Basswood Strats

[stratamania]

As I understand it, Schaller changed it to string ferrules to make the installment slightly easier.

Interesting if so as the plate is still shown on the installation guide and on Schaller site.

 

[Logrinn]

I saw Crimson Guitar's video of them installing it and that's where I heard them saying that Schaller changed the design.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/uaYAYz4teks[/youtube]

I also had a look at Schallers website and sure enough, there doesn't seem to be a plate any longer, but instead ferrules.

 

[Ace Flibble]

I've never been a bass player, but I used to wonder why they put a finger rest where they did on some basses...

The answer top all such questions is that Leo Fender was an inventor who liked to hack things together cheaply and quickly, and was not a musician or had much understanding of how any of his products were really used. Hence he and his company routinely confused basic terminology (e.g. 'vibrato' with 'tremolo'), all his guitars and amps were made using whatever parts and methods were cheapest and quickest to produce at the time (e.g. bolt-on necks, common woods like pine, ash, and alder, mounting everything in pickguards), and many of his products feature, either as standard or for limited periods, downright stupid design choices which simply get in the way of their intended use (e.g. putting a volume control directly next to a pickup so your hand gets to smack against it constantly, and finger/thumb rests below the strings where they're of absolutely no use).

Suffice to say, do not put much stock in what or why a Fender or Fender-esque (G&L have had their own share of mishaps) instrument has any given nonsensical or non-optimal feature. Better to just recognise it as the inane, silly, or cheapskate design choice that it is, and make something better for yourself.

 

[BigSteve22]

I also had a look at Schallers website and sure enough, there doesn't seem to be a plate any longer, but instead ferrules.

I noticed that too, but if you look around the installation instruction page, they still talk about needing an 11mm router bit to install the plate, and then shown you how to do it. I like that they went to ferrules, the thought of routing the back of the instrument would keep me from considering using a Hannes. I'm think'n Schaller still needs to update some sections of their site.

 

[Cederick]

Got to be careful, very soft wood...

Haven't been an issue for me, if we're talking tuning stability? My main guitar is a basswood Warmoth soloist body  and it has never failed me, even with a Floyd Rose :icon_scratch:

 

[DangerousR6]

I've never been a bass player, but I used to wonder why they put a finger rest where they did on some basses...

Seems like you'd want it where you're talking about - up where your thumb could park. Some did it that way, but not as many as with the finger rest. Now you rarely see either one. I guess you're supposed to man up and use all 5 appendages on your right hand. No rest for the wicked!  :laughing7:

I never could figure it out either, I guess it's as Logrinn said, I've read more than a few times that Leo wasn't a musician. So it would make sense of the anomalies he added over the years... :dontknow:

 

[Logrinn]

... I guess it's as Logrinn said, I've read more than a few times that Leo wasn't a musician...

I can't take credit. That was an excellent reply from AceFlibble.

 

[amigarobbo]

I've never been a bass player, but I used to wonder why they put a finger rest where they did on some basses...

Seems like you'd want it where you're talking about - up where your thumb could park. Some did it that way, but not as many as with the finger rest. Now you rarely see either one. I guess you're supposed to man up and use all 5 appendages on your right hand. No rest for the wicked!  :laughing7:

I never could figure it out either, I guess it's as Logrinn said, I've read more than a few times that Leo wasn't a musician. So it would make sense of the anomalies he added over the years... :dontknow:

You use it as a rest while you pull (not slap, in either the modern or Double bass style) the strings with your thumb for maximum bass.

It predates the walking two fingered standard bass playing style by at least 10 years.


Edited to add:

If you want a job doing....


[youtube]vH9WKx1pm74[/youtube]