Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

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.

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.

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.

proper technic is never resting the thumb anyway lol

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!)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 ...

i rest it on my plectrum.

George Clinton?!

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

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