Is there a Left-Handed DB group?

baldy McBalders · #1 11-09-2009, 09:08 PM

Hi everyone,
The title is self-explanatory. Maybe I am less than gifted in my search abilities; if so, please advise.
Gotta say, this is an even more frustrating category to be in than a lefty playing slab, as it (of course) is more expensive. Although, these experiences are similar in the sense that you get to walk into a retailer of said items, and experience the singular embarrassment of plunking out a few notes on an "upside down" instrument that make you sound as if you have invested a grand total of 3 days learning the instrument. GRRRR. Although, in my experience, that is somewhat easier on DB. Maybe the vertical orientation?
Just wishing to share war stories, that's all. Well, not quite.
Additionally, I really want an entry level true lefty DB (i.e. Shen SB-80 or 100, Upton STD) if anyone has one on offer. Might take me some time, but let me know.
Thanks!
Brian

robgrow · #2 11-09-2009, 09:51 PM

I'm left handed, and I play a right-handed bass as do my other double bass playing friends who are left handed. If you are just starting out on DB, my best advice is to learn to play right handed. It's much better in the long run IMHO.

Peck_Time · #3 11-09-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgrow

I'm left handed, and I play a right-handed bass as do my other double bass playing friends who are left handed. If you are just starting out on DB, my best advice is to learn to play right handed. It's much better in the long run IMHO.

I'm a lefty playing righty and I agree. There are no left handed saxophones or flutes!

Fletcher Lanning · #4 11-09-2009, 11:42 PM

I've only met one player who plays the DB left-handed. He tried a number of different bass modifications but he eventually had to get a bass custom built to accommodate the reversal in tension so his bass would sound good and stay in tune. He said it was a huge pain in the ass.

ctcruiser · #5 11-10-2009, 03:51 AM

Welcome to the club. There are a few of us at talkbass.

Most of the threads turn into those having the usual posts asking why can't we just play right-handed.

Yes, it is frustrating walking into bass shops and not finding one lefty model to try out.

I have two lefty made DBs, a Christopher 304T Hybrid and an Engelhardt ES-1.

Hang in there, you can find one.

baldy McBalders · #6 11-10-2009, 11:48 AM

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately, I have been playing electric for 15+ years, so the left-handed thing is pretty ingrained at this point. I think handedness is on a continuum, and and unluckily for me, I am VERY left-handed on string instruments. It wasn't a choice, believe me. . .I tried for a month to play RH on BG, and it made very little sense to me, and I could not coordinate my hands as well as I could LH. Within a week, I could play everything I learned in that month better lefty.
When did you right-handed players choose to play that way?

I invite all Right handed players to feel how screwy playing left-handed feels (YMMV); reverse it and that is how my experience is.
By the way, I can switch hit and throw very well with both hands no problem, and bowl equally badly with either. Weird, eh?

Lucky me, an expensive hobby that requires extremely rare equipment!
Sooo worth it.

mpm · #7 11-10-2009, 02:06 PM

Jennifer Lietham is a killer lefty...

ctcruiser · #8 11-10-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpm

Jennifer Lietham is a killer lefty...

I have seen her a few times when I have been to SoCal. You are right, she is a terrific musician.

Phil Rowan · #9 11-10-2009, 04:07 PM

You could do like the late, great Earl May.. he played the bass left handed but the strings were still tuned for a right handed bassist. A trip every time I saw him play.. he sounded great.

baldy McBalders · #10 11-11-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote Phil Rowan: "You could do like the late, great Earl May.. he played the bass left handed but the strings were still tuned for a right handed bassist. A trip every time I saw him play.. he sounded great."
GAAAA!!!! My brain has exploded!!
Actually, that is how I play guitar. Chords on a guitar are is shapes, after all. SOOO easy compared to bass.

Freaks laymen out like you wouldn't believe!

Any chance of the lefties getting something going? I have no idea how to start a group.

thelowerechelon · #11 11-18-2009, 12:33 AM

there is no left handed piano! blame guitar players for your predicament, it's their fault they ever made a lefty bass guitar to begin with! I know sooooo many guitarists and bassists out there that just play normal, it's not right-handed, it's just normal, they don't reverse sax keys or trombone slides. that being said, 15 years aren't going to reverse themselves...find a caring luthier and have him flip the bass bar and soundpost, this will just about melt his brain by the way! it's a shame you learned flipped because in normal technique the left hand must be more dextrous than the right anyways so it is almost as if the instrument had originally been designed "left-handed". when i say normal i'm not saying left handed folks aren't, just that i don't believe this term or phenomena has anything to do with musical instruments, it takes both hands, both are equally important. good luck, your luthier will be driven to madness!!!

Thunderitter · #12 11-20-2009, 12:35 PM

The handed-ness stems from the orchestral setting does it not - same with flutes, violins, etc.? A rhd and lhd bassist bowing together would take up twice you could fit a third bass in!

ctcruiser · #13 11-21-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelowerechelon

there is no left handed piano!

http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/

hdiddy · #14 11-21-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderitter

The handed-ness stems from the orchestral setting does it not - same with flutes, violins, etc.? A rhd and lhd bassist bowing together would take up twice you could fit a third bass in!

Yeah, I would think have zero chance playing LH in a RH bass section.

baldy McBalders · #15 11-21-2009, 08:05 PM

Good thing I have no orchestral aspirations, huh?

This would be like sitting next to me at the dinner table, but with greater potential for slapstick humor to ensue!
Seriously though, there really isn't much I can do about the "leftness" at this point, and I also think that because of the very different roles that each hand has on DB, the saxophone/flute comparison is a stretch. In my case, my RH has much greater dexterity, which was the whole reason I gave up the "conversion" to right handed at the get go. I don't have the benefit of string experience at an early age, but I think that playing trombone (right hand controlling the slide, of course, as well as playing valve brass instruments) might have primed my brain to not being very easily adaptable to having my LH in charge of pitch. I wonder if any other lefty trombonists who picked up DB later have had the same experience? WOW, wouldn't THAT be a niche group to start on Talkbass?

Thanks for all the responses!
Brian