Frequently Asked Questions About Left-Handed Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, Guitar & Fiddle

Subject: Hi there !
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 10:08:37 -0500

Hi Mickey,
I typed a lengthy e-mail to you last night at my job via my web-based e-mail, and when I hit send, the thing logged me out instead, so I'm figuring the e-mail did not get sent.

The following is basically a reiteration of my email I tried to send last night, sent from my home e-mail address. If the prior one somehow got to you, I apologize for the duplication. Anyhow...

Yesterday I ordered a Regal RD45 Sqareneck and a Shub squareneck capo from you guys. I wanted to tell you how I found your great site, and also ask you a couple of questions.

The woman who took my order, Cheryl, was very friendly and helpful, and suggested I drop you a line.
I told her how great the website is, and she mentioned that it is your work. Wow! Great job. I do a family site and thought that took a lot of work to maintain, I can't even imagine the hours you must put in at your site.
I am a beginner, and have already learned a great deal from your site.

Thanks again...it's great to hear that the site has been a support system for you. It has been my ultimate goal to provide all acoustic players a venue to share and learn from...there are many other updates I'm currently working on which will include a far more extensive forum along with a completely dedicated website to dobros under the URL: www.resophonicguitar.com...

As to how I found your site...
A few weeks ago, an older uncle gave me a resonator roundneck. I am a lefty who tried learning to play acoustic guitar right-handed years ago ( I gave up because I just couldn't get the fretting down with my left hand).

I understand your dilemma...and even went through the same turmoil on whether to play right-handed or approach guitar in my natural left-handed predisposition...it's difficult when you live in a right-hander's world...we're the ignored minority. All doors seem to open up backwards including my very own refrigerator door!

I figured I could learn lap-style with a steel bar more comfortably. A friend at work had coincidentally just purchased a dobro himself, and brought it in to show me. It turned out to be a Regal RD45 Sqareneck (which I didn't know at the time).
I thought it was gorgeous and did a google.com search for "Regal Dobro" at work that night. Your site came up as one of the first hits, and I have been visiting and learning every day since!

That's great to hear...The web is an endless resource...I've found myself lost many times in others' sites.

I love the Regal RD-45...I believe it's the best value in the industry...far more powerful than some other low-end lines. And, don't forget, you'll also have our full trade-up value when you're ready to get into a Paul Beard or a Gibson Dobro...

I didn't even realize the difference between the squareneck and roundneck styles until I started researching your great site.
I am looking forward to my new Regal. In the meantime, I ordered an extension nut from you this past Monday, planning to put that on my roundneck to facilitate my lap-style learning.
And check out this good fortune...This morning (Valentine's Day), my wife gives me a gift certificate she made on our PC, "good for 100.00 towards the purchase of a new dobro". Is that cool or what ! Looks like my first installment on the layaway will be coming your way soon.
On to my questions..

Are fingerpicks a must ?

Nope...You can play with the flesh of your fingers (if you have short fingernails) or your fingernails which will give a more pronounced sound. However, keep in mind, if you're playing bluegrass, I would then say metal fingerpicks are a must. They're relatively easy to get used to...it's only the first week or so that they feel like some foreign growth extending from your fingertips...after awhile, they become a part of you and feel very natural. The advantage of fingerpicks: more volume, better dynamics, more projection, clear bell-like tone, and the true classic Dobro sound is easily achieved...


I am using a plastic Dupont thumbpick, and have Dupont metal fingerpicks. The fingerpicks seem clumsy to me, and I can pick pretty good with bare fingers (I do use the thumbpick). If you recommend the fingerpicks as essential, I will stick with them.
If you suggest I stick with them, I am hoping the higher and wider spaced strings on the Regal will make them easier to use.

The Regal does offer wide spacing between strings allowing for easier access to get underneath the string...and, minimizing the accidental hitting of adjacent strings.

