Left handed bass guitars at Fret Music
Most guitars can be built to suit left and right-handed players. So there are left handed bass guitars around, although some say they aren't as easy to find as right-handed ones. (After all, only 13% of the population is left-handed.) Left handed bass guitars are a virtual mirror image of a right-handed model, with everything swapped to the opposite side of the instrument.
Traditionally the dominant hand plucks the strings. For most people this is the right hand. This is because musical expression (dynamics, tonal expression and colour etc) is largely determined by the plucking hand, while the fretting hand has the lesser mechanical task of depressing and gripping the strings. The standard design for the electric bass guitar has four strings, tuned E, A, D and G.
A minority believe left-handed people should learn to play guitars strung as right-handed people play them, to standardise the instrument. However, most people insist that 'lefties' should learn left handed bass guitars, as they will be more skilled and dextrous if they stick to left handed bass guitars.
Some left-handed players even claim they have fallen behind through not using left handed bass guitars, saying they can't get their arm in the right place if they use their right arm.
Probably the most famous player of left handed bass guitars is Paul McCartney, who custom ordered a left handed model of the Hofner Violin bass when the Beatles were in Hamburg in their early years. He caused the left handed Hofner Violin bass to become an icon in rock history and made it synonymous with both himself and the Beatles.
If you are looking for
left handed bass guitars you'll need to search diligently. While most of the left handed bass guitars out there are very good, for every 10 right hand models, there's only one left handed version. It's slightly easier for higher end left handed bass guitars; many manufacturers who make custom guitars to order will happily create left handed bass guitars at no extra cost, although customers should be aware this is essentially only for the more expensive models of left handed bass guitars.
At Fret Music, in Southampton, we have large selection of four-string bass guitars and 5 and 6 string models and fretless basses.
Because of our firm focus on customer service excellence, you should talk to us if you are thinking of buying left handed bass guitars. We'll take the time to talk you through your options, and have access to some of the best guitar tuition around.
One of our left handed bass guitars on offer is the Hofner Violin Bass, as played by Paul McCartney, on offer for just over £450. Check out our web site for more information, and to see other left handed bass guitars we can sell you.
Drop us an email, give us a call on the freephone number, or drop into the store to find out more about how we can kit you out with an instrument you'll love.
