Bass finger-rest below the strings

[dNA]

Sorry if this is one of those no-brainers, but why do I always see basses where there's a rest below the strings??? I never understood it at all, and i see them more than I see thumb rests where i would expect them to be, above the strings...
the questionable appear as such:

 

[tubby.twins]

I guess you're supposed to rest your fingertips on the bottom of that piece, and use your thumb to pluck the strings.

 

[dNA]

I guess you're supposed to rest your fingertips on the bottom of that piece, and use your thumb to pluck the strings.

:icon_scratch: Don't think i've ever seen someone do that... but to each his own I guess.

 

[ByteFrenzy]

Then look at mine for a bit  :toothy10:

 

[reinhold]

I think I remember reading somewhere that Leo Fender designed them that way because he was not a musician, so when he invented the bass guitar, he assumed people would grasp it and pull up, then play the strings with their thumb. 

 

[dNA]

I think I remember reading somewhere that Leo Fender designed them that way because he was not a musician, so when he invented the bass guitar, he assumed people would grasp it and pull up, then play the strings with their thumb. 

haha. sounds mildly believable

 

[bigguspickus]

I think the term is tug bar. I've seen players use 'em, but not very often.

 

[Cagey]

I think the term is tug bar. I've seen players use 'em, but not very often.

Well, now there's a bit of obscure trivia. I'll have to use that term the next time I'm in a guitar store and see how the high-school age "sales associate" responds. I wish I could do a credible British accent <grin>

 

[Jusatele]

guess I am just strange, I thought it was to rest a finger on, makes sense to me I rest a finger on the PG on my guitars, that looks like a place to apply preasure when playing. Course I only play bass around the house when doing recordings so what do I know

 

[dNA]

Well, now there's a bit of obscure trivia. I'll have to use that term the next time I'm in a guitar store and see how the high-school age "sales associate" responds. I wish I could do a credible British accent <grin>

haha. I might try that myself some time. Though I don't think I'd hold any credibility because i'm not much older than said teenagers

 

[Graffiti62]

Then look at mine for a bit  :toothy10:

On an off-topic, I do like the relicing job you did on the P-Bass. Would you be kind enough to divulge your technique with us?