try to build yourself a warmoth lefty bass, i think those will play a lot better than most lefty's
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KINDA SUCKS BEING A LEFTY
- Thread starter LEFTHANDEDNUBe
- Start date
started on cello, than string bass, some violin too. learned to play right handed. didn't second guess it. they do make left handed orchestral instruments. its not too difficult to make it happen, just reversing string order/bridge/pedheads.
im happy i learned this way.
im happy i learned this way.
im a lefty, just do what i did.
start of right (no pun intended...) i have more control over my fretting hand....
start of right (no pun intended...) i have more control over my fretting hand....
PEOPLE PEOPLE, this is not a thread of "why I should play lefty/who plays lefty/why you should NOT play lefty. all the poor OP asked is what inexpensive lefty basses are out there for him to buy.
who cares if you are lefty and was forced to play righty. who cares if you are in a highschool orchestra and you have to play THEIR righty instruments and are forced to do it that way.
this isn't 1988 it's almost 21 years later and there's a ton of choices out here ---starter basses that cost 200.00 or ones that cost 6000.00. The poor guy dosent need a RITTER to start out on.
there are many other threads for discussing the "righty/lefty way to play".
I assume some of you think I am wrong because I play lefty-BOTH WAYS---strings normal and inverted but I prefer to flip righty basses????
rant over, and now back to the topic at hand..........
who cares if you are lefty and was forced to play righty. who cares if you are in a highschool orchestra and you have to play THEIR righty instruments and are forced to do it that way.
this isn't 1988 it's almost 21 years later and there's a ton of choices out here ---starter basses that cost 200.00 or ones that cost 6000.00. The poor guy dosent need a RITTER to start out on.
there are many other threads for discussing the "righty/lefty way to play".
I assume some of you think I am wrong because I play lefty-BOTH WAYS---strings normal and inverted but I prefer to flip righty basses????
rant over, and now back to the topic at hand..........
Here's a quick rundown of neck sizes based on my lefties:
Jay Turser Beatle Bass knockoff: Thin, narrow neck, can be punchy w/ Fender flats.
Fender MIK '90s Precision - Baseball bat neck, fairly wide string spacing. Sounds like an inexpensive P, I like it strung with rounds.
Fender Jazz Bass, MIJ, early '90s: Thin neck, closer spacing than a P, very comfortable IMO.
Fender Precision, 1969: Lighter than the MIK, fairly wide string spacing, but not a baseball bat feel. Sounds like a bass should IMO.
Hofner 5000/1, early 2000s: Narrower neck than the Turser, very baseball bat feel, as the neck is 1-piece.
Warwick Corvette Std. 5: If you like thin necks, look elsewhere.
MM/EB Stingray, early 2000s: Rather thin/wide neck, wide string spacing. Back of the neck feels flatter than a Jazz Bass. You can get as punchy a sound as you want out of it.
As other have mentioned, look into SX, and also these guys:
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lefty/LHMenu.htm
Jay Turser Beatle Bass knockoff: Thin, narrow neck, can be punchy w/ Fender flats.
Fender MIK '90s Precision - Baseball bat neck, fairly wide string spacing. Sounds like an inexpensive P, I like it strung with rounds.
Fender Jazz Bass, MIJ, early '90s: Thin neck, closer spacing than a P, very comfortable IMO.
Fender Precision, 1969: Lighter than the MIK, fairly wide string spacing, but not a baseball bat feel. Sounds like a bass should IMO.
Hofner 5000/1, early 2000s: Narrower neck than the Turser, very baseball bat feel, as the neck is 1-piece.
Warwick Corvette Std. 5: If you like thin necks, look elsewhere.
MM/EB Stingray, early 2000s: Rather thin/wide neck, wide string spacing. Back of the neck feels flatter than a Jazz Bass. You can get as punchy a sound as you want out of it.
