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Lefty Build

Posted by popsomatic on March 1, 2014 at 4:10pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I am long time cabinet maker. I have a really talented nephew who is off to Berklee Music school in the Fall for guitar. Hes  self taught (at age 10) with an incredible ear for music. Hes a natural lefty who accidentally ( nobody knew) started playing a right handed guitar upside down (but not restrung) before I was able to snag it from him. He owns quite a few really fine guitars, but I would like to make him a really nice left handed cigar box guitar before he leaves for school. Hes a great blues player but hes like a sponge wanting to learn and play everything....... that being said, I want him to have the cigar box as a momento from me, but more importantly so he has a solid reminder of how the blues originated, and the great players  who first played on cigar boxes and tin can guitars.

My question is if there are any plans for  a really nice left handed build.......I was even thinking along the lines of a resonator type of guitar. .........sadly I am ignorant of guitar mechanics...I never played at all but I sure did listen. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am a newbie here.

                                                                     Thanks.......      Pops

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Tags: build, for, lefty, palns
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Replies

  • Slowpaw Steve T March 2, 2014 at 4:00am

    I'm right handed but I play left handed due to an arm injury i received many years ago, i build left and right handed guitars and i can tell you there is absolutely no difference between them or how they're built or played, one is literally a mirror  image of the other, i have many photos of left handed guitars on my home page, hope this helps!  (-:

    Yellow Partagas and Fender Super Champ X2

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/SteveTrowbridge

    • popsomatic > Slowpaw Steve T March 4, 2014 at 9:48pm

      thanks for your input.......I happen to like a good Partagas cigar now and then.......makes me smile to see the box being used

  • DeltaglowBoy March 1, 2014 at 6:08pm

    Be aware that the nut and bridge will have slots that are cut for the left handed way the guitar is strung. I generally built my left handed CBG's and string them up and then do fine detail work on the nut and bridge once the strings are in place and I'm satisfied with the overall build. Regarding the input jack and volume, tone pots .... make sure they are oriented for comfortable access for the lefty and don't forget the strap mounts are also left hand specific.

    I've also built some with the above items placed in a neutral position so that the CBG can be played by either a left or right handed player with only restringing required for the appropriate "handedness".

    • popsomatic > DeltaglowBoy March 1, 2014 at 11:07pm

      thank you....... I will do my best......I really appreciate your help.

  • The Phrygian Kid March 1, 2014 at 4:51pm

    i doubt there are many specifically left handed plans, because its unnecessary. its just a mirror image.. I've only ever done a couple lefties.. its easy, except you need to constantly be reminding yourself its a leftie; last time i did side dots on both sides of the neck cos i did em on the 'normal' side first without thinking, just on autopilot

    so its only really the side dots go on the other side of the neck, any pots or electronics will probably be on opposite side of body.. slots for strings in nut and bridge go in reverse.. cos its a regular guitar, upside down

    • popsomatic > The Phrygian Kid March 1, 2014 at 11:06pm

      thank you.i will keep this in mind.....I am slowly educatin myself here..........what a great site.

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