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Double Bass Looking for LEFTY upright

U

unsoundbass

Jul 26, 2010
2
0
#1
I've been playing for 13 years and have persistently refused to start over and relearn how to play right-handed. Consequently I have virtually no luck when it comes to finding a left-handed upright bass. Can anyone kindly point me in the right direction? Any and all resources will be appreciated!
 
#4
I wish I had known about Upton 15 years ago! I've had a couple of Lefty Electric Bass majors at Belmont and we couldn't find anything.
I think due to the Upright and members of the String Family (violin, viola, cello, etc.) being primarily conceived as orchestral instruments it was a big deal that they all faced in the same direction, bowed the same, etc. That's why lefties like Pattitucci play right handed, among other reasons.
Bookmarking Upton right now in case it comes up again. Thanks!:)
 
#9
Square Bear said:
don't forget, you have to turn the bridge upside-down too.
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Well, if you're building a bass from scratch (or even if you're not) and you've planed the fingerboard for a lefty, then you have to cut a new bridge. Turning a "righty" bridge upside-down will never do as bridges are not top/bottom symmetric (the bottom is flat while the top isn't).

crowsmengegus said:
You make it sound easy...;)
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Not easy at all if you're modifying a "righty" bass. A breeze if you're building a "lefty" from the ground up-- at least for those who build them.
 
#10
drurb said:
Well, if you're building a bass from scratch (or even if you're not) and you've planed the fingerboard for a lefty, then you have to cut a new bridge. Turning a "righty" bridge upside-down will never do as bridges are not top/bottom symmetric (the bottom is flat while the top isn't).
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it's refreshing to know that my dead-pan humor comes across as well over the internet as it does in person.
 
#11
Square Bear said:
it's refreshing to know that my dead-pan humor comes across as well over the internet as it does in person.
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Maybe it's because we've seen things like this done and suggested quite a number of times. Hang around here longer and you'll be exposed to all kinds of goofy "solutions." Not everyone is aware of the lack of symmetry of the bridge in that dimension. Yeah, the written word often misses "tone" so these (;)) are useful. :)
 
#14
Both Wilfer and Poellmann make left handed versions of their basses (but only on special order). They don’t usually mark up the price for the left handed model by much either, Wilfer charged me $200 for my bass in 2004. They are available to order through Lemur Music.

Bob Gollihur has left handed Englelhardts available, but they all come in Eb necks.
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Also, please fill out your profile so that we know a little more about yourself and may address your needs better. Are you using the bass for jazz, orchestra, rockabilly? Each style will allow different solutions for lefties. Where are you located….?

Please feel free to message me with more questions.
[email protected]
 
#16
drurb said:
:confused:
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Hi Drurb,
I’m not sure why you were confused, but let me clarify what I meant.
If you’re playing professionally as a “classical” player, you’ll need to have a good quality fully carved instrument with the sound post and bass bar on correct sides. Flipping the strings and bridge around won’t cut it.

Let’s say you’re performing in an amateur folk combo where you play simple pizz lines, you can get away with a right handed bass re-strung with no additional interior reconstruction.

Does this make sense Drurb? Where did you get confused?
 
#17
fstasiak said:
Hi Drurb,
I’m not sure why you were confused, but let me clarify what I meant.
If you’re playing professionally as a “classical” player, you’ll need to have a good quality fully carved instrument with the sound post and bass bar on correct sides. Flipping the strings and bridge around won’t cut it.

Let’s say you’re performing in an amateur folk combo where you play simple pizz lines, you can get away with a right handed bass re-strung with no additional interior reconstruction.

Does this make sense Drurb? Where did you get confused?
Click to expand...

If you take a look at my earlier posts in this thread, you'll see that I'm well aware of what makes a "lefty" bass. I completely disagree that the style of music determines what you can "get away" with. If you're playing seriously, be it classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, roots, etc., then you'll want to go the whole route. It's also a matter of protecting the integrity of the instrument. If you're not playing seriously, then I suppose one might be satisfied with getting away with less but that would hold for any style of music that one chose not to be serious about. ;) One could be an amateur in a community orchestra and "get away" with less as well. So, the bottom line is that I think it's not the style that allows for different solutions but the level and investment of the player.
 
#18
drurb said:
It's also a matter of protecting the integrity of the instrument.
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drurb, we're a bit off topic here, but I have to disagree with this from a purely theoretical point of view (I've never done this myself, so I can't speak from experience). The string tension is pretty much even across the strings, so I don't think the bass will care which way it's strung. How it sounds strung backwards is another matter.
 
#19
crowsmengegus said:
...The string tension is pretty much even across the strings, so I don't think the bass will care which way it's strung. How it sounds strung backwards is another matter.
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There are threads in the set-up and repair forum with professional luthiers discussing this very topic, including tension, bassbar/soundpost, bridge and fingerboard playability issues when strung backwards.

I agree one could "just" swap the strings if one were were curious, however there is much more to it if one is serious...

Finally for the OP, I am left handed and I would STRONGLY suggest learning to play a standard, right handed doublebass. The ability to play or buy most any bass you run across, the ability to sit in on jam sessions, the logistics of playing in a community orchestra, etc. are worth the effort.
-J
 

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