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Here's a question for you- can I take a left handed guitar


SLAPPADom

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Posted

and string it for a right handed player? I see a 535 that I like but it's a lefty model. I know Hendrix did this, but don't know if he simply took stock righty guitars, turned them around and strung them for his lefty playing.

 

So, can I do this effectively OR are there other changes that would need to be made?

 

I know the volume knobs would potentially get in the way, and I'd have to remove the pick guard, but other than that would there be issues? (PUPS, tuners?)

Posted

and string it for a right handed player? I see a 535 that I like but it's a lefty model. I know Hendrix did this, but don't know if he simply took stock righty guitars, turned them around and strung them for his lefty playing.

 

So, can I do this effectively OR are there other changes that would need to be made?

 

I know the volume knobs would potentially get in the way, and I'd have to remove the pick guard, but other than that would there be issues? (PUPS, tuners?)

 

Off the top of my head. The nut and bridge would have to be dealt with.

Posted

The nut and the bridge will have to be reversed because the nut slot and the saddles are meant for a specific gauge of string. Inotation might be difficult because the bridge is already at an angle to help.

Posted

The angle the bridge is set may make it tough to intonate.

Posted

The angle the bridge is set may make it tough to intonate.

Might help if there was a Nashville bridge on it, they seem to have a little more saddle adjustment available than the Schaller roller bridge.

 

Personally, I think the novelty of an upside down 535 would wear off really quickly.

Posted

As stated you'll need to replace or reverse the Nut, Bridge, Bridge Saddles, and Stop Tail due to hole sizes.

 

I have a righty 1978 Ibanez 2630 semi-hollow that some fool reversed to play lefty. After all of the above were replaced (before I bought it), it played perfectly. The only remaining signs of the previous mod were holes in the body that held the former lefty pickguard.

Posted

depending on the pickups, you might have to swap those out, too. I play lefty guitars and when I recently ordered split blades, I had to specify that they were for a lefty guitar. Not sure that that's true for all types of pups, though; I'd just ask a luthier or pup manufacturer.

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