Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I played a Jazz Bass for years and usually rested my thumb on the neck pickup. I found it awkward switching over to the 4001 - I was never comfortable resting my thumb on the bridge pickup of the Ric. I finally started resting it on the pickguard close to the neck pickup.

I think a lot of it depends on what you're used to, and you may find some adjustment is necessary.

Found a pic:

I rest my thumb EXACTLY as in the picture above, unless I'm playing some fast stuff on the top strings, in which case I rest my thumb on the E-string. If I'm doing chords, I rest my thumb on the string just below the lowest one in the chord so that I can just whack the strings with my hand and the ones I don't want to play will be muted.

I've NEVER been able to do the floating thumb thing. I NEED to have my hand resting somehow, because of how hard I play. I taught myself recently to be half-passable with a pick (still really far from my finger-picking ability), but in that case, I rest my arm and then just move my hand at the wrist, which I've been told is wrong. When you pick on bass, are you supposed to use your wrist or your arm? Or does it matter?

I sometimes play like Harry, but I don't rest on the pickguard. If I'm playing the E I float. If I'm playing the A, I rest on the E. Playing the D I rest on either the E or A. Playing the G I rest on either the A or G. But the E is a floater.

I taught myself to adapt to the awkwardness of the Rick and when I played my friend's J in NY it was weird. I CAN play a 5 string, as I owned one for over a year and sold it shortly after I got my 4001. I adapted fairly quickly, and when I played the E I rested on the B.. when I played the B I was on the Soapbar bridge pickup. That's where I played when i got my 4001. I recently changed to playing over the neck pickup with floating thumb for Rush tunes and sticking tot he bridge for Maiden tunes.

DO you want to sell that bass (to me) Harry?

John, I think I'm going to hang onto it - my first ever Ric, and one of my favorite basses of all time!

I sometimes play like that pic, but I try not to in case my thumbnail wears the finish at that spot.
I think it was Blair who posted the pic of his 4002 that had the finish worn off down to the wood & the pickguard worn down also from playing there.
I mostly use the pup surround as an anchor for my thumb, or just float. It depends on the song, tempo, dynamics of the particular passage, etc.

Resting on the pickguard

I really don't pay attention to where my thumb rests, but looking at some pics it seems that I often rest my thumb on the e string...I guess it just floats when I'm playing the on the e...

On my LK I don't really have a good thumbrest. I try not to anchor my thumb anyway but old habits die hard. I find myself resting it on the ledge above the p/u's where the carving is. The p/u placement doesn't suit my thumbrest "needs". The p/u placement on my 4004Ci and 4004L are perfect and are placed so the feel is about the same as it was on my 4003's where, as you can see, I used the bridge p/u surround as my anchor/reference point.

Cool shots Brian. Impressive to see her in action. The kids are going to think you were a rock star. What am I saying, I hear in Cleveland you is one!

Brian, will you be carving a blood groove in the LK? ;^)

Hopefully no more "incidents" will occur where any of my basses will require a "blood groove" but my LK appreciates your concern Paul.

Gary.....thanks, but the "kids" likely think I'm an old man that doesn't know when to step aside. After all I'm playing "classic" rock from the '80's /90's (Motorhead/Metallica/Pantera/Zombie/Maiden/etc.).

What Maiden tunes do you play? Just wondering if they're some I should bother learning, or have learned.

As a band we are only currently playing "Number of the Beast" at gigs and kicking around a few others. Being a three piece gives me the opportunity to stretch my part a little to fill some voids and NOTB has some pretty cool riffs behind the solo. I get to throw plenty of chords in and the fills keep things interesting.

I always loved playing Steve Harris bass lines so I know or have forgotten everything from the"Powerslave" cd and before. A few of my favorites are "Phantom of the Opera", "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", "Wrathchild", "Revelations", "Quest for Fire" and "Die With Your Boots On". Pretty much anything off the first 5 albums is a winner IMO.