Any ideas what the very first left handed Gibson was? A ’50s Les Paul perhaps? According to John Engel, it’s a 100 year old archtop…

Last night I was perusing my copy of ‘Uncommon Sound: The Left Handed Guitar Players That Changed Music‘ by John Engel. In each of the two books, the final sections are dedicated to pictures of noteworthy left handed guitars from years gone by.

On page 412 of the blue book I stumbled across this.

Is This the First Left Handed Gibson?

It’s a 1915 Gibson L-4, and according to the book, it is the oldest known left handed Gibson. The image is accompanied only by a brief section of text:

1915 Gibson L-4, the earliest known left-handed Gibson. The venerable 16″-wide L-4 was launched only 3 years before and would live on in different guises through the 1960s. The oval soundhole (pictured), rounded in the late 1920s, would be replaced by f-holes in the early 1930s. (jv-ds)

After this description are the initials J.V and D.S. According to the book’s guide J.V is Jeff Veitch, who from a little Googling seems likely to be the photographer of the image above.

D.S stands for Dugald Stermer, who I assume was the owner of this guitar when it was photographed. Dugald was a respected illustrator, also well known for his enviable collection of vintage left handed Martin acoustics (amongst others). Sadly, he passed away in 2011.

That’s All She Wrote

Surprisingly, that is all the information the book offers up on this 100+ year old guitar. After a few hours of research I came up empty, so I thought I’d put up this post in the hopes that you lovely readers might be able to shed some light on this guitar.

During my time spent searching for this guitar I noticed that quite a few lefties from various forums had been acquainted with Dugald in the past, and had even tried out or traded guitars with him.

Was this guitar originally made left handed, or was it later converted. Where is it now?

If you know about this guitar, please leave a comment below!

Uncommon Sound

If you’d like to read my review on Uncommon Sound by John Engel, click here. This is a set of books which should be on every guitarists shelf, left or right handed.

Knowing how to choose your first left handed ukulele can be quite a daunting task. But it needn’t be! I’ve put together this quick guide which explains the various different sizes of ukes available, and lists a few affordable choices for new players. You can be playing your new left handed ukulele tomorrow!

If ukulele is going to be your very first stringed instrument, and you’ve landed on this page wondering if you should be playing right or left handed ukulele – read this article first.

If at the end you still have questions, leave a comment at the bottom of the page!

Do I Need a Left Handed Ukulele?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to southpaw ukuleles:

1. Get a right handed uke and flip it over – but don’t restring!
The big advantage to this is that you will be able to play any uke, wherever you are. The downside is that you’ll need to learn the chords upside down. However, as there are fewer strings, this isn’t a hugely daunting task.

Another problem here is that if you flip a righty, (in most cases) you’ll have no side dots on the fretboard to help guide you. The dots which should be helping you navigate the fretboard are now facing the floor. It doesn’t sound that troublesome, but trust me, you’ll miss those little dots!

2. String a righty for left handed play, or just get a lefty.
Ukes are fairly simple instruments that are more often than not pretty much symmetrical in design.  This means that unlike with a 6-string guitar, flipping a ukulele generally will only involve reversing the strings. In some cases, if the strings aren’t sitting snuggly, you may need to also flip the nut. On most ukes, the nut is held in place by string tension, so you should be able to remove it simply by loosening the strings.

The benefit here is that learning chords will be easier.  Watching ukulele lesson videos is made simple by the fact that the instructor will mirror you on-screen. However, you won’t be able to walk into a store and test out other ukuleles without a quick restring.

If possible, it would definitely be preferable to get a lefty (or ambidextrous!) design just to ensure that you can utilise the side position markers. However, if you have to flip a righty you can always add your own dots with a permanent marker, or some small round stickers.

What Size of Ukulele Do I Need?

There are four main sizes to choose from.  In order from smallest to largest you have:
Soprano > Concert > Tenor > Baritone

The Soprano is the smallest instrument at around 21 inches in total length. This is the size that most people will associate the ukulele with, as it makes that typical classic ukulele sound. Because of its smaller size, it is perfect for travelling with.

The Concert is a little bit bigger at 23 inches, which makes it a little less cramped than the Soprano above. It also produces that classic ukulele sound, but is a bit louder than the smaller Soprano.

Even bigger again is the Tenor at 26 inches. At this size, the Tenor begins to sound a little less Uke-like and a little deeper, like a classical guitar. It is generally favored by professional players.

