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Fender - what’s happened to the Lefty Models???

Baker69

Baker69

Mar 24, 2008
2,048
1,149
UK
#1
I’ve been thinking of getting a Fender Precision (left handed model) for a while now, but I don’t really have the funds for a Professional Series. During internet viewing sessions I’ve looked at the Player models and I believe they were available as left handed in 3 colours, I also noticed recently that Fender had bought a new ‘Standard’ model and also a Player II model out as well, however upon looking very recently I’m finding with some disgust that all these are now available in Right Handed only? The Fender Professional Series models are still available in left handed but these are too expensive, the cheapest of the pack is the Player Active (which is almost £1,200) but that is a P/J configuration bass and is only in sunburst. Also the same with Squier, all they offer in Left Handed is the 70’s Classic Vibe Jazz Bass, Squier used to offer a Precision Bass and a P/J bass in left handed.

So, what’s happened Fender? Aren’t us lefties worth considering any more? No wonder so many people are switching to other brands such as Sire who offer pretty much most of their range in left or right handed. As I can no longer get a new Fender Precision bass (other than a Pro model) I might as well get a Sire P5.
 
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#3
Baker69 said:
I’ve been thinking of getting a Fender Precision (left handed model) for a while now, but I don’t really have the funds for a Professional Series. During internet viewing sessions I’ve looked at the Player models and I believe they were available as left handed in 3 colours, I also noticed recently that Fender had bought a new ‘Standard’ model and also a Player II model out as well, however upon looking very recently I’m finding with some disgust that all these are now available in Right Handed only? The Fender Professional Series models are still available in left handed but these are too expensive, the cheapest of the pack is the Player Active (which is almost £1,200) but that is a P/J configuration bass and is only in sunburst. Also the same with Squier, all they offer in Left Handed is the 70’s Classic Vibe Jazz Bass, Squier used to offer a Precision Bass and a P/J bass in left handed.

So, what’s happened Fender? Aren’t us lefties worth considering any more? No wonder so many people are switching to other brands such as Sire who offer pretty much most of their range in left or right handed. As I can no longer get a new Fender Precision bass (other than a Pro model) I might as well get a Sire P5.
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I have complained about this to anyone who’d listen. In fact, I’ve written Fender about this exact complaint and was replied with something like, “It’s a market-driven decision based on the sheer numbers.”

I have a Sire U5 short scale, but have owned both full scale Ps and Js. Like you, I can’t afford an American, the Players underwhelmed me, and as you said, all we have is a Squier CV 70s Jazz in black (not a big fan).

Yep, that’s why I believe Sire has pulled away some of Fender’s business and I, for one, am happy to see it!
 
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#4
Pdaddy1978 said:
Ive got a grandson whos a South paw.
I just watched a YouTube video that said 10% of the population is left handed.
Thats roughly 1 outa 10...right?
Shouldn't they be making 1 left hand bass , or guitar, whatever, for every righty?
Do lefties come to the party in less numbers then their percentage?
🤔
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Yeah it is strange, unfortunately it seems like although as you say lefties are 1 in 10 of the population, 1 in 10 of bass players aren’t lefties. This makes offering lefty models less appealing to manufacturers.

There are probably a lot more guitarists who are left handed as us bassists have always been a minority and perhaps guitarists buy more guitars than bass players buy basses???
 
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#5
iagtrplyr said:
I have complained about this to anyone who’d listen. In fact, I’ve written Fender about this exact complaint and was replied with something like, “It’s a market-driven decision based on the sheer numbers.”

I have a Sire U5 short scale, but have owned both full scale Ps and Js. Like you, I can’t afford an American, the Players underwhelmed me, and as you said, all we have is a Squier CV 70s Jazz in black (not a big fan).

Yep, that’s why I believe Sire has pulled away some of Fender’s business and I, for one, am happy to see it!
Click to expand...

Yes, Fender have basically put their bass models beyond a lot of people’s reach for us lefties and if they don’t want our money there’s plenty other options out there (such as Sire). I have a Sire P7 bass which is really good, for a 1/4 of the price of a Fender and more features.
 
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#6
The problem is that everything is Lefty, on a lefty base or any other stringed instrument that's electrified.

The pots turn the opposite direction as a right-handed pot the tuning machines turn the opposite direction of a right-handed tuning machine, maybe the pickups are even wired counterclockwise too. I wonder if the truss rod is adjusted opposite of right handed instruments.

Necks, bodies, pickguards all opposite.

Those are all cost drivers.

Back in the'60s and '70s a lefty instrument was quite a lot more expensive than a right-handed one. Is it the same with golf clubs? Baseball gloves?
 
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#7
I'm so happy that I just learned to play right handed from the beginning, left handed instruments are a bit of a scam and I'm glad that Fender have made it more likely that left handed people will learn on cheaper instruments rather than making their future more difficult based on which side they hold their pen.
 
