webby Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hi, Stupid question here.... Sometimes when I play I rest my thumb on the top of the pickup that extends up and above the E string. I've seen a lot of Precision basses with a 'thumb rest' screwed onto the pickguard below the G string. What's the idea of this? Why would you want a thumb rest there? See here in this image: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 That's a finger-pull. The idea was that you rested the palm of your hand on the "ashtray" (the chrome pickup cover), lodged your fingers against the finger-pull, and then played with your thumb just over the end of the fretboard. Not many people were still playing like that by the end of the 60's, so eventually Fender ditched the finger-pull and introduced the thumb-rest instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 (edited) It's harking back to the "Olden Days" when most Bassists making the transition to Electric Bass played with their thumb, and anchored their fingers on it. (Edit-beaten to it. Damn my slow typing!) Edited March 5, 2012 by BigAlonBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 [quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1330977831' post='1565760'] (Edit-beaten to it. Damn my slow typing!) [/quote] You're all thumbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1330978371' post='1565775'] You're all thumbs? [/quote] Not these days. I wore them away to stumps playing Bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Also known as the tug bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webby Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 So, it's pretty pointless then these days? It's there for authenticity's sake, especially on the Classic Vibe bass pictured, yeah? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1330977795' post='1565758'] That's a finger-pull. The idea was that you rested the palm of your hand on the "ashtray" (the chrome pickup cover), lodged your fingers against the finger-pull, and then played with your thumb just over the end of the fretboard. Not many people were still playing like that by the end of the 60's, so eventually Fender ditched the finger-pull and introduced the thumb-rest instead. [/quote] This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 [quote name='webby' timestamp='1330979316' post='1565800'] So, it's pretty pointless then these days? It's there for authenticity's sake, especially on the Classic Vibe bass pictured, yeah? [/quote] Yes. I've got one on mine, but many were taken off and chucked away, along with the ashtrays (hence them being used as...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Some Youtube clips of the tugbar in action in this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/165990-thumb-rest-above-or-below/page__p__1510136__hl__thumb%20rest%20above%20or%20below__fromsearch__1#entry1510136"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/165990-thumb-rest-above-or-below/page__p__1510136__hl__thumb%20rest%20above%20or%20below__fromsearch__1#entry1510136[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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