Zero Mod Thumb Rest

[spongebob]

Bought one of these last week and added it to my 4003.

Really nice piece of kit, and makes playing fingerstyle so much easier!

Don't want to break any rules here - I'm not affiliated to the seller - but I'm happy to give the website link if anyone is interested. He sells through Ebay as well, so you can buy from there.

Might not be for all tastes, but it's a no-mod required job, and I for one like the results!

[Ashgray]

Agreed Iain - I bought a few last year and fitted them to all my Ricks - I find they help greatly with my finger-style playing as there no other natural anchor point for me. I'd recommend them to any Rick finger-style player.

Ash

[FretlessOnly]

I happen to really like them also. I have three RIC basses and I've installed this on two of them. They really are a truly reversible mod. The screws are a bit longer to fit the recessed mounting points, but the part of the screw that penetrates the body is essentially the same as the original PG screws. I've removed both of these and reinstalled the original screws and they snugged up just fine.

One rather amusing argument I've read against anchoring is that it limits timbral possibilities. I would think that it's a fairly simple concept that refusing to change an anchor point limits timbral possibilities. Having a place to anchor (or three or four; along with the option to not anchor if desired) does not.

[T28]

I also have these.
I just got (last week) one for my '87 4001V63 and love both the look and the feel. The one I got was frosted and it blends in nicely with the pickguard.

A cautionary note....it is best to ALWAYS measure the distance between screws. Even though the majority of V63's had a 95mm distance, mine was 105mm which resulted in having to return the first one and get a new one specially machined to properly fit.

[coolingitdown]

One rather amusing argument I've read against anchoring is that it limits timbral possibilities. I would think that it's a fairly simple concept that refusing to change an anchor point limits timbral possibilities. Having a place to anchor (or three or four; along with the option to not anchor if desired) does not.

+1

I always found that argument ridiculous as well. I have deluxe pickup bezels on two of my basses, but that doesn't mean my thumb never leaves the thumb rest. Other anchor points include strings, the top of the pickguard, and the end of the neck. I don't see the sense in never moving my thumb, but I would at the same time find it uncomfortable to have nowhere to put it.

[jayfbv]

I've posted this before. It's DIY thing...white foam tape and a small piece of plastic.

[cassius987]

One rather amusing argument I've read against anchoring is that it limits timbral possibilities. I would think that it's a fairly simple concept that refusing to change an anchor point limits timbral possibilities. Having a place to anchor (or three or four; along with the option to not anchor if desired) does not.

I guess I'm one of those amusing people. In my head, anchor points are more like speed bumps, kind of like frets; I don't want to feel like some piece of plastic is telling me where to put my hand. Maybe I'm just stubborn. But in any case I've never felt like anything was missing as far as a thumb rest on, well, any bass.

[FretlessOnly]

It's not telling you, it's offering it to you.

[cassius987]

Sure, I was being hyperbolic for fun. But if I'm not going to use it, it's just a big plastic thing I want out of my way.

[rikk]

My thumb just goes where it goes. I don't even think about it. When I got my V63 there was a fundamental change in the way I had to play because of the horseshoe. But in shirt time, again my thumb just went where it wants to go. Back when I used to play Fender the ones I had came with the thumb rests. But soon I removed them as they got in the way. But if you like thumb rests these look great as they are a reversible mod.