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#11
Geogio said:
The problem is that everything is Lefty, on a lefty base or any other stringed instrument that's electrified.

The pots turn the opposite direction as a right-handed pot the tuning machines turn the opposite direction of a right-handed tuning machine, maybe the pickups are even wired counterclockwise too. I wonder if the truss rod is adjusted opposite of right handed instruments.

Necks, bodies, pickguards all opposite.

Those are all cost drivers.

Back in the'60s and '70s a lefty instrument was quite a lot more expensive than a right-handed one. Is it the same with golf clubs? Baseball gloves?
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That may have been the case back in the 70’s. With modern CNC machinery however it doesn’t matter whether the bodies, necks and pickguards are right handed or left handed. Nuts, bridges and control knobs no difference. In my experience they no longer differentiate between left hand and right hand pots, and there are no left or right handed pickups.

I bought a brand new Fender Precision back in 1973, I think I paid a premium of either 15% or 20% for it being left handed at the time and even then it was available in sunburst only and it didn’t even come with a bag or a case. I wouldn’t mind paying extra for a Fender P being left handed now but unless you go for the Pro II model you do not have any other choice.

Fender are not alone however, and I invite anyone to find a brand new left handed EBMM Stingray? I bought a brand new Stingray 5 lefty in 2001 and I had the option of any colour I wanted in the range but now they are only made to order and at a considerable price. Gibson too gave up on us lefties long ago, and more recently so Epiphone, I think their last model on offer was the Jack Cassidy bass but I’m pretty sure that’s gone now.

I’m waiting on a Sire Z7-5 at the moment, they charge an extra £50 for it being left handed and I’m happy to pay that, which works out to being about 8% extra for it being a lefty.
 
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#13
buldog5151bass said:
If they sold more, they would make more. A good number of lefties play right handed (I'm one). Not so the other way around.
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If they only made a few I wouldn’t mind the wait but to stop production altogether is a different story.

I instinctively learned to play left handed years ago (on a right handed bass flipped over). I just don’t have that dexterity unfortunately to play right handed.
 
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#14
This is why I only go for the original (pre-2015) Fender Japan line. Their lefty selection was much better.
I’d much rather hunt for second-hand MIJ/CIJ models than buy anything new from the current MIA or MIM series'.

IMG_4340.jpeg

(disclaimer: the Tele guitar is MIM, I'm mainly referring to the basses here and the guitar just happens to be in the pic)
 
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#15
Baker69 said:
If they only made a few I wouldn’t mind the wait but to stop production altogether is a different story.

I instinctively learned to play left handed years ago (on a right handed bass flipped over). I just don’t have that dexterity unfortunately to play right handed.
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Not just the wait time. Especially if they only made a few, it would be significantly more expensive. That's my guess why they only do it on more expensive models.
 
#17
Pdaddy1978 said:
Ive got a grandson whos a South paw.
I just watched a YouTube video that said 10% of the population is left handed.
Thats roughly 1 outa 10...right?
Shouldn't they be making 1 left hand bass , or guitar, whatever, for every righty?
Do lefties come to the party in less numbers then their percentage?
🤔
Click to expand...

Well, for musicians it'll be less than that as classically trained will more likely learned righty.
I grew up playing music in all years in school since the 4th grade and everyone learned on 'regular' instruments, you didn't know for a long time some kids were leftys.

My own son is lefty, and when he decided he wanted to play bass, I took him to shops and had him play both types of basses and also explained to him the possible hurdles. He was fine going righty, it was all new to him anyway
 
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#18
We must remember that not all lefty people are the same. Some are just slightly left of ambidextrous while others (like me) are next to useless with their right. So, out of the 11% of the population that are left-handed, an even smaller amount are extremely left-handed. So, yeah, we need left-handed basses....

BUT, I also get the retail problem. Find any shop that lists instruments in order of popularity (sales) and left-handed instruments are usually at the very end of the list. A shop isn't going to stock anything that is a poor seller, regardless if it's fair or not.

So, I don't go into stores expecting to see any left-handed basses. But when going to a major brand online, with potentially global distribution, like Fender, I'd expect to see more. If brands like Schecter and Sire can give reasonable lefty options, even if you have to order it in, then Fender could do better.

I'm a proud lefty. I love my left-handed MIM Fender P-bass. I want others to have the same joy.
 
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#19
Lefty playing a righty axe and no regrets. I really hope the stop making lefty specific anything. I learned to use right handed things in a right handed world just fine.

It was pointed out to me there are no left handed pianos, drums, etc.

I can’t say it should matter either. Instruments require hand independence. What foot you tap out the beat or favor when swaying along is irrelevant.
 

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