As other have mentioned, look into SX, and also these guys:
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lefty/LHMenu.htm
After buying and selling over 60 lefty basses in the last 12 years, I would also recommend getting a MIM Fender Jazz bass and change the pickups to Dimarzio Js, for example. And if the frets are not perfect, spend $100 and take it to a tech for a setup and fret leveling. You'll end up with a nice bass that you could play forever, or surely at least until you have enough money to buy something more fancy.
A new MIM Jazz is around for $450, but you can find them used for around $300, and the Dimarzio Js are $100.
I personally would stay away from all other budget basses, including SX, Ibanez, Yamaha, Rogue, or whatever other no-name Asian example you may find on eBay.
Schecters are a good option, though.
The nice things about an MIM Fender Jazz are:
1-It's a Fender, for whatever that's worth.
2-Familiar look that won't scream, "look, I'm a beginner and I'm playing a cheap Chinese bass!"
3-You can start with the initial investment of $450, or less if buying used, and play it like that until you have more money to upgrade. Out of the box, they are perfectly playable, you will just need a setup (straighten the neck, setup the saddles, intonation, etc.).
4-It's easily upgradable and can become a 100% perfectly playable and professional instrument with a few upgrades.
5-Decent resale value.
A new MIM Jazz is around for $450, but you can find them used for around $300, and the Dimarzio Js are $100.
I personally would stay away from all other budget basses, including SX, Ibanez, Yamaha, Rogue, or whatever other no-name Asian example you may find on eBay.
Schecters are a good option, though.
The nice things about an MIM Fender Jazz are:
1-It's a Fender, for whatever that's worth.
2-Familiar look that won't scream, "look, I'm a beginner and I'm playing a cheap Chinese bass!"
3-You can start with the initial investment of $450, or less if buying used, and play it like that until you have more money to upgrade. Out of the box, they are perfectly playable, you will just need a setup (straighten the neck, setup the saddles, intonation, etc.).
4-It's easily upgradable and can become a 100% perfectly playable and professional instrument with a few upgrades.
5-Decent resale value.
Here's a quick rundown of neck sizes based on my lefties:
Jay Turser Beatle Bass knockoff: Thin, narrow neck, can be punchy w/ Fender flats.
Fender MIK '90s Precision - Baseball bat neck, fairly wide string spacing. Sounds like an inexpensive P, I like it strung with rounds.
Fender Jazz Bass, MIJ, early '90s: Thin neck, closer spacing than a P, very comfortable IMO.
Fender Precision, 1969: Lighter than the MIK, fairly wide string spacing, but not a baseball bat feel. Sounds like a bass should IMO.
Hofner 5000/1, early 2000s: Narrower neck than the Turser, very baseball bat feel, as the neck is 1-piece.
Warwick Corvette Std. 5: If you like thin necks, look elsewhere.
MM/EB Stingray, early 2000s: Rather thin/wide neck, wide string spacing. Back of the neck feels flatter than a Jazz Bass. You can get as punchy a sound as you want out of it.
As other have mentioned, look into SX, and also these guys:
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lefty/LHMenu.htm
oh ya ED....such a beautiful collection of various priced lefty basses
I'm a lefty... but play righty. I sometimes look at it as right-handers being the ones who are handicapped so, by default, lots of things are designed to accommodate their "handicap". As a lefty, mastering things which are designed for right-handers shows a left-hander's versatility! Hey, we deal with doorknobs, electronic signature pads, scissors, serrations on knives (yes, designed for right-handed slicing), volume/tone knobs (yes, they turn to the right because that's the easier direction for the right hand to turn), etc. and and typicaly don't think much, if all, about it! Personally, I'm glad I have pushed myself to "overcome" and can walk into any guitar store or go to any guitar show or go to a friend's house and pick up the majority of guitars/basses I'll find there and have no trouble playing them. I would say, if you're new to bass, give right-handed a shot. It's a challenge worth taking.
I know this doesn't answer the OP's question regarding what basses would we recommend, but I thought I'd share this as a word of encouragement and challenge to left-handers here in light of some of the grumbling.