Now, I would suggest staying with the fingerpicks:
1. Be sure that you're comfortably molding the collars to fit around your finger snug...otherwise, you'll experience slippage.
2. Make sure that the fingerpick extends above the fingernail approximately 1/8"...
3. Be sure to bend the top of the fingerpick so that you're striking the string evenly...most players will bend the tip so that it covers the top of the fingernail...I'm only suggesting that you bend it slightly until you find your fingerpicks more comfortable to pick with.

Can you get the Shub squareneck capo in silverplate ?

Sorry, currently they're only offering a brass model...even so, I love the brass look. When ordering the Shubb capo, be sure to request that the Shubb capo is fitted for your particular Regal. Some Regals vary in string height and will not allow a Shubb to fit properly. The Beard capo fits on any Squareneck Dobro no matter how high the strings. Even so, it's your choice which capo to purchase; they both work superbly.

      If you can, I will change my order to the silverplate. It would be a purely aesthetic change, as I thought a silver capo would look awesome on that black finish Regal! No biggie though if it's not available.

  Can you possibly provide any info on my current resonator, as I am quite curious about it, and could not find any info on the web ?

I don't know how old it is, but it is in excellent shape. It says Dorado on the headstock, and had a small sticker that said "Japan" on it. It is a roundneck resonator guitar, with 2 standard screenholes and three small holes between them under the strings.
It has a mahogany finish (I think), and a kind of ivory or bone color trim (I think it's properly called binding) around the body where the top and bottom meet the sides.
If you have any info about this guitar, I would love to hear it. It is quite cool simply to look at, let alone play.

Sounds like a very unique guitar...in fact, it's so unique, I could only find 1-3 references to it on the entire WWW...yet, these were all individual owners or stores that were selling them as used. Evidently, this company is no longer manufacturing these...

I also read somewhere in your site that you are a lefty yourself ! This has provided me with great inspiration! I watched some of your video clips, and said to myself, "I hope to sound like that someday". Your playing is awesome Mickey. Last night I checked out your mp3 page at work. After I send you this e-mail I am going there to check out more of your music.

Yes, as I brought up earlier in this e-mail: I'm left-handed living in a right-hander's world. You and I are the hidden minority...and, the problem with being a left-handed musician is that you can't just walk into a store and try out a variety of instruments...and, you can't exchange instruments in a jam session. Additionally, whenever you attempt to learn from a book or a video, you always have to be thinking backwards. I started learning right-handed because my first guitar was borrowed from my Uncle in Alabama--who, of course, was right-handed. Additionally, my first book was a Mel Bay chord book which had a right-handed point of view. You know, it was easy to get over my hurdle, at 15 years old, since I didn't think of the fact that a guitar's strings could be switched around for left-handed playing. Instead, I just had a higher hurdle to jump as a beginning left-hander playing a right-hander's guitar. Fortunately, I did end up a right-handed player; can you imagine my putting out instructional videos as a left-hander attempting to teach mostly right-handers?

Before I close, I must again congratulate you on an awesome website. As a beginner, I feel very welcome at your site, even though I can see how it would appeal to veteran musicians as well.
Your love of acoustic music comes through loud and clear on every page, and I wish you the best for your business and continued success and enjoyment in you musical pursuits.

Thanks so much Mike! Your words are an inspiration. Please stay tuned for many future updates to our website...

Keep on pickin', Mickey

Subject: RE: Left hand bridge on Mandolins
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 12:51:26 -0500

Thanks for the reply:

If I turn the bridge around, the staggered positions of the "saddles" are
backwards, and intonation is off. Correct?

Regards
Steve

Greetings Steve,

That's a valid estimation...although, what happens is that the bridge repeats the same stagger pattern from the reverse side. So, we can still achieve the same accurate intonation in the forward or reverse positions.

Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 13:31:35 -0600
Subject: Re: Fwd: Left-handed violinists

Howdy!
I am a string teacher in the Dallas Area. Just checking out your site. I
like it; however, I thought you should know that all violinists put their
instruments on the left shoulder and bow with the right hand. (So there is no
clashing of bows when playing with others) I am left-handed and I have always
played with the instrument on the left shoulder. I didn't want you to
unknowingly put incorrect info on your website. Good luck in your endeavors!!
Angela

--
Thanks Angela...you're most certainly correct...especially when it comes to orchestral disciplines. Although, in the fiddle tradition, there have been many accomplished left-handed fiddlers. I believe on the classical level, this certainly makes the learning curve for left-handers steep. I'm left-handed and have taken up the violin approximately a year ago...and I have learned to play it on the left shoulder with a right-hand bowing technique. In fact, even as a multi-instrumentalist, I've learned to play all other instruments in the standard right-hand position. It's unfortunate that we left-handers have to live in a right-handed world...with the case of music, it makes it much simpler to just learn right-handed. It makes trying out others' instruments easier and learning from books or videos less confusing.

Thanks for your input...I've posted it on our new forums section. Be sure to contribute to this section if ever you get the time. Your violin knowledge would assist our readers tremendously. And, let me know if there's any voids we can fill on our website to assist aspiring violinists.

Thanks again!

Mickey

Subject: Re: Fwd: left handed banjo lesson
From: BO PAYTON
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 13:59:59 EDT

DEAR SIR, I CAME ACROSS YOUR SITE ON BANJOS LESSONS, I HAVE A QUESTION? ON
THE BANJO: RIGHT HAND EXERCISES LESSON , ALSO ON THE HOW TO READ & UNDERSTAND
TABLATURE FOR 5-STRING BANJO. I JUST GOT ME A LEFT HANDED 5 STRING BANJO AND
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE PLACEMENT WITH THE LEFT HANDED WOULD BE THE SAME
AS YOUR LESSON ON THE RIGHT HANDED PLACEMENT. I DO NOT SEE ANY THING ON THE
LEFT HANDED EXERCISES. ANY OF YOUR HELP WOULD BE WELCOME. THANKS AGAIN

Greetings,

Glad to assist...Yes, the placement remains the same whether playing left handed or right handed.

A "1" would represent the first fret...a "5" would represent the fifth fret. Mickey

Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 02:19:22 -0600
Subject: Re: Lucida Left Handed GUitar FAQs

Hi there, I emailed a while back inquiring about left handed nylon string, perhaps classical style, guitars. I was looking in particular for something like a Lucida in a left handed model. I would prefer a more compact classical style guitar to a dreadnaught or a jumbo. You had indicated that Lucida's do not come left handed, but that they could be converted to a left handed guitar. Is that still the same case? Are they built in such a way to accommodate this type of change? I realize that there would be an additional cost to convert one, however I am now seriously interested in purchasing one. What would be the turnaround time to get one (Lucida - Malaga or Solid Spruce) Any help you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.
Rich Bradway

Greetings Rich,

We do have Lucidas in stock ready to ship...and, they can all be easily switched over to left-handed models. It's easy on a classical since there isn't a pickguard. It's a matter of switching over the nut and reversing the strings. We can do this for a 15.00 add-on charge to our already discounted pricing.

Please call our toll free number to ensure our current stock availability: 888-209-8434

From: "Stephen Hines"
Subject: metalbodies - Lefty?
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 11:56:11 -0400

Greetings Steve,
In answer to your questions:

I hope some of y'all are folks of the brass and nickel as well....I'm a
lefty player kind of just getting started on the guitar; as I develop, I'm
hoping to get a metalbody, like an old National Style O... I've researched
price and availability of those; I've also looked in to the new Nationals,
the Johnson replicas, and the Dobro DM-33.. can y'all tell me if there is a
specific difference in construction to make a lefty out of one of these, or
can I simply get a righty, modify/replace the nut and bridge and string it
left-hand?

We've converted a few metal bodies to left-handed...and, can do this for you upon your decision of what model you decide on. It does require some modifications on both the nut and the saddle...which mostly is cutting new v's for the strings to reside in.

Old National vs. New National vs. DM-33 vs Johnson replica Style O?

The Gibson is superb quality through and through...the Johnson's are OK especially for the price (but, they are most definitely a compromise). The Old Nationals cannot be beat...and the new ones are also every bit as good as what Gibson is making....

