Subject: Left hand or right
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 17:28:43 +0100

What is the difference between a right and left handed guitar? I am right handed but own a left handed guitar I don't feel comfortable playing it left handed. I am thinking of changing the strings round but a friend told me that there are more differences than the strings.

Greetings,

Outside of the obvious differences, the bridge is angled differently and the nut grooves are different to accommodate different gauges...You'll notice that on an acoustic guitar, the saddle, which resides in the bridge, has an offset angle. This angle is reversed when converting a right-handed guitar to left-handed playing. This won't necessarily affect the tone of the guitar...however, it does affect the intonation. My suggestion would be to keep this left-handed guitar as what it was meant to be. If anything, you may be able to trade it somewhere or, sell it and have the funds to replace it with a dedicated right-handed guitar.

Hope this helps, Mickey

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Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 09:32:59 -0500

Hi Mickey - Your web site is really informative. My 13 year old is interested in beginning guitar lessons. He also happens to be left-handed. Would it be better to start him using a right handed guitar or should I acquire a left-handed model. My initial impression is that it would be better for him to start him in the right-handed model since he would not have as many limitations. Let me know what you think. Deb

Greetings Deb,

Yes, it would be advantageous to learn right-handed as a left-hander...I did this myself...however, in some ways it may also impede his progress. If he has a strong inclination to learn left-handed, and truly feels uncomfortable playing right-handed, I'd suggest letting him follow the left-handed path. There have been some truly amazing guitarists that have played left-handed without impeding their ultimate goal of excellence in any way.

We want him to be encouraged to practice...we wouldn't want him to have any loss of inspiration or desire to play due to being forced to play right-handed...hence, my suggestion would be to allow him to make the final decision.

Mickey

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Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 21:11:05 EST
Subject: lefty?

I like the tone and price of the blueridge guitars...do they make a lefty? Could you make it a lefty if they don't make'em that way. I have a Tyler Mountain 5 string lefty that is spotless and just haven't had the time to get it right. Will you take it in trade? I really like Tradd's finger style playing, very mellow...sippin' a Jack n coke, playin some guitar...
Thanks Sam
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Greetings Sam,

Sorry, Blueridge doesn't make a lefty to date...and, no, it wouldn't look right since the converted blueridge would end up with an upside down pickguard...and, removing the pickguard would be out of the question since the wood is unfinished underneath it...

I happen to be left-handed and have learned to play right-handed...I'm not suggesting you to do the same...in fact, from my point of view, I'd recommend playing from the position that feels the most natural.

Maybe Tradd, our in-house luthier will have another suggestion for you on converting or finding a left-handed acoustic guitar...

Wishing you the best in your research efforts, Mickey

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Subject: Re: Searching for the Right Guitar for Left-Handed
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:44:11 -0500

Mickey:
Left-handed greetings right back at you.

Well that's a mighty nice greeting considering that I am a left-hander that learned to play right-handed. One of the first things I had to learn was to how to adapt to a backwards world full of right-handers...maybe for the better and maybe for the worse. Who's to say?

First let me say that I was extremely impressed with your response and appreciate the time you spent reviewing and addressing my purchase criteria. I had contacted two web based stores, yours and "another store". Was amazed at the difference in response. Suffice it to say that I am now only dealing with one guitar store - yours. I was amazed that you mentioned Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna. I grew up in the late 60's and was a big fan of the San Francisco sound which naturally included Jefferson Airplane (refuse to recognize Starship name change). So when Kaukonen and Casidy came out with the self-titled Hot Tuna album, I bought it (still included in my vinyl collection) simply because of their relationship to Airplane. Though bluesy in its roots, it changed my musical perspective, opening up the world of acoustic music. Shortly thereafter, I began to listen to various acoustic troubadors, including Steeleye Span, Nick Drake, Chris Smithers, John Stewart, Leo Kottke, John Martyn, Bert Jansch, Pentangle, and Fairport Convention. That album helped open up a whole new world, a world which eventually evolved into my primary musically focus. I feel like I have run into a kindred soul.

Yes...I had many of the same influences...and, in fact, devotedly listen to many of these artists today...I still have the original LP of Steeleye Span's "All Around My Hat"...and, I especially love Kottke's original "Armadillo" album on Fahey's Takoma label...I may have to do some research on picking up some of the original Fairport Convention albums. I happen to be an LP collector today.

That said, let's talk about a new guitar. Though I am a little intimidated about moving into the price range of $2,500 - $5,000 for a new guitar (being a self employed photography/organic farmer. money is a tight commodity),

Wow! Photography and Organic farming...both are also my very own interests. Unfortunately, in the mountain environment, our growing season is short. We had hoped to someday build an environmentally controlled greenhouse. Are you a commercial grower? What's your focus with photography?

I also appreciate that 1)it is not an expenditure I will make very often in my lifetime, 2)it has always been a dream of mine to have a guitar to play which I can fall in love with, 3)would be extremely disappointed to spend less and be disappointed for years with my selection and 4)now is as good a time as any (not getting any younger). So, here are my initial responses to your suggestions and a proposal for moving ahead.

Initial Responses:
You had basically mentioned four potential sources - Breedlove, Olson, Martin, and Taylor. I have decided to rule out Olson. Though I am impressed by the list of folks who have choosen to play Olsons, it would appear that a Olson guitar equipped the way I would prefer would be out of my price range (more than $5,000). In general, have decided that a Grand Concert cutaway is the right size guitar for my type of playing. (Do you agree?)

Most definitely...in fact, my Breedlove 12-String is the Grand Concert model...and, it has a pure balanced tone that most of us fingerpickers are always looking for...

In terms of the Breedlove, two guitars that looked physically appealing were the "S Series Focus", and the "C15". In terms of the Taylor line, I liked the "K22ce" (love the koa wood - would love a darker colored guitar like koa or mahogany - not sure if either is good choice in terms of sound) or the "512/514ce". Finally, in terms of Martin (which is what Gorka plays by the way, don't know what Martyn plays), from a looks standpoint, I like the OMC15E (don't know difference between Grand Concert and Orchestra models). One line of guitars you left out were Gibsons - any reason for excluding them?

Nope...they are making superb acoustics...I've seen many of them at the NAMM Show in Nashville...we do not push many through our store. Doesn't seem to be as much demand as we've had for Martins. In fact, we've just recently picked up the Martin dealership along with an authorized repair qualification.

And in terms of electronics, would follow your recommendations.

Bottom line, I want to work with you to find my dream guitar, whether used, new from stock, or new custom. So where do we go from here? Let me know.

My suggestion would be to narrow your choice down to a Breedlove or Martin...we currently do not carry the Taylors (therefore, if you do find a Taylor that you'd prefer, maybe we can assist you in linking up with the right dealer)...

Upon deciding on a model, such as the S Series Focus or the C15, then list all the features you'd like in your dream guitar (such as the left-handed option and the Blender System). I will then take this to my uplink at Breedlove to determine an exact cost and lead time. With this in line, I can get back with you with a tangible breakdown...in the interim of narrowing your choice on the brand and body style, I'm here to assist you...I'm currently working on a series of video samplers demonstrating many other Breedlove models...We have a Focus Sampler available now at the following link...which may, at the very least, give you some idea of the tonal range both in a fingerstyle and a flatpicking medium:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page319.htm

At your disposal, Mickey

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