Left Handed Bass Players

curlizzle · #1 02-25-2005, 05:49 PM

I'm using a right-handed bass right now but I've always played a left-handed guitar. I was wondering if I could take the strings off and reverse them so that they would be strung the way a left-handed bass would on the right-handed bass. Will it sound the same and could it mess up the bass in any way? Thanks for your help.

Minger · #2 02-25-2005, 05:50 PM

I think it should be fine - just be sure to do the intonation and you'll mst likely have a harder time with the upper frets (considering where the cuts are)

canopener · #3 02-25-2005, 06:30 PM

I think it would be uncomfortable, being a lefty, myself. You would also have to flip the nut so as not to break it.

Frank Martin · #4 02-27-2005, 02:21 PM

Can be done, I've done it with two instruments, but both were more "symmetric", so there comfort was not such a big question; but with an asymmetric body, ...
A nut change is necessary, an you need to adjust the bridge.
Other than that, it will most probably work

mariner · #5 02-28-2005, 01:03 AM

One of my early basses was a Hohner Steinberger copy. I actually dug out a cavity on the other side and filled the old cavity with putty. The only issues I faced was when I filed out the heel on the end of the neck to allow the E-string to fit on the G-string slot. Became really weak and lost some of it's material. That ended up being my "luthier" playground as I also yanked out the frets and changed the pickups too.

I often called it Frankenstein....

If you look around the local shops, I'm sure you can find a lefty model bass you'd like. Trade the right-handed model in or sell it to get the lefty. I would never switch over an axe again, too many tonal issues and fret buzz and other things to worry about...