Lastly, we have the Baritone at 30 inches. Its larger size and different tuning makes it sound closer to a classical guitar than a ukulele.

Best Beginner Left Handed Ukulele

When starting out with ukulele you are probably going to want to opt for one of the two smallest sizes – Soprano or Concert. I’ve listed a few great, affordable choices below which you can pick up today using the links supplied. Any of these instruments will make for a great introduction to ukulele.

These first 7 Ukes listed below are made specifically for left handed players.

Click Here to Check out These 7 Ukuleles

1. Oscar Schmidt Mahogany OU2LH Concert
2. Oscar Schmidt Koa OU5LH Concert
3. Oscar Schmidt OU7TLH Tenor
4. Luna Tattoo Concert Electro
5. Caramel CS303 & CS403 Soprano Electros (Spruce or Mahogany top options)
6. Ortega Concert RU11L
7. Martin S1 Soprano

The most popular traditional uke on this list is the Oscar Schmidt OU2. It’s priced very competitively, and features a high quality all-mahogany construction with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. For those not in the know, Oscar Schmidt is produced by Washburn Guitars, so you can be assured that these are quality instruments. The OU5 is a more expensive option, but features fancy upgrades such as an all-koa construction and abalone binding. Finally, the OU7 provides a tenor option for those of you who would rather a slightly larger instrument.

For those who are looking for a ukulele equipped with electronics, my picks are the Luna Tattoo or the Caramel CS303 (available with spruce or mahogany tops). The more expensive Luna has an all-mahogany construction, a cutaway for improved upper fret access, and has some super fancy laser-etched wave patterns in the body. The newly released Caramel is an absolute bargain at just $60 (it comes direct from the manufacturer, saving a ton of money), and is a real eye-catcher with its beautiful exotic zebrawood body. It also features a handy built-in tuner. And believe it or not, $60 gets you a solid wood top!

Finally, numbers 6 and 7 are options for those of you with a little more cash to splash. The Ortega and Martin are both constructed entirely of solid mahogany for a sweet, warm and beautiful tone. Both come with high quality gigbags.

Ambidextrous Ukuleles

The models below have dot inlays on both sides of the fingerboard to allow them to be played left, or right handed. A nice bonus here is that if you ever decide to upgrade, you can always donate these to friends or family – regardless of their dexterity. These are a great option for players on a tight budget.

If you’d like to purchase a separate tuner, I recommend the Snark SN-6 for Ukulele clip-on headstock tuner.

1. Kohala Tiki Soprano – link
2. Kohala Tiki Concert – link

How To Tune Your Left Handed Ukulele

Standard tuning on a ukulele is G-C-E-A (from top to bottom). For extra clarity, check out the image below which shows tuning on a lefty uke.

Left Handed Ukulele Lessons

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on the site, lefties generally have an easier time learning from right handed teachers. For this reason there is nothing stopping you from using one of the many free lessons on sites such as Youtube.

However, if you want to make sure you are starting off on the right path, there is a great book from Hal Leonard for beginner lefty players which you can check out here.

More Expensive Options

If you’re looking to spend a little more cash, here are a few brands which will happily supply a southpaw uke. Leave a comment below if I have missed anyone.

• Barron River
• Baton Rouge
• Chennel
• Collings
• DeVine
• Glyph
• Hive
• Island
• Joe Green
• Kamaka
• Larrivee
• Martin

Hopefully if you’ve made it this far you’ve managed to find your perfect left handed ukulele. Good luck, and have fun!

Left handed Jackson guitars aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, but we do have a small, quality selection to choose from. Hopefully there’s enough on offer here for most people to find something they like, but if not there’s always the Custom Shop!

To be included in this list, the guitars have to be available to purchase at the time of writing.

Find out more about each of these left handed Jackson guitars below. I’ve included links for each guitar which will show you current pricing information as well as additional specifications. Alternatively, click here for a list of all guitars sorted by price.

From left to right: Soloist SLX, Pro Series Soloist SL2L, Dinky JS32L, Dinky DKA JS22L, Rhoads JS32L, Rhoads RRXT

Soloist SLX

Click Here For Pricing Information

Available in Satin Black or Transparent Black with a Quilted Maple Top, the X-Series Soloist SLX is an affordable southpaw shred sensation.

