stringmaster setup for a lefty???

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 18 Aug 2000 1:26 pm

I think on a Stringmaster; just sitting on the other side of it should do for a lefty.
Just restring so low notes are closest to ya. I don't think you could change ends with the hardware because of the hole insets designed to take the tuning pans and plate.
Ricky

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 18 Aug 2000 1:41 pm

Ah---but picture disconnecting the two bodies, flipping them end-for end and reconnecting. Then you'd still have them in proper step-up orientation.
Looking at mine, the only problem I see is that you'd bury the output jack. But I wonder if the front neck possibly has a corresponding hole--maybe that's where the wires pass through? Nothing but idle speculation, though. I'm not fixing to take mine apart but I think you may have a do-able project, Herb.
You will have to alter the instrument to deal with an output if there is no hole on the front neck, though.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 18 Aug 2000 3:27 pm

Why bother? That's a lot of work for very little reward. It would be far easier and more productive to take the time that would be spent turning the guitar around and use that time learning to play the guitar the way it's currently configured.
Just my opinion, but the truth.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 18 Aug 2000 4:23 pm

Herb, I agree with Brad on this. I am left handed, but all the musical instruments that I play, I play right handed. Instead of it being a handicap, I have found it to be just the opposite, it is really an asset.

The difficult work like fretting chords on guitar or banjo, or the bar work on a steel guitar is done with the left hand, so to me being left handed has made the difficult part easier.

This is just my opinion of course, but it might be worth thinking about. It works for me.

Jim

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 18 Aug 2000 5:57 pm

I'm semi-unqualified to respond because I'm a single neck U-12 pedal player and never player a D-10, because I'm a righty, and because I've really not yet spent time playing my Stringmaster. I just don't have double-neck experience but...

No advice on converting to righty. That's not my call. Yes there's plenty of good reason to conform in a righty's world and lefties have to deal with that all their lives. When a lefty decides to do something lefty, I'm sure it's not without a lot of consideration.
But if you do play it lefty, I do see how you would want to convert it because I just tried and it doesn't feel cool at all to have the front neck lower than the back.

Do you already own this guitar? Because if not, you might consider talking to Ted Smith at Melobar about a custom order. (From what he has posted lately, I reckon you'd have to wait for a bit).

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 19 Aug 2000 8:38 am

All musical instruments that I have seen are neather left handed or right handed because you use both hands. What would you do with a piano, turn it upside down? What about you car, how do make it left handed?

Have a Great Day, Chuck

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 19 Aug 2000 11:32 am

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 19 Aug 2000 1:14 pm

Just a few lefties who play righty:

Mark Knopfler
Joe Strummer
Ringo Starr
My pal Rob

the list could go on and on, what I've heard is that it just takes a little more time to get adjusted when you're learning, and even then we're only talkin' a few weeks. Herb, if you've already been playing lefty for a while, then I guess you'll have to rearrange the guitar. I just hope it's a beater so it won't affect the collectible value. Most important though, have fun!

Rich Young · Post by **Rich Young** » 20 Aug 2000 7:59 am

Just a thought on this.
I'm the only right handed guitar player in a family of left-handed guitar players. I tried left handed and right handed and right felt right to me. I actually started to learn with the strings upside down, like a lot of lefties do, cause my brother strung his guitar left-handed.
If using the dominant hand for fingering is so much better, why don't we righties play the other way? It just doesn't feel natural to me.
One note though. Lefty instruments are harder to find and if you play left handed, you can't go sit in with someone with out bringing your own instrument.
I did have my stringmaster apart when I first got it, cleaning it up, and if I remember correctly, there is a hole drilled for the wires to go through. As there is no corresponding hole on the front neck, I don't think you could rewire without drilling. But you could change the pickup plates around fairly easily. The far neck would be lower than the close one, but I'd think that would be a whole lot easier to get used to than trying to learn "backwards".

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 21 Aug 2000 2:24 pm

Oh man, I'm confused

Do you play upsidedown? I mean the strings, front to back. I mean back to front. I mean standing on your head. I mean.....

But really, so you leave the strings strung righty but stand on the other side of the guitar and have the high strings closest, the bass strings farthest from you? Is that it?
I know that the few 6 string guitarists I've heard of that turn a normal-strung guitar upsidedown sure get their own sound.
Wow.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 21 Aug 2000 4:34 pm

For those who play left-handed with strings in correct order, making the transition to backwards right-handed playing is out of the question. I guess there are arguments for advantages for both ways. All my lap steels, and dobro started out as right-handed instruments, but were converted fairly easily. Your volume and tone and input jack will be in a different locations, but no big deal.

Dave Mayes · Post by **Dave Mayes** » 22 Aug 2000 9:06 am

Herb, you are going to need longer tie - rods unless you are willing to counter - sink four new holes ... those diamond shaped plates cover counter - sunk holes. I don't think you want to do this kind of surgery if you plan to sell it. Although I suppose you could, seeing as how this work wouldn't be visible when the guitar is reassembled for right hand playing. You'll want to reverse the leg sockets too ! A lot to consider.

Dave Mayes · Post by **Dave Mayes** » 22 Aug 2000 2:43 pm

Hello again Herb. I just remembered ... there is a Stringmaster player in Brooklyn, NY who is a lefty and has reversed the necks on his guitar ( the same way you are considering ). His name is J.T. Gallagher and he plays Hawaiian music with a group calling themselves The Tiny Bubbles Band. Here's his e - mail address : jt@tinybubbleband.com. He's a nice guy - give him a call. Best 'o luck.