I learned on a precision, and I recently picked up a single pickup stingray. I’m mostly using the stingray to learn slap, but I’m playing some fingerstyle on it.
When you play fingerstyle on a stingray where do you pluck? On the P bass I always plucked over the pickup. The stingray is taking some getting use to. Playing over the pickup feels strange because it is closer to the bridge than I am used to. Playing more towards the middle where a P bass pickup would be feels strange because there is nothing there so my hand is missing that anchor point/guide. Either way is going to take some getting used to.
You can purchase a thumb rest or if you have access to a 3D printer, print one yourself. They use the pickguard screws so you don’t need to drill into the body.
Imo, pluck it over the pickup. It’s good to get used to plucking or picking in different places. Even on my P basses I try to vary where I’m picking to get different sounds. Towards the neck gives you a warmer / fuller tone, towards the bridge gives you a brighter / sharper tone.
I usually play over the pickup. Being close to the bridge offers tight punch bass known for stingray.
I’m not usually stay in one place unless the song calls for. I usually move around for better dynamics. Closer to the neck for deeper warmer tone and brighter towards the bridge.
Everyone does at first, specifically everyone sucks at muting with a pick. But eventually, you get good at it and it also improves your fingerstyle muting.
I appreciate the encouragement. I’m inspired by a lot of bassist that primarily play with a pick, like Justin Chancellor, but I mostly try to play those lines finger style. I do need to add the pick to my tool box… get it… tool box.
Same thing with my Sire V5. It didn’t immediately turn me into Marcus Miller. I thought about requesting an exchange, but decided Sweetwater wouldn’t get the joke.
As @CrayWolf said, I do the same mostly but more recently I also start to pluck more in the middle between the PU and neck . Then I use the edge of the pickguard as a reference and hold my thumb there, somehow I don’t really anchor my thumb there , It goes kind of by itself if that makes sense
You can float your hand by resting the wrist/arm on the bass body a bit more firmly. It’s a useful skill to have, all you need to make sure is that you pluck at the angle you want. Otherwise you might get unwanted klacks, Commander Vimes.