• Body : Basswood (Quilt Maple Top on Trans model)
• Neck : Maple Neck-Thru
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Rosewood (24 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : Floyd Rose Special
• Pickups : Duncan Designed HB-103 Humbuckers

SL2L Pro Series Soloist

Click Here For Pricing Information

The Pro Series Soloist SL2L is currently the most high-end of the standard left handed Jackson guitars. Perfect for modern metal musicians, this guitar features a neck-thru design for massive sustain, high-quality hardware, and powerful Seymour Duncan Distortion humbuckers.

• Body : Mahogany
• Neck : Maple Neck-Thru
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Ebony (24 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : Floyd Rose FRT-O5000
• Pickups : Seymour Duncan TB-6 & SH-6N Distortion Humbuckers

JS32L Dinky

Click Here For Pricing Information

The JS32L stands out from the rest of the pack for being the only current left handed Jackson guitar which isn’t black! The JS Series forms the most affordably priced selection of guitars in this list, making them ideal for beginners and pros alike.

• Body : Basswood
• Neck : Maple Bolt-On
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Rosewood (24 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Tremolo
• Pickups : Jackson JE-10 Humbuckers

JS22L Dinky DKA

Click Here For Pricing Information

The JS22L is currently the lowest price left handed Jackson available, making it a great first choice for budding southpaw shred sultans. Experience that famous Jackson attitude without breaking the bank.

• Body : Basswood
• Neck : Maple Bolt-On
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Rosewood (24 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : 2-Point Fulcrum Tremolo
• Pickups : Jackson JE-10 Humbuckers

JS32L Rhoads

Click Here For Pricing Information

This model is the Rhoads style version of the JS32L Dinky above, essentially the same features but with the Randy Rhoads style body shape. This ultra-pointy guitar just screams rock and metal – swift, deadly and affordable.

• Body : Basswood
• Neck : Maple Bolt-On
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Rosewood (24 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Tremolo
• Pickups : Jackson JE-10 Humbuckers

RRXT Rhoads

Click Here For Pricing Information

The X-Series Rhoads RRXT is a step up from the JS32L, but still remains firmly in wallet-friendly territory. Upgraded features include a Neck-Thru design for increased sustain, Seymour Duncan designed humbuckers, and a sleek satin finish.

• Body : Basswood
• Neck : Maple Neck-Thru
• Fretboard : 12″-16″ Compound Radius Rosewood (22 Jumbo Frets)
• Bridge : Jackson Compensated
• Pickups : Duncan Designed HB-103 Humbuckers

Jackson Custom Shop

Of course, if you have the money there’s always the Jackson Custom Shop where you can have any of their guitars built left handed and to your specifications.

The image below showcases a ton of custom left handed Jacksons, on display at Xtreme Lefty Guitars in Florida, USA.

Limited Run Jacksons

A few stores may occasionally commission a small number of left handed Jackson guitars which aren’t usually available as standard.  For example, in addition to the models above, our friends over at Xtreme Lefty Guitars quite often have one or two Jacksons that you won’t find anywhere else.

Jackson Website

Unfortunately, the Jackson website doesn’t include a section or filter for left handed models. However, we can type ‘left handed’ into the search box to throw up all of the southpaw guitars.

For more information:
Jackson Guitars Website

How much would you pay for an original 1962 left handed Fender Strat in near perfect condition? Or rather, what would you VALUE it at?

Last year I posted a segment from ‘The Antiques Roadshow PBS‘ during which what could possibly be the very first ever left handed Fender was appraised. Fast forward a year and the latest show (airdate 24/10/16) features yet another rare left handed gem in the form of an Olympic White ’62 Fender Stratocaster.

How Much Is It Worth?

Before you watch the video below, why not have a guess at what you think this vintage instrument might be worth. Here are the main facts from the video:

• Custom ordered in 1962
• Almost perfect condition
• Thick ‘slab’ fingerboard (only used between ’59 and ’62)
• Original case
• Serial #71082

Watch the video to see how close you were! Skip to 1:45 if you’re impatient.

How close did you get? Judging by her reaction, i’m guessing that the owner was way off!

Next Task: How much do you reckon the very first left handed Fender would be worth? Click here to find out.

We’ve all been there. Freshly on stage and barely into your first song, when you notice someone in the audience turn around and walk away in disgust. Or so it would seem…

There’s a (slim!) possibility that you could be mistakenly interpreting that look of disgust. Instead, they could genuinely be petrified of the sight of you! Believe it or not, there is an actual medical condition called Sinistrophobia – a fear of left handed people, or objects and things on the left side.

