting it.
Give yourself a little more time adjusting to your Stingray and the potential right hand position options - those include neck edge, scratchplate edge pickup edge and E string as previously mentioned.
You've got a great bass there - and a great wife too by the sounds of it! Don't fret too much about being out the game - you're back in it which is all that matters!
Nick x

www.myspace.com/nickytwister

 

[BigStrings]

Agree with Nickytwister. Why limit yourself to one position with a thumb rest? As stated above, you can use the edge of the neck, E string, top edge of pickguard (kind of high for me) and the pickup itself.

I used to feel the same way as you and thought I needed a thumb rest to be able to really dig in cleanly but after some time playing without one, I now would never consider one. Good advice above, give yourself some time and that thumb will find itself a home all by itself and you'll never give it another thought.

 

[58super]

I agree with the other posters that not using a fixed thumb rest opens up alot more possiblilities in the tone department.

I just can't imagine drilling holes in a 30th though but then again its not my bass.

 

[lamerjay]

I think if you feel you need the thumbrest install it. It being a beautiful bass, it is still a tool. I think the extra pickguard would be an excelent idea though...

 

[Mobay45]

I think you will find that the thumbrest on basses went away for a reason. There are so many more possible sounds available to you if you can float your right hand between the bridge and the neck (and even over the neck). I've never had a thumbrest so I'll never miss it.

If you do feel that you just have to have one, do get another pickguard and install it with countersunk screws from the back side. That way you won't have something that can't be undone.

Although I still believe that you should give it some time and try a while without a thumbrest. The edge of the pickup makes a great rest when you need it. And my B string works as one from time to time too, but that's not an option for you.

 

[cdb]

When I anchor my thumb I use the edge of the SR pickguard

Me too.I use my thumb more like a point of reference or a pivot device, more than an actual rest. Allows more flexibility. I like to play up near the neck, not on top of the pickup....

 

[Max]

I once saw the bassist from Queen using a thumb-rest on the Stingray he was playing, but I think it'd be better to just leave the Ray as it is and get used to the feel of it.

As for me, I usually play over the neck pickup with my thumb resting on it, but I also sometimes rest it on the pickguard, or even the fretboard itself. There's a variety of ways you can play without a thumb-rest, it just takes a little getting used to.

 

[tkarter]

When a wife buys you a bass like that you shouldn't be worried about paying attention to your thumb.



Give that woman a hug from all of us. She is special.

tk

 

[Dean217]

Thumb rest on Stingray

When I first got my Stingray, the lack of a thumbrest was a big issue to me. It's a personal preference, and I know a lot of bassists feel differently, but for me, having a consistent right hand thumbrest position is important and a big personal preference.

Here is how I solved the problem.... I ordered a replacement pickguard, so as not to affect any resale value (although I haven't sold the bass yet).

I had the idea of using a thin strip of plastic for a thumbrest. Since the replacement pickguard I ordered was white, I wanted a white thumbrest that would be relatively low profile, visibly. After some thinking and looking around, I ended up finding a white plastic plumbing flange (I am not kidding) at Lowe's that worked out perfectly as a source for the plastic thumbrest.

I put the plastic flange in a vice grip on my workbench and used a small handsaw to cut a thin thumbrest strip (the plastic is soft and easy to cut smoothly). I used fine sandpaper to smooth it out. Then, I took 2 measurements of distance - from the bridge and from the E string from the bass I was most comfortable with at that point (my Rickenbacker 4003). I used a small amount of superglue to put the plastic thumbrest right on the plastic pickguard at that same comfortable point that I had been used to with my Rick.

It has made all the difference in the world to me. I have used the thumbrest since '97 (almost 10 years), and it has not come off or given me any problems. And having that comfortable position makes it so much easier for me to play my style of fingerstyle bass.

This fix is not for everybody, but it sure worked great for me. It never ceases to amaze other bassists, too. The thumbrest is visible at close range, but doesn't look too bad. Best of all, with no screws going into the wood and a replaceable pickguard, it is the definition of a 100% reverseable mod.

I'm going to try to post a photo of the bass here (my first attempt to post a photo on this forum). I don't have a closeup photo, but could get one posted when I get back home this weekend if anyone is interested.

 

[AnthonyD]

Cool mod - from the looks of the pic, appears invisible!


Welcome!

 

[Dean217]

Stingray thumb rest photos

Okay, I was able to use my wife's digital camera and snap a couple of photos that are more illustrative of the thumbrest I installed on my stingray's pickguard.

The first photo is of the white plastic plumbing flange I purchased from Lowe's as the source for the thumbrest plastic, alongside the small handsaw I used to cut it (note: I cut it while it was held stationary in a vice, then sanded it with fine sandpaper - I then superglued it to the pickguard, in a pre-measured position based on what was a comfortable thumbrest position from another bass I'd used for a long time [I took measurements from the bridge and from the E-string]).

The second photo is a closer, better shot of what the thumbrest looks like.

Like I said in my previous post, I've used this thumbrest for 10 years without any problems. It has been a lifesaver in terms of making my Stingray comfortable for my particular plucking style!

 

[Randracula]

Before you install that thumbrest you should check out this video[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]