I'm getting into fingerstyle blues now; I would also plan to play a lot of
slide (when I learn how)... is the difference in the two going to have much
influence on my choice, or will that mostly be a matter of setup? My
current thinking is I want a round neck, with a very slightly radiused
fingerboard, which would give the 'best of both worlds' option, I hope....

I also play quite a bit of slide...and love the sheen of a metal body...setup can influence these dobros tremendously...although, setup will not improve the quality of craftsmanship on any instrument. If you're into fingerstyle blues, you'll most definitely want a roundneck dobro.

Hope this helps...Mickey

From: "Bernie Mattox"
Subject: Re: lefty Rigel
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 16:19:28 -0500

From a resale value etc should I decide to upgrade at a later time, could we just renut a right handed mandolin and restring, The pickguard to me is superfelous so it could be removed and holes filled would be satisfactory to me. The jumbo frets would be beneficial I believe, and I would want the Deluxe tweed case. I guess my biggest concern would be if this would affect the tonality if we reverse everything. But I am confident you folks will be able to answer that question. Thanks in advance for your responses. If you think the above suggestions are a bad idea please tell me you won't hurt my feelings. I am relying on you folks you are the experts. I know the upcharge for left handed is $250 per Peter at Rigel.

Greetings,

I agree, the pickguard is somewhat superfluous (many high-end makes of mandos do not have pickguards)...I personally like one to rest my small finger on while flatpicking. And, yes, we can easily remove it...along with converting the mando for left-hand playing. No, it really wouldn't change the overall tonality (if it did, it's imperceptible to the average listener) or even its original playability. Mickey

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 00:36:24 -0600

What tuning would be suitable for the Trinity College Bouzouki? If I got one could I stick to
my familiar GDAE tuning which I use for mandolin, tenor guitar and tenor banjo, or is this
sacrificing the character of the instrument to the easiest option available?

I play a bouzouki in the G/D/A/E tuning myself. In fact, if you've watched our video samplers for bouzoukis, they are all with a bouzouki in the G/D/A/E tuning. Mickey

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 21:00:57 -0600

I am interested in a Left Handed Madolin in a light wood. I am a beginner so something around $200 - $300 would be great what do you recommend

Bob Drawbert

Hello Bob,

We can set up any of our current mandolins for left-handed playing...

My recommendation in the price range you're requesting would be the Kentucky...Set up for left-handed playing requires reversing the nut, bridge and pickguard. This set up is only an additional 20.00.

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999

Cool! Thank you for your information on lefthandedness in the world of dulcimers. I will keep it in mind and keep your address in my list of good things to have.

I have always thought that there is a huge blessing in beind lefthanded because you learn from the start that there's more than one way to do everything. And you can get used to the idea that doing it "backward" or in your own way is valid.

This may have something to do with why lefthanded people tend to be creative. I read a book about how we also tend to die younger -- the author concluded that it's the stress and danger of working with machinery not designed for our needs. But I'd still rather be a southpaw.

I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to acknowledge your letter. I have two email addresses and I check them regularly but didn't realize that on one I have to "command' for new incoming mail to appear. I just downloaded 110 emails and am now busy answering and apologizing.

So this was my answer and please accept my apology. I feel like a fool.

Sincerely, Brenda Reed Starspangle

Hello Brenda, Nice to hear from you! I would love to post your letter for us southpaws...

In fact, you've given me a grand idea. I may just go ahead and post a page for the left-handed world of musicians. We can have tips and techniques and maybe a description of each instrument and the problems of converting them to left handed playing. Mickey Cochran

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999

Is that the price for a left handed good time? Todd

Hello Todd,

The Goodtime is not currently available in the lefthanded model...I thought it would be...I called the factory today and was informed it was available at one time and may be in the future but currently is not.

What is available for lefties is the Boston or Sierra (You may also choose from our complete Goldtone Line)...

The Boston Leftie is the most reasonable in price...retails at 1299.00...Your cost through us would be (call for current pricing)...

Optionally, you may purchase a hardshell case for 50.00 ...

The Deering hardshell case would be 90.00...

Mickey Cochran