What is Sinistrophobia?

Sinistrophobia is defined as a fear of either left handed people, or objects located on the left side. Sufferers may avoid using their left hand, touching someone else’s left hand, or touching an object which has come into contact with a left hand.

The condition is generally thought to arise as a result of negative past experiences, but can also occur seemingly without reason. It is cured most successfully by having a qualified therapist guide the sufferer through some difficult tasks related to left-handedness, i.e exposure therapy.

What Are The Symptoms of Sinistrophobia?

• A deep sense of panic when exposed to (or just thinking about) left-handedness
• A desire to do anything possible to avoid situations where you might be exposed to left-handedness

Do You Have Sinistrophobia?

If this is you, then yes.

Alternatively. Hold a pen in your right hand and then stand in front of a mirror. If you collapse into a sweaty mess on the floor then you are likely sinistrophobic.

Either that or you suffer from Spectrophobia (a fear of mirrors), or Eisoptrophobia (a fear of your own reflection). What?!

Famous Sinistrophobes

• Gibson – Finally making progress, and seemingly at least partially cured for 2017.
• Ibanez – Interesting lefties are offered in tiny, limited runs so that their taint is banished from Ibanez factories as soon as possible.
• PRS – In June 2016 Paul Reed Smith accidentally tripped over a southpaw Custom 24, causing him to look silly in front of his staff. The incident was so traumatic that Paul ordered a complete discontinuation of all lefty PRS guitars.

Related Phobias

A couple of other weird phobias related to sinistrophobia.

• Levophobia – the fear of objects on the left side of the body.
• Dextrophobia – the fear of objects on the right side of the body.

Why wait til Black Friday to pick up a killer bargain?

This afternoon whilst in the middle of updating some older posts, I stumbled across this insane deal for USA-based lefties on one of my favorite electrics – the excellent ESP EC-1000.

At the moment it is deeply discounted by 45% – unbelievable! Click here for info.

Other Options: If you’d rather have the classy vintage black model with powerful EMGs, it is also available at a special price. Not quite as discounted as the Amber model, but still an absolute bargain. Check it out here.

Click here to take advantage of this mega deal before it’s too late.

ESP LTD EC-1000FM Main Features

• Body : Mahogany w/ Flamed Maple Top
• Neck : Mahogany
• Fingerboard : Rosewood
• Bridge : TonePros Locking TOM
• Tuners : LTD Locking
• Pickups : SD JB and ’59
• Finish : Amber Sunburst

ESP LTD EC-1000-VB Main Features

• Body : Mahogany
• Neck : Mahogany
• Fingerboard : Ebony
• Bridge : TonePros Locking TOM
• Tuners : LTD Locking
• Pickups : EMG 81 & 60
• Finish : Vintage Black

Update: You guys don’t wait around! It only took 25 minutes for the Amber Sunburst models to be snapped up. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for more hot deals. Well done if you managed to grab one.

Godin Guitars is based in Canada, and offers up some truly innovative guitars which combine traditional design with state-of-the-art features and manufacturing techniques. The company’s Canadian heritage is proudly featured in many of their instruments, which are constructed of many home-grown tone-woods such as Canadian Wild Cherry and silver leaf maple.

What about left handed Godin guitars I hear you ask? Well Godin has slowly been improving their southpaw range, and at present has 6 guitars available, most of which occupy a niche which isn’t readily available elsewhere. For example, with its synth access, the Multiac Nylon SA is a pretty unique instrument in the realm of lefty guitars.

Oh, and it’s pronounced Go-Dan. But you knew that, right?

Left Handed Godin Guitars

A6 Ultra

The left handed Godin A6 Ultra gives you the sound of a plugged-in acoustic guitar with the comfort of an electric size neck. When plugged in, feedback is almost entirely eliminated thanks to its innovative chambered body design.

A Godin humbucker in the neck position provides a full and thick tone, and is combined with an under-saddle transducer. The guitar also features dual outputs which allows you to combine both electric and acoustic tones for a truly huge sound. The Custom Godin preamp section allows for independent control of both the acoustic and electric volume and EQ settings. An incredibly versatile guitar!

