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Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 3:43 pm
by Tab
On the original 60's 'P' Bass there is a black oblong item screwed (two screws) on to the top right of the scratch plate close to the right hand side of the base of the neck.

What is this and what purpose did it serve?

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 3:49 pm
by Jay Bass
Hi Terry
Are You talking about The Thumb rest, i cant think of anything else attached to the pickguard
This was originaly called a pull bar , people who played with thier thumb would use this to anchor thier fingers on?

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:18 pm
by JimN
As originally placed on the treble side of the body, that rosewood (later plastic) bar was not for the thumb.

It was designed to let (some of) the fingers sit in a more or less natural position whilst the thumb was being used to play the strings. Later, the item was placed on the bass side of the strings so that the thumb could anchor the hand whilst playing with the fingers (or some of them).

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:37 pm
by Tab
Thanks both. Always wondered, not being a bass player but owning a later Japanese 'P' bass without said bar.

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:20 am
by MMStingray54
People talking about basses - excellent!!

To expand on what Jim has said, it's called a tug bar. Introduced on the 51 Precision as a piece of maple held on by one screw, it gravitated to a plastic bar held on by two screws in early 57 (when the Precision changed from a telecaster shape with huge pickguard to more of a Strat shape). It also appeared on the Jazz Bass from the start. This enabled people to 'tug' at it with their fingers whilst striking the strings with their thumb - which few bass players actually did, using either a pick or their finger(s) to play (eg James Jamerson - allegedly one finger).

However it took Fender until 74 (Jazz) and 73 (Precision) to move said bar to above the E string enabling finger style players to plant their thumb on it and pluck with their fingers - the original position having confused many a young player and been used by very few, this new position appeared to have some purpose - however not only could the new position impede pick players, it could certainly cause a bruised thumb for the burgeoning thumb slap player, a style which was taking off at the same time in R and B (early Rose Royce, Sly and the Family Stone and many others). Fender deleted it around 1983 with the American Standard and other new versions - although it has remained on reissues.

It's sort of part of the 'furniture' on vintage Fender basses and reissues!

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:32 am
by Uncle Fiesta
My Rickenbacker 4001 (a '72) had a clear plastic one on the treble side.

As for slap players getting bruised thumbs, well serve 'em right I say.

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 4:13 am
by MMStingray54
Oo er - are you allowed to mention Rickenbacker here?! Great bass though and I've never noticed a rest bar on them (probably because it's clear). Stingrays never had them or the pick up and bridge covers - late 70s on became a time of bass players thumping the strings so all that stuff was ditched.

Bass players (the double version) were playing slap style a good 25-30 yrs before Cliff and the Drifters started. Just like finger style, bowed etc etc, it's just another method of playing - the percussive sound can be quite effective. Now two handed tapping (eg Stu Hamm) - I never did get that (other than playing a couple of notes here and there) but some people can play orchestral pieces using it!!

Slap style is de rigeur for anyone who played 70s R and B - I'd wager Messrs Jones and Griffiths do a bit on the quiet, and had he been around, a bass player of the ability of John Rostill would likely have done. But each to their own!! It can be quite therapeutic - minus the daft Fender thumb rest of course (and chrome covers - mostly used as convenient ash trays in studios - the Jazz bass bridge one is particularly good for that)!! Although musicians don't smoke any more (well not regular tobacco anyway)...

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 7:55 am
by JimN
MMStingray54 wrote:Oo er - are you allowed to mention Rickenbacker here?!


Alan Jones used a Rick bass with The Shadows in the late 70s / early 80s. Contact me for the video evidence...

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 10:31 am
by MMStingray54
JimN wrote:
MMStingray54 wrote:Oo er - are you allowed to mention Rickenbacker here?!


Alan Jones used a Rick bass with The Shadows in the late 70s / early 80s. Contact me for the video evidence...


That's very interesting and doesn't surprise me - they can be made to sound really nice. I'll drop you a PM. The comment I posted above was very much tongue in cheek btw - anyone who visits bass guitar forums will know what i mean!!

Re: Original 60's 'P' Bass Question

PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2020 7:31 pm
by Iain Purdon
If you listen to Hank’s version of Pipeline you’ll hear Mark G slapping like a good ‘un. Definitely not done on the quiet.