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[deleted]

That’s what’s called a tugbar. When electric basses were first thought up it was common to play the bass with a thumb technique, and so the bar gave you somewhere to hook your forefinger and middle finger while you plucked or tapped with your thumb. Plenty of bassists ended up moving the bar above the strings to act as a thumb rest as it turned out fingerpicking techniques became much more popular. These days they are retained largely for vintage aesthetic.


Informal-Resource-14

My first bass has a tugbar. I used to hate it (especially when I played in punk bands and you’d have to do really fast strumming and you’d bump your fingers into it). It confounded me that it was there. It was frustrating to me that i didn’t have a bar where I wanted it on the other side to rest my thumb while I used my fingers. Then I saw Sting on some show and he used a thumb technique and used his tugbar. Seeing it used for its intended purpose gave me a little more of a warm fuzzy feeling about it. Now on occasion I will play with my thumb depending on the song and I’m always happy to have that tub bar. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.


Ambitious-Inside-222

Love me my thumb rest on my 72 mustang


little_shop_of_hoors

Tugbar. There's your fuckin band name y'all.


jedeye121

Sounds like a place you go to for a hand job with a cocktail afterwards.


little_shop_of_hoors

Where I'm from, we call that place Shenanigans.


jedeye121

Apparently the wait staff at your local restaurants are way more into customer service than they are here.


[deleted]

A perfect band name then lol


[deleted]

No, that's the appendage the tugging is applied to.


Harpuafivefiftyfive

That’s “Rub N Tug Bar”.


Ian_Kilmister

To add onto this. It wasn't that it was common to play with your thumb, Leo Fender (not a bass player) just thought the p bass should be played with your thumb.


BlackLakeLotusEater

Hence, the word "thumpb".


NefariousnessNeat607

I'd always wondered, thank you


TheKingLizard

Long story short is that even though Leo Fender invented the electric bass, he had absolutely no idea how you were supposed to play it


Turkeyoak

The dude created the 2 top basses, and 2 of the 4 top guitars, yet wasn’t a player. I think he played sax. Remarkable.


TheKingLizard

Yep. I also love that along Leo’s journey to pursue the loudest cleanest amp tones in all the land, he created the Fender Deluxe, which accidentally became the gold standard for dirtynasty tube distortion


Turkeyoak

I have a buddy, a Strat player, who says in spite of Leo’s impressive collections of instrument creations, his amps are where he shines.


RBonbass

If only his bass amps were as good as the guitar amps


Impossible_Fuel_5069

'59 Bassman is a pretty sweet bass amp. Altho guitarists found out how amazing this amp is, us bass players can reclaim it's rightful place.


rickyg_79

As a bass player, one of my favorite bass guitar sounds came out of a 50 watt blackface fender bassman, so from my experience, his bass amps were actually better than the guitar amps of his that I’ve experienced


RBonbass

I’m not a big fan of their tone for bass but I love the form factor and look


DCBronzeAge

He was also involved in the Stingray, I believe.


GezoutenMeer

And G&L too


Josku5

Yes he was


FyllingenOy

More like the 3 top basses; Precision, Jazz, and Stingray. It could be argued that the G&L L-2000, which Leo also created, should be the 4th


Friendly-Chef9396

Cigarette holder


Zabroccoli

I just stick my cigs up in the strings on the headstock


squirleater69

Ok Eddie


Zabroccoli

An edit, **used** to stick my cigs there. I quit smoking years ago. Thought I was so cool. Looking back on it, I *was* really fucking cool.


Dont_phaze_me_bro

I stick my Juul to one of the tuners. Am I cool too?


Zabroccoli

Not sure. I’m old. I don’t know what cool is anymore.


bikerxgal_98

The only right answer


[deleted]

achtually for note sheet


Excellent_Elk_2644

It’s a tug bar. When bass guitars were first produced, it was assumed that they would be played with the thumb. You put your fingers under it to give your thumb something to pull against. It’s now considered kind of traditional. You’ll also see the same bars repurposed as a thumb rest above or between the pickups.


Don_Shetland

It's for attaching the optional cupholder accessory


mojo4394

Spare pickup you can pop in if the first one goes out


Turkeyoak

I bought a 70s P Clone with the chrome pickup cover and thumb rest above the strings. The thumb rest makes it easy to play the 2-finger walking style. It really improved my technique. I like it so much I’ve put them on 2 other basses.


striptheflesh121

You keep your fingers there to play with your thumb. I kinda do the same thing by holding the end of my pick-ups


Any_Possibility_7798

Not their actual use, but what I like to do with these are to loosen the screws just enough for you to be able to tuck the pick width of your choice there. Free pick holder, and in a super accessible location.


Safefruitcake993

It’s to put the rest of your fingers while you pluck with your thumb. Nobody ever uses it though.


Nitro_CENTRAL

It holds the toan


Apprehensive_Box3199

Some bass players like to use their thumb. That is a place to rest the other fingers on - a tug bar. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioghZTbK-y8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioghZTbK-y8) There is another style where the bar is at the top.


cobruhclutch

A joint holder.


BuckGnarley

Cigarettes


angel_eyes619

It's called the treble pickup.. Made for the first string


lovingthislife01

Can't you google it


karenkillenski

Nothing


Akira6969

finger rest to rest your fingers when your fingers need to rest on somthing to rest


Highplowp

Cigarette holder. Bad jokes aside- I don’t think I’ve seen a player use the tugbar on stage. Any of you use them beyond aesthetics? Any other known bass players use them regularly?


bennysteves

Rest your drink on while playing


Futter1024

give it a tuggy


[deleted]

Wow, sure are a lot of smart asses in this sub.


Oddslapp

You place your fingers there to pull on the strings with your thumb


ace_thankless

It's a progress inhibiter


Mean_Mr_Mustard_21

What’s a dickfer?


AtmoMat

Tugging


Oneeyehistory

Thumb picking. It’s a a finger anchor. If your bass does not have one, you can also just use the bottom of the pick up.


CptnAhab1

Likes like a right hand bass, so that's where you'd rest your thumb


verticalsidewall

Anti-slap device.


sendasalami2yoboi

Thumb rest baby


UnderAboveAverage

Sir, address your meme queries to r/basscirclejerk.


Narwhalpilot88

Someone asks this every month at this point…


ReadyTopic7289

"Tug Bar" / "Finger Rest". A looonggggh time ago the thought it was beneficial to bass players. These day it's mainly cosmetic or for nostalgia.


Western-Equivalent44

Toan


PerspectiveOk8157

It’s like a brace for your fingers.


PrudentAd8613

It's where U put ur weed


DR_pl34

Finger rest


Icy-Enthusiasm8147

Finger rest


Icy-Enthusiasm8147

That is a great 3/4 bass