• Chambered silver leaf maple body with solid cedar top
• Mahogany neck with Rosewood fretboard
• Godin GNH1 Humbucker and under-saddle transducer
• Dual outputs for acoustic and electric blending
• Semi-glosss natural finish

Click Here For More Information

Multiac Nylon SA

The left handed Godin Multiac Nylon SA provides modern acoustic guitar design coupled with innovative in-built electronics and synth access for virtually unlimited sonic potential! Each string is given its own pickup, which results in a fantastic amplified sound plus the ability to go crazy with synth connectivity. It offers both 13-pin synth and 1/4″ outputs for the ultimate in versatility.

• Chambered mahogany body with solid spruce top
• Mahogany neck with richlite fretboard
• Custom RMC Polydrive electronics
• GR Series and Axon AX100 guitar synths
• High-gloss natural finish

Click Here For More Information

Multiac Nylon Encore

The left handed Godin Multiac Nylon Encore is the more affordable of the two lefty nylon string guitars on offer from Godin. Custom EPM dual-source electronics gives the ability to switch between (or blend!) acoustic soundboard and under-saddle transducers. The perfect choice for players looking for a comfortable, amplified nylon string guitar sound with practically zero feedback – and all at a price that won’t break the bank!

• Chambered silver leaf maple body with solid cedar top
• Mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard
• Blendable acoustic soundboard and under-saddle transducers
• Semi-gloss natural finish

Click Here For More Information

5th Avenue Kingpin P90

The left handed Godin 5th Avenue combines the vintage vibe of a ’50s archtop guitar with modern construction techniques and unrivalled playability. This modern beauty for the sophisticated player has improved dynamic range and projection when compared with traditional archtops. The Kingpin P90 single-coil pickup provides all of the vintage tones you crave, with plenty of attitude and improved clarity.

With the classy looks of a boutique instrument, you’ll no doubt be bowled over at how affordable this guitar actually is! Check out the current price at the link below.

• Canadian wild cherry back/sides and top
• Silver leaf maple neck with rosewood fretboard
• Kingpin P90 single-coil pickup
• Custom polished satin cognac finish

Click Here For More Information

Session

The Godin Session is available left handed in either lightburst with a maple fingerboard or blackburst with rosewood. As you’d expect from an S-style guitar, these two HSS instruments are super versatile and should be able to handle almost genres of music with relative ease. And as with most of the Godins featured here, the Session is another wallet friendly lefty!

And for those lefties who are dismayed at seeing yet another black Strat style guitar – don’t overlook this one yet! Although you can’t really tell from the image, the finish is actually transparent, allowing the grain of the wood to add some extra visual flair.

• Canadian Laurentian basswood body
• Rock maple neck with rosewood or maple fretboard
• Godin humbucker plus 2 GS-1 singlecoil pickups
• Blackburst or Light burst finishes available

Click Here For More Information

Godin Website

The Godin site ticks all of the boxes as all left handed Godin guitars are clearly displayed in their very own southpaw section – well done Godin!

For more information:
Godin Guitars Website

Need some suggestions for a great childrens acoustic guitar? Or perhaps you’re just after a 3/4 sized acoustic guitar to take with you when travelling? Let’s get you sorted out!

As a general rule of thumb, a 3/4 sized acoustic guitar will be suitable for children aged 7 and over, or around 4′ 2″ plus.

Left Handed? If you’re looking for a lefty, please click here for our picks for southpaw players.

I have laid out 4 different suggestions below (in order of price) which I believe should cover most bases, for those on a tight budget all the way up to players looking for something a little more high-end.

Best 3/4 Size Childrens Acoustic Guitar Guide

1. Cheap Kids Acoustic Guitar – Rogue Starter Package

Click Here To Buy or For Pricing Information

Those of you looking for a cheap kids acoustic guitar are going to love these little gems from Rogue which are less than half the cost of the other guitars mentioned in this article. They are slightly smaller than a full sized acoustic (7/8 size), making them absolutely ideal for younger players, or even for guitarists with smaller hands.

Various body woods are used depending on which model you select, but all guitars feature a maple neck and rosewood fretboard. At this size and price point the difference in sound between each model will be negligible, so pick whichever color you like best! Crucially, the guitars come equipped with high-quality Martin strings to ensure a great sound and long string life.

As they’re slightly larger than most 3/4 sized acoustic guitars they will offer up a warmer, full-bodied tone when compared to the smaller guitars. The bigger size also means that they should last longer before becoming outgrown.

At the time of writing the guitar is available in 6 different colors (shown above), so there should be something to suit all tastes here!

