Is a Rickenbacher right for me?

Matthew_Hague · Post by **Matthew_Hague** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 8:05 am

Hey! I've wanted a Rickenbacher bass ever since i first saw one, but have never had the chance to even touch one. (Yeah I know, you should buy a bass for the sound rather than looks - but they look so good...) But there's one little thing that's been bugging me... I like to play bass using my fingers, resting my thumb on the pick-ups, but from looking at pictures the standard Ricky pick-ups don't appear to 'support' this style of play. Am I right? (I hope I'm wrong, cos those turquoise 4003 look so damn cool.)

rob · Post by **rob** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:26 am

Number one: Rickenbackers do look AND sound good.
Number Two: That's why THUMBRESTS were invented.

Matthew_Hague · Post by **Matthew_Hague** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:33 am

Number one: Yeah I'm stupid
Number Two: See number one

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:35 am

Matthew: I hear what you are saying...I have used Rickenbackers for over twenty years; I also have other basses that utilize the type of picking style you refer to: resting your thumb on the pickup. Just because Ricks are not engineered like a Fender Jazz, or say a Spector (both have fixed raised p/ups),I don't think you will have any problem in playing one. I tend to rest my thumb on the top screw on the treble pickup plate...and when I play the upper register (anything above the open A 3rd string) I use the string itself as a rest, and don't have any problems...I go back and forth from one bass to another quite a bit and I don't have to go through a drastic adjustment in picking style...now go buy one !!!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:38 am

OR...you could do what a lot of other people do and remove the treble pickup cover.....

Matt_Hague · Post by **Matt_Hague** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 9:50 am

Yeah, but even without the cover it looks a bit awkward - i just wondered if there was a decent place for my thumb. I forgot about the existence of thumbrests (duh!) (You don't realise how seriously i'm considering blowing this terms student loan - it seems like a better investment than food and lager.)(...No, really...)

marcinkus · Post by **marcinkus** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 11:57 am

WHO DOES manufacture thumbrests? I'd like to have one (as vintage RICs featured)

rob · Post by **rob** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 6:29 pm

Matt-It was just a joke. Don't take what I say too seriously.

JBlakey · Post by **JBlakey** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 3:14 am

I have found that I have several main playing positions with my 4001 with thumb resting on...the top edge of the pickguard for the bass p/u position; the treble pickup itself (not the metal surround) for treble position; and the top corner of the neck for really fast complicated stuff... and of course the E-string.
MATTHEW: I would not worry about it. I switch fingering positions all the time without thinking about it...many times in a single song even.
Keep in mind that so many inspiring,great players (many of whom play the way you speak of) rely on these basses... if thumbrest was a problem you wouldn't see (and hear) that.

Matt_Hague · Post by **Matt_Hague** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 3:58 am

I wasn't taking it seriously - just copying your layout for a joke. Just laughing at my stupidity. ]

)<P<

rob · Post by **rob** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 4:51 am

As mentioned before, you could rest your thumb on the treble pickup surround or the cover itself. But, the cover is made from plastic and might wear out over time. (Okay, I'll finally shut up about plastic, but I had to get that one in!) Matt- Don't think of yourself as stupid, just think of it as a "Learning Experience."

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Thu Jun 07, 2001 10:08 pm

In the '70 (4001) the treble pickup cover was metal!

Bassybill · Post by **Bassybill** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 1:43 pm

I play with a pick and occasional fingers but still found it frustrating when i first got my rick as nowhere seemed right for a finger rest. The top edge of the bridge pick up mount seemed too far away from the strings for me so i now use the hole between the pickup and the pickup surround. Works great, no way your thumb moves from there and its only a small movement to occasionally rest it on the E-string.

modelcitizen · Post by **modelcitizen** » Mon Aug 27, 2001 2:18 pm

I find the edge of both the neck and bridge pickups to be good anchor points, but don't give enough room to dig in if you're rocking out.

I also used to anchor my thumb on the top screw of the bridge pickup plate, but again couldn't always guarantee that i'd anchor back there after a rocking flurry (windmills, etc!).

So, I ended up taking a small (penny-diameter-size) rubber mounting "foot", and used Ados (contact glue) to fix it over that screw, onto the pickup plate. The contact glue ensures it won't eat into the finish, and now i've got a *very* comfortable rest that I can find in a hurry!

)

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Aug 27, 2001 3:18 pm

Sorry Dr Pete ...as far as I know ...the covers used after the horseshoe pickup was removed from service in the early 1970's ...it has always been a plastic cover on the bridge pickup and a metal cover on the neck pickup.