Question for left-handed bassists

[LeslieD]

Two months ago I got call from someone who was thinking of buying the same bass model I have (Eastman 305FR) and converting it for use as a left-handed bass.

He plays guitar and wanted to start playing the bass. (He wanted to know how well I liked my bass and various other questions--the shop that sold me mine gave him my phone number). (From what the guy told me--he was Brazilian, so it was hard to understand him--he wanted to use a bow and play classical music as well as other styles).

Now...I'm just wondering how many left-handed bassists out there bought a $6000 bass BEFORE they started playing and had it converted. Is this very common? I've always been envious of my left-handed bassist friends because they always seemed better players to begin with.

Also, are there bass players out there that can play w/ both set-ups? If you are a lefty, would you have told the guy just to learn to play w/ the normal right-hand set up?

[Dave Martin]

My suggestion would be to tell him to learn to play right handed. I'm left handed, and have always played right handed instruments.

Here's my usual line when this comes up: "You won't be comfortable playing either left or right handed for a while, so as a beginner it doesn't matter if you play left handed or right handed. And once you start playing a lot, you'll save much money and hassle over your professional career is you aren't limited to custom (or fairly rare) left handed instruments."

Sometimes this explanation works, sometimes it doesn't. but I believe it to be true anyway.

[LeslieD]

Yes, that's pretty much what I told him. I suggested that he at least try to start using the bass w/ the regular set up. Apparently he was pretty good on the guitar (and used a left-hand set up for it) and didn't want to start all over.

I've only known/seen a few people who play the bass in reverse--and I think they were both bluegrass performers. I think one of them even kept the bass as it was and just stands on the other side. Weird.

[Ed Fuqua]

Why not just buy a left handed bass? If he's buying in the "new" market it's gonna be cheaper. Getting the bass bar switched means the top comes off which means $$$$.

[LeslieD]

I'm guessing the guy has a lot of money.

[Johnny L]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

My suggestion would be to tell him to learn to play right handed. I'm left handed, and have always played right handed instruments.

Here's my usual line when this comes up: "You won't be comfortable playing either left or right handed for a while, so as a beginner it doesn't matter if you play left handed or right handed. And once you start playing a lot, you'll save much money and hassle over your professional career is you aren't limited to custom (or fairly rare) left handed instruments."

Sometimes this explanation works, sometimes it doesn't. but I believe it to be true anyway.

Me too...except my first instrument was the piano and my family saved lots of money skipping out on that custom left-handed version.

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Johnny L

Me too...except my first instrument was the piano and my family saved lots of money skipping out on that custom left-handed version.

Ooh.... I'd pay a hundred dollars to have a left handed keyboard - the potential for really horrendous jokes would be worth far more than that...

[Johnny L]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

Ooh.... I'd pay a hundred dollars to have a left handed keyboard - the potential for really horrendous jokes would be worth far more than that...

Hahaha

You know, though, I think there are keyboard synths on the market these days where you can program the keys however you want...maybe Nord?

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Johnny L

Hahaha

You know, though, I think there are keyboard synths on the market these days where you can program the keys however you want...maybe Nord?

Hmm... or maybe I can re-map something in the Kurzweil... It'll only be funny once, but that one time....

I'm easily amused...