2. Most Popular Kids Acoustic Guitar – Yamaha JR-1

Click Here to Buy or For More Pricing Information

What is the most popular 3/4 sized acoustic guitar? That award would have to go with the award winning Yamaha JR-1!

Main features include a beautiful spruce top with meranti back and sides, a nato neck and quality rosewood fretboard and bridge. It’s absolutely perfect for younger players or even for use as a handy travel guitar for us adults. The respected Yamaha badge on the headstock will also ensure that this guitar will hold its value very well if you decide to part ways a few years down the line.

I have managed to source an amazing deal on this guitar which includes a gigbag, strap, extra strings, string-winder and an assortment of quality Dunlop picks – everything you need! Check it out at the link above.

3. Most Versatile Childrens Acoustic Guitar – Yamaha APXT2 Electro-Acoustic

Click Here to Buy or For More Pricing Information

Affordable? Check! Well-made? Check! Electronics? Check! Loads of colors? Check!

The Yamaha APXT2 3/4 sized electro-acoustic should tick all of your boxes. According to Yamaha, their APX500II is the world’s best-selling full sized acoustic. And the APXT2 is essentially a scaled down version of that legendary guitar. As a childrens acoustic guitar it’s a guaranteed winner!

Main features include a spruce top in your choice of 4 gorgeous colours, meranti back/sides, mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. It has a handy cutaway for improved upper fret access, electronics to allow it to be plugged into an amp or computer, a built-in tuner, and quality gigbag.

For such little money it sure is a lot of guitar. Check it out at the link above.

4. 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitars with Solid Wood Tops

Why a solid wood top? All of the guitars listed above feature laminated woods, which means that several layers of cheaper woods are sandwiched together, usually with a more attractive layer on top. The advantage is that laminates are cheaper and also very hard wearing. On the other hand, solid wood is one solid piece of wood (duh!). The advantage here is that the wood will resonate better, giving a slightly improved quality of tone which will continue to improve with age.

These guitars are for those looking for the very best for their kids – or more than likely, you’re just looking for a smaller guitar for yourself! They cost a little more than the others, but there is a noticeable jump in quality here, and any of these should potentially last you for life.

There are a few different brands who will offer 3/4 size acoustic guitars with solid tops, but my recommendations are all going to come from my personal favorite acoustic brand – Taylor. Check out the award winning GS Mini, and travel favorite Baby Taylor below.

Click Here to Buy the GS Mini or Click Here to see the Baby Taylor

The Taylor GS Mini (1,2 and 3 shown above) is the world’s favorite small-sized guitar – mine too! I picked up an original GS Mini back when they were first introduced, and would never dream of parting with it. It is the only 3/4 size acoustic I’ve ever tried which sounded as full-bodied as a full-sized guitar. If budget allows, you will not regret picking up a GS Mini.

It is available with various different tonewood configurations, but all models come with a solid wood top for improved sound quality. A base acoustic model is available (which you can add Taylor’s ES-GO pickup system to later if needed), or they are also available as the GS Mini-e with Taylor’s legendary ES-2 electronics. They all ship in a super high quality Taylor soft case. Take a look at the link above to see a few of the different models available, as well as pricing.

Although the GS Mini would be my absolute top-pick, it is a little bigger than the other guitars on this list at 7/8 size. If you’re buying for a very young child, or need something smaller to throw in the trunk, then you might like to consider the Taylor Baby (4,5 and 6 in the image above) instead. It lacks the fancy trimmings of the GS Mini – but it is almost half the price.

It is a true 3/4 sized acoustic and still features that sought after solid wood top. Various models are available with either spruce, mahogany or exotic koa tops. There’s even a Taylor Swift signature model which fans of the artist might prefer. These are also available either with or without electronics. Check out the link above for a list of what is currently available.

Sorted!

I’m pretty confident that you should have been able to find something suitable within this guide, but if you didn’t, feel free to leave a comment below or drop me an email.

Attention USA southpaws! Looking for a 12-string acoustic this Black Friday? Why wait?!

One of our eagle-eyed readers has just pointed out this killer deal on the excellent Seagull Coastline S-12 QI, which has been discounted by over 50%.

Amazon has just dropped the price of this guitar by over 50%. At the time of writing there are just two of these left at this special price – don’t hang around!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE DEAL

This guitar is one of my top picks in the left handed 12-string guitar guide. Recommended!

Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar QI

The Coastline S12 Cedar is one of the easiest 12-string guitars to tune on the market. Twelve string guitars must endure a great deal of added stress on the neck. The Seagull neck design offers superior stability, even on the twelve string models tuned to concert pitch. The straight string pull of the tapered Seagull headstock is an especially big advantage when it comes to tuning a twelve string guitar and keeping it in tune. This model includes Godin Quantum IT electronics with built-in tuner.

• Pressure tested solid cedar top offers superior tone, projection, and response
• Laminated wild cherry back and sides deliver a detailed tone between warm mahogany and bright maple
• Modified dreadnought body shape cuts unwanted boominess making it great for recording and live shows
• Quantum I electronics deliver great plugged-in tone via an undersaddle pickup
• Integrated set neck offers tuning and playing stability and eliminates twisting and warping
• Tapered headstock gives you a straighter pull, better tuning, and less stress, especially when using altered tunings
• Tusq nut and compensated saddle offer a sound similar to bone but with more harmonics
• Thin, custom polished finish lets the guitar vibrate more freely
• Dual-function truss rods assure the perfect neck alignment and relief
• Handcrafted in Canada

Exciting news for Skervesen fans! Our friends over at Wicked Guitars are putting together a special left handed run of Skervesens!

Guitars available are Raptors, Shoggies and SkerveTENs – all in 6,7 and 8-string versions with both standard and multi-scale available.

The advantages to this run are plentiful. Build time should be quicker, and most importantly, the overall price will be lower than if you were to custom order the guitar yourself. I’m also assured by Bogumil at Skervesen that a top notch wood selection will be on offer for this special left handed run. As always, the guitars will be hand-built in Poland by Skervesen’s master-craftsmen.

Ordering Process:
1:) Deposit of 500 EUR (700 AUD, 530 USD) to reserve build spot.  Books will open 26th November.

2:) Once your deposit is paid you will have at least a couple of weeks to decide what spec options you want from all available. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and see examples before locking in your spec.

3) Payment Plans: Are being offered on all Skervesen Lefty builds over 6 months. You can select weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments whatever is easiest for you. Payment plans are interest free.

For more information:

I’ve provided some initial details at the bottom of the page, but here are a few links that you’ll want to visit if interested.

Skervesen Lefty Run Facebook Group – Join this private group for the latest info and to discuss the run.
Wicked Guitars Facebook Page – Follow their page for extra updates (plus loads of other awesome southpaw content!)
Skervesen Website – Read up on the guitars available in this run.

The information below is a copy/paste of the intro post on the Facebook page at the time of writing. Make sure to head over there for the latest details. You’ll also find prices in currencies other than Euros there.

Full Spec Options

Construction:
Raptor: Bolt On (Matching Head stocks)
Shoggi Double Cut: Bolt On Headless
SkervTen: Neck Through Body Headless

All Multiscales:
Will have zero fret system. 0fret. Is a fret right after nut, made to make your 0 notes sound similar to your fretted notes, also it helps with low action and overall intonation.

Raptor Headstocks: Raptor, Viper, Still, 4AP
8 String Raptor will be 4AP only.

Scale Length:
6 String:
-25,5″ (6 String)
-25 – 26” Multiscale (250 Upcharge from 350)

7 String:
27″ (only for a 7 string)
-25,4″x 27 multiscale only €250 upcharge (from 350)

8 String Multiscale:
-26″x 28 multiscale only €250 upcharge (from 350)

Body Wood:
1) Swamp Ash
2) Mahogany
3) *Black Limba (Upcharge Option)

Top Wood:
– Poplar Burl
-Flamed Maple
– Elm
– Walnut
– *Exotic Option TBA (Upcharge)

Fretboard:
Maple, Rosewood Santos, Wenge, *Ziricote (+70Eur), *Birdseye Maple (+70Eur)

Neck:
1) Wenge-Bubinga
2) Maple-Wenge
3) * Ovankol-Wenge-Flame Maple (Upcharge Option)

Pickups:
-Bare Knuckle Pickups (any pickup combination in any finish!)
Multiscales will have Angled Pickups.

Binding*:
On Raptor only: *30 EUR for body, neck, head stock.
Or option for no binding.

-no binding (Natural Wood)
-Black
-Ivoroid
-Perloid

Inlays:
-no inlays
-offset dots
-offset (high/low) dots
-tangent curve dots

Inlay Material:
-Mother of Pearl
-Lumilays (green or blue)

Controls:
-1x Vol (push-pull), 3-way, 1x Tone
-1x Vol, 3-way, WDMode (no upcharge! normally it’s €30)

World Domination Mod:
Features two 3-way switches. With one you choose a pickup and with the second you choose between humbucking/coil split/acoustic mod.

