Think of the bass you most want... and then think "shoot I'm left handed"

shubball · #1 09-12-2008, 03:21 AM

Hi, this is my first post, although I have been reading the threads for a while, so "hello" to everyon eon here.

I'd just like to say to any beginners of the bass that if you are left handed, buy and learn right handed. I have been playing for about 10 years or so, and currently have a Tobias Pro 4 which I really do like, although in my new band (Jackpike) I need a more grinding, driven sound than this bass can really offer. So, I've been looking online at all the different basses I could get. I saw a gorgeous Gibson Thunderbird (I know some of you don't like them), and you cannot get them left handed unless you are prepared to shell out "custom" money. I looked at the Fender Jaguar, you can't get it left handed. I looked at the Rick 4001, you CAN get it left handed but it's about £2400 (Nearly $5000), and so I am left with (for the sound I want) either a Fender Jazz Bass or P Bass.

So really, all I'm saying is that even if it feels weird for a bit; if you are left handed and you think you will want to play forever, for the love of all things good, learn right handed.

Also. I use a pick

PilbaraBass · #2 09-12-2008, 04:00 AM

you'd be surprised how many of us lefties DO play right handed.

I do a LOT of things right handed...like golf, shooting (rifles & bows, alike), scissors, to name a few...

guy n. cognito · #3 09-12-2008, 04:33 AM

Great first post. Didn't really read the rules, there, did ya?

j.a.e.r.i.p · #4 09-12-2008, 04:37 AM

I'm %100 percent lefty...except i had the good sense to play the bass right handed. In fourth grade when my parents bought me a right handed guitar, i took lessons holding it upside down and playing it lefty. I quit the guitar and after a few years picked up the bass and learned righty simply because the person teaching me taught me that way. I'm SOOOO glad i did

PilbaraBass · #5 09-12-2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Great first post. Didn't really read the rules, there, did ya?

what's wrong with "shut"?

CraigG · #6 09-12-2008, 06:33 AM

That's why, even though I'm a lefty, I learned right-handed and the same reason I have told my son he should try to learn right-handed.

Craig

Rickett Customs · #7 09-12-2008, 06:52 AM

That is why in addition to playing as a lefty, I started out in the very beginning playing left handed w/ a bass strung right handed and I can alternate, however I do not prefer to play this way but I can. How you pick up an instrument should not be forced (IMO).
I have no problem *going out of my way* to find instruments that suit me. Also, I use my fingers and a pick.

kelleysdad · #8 09-12-2008, 07:23 AM

Why can't you string a "righty" "lefty, ala Hendrix. I know that wouldn't work with a P bass. It would involve a proper setup and would look cool. Just asking

PaulWarning · #9 09-12-2008, 07:38 AM

I'm a lefty and I play left handed, wish I'd learnt right handed, that Paul McCartney's got a lot to answer for

kraigo · #10 09-12-2008, 08:05 AM

In the late 90's there was a shop in Paris (Pagaile) called "Le Gauchier" that had nothing but left handed instruments. It was pretty cool, even for a righty like me.

Guitars and basses have the orientation they do because they come out of classical guitar where the right hand picking is the thing. With pop/rock/jazz guitar and most bass styles the fretting (left for most of us) is doing the intricate work, so the instrument is kind of backwards. Before I played, my "air guitaring" was "lefty" and I think that would be correct.

In short, I think the lefties have an advantage on a "righty" instrument, but the idea of me switching to a lefty instrument makes me understand that it's probably too late to switch.

There was a funk guitarist, one of the Isley's (Ernie?) who broke his arm and could play either way and liked it because he had a different style when he switched.

Just some random thoughts.

KO

shubball · #11 09-12-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelleysdad

Why can't you string a "righty" "lefty, ala Hendrix. I know that wouldn't work with a P bass. It would involve a proper setup and would look cool. Just asking

I think the pressures of the strings would cause the neck to look like a banana in a very short amount of time unless you messed around with the rods and the set up, and tbh if I spent a lot of money on a bass I wouldn't have the balls to do any of that.

Also, what was wrong with the post? What rules did I miss?

Rickett Customs · #12 09-12-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shubball

I think the pressures of the strings would cause the neck to look like a banana in a very short amount of time unless you messed around with the rods and the set up, and tbh if I spent a lot of money on a bass I wouldn't have the balls to do any of that.

Also, what was wrong with the post? What rules did I miss?

You're supposed to cover all letters of profane words.

*****! ......anything except what you might see/hear on network tv IIRC.

guy n. cognito · #13 09-12-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shubball

I think the pressures of the strings would cause the neck to look like a banana in a very short amount of time unless you messed around with the rods and the set up, and tbh if I spent a lot of money on a bass I wouldn't have the balls to do any of that.

Also, what was wrong with the post? What rules did I miss?

The neck would have the same amount of pressure regardless of the stringing order. The truss rod, being in the center of most basses, wouldn't need that much adjustment.

Nyarlathotep · #14 09-12-2008, 07:52 PM

LOL. I love how big a deal you apparently want to make out of this. Its not. You see a mountain, I see a molehill. Lefty who plays righty here

As a beginner I was able to fret way better cus of my leftyness, Im sure of it

Pick up a "beatle bass" for ultimate flipability

JimmyM · #15 09-13-2008, 02:57 AM

When I first started playing guitar, my parents and brother forced me to play right handed even though I wanted to play lefty. Just felt more natural to me to play lefty. ut they forced me to play righty, and I'm glad they did, solely because of the lack of choices for a lefty (not that it matters to me so much because I play Fenders and you can always find a lefty Fender).

But I must say that playing lefty looks a lot cooler than righty just because it's so rare, so at least you have the cool factor working for you. And really, you should just be happy that you can play. I know a lot of people who can't play either way.

Depth_Charge · #16 09-13-2008, 04:23 AM

There is a guitar store in Perth where the guy is a lefty so he specialises in getting lefty instruments in. It sucks browing his store because I can't play half the basses in there

Maybe see if there are any shops owned by lefties local to you?

Being right handed I've often wondered why I prefer my more dextrous hand for rythm and not for complex fretting.

But I've also wondered for years why when I hold a cricket bat/baseball bat/golf club with 2 hands I take a natural left handed stance but holding a tennis raquet or throwing balls or knife fighting etc I am right handed. It made learning to use a katana and staff painful for the first year when transitioning between single and twin grip techniques haha

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Rickett Customs · #17 09-13-2008, 07:19 AM

Also, there's a really cool lefty store, deep in the heart of texas, IIRC.

http://www.southpawguitars.com/bass.html

shubball · #18 09-13-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

LOL. I love how big a deal you apparently want to make out of this. Its not. You see a mountain, I see a molehill. Lefty who plays righty here

As a beginner I was able to fret way better cus of my leftyness, Im sure of it

Pick up a "beatle bass" for ultimate flipability

As I said I have been playing for about 10 years, I'm not going to suddenly go and play right handed now - I would sound **** and as for restringing a right hand left handed it means all the controls are in a stupid position for you.

The only reason I started this thread was so anyone who is left handed and just starting might think about learning the right handed way, that's all.

f'nar f'nar · #19 09-13-2008, 09:28 AM

For a cool lefty playing a righty, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abyg70lbYlY

Nyarlathotep · #20 09-13-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shubball

as for restringing a right hand left handed it means all the controls are in a stupid position for you.

Worked for Jimi, whom many consider to be a genius on his instrument.

Quote:

The only reason I started this thread was so anyone who is left handed and just starting might think about learning the right handed way, that's all.

Best of luck