I know this doesn't answer the OP's question regarding what basses would we recommend, but I thought I'd share this as a word of encouragement and challenge to left-handers here in light of some of the grumbling.
great post CraigG...I'm a lefty thru and thru, and I will never play righthanded, never wanted to, never will. I overcame that buy flipping any righty guitar/bass over and playing with the strings inverted back when the lefty basses were few and WAY overpriced. so although you said " I can go play anyones axe"....so can I, but if it is a righty bass or guitar, the strings are inverted.
so yes, I play lefty BOTH ways to overcome every obstacle, cause I sure love to jam on the boutique basses that were only made for a righty that I can NEVER afford to own myself, and another unique way to show the audience.
you always hear: "I wanted to learn that tune inside and out"? ----well I say " I wanted to learn that tune upside down and rightside up"....lololol
NO this is not an advertisement or recommendation for ANYONE to play upsidedown.
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 643
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
oh ya!!!!!, but this opens up 50 questions that I will PM you for...That's how I play, E string on bottom.
Yeah, my brother is left handed but learned to play guitar right handed. he's glad he did since it gives him access to a load of guitars that lefties can't play!
I think some people kinda think they should play lefty because they struggle to play a right handed guitar when they start. But hey, it's not easy for righties either! Sticking with it is a good way to go, you can overcome left handedness!
I think some people kinda think they should play lefty because they struggle to play a right handed guitar when they start. But hey, it's not easy for righties either! Sticking with it is a good way to go, you can overcome left handedness!
well since this thread took a nosedive into THE LEFTY-VS-RIGHTY subject, let me ask you something chris....( no offense intended ) BUT-----
you said: "he's glad he did since it gives him access to a load of guitars that lefties can't play"
you are so WRONG...I can play anything made for a righthander, ANYTHING!!! and if you weren't watching, you'd never know the strings are inverted.
I am not a one of a kind who can play both ways either, as some of my friends on youtube do it also, including some righthanders that can take a flipped lefty bass and play them inverted.
if your reply will be "the horns are cut wrong and you cant access the 24th fret"...uh...so what.....theres 22 others that are easily playable, and if I did play guitar as my main, I would find a body that was easily reachable all the way to fret#24.
I may sound defensive, but I HATE it when people say what you just did.
I think the new Ibanez sD300 . They're arounf 350 , have a thin neck and play and sound amazing.
As far as everything else--- Im a righty who plays lefty! Hows that for ya! My first bass was a Gibson EB so I had know idea I was playing lefty at all. It wasnt until my friends dad saw me and said "let me re-string that for you". By then I already had a few months of practicing and didnt think to flip it over. Now , 20 years later, I WISH he would have said "thats upside down, flip it over". Because I CAN NOT play any bass I see. Its very very depressing. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU'RE RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED. If you never picked up an instrument then you dont know how to play. So learning right-handed IS NOT a detriment. The same way as if a righty learned to play lefty first (like me).
As far as everything else--- Im a righty who plays lefty! Hows that for ya! My first bass was a Gibson EB so I had know idea I was playing lefty at all. It wasnt until my friends dad saw me and said "let me re-string that for you". By then I already had a few months of practicing and didnt think to flip it over. Now , 20 years later, I WISH he would have said "thats upside down, flip it over". Because I CAN NOT play any bass I see. Its very very depressing. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU'RE RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED. If you never picked up an instrument then you dont know how to play. So learning right-handed IS NOT a detriment. The same way as if a righty learned to play lefty first (like me).
being more on topic now... I just got a rogue LX200BL which was a good used 100.00 lefty bass. Not the finest ship on the sea, but certainly very playable for the times I need to play with the E string on top....
and leftymike, that hit the nail on the head...if you never picked up a guitar before, it is much easier to "LEARN" right or left...
and leftymike, that hit the nail on the head...if you never picked up a guitar before, it is much easier to "LEARN" right or left...
