surfguy13 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Hi guys I posted a question about fitting a tug bar to my 60s J bass above the strings, where a later P bass tug would go, but without drilling new holes or using a 2 screw tug bar. I thought maybe I could use a single screw tug bar and install it using a scratchplate screw hole. @Meddle mentioned that 'exotic wood' single screw tug bars were available on Ebay and I had a look and thought well, they can't be [i]that [/i]hard to make. So set to with a spare bit of solid oak leftover from the kitchen worktops and managed to make a single screw tug bar, using the exiting tug bar as a template. And to my amazement it works perfectly and desn't slip at all. The big advantage is that you can twist it round so it offers loads of different options in terms of how and where you rest your thumb. I have it in line with the scratchplate in the photos but it works really well if it is set parallel to the E too. Thought I should post a few photos to inspire anyone who wants or needs a tug bar without drilling. Took me about half an hour and it's a lot more satisfying than ordering one off Ebay! [URL=http://s956.photobucket.com/user/guymerchant/media/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20004_zpsqnnntwum.jpg.html][IMG]http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/guymerchant/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20004_zpsqnnntwum.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s956.photobucket.com/user/guymerchant/media/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20002_zpssjmpqvni.jpg.html][IMG]http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/guymerchant/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20002_zpssjmpqvni.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s956.photobucket.com/user/guymerchant/media/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20001_zpshndtfvjc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/guymerchant/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201968/J%20bass%20tug%20bar%20001_zpshndtfvjc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 That's a great mod. Just a friendly heads up, be careful that it doesn't leave an impression in the pickguard, these old ones can mark from pressure, you may already see that where the pickup cover and original thumbrest go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Did something similar on my P using a pickguard screw . Never liked using the pup as a thumb rest. I used a piece of rosewood. If you add double sided tape (the very thin stuff you peel the backing off) it will not slip around and scratch the plate. The screw need not be over tight then.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 The adhesive may react though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1432568499' post='2782752'] The adhesive may react though.... [/quote] Quite possible on 60's material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfguy13 Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Yes, excellent point! I did consider the issue of it marking the scratchplate but have just added a mod which will hopefully stop that happening. With wood on plastic (or whatever it is) it is really slippy and you have to tighten the screw quite hard to get it to stay in the same place but I have some old black vinyl I used to cover a cab and gut out a small rectangle of that and [i]very [/i]lightly glued to to the underside of the tug bar. It doesn't slip at all and the cushon effect of the vinyl will hopefully stop it marking the scratchplate. Also, you don't have to tighten the screw anything like as hard. I even found a screw that was the same length as the s/plate screw once it had passed through the base of the tug bar so the screw hole isn't enlarged. I tried the tug bar in the screw hole for the pickup cover and that works really well too, in fact it's a very similar position to the tug bar on the P bass. It also occurred to me that you can make the tug bar as long as you want it, within reason, so if you want to play further back/forward you cover those bases. I've been playing it all afternoon and it is pure bliss!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Mine extends from near the neck to the P pickup, almost 3 1/2" long, so it tended to rotate on one screw. Hence the tape. Did not want to drill another mounting hole. I always aim to make any mods reversible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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