Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

FretlessOnly wrote:In any case, this is my only real beef with RIcks - the lack of a proper anchor point. I use the crook of the neck/body, the neck pickuup, and/or the PG just to the right of the neck PU. None of these are great (some because of location and others because of lack of a sufficiently big anchor), and the location of the PG screws precludes the addition of a thumbrest that could be added in my sweet spot (the dip in the PG) without any modification to the bass. But, it is a small price to pay.

+1

...not wanting to sound too protective, but I worry about scratching the finish / pickgaurd / pickup with my thumb nail on my new 4003. My other bass I don't care the finish, it's not brand spankers.

Could be an opportunity for an enterprising pick guard maker....built in thumb rest?

a thumbrest that could be added in my sweet spot (the dip in the PG) without any modification to the bass.

Years ago I had a 1986 4003S that I made a thumb rest for and superglued it onto the guard in this area. It was very comfortable and didn't require screw holes. I figured replacing the guard was easy to do if needed.

FretlessOnly wrote:In any case, this is my only real beef with RIcks - the lack of a proper anchor point. I use the crook of the neck/body, the neck pickuup, and/or the PG just to the right of the neck PU. None of these are great (some because of location and others because of lack of a sufficiently big anchor), and the location of the PG screws precludes the addition of a thumbrest that could be added in my sweet spot (the dip in the PG) without any modification to the bass. But, it is a small price to pay.

Different strokes for different folks--I feel comfortable in numerous right hand positions on my Rics, those you listed and several more. I wonder why people are so different about stuff like this, something physiological maybe?

I think it's a mixture of physiology, how physiology interacts with playing style, and finally, tone.

I have fairly large hands, so I like to anchor about an inch or a little more above the E string and I generally prefer the round tone and string tension you get about two inches from the end of the fingerboard. As I mentioned, I do move around, but that's my spot.

When I want to play DEEP sounding notes, I brace it on the pickguard. Or I strum the strings just between the pickups and no thumb is needed at that point.
When I play more "articulated" passages, for lack of a better term, I actually brace it between the bridge
and the HS Pickup on the E string. <---This is the majority of my playing style actually.

I don't anchor mine at all, but I pick with my thumb, index finger and second finger (kind of a transition from originally flat-picking almost everything on my old fretless Gibson). These days, if I'm playing fingerstyle (which is nearly all the time on everything except thr Gibson) it's about half index finger and the other half whatever is closest to the string I need.

For me, it depends on the bass and the tone i'm after.

4003:
-the string above the one I'm playing.
-the thumbrest on my deluxe treble pickup bezel (which is located where a 5th string would be)
-top of the neck pickup.

4001C64:
Behind the horseshoe:
-the string above the one I'm playing
-on top of the bass-side horseshoe
-on the RIHS mounting screw

In front of the horseshoe:
-the string above the one I'm playing
-top of the neck pickup
-edge of the pickguard between the pickups.
-end of the fingerboard.

To further complicate matters, sometimes I use my thumb to pluck.

So, yeah, I'm all over the place. But I'm more of a meat-n-potatoes kind of player. I typically use my hands to get the tone i want rather than a bunch of knobs and switches.

anoukane wrote:On the pickguard. Works perfectly fine for me.

Yep!

For a good part of the time I'm playing, I'm not anchoring my thumb at all. Gives me the freedom to move my plucking hand position when needed, quickly in mid song.

I bought one of the Tube Ampology Treble Bezel pickup surrounds. I got the deluxe version that has a ridge at the top that sits at the top of the pickup. This thing is great, it fills the hole if you wanna remove the pickup cover and the thumb anchor is in exactly the right place.

http://www.tubeampology.com/2501.html

I rest my thumb on the back of the neck, makes fingering the notes much easier...

Who's Who wrote:I bought one of the Tube Ampology Treble Bezel pickup surrounds. I got the deluxe version that has a ridge at the top that sits at the top of the pickup. This thing is great, it fills the hole if you wanna remove the pickup cover and the thumb anchor is in exactly the right place.

http://www.tubeampology.com/2501.html

+3!! I have one of these on all of my Rickenbacker's, except for Snow White. Since she has an actually functioning magnetic horseshoe pup I've had to find another anchor point. I perch my thumb on the tail piece side upper corner of the treble pup surround. It is a bit more of a reach to hit the D & G strings but I have big hands with long fingers. It's actually easier than I thought it would be to play. I tend to play slower paced songs with Snow White due to the warmer sound she provides, but I also find myself using a pick more with her than any of my other basses.

I'll most likely put another one on my Shadow when it arrives. I may try a cove style since if my hand gets a little sweaty, my finger does slide around a bit on the deluxe ledge.

Sepp

I anchor my thumb on one side of my plectrum.

Like Bert, I rarely use my fingers, but if I do I use a pickup or the edge of the pickguard if it's convenient. But 99% I use a pick. And no slapping.

Right here: