Resting thumb on pickup

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:48 am

If you rest your thumb on the bridge pickup, is there enough space to get a good pluck on the E string? In pics, it looks very close to the edge of the pickup.

Thanks.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:06 am

It depends on the year of Rick. I find the pickup on the current 4003 to be smaller top to bottom than the ones on older 4003's and 4001's.

I sort of use the top of the pickup, the strings, and the bridge pickup surround as a reference point.

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:24 am

1976 4001. It's the one I'm considering buying, but haven't seen it in person yet. It has the Seymour Duncans installed, but also has the original pickups, which I would probably put back in.

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:54 am

proper technic is never resting the thumb anyway lol

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:07 am

Once the SD bridge pickup has been removed and destroyed you'll find that the original bridge pickup on a '76 4001 makes an excellent thumb rest, Ken.(When you're not using your thumb to play, that is!)

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 am

Thanks, Jeff. That's great to hear; that is when I'm not using my thumb to listen.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:37 am

better yet, rest your thumb on the horseshoe...

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:25 am

Jared, not with my playing style, which I got from my teacher, Patrick Pfeiffer. I rest my thumb on the pickup, tilted, so my fingers are both over the pickup and using my thumb to hit against when I play on the E string, like the rest of the strings have another string for your fingers to hit.

I could not ask for a better teacher than Patrick, plus he taught Adam Clayton from U2 how to play (when they finally made him learn), and recently did some session work for George Clinton.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:29 am

Ah, Jared beat me to it! That's where my thumb goes. Right on the rear Horsey! (Better than the horsey's rear).

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:01 am

I rest my thumb on the string above the one I'm using. When I hit the E I might rest on a pickup, or my entire hand might move up with the upstroke. With what I'm learning now (Iron Maiden) floating thumb is a must. I hardly rest it on the pickup anymore.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:45 am

your thumb will be put to good use by holding a pick ...

seriously ... I don't really use or need thumb rests ... but the edge of the pickguard or the edge of a pickup can work ... or even a low B string ...

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:55 am

i rest it on my plectrum.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:29 pm

George Clinton?!

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:32 pm

I let my thumb float also, so it can be used to mute strings.

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:38 pm

I rest my thumb on the top corner of the pickguard that is closest to the treble/bridge pickup