What is Skervesen’s World Domination Mod? Is a special electronic circuit available exclusively in our guitars. It contains high quality potentiometer(s) and two 3-way switches. With one you choose a pickup and with the second you choose between humbucking/coil split/acoustic mod. World Domination Mod is designed by Radek “Vicol” Wykocki.

Colour Stains:
1) 50 Hades Of Grey
2) Paranormal Activity (Blue/Green)
3) Shark Bait (Reverse Blue Burst)
4) Creeping Death (Green)
5) Diabolas (Red)
6) Purgatory (Trans black)
7) Polaris (Agathe Burst)
8) Natural
9) Custom Run Stain, up for a vote

Note: Elm will only be available as Green Stain, Walnut will only be available as natural finish.

Clear Coat Finish:
Front gloss €80 upcharge (from €100)
-satin backs and necks.

Pickup Configuration:
-HH (double humbucker)

Bridge Raptor:
-Hipshot (for regular scales)
-Hipshot Fanned (for multiscales)

Hardware Shoggi & Skervten
ABM High Quality.

Tuners:
-Hipshot locking

Hardware finish:
-black only

Security Locks:
-Dunlop FlushMount Straplock System

Side Dots:
-Luminlays (green or blue)

Frets:
-24 Stainless Steel Jumbo levelled to 0.001 accuracy.

Case:
Premium Hiscox cases for Raptors.

Hiscox Premium Hardcase: So well built it can withstand 500KG. Very Tough, Lightweight, Impact/Puncture Resistant, Thermally Insulated, Bonded Inner Moulding for best possible structural rigidity and maximum protection of your precious instrument.

Custom Flight cases:
Shoggies and SkervTens

Warranty: Full Warranty Included
T-Shirt: We are considering a specialty shirt just for this run.

Pricing Information

Raptor
Currency: Eur
6 String 1699 (Reduced from 1950)
7 String 1749 (Reduced from 2000)
8 String 1799 (Reduced from 2050)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

Shoggi DC
Currency: Eur
6 String 1799 (Reduced from 2050)
7 String 1850 (Reduced from 2100)
8 String 1899 (Reduced from 2150)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

SkervTEN
Currency: Eur
6 String 2099 (Reduced from 2550)
7 String 2149 (Reduced from 2600)
8 String 2199 (Reduced from 2650)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

Raptor Multiscale
Currency: Eur
6 String 1949 (Reduced from 2300)
7 String 1999 (Reduced from 2350
8 String 2050 (Reduced from 2400)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

Shoggi Multiscale DC
Currency: Eur
6 String 2049 (Reduced from 2400)
7 String 2100 (Reduced from 2450)
8 String 2149 (Reduced from 2500)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

SkervTEN Multiscale
Currency: Eur
6 String 2349 (Reduced from 2850)
7 String 2399 (Reduced from 2900)
8 String 2449 (Reduced from 2950)
*Prices are base model rates without upcharge extras

Shipping: (Price in Eur)
Within Europe: 50.
To the US: 130.
To Asia: 150
To Australia: 170

Looking for the best Black Friday 2016 deals on guitars and other equipment? You’ll find what you seek below!

Note: This article will be continuously updated throughout the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale period – so be sure to check back regularly for the latest deals!

1. Amazon USA – Up to 70% Off

Save up to 70% off select guitars and musical equipment.  Check the deals out here.

Also be sure to check out the time limited Lightning Deals in musical instruments which are updated hourly.

2. JamPlay 50% Discount

JamPlay is the world’s leading video-based, online guitar lesson website. Save 50% off your first month and receive 2 JamTrack packs worth $40 this Black Friday. Click Here For Info.

3. Southpaw Guitars Discounts

I believe you’ll need to call up to get these deals, but here are the promotions. Head to the Southpaw Website for contact details.

• New Guitars $100-$499 – Take 10% off.
• New Guitars Over $499 – Take $100 off.

4. Xtreme Lefty Guitars

Take 20% off all guitars in-stock. Announced on their Facebook Page. Check out the XLG Website to see what’s available.

5. Carvin/Kiesel Guitars

Head over to their ‘Guitars in Stock‘ section where many lefty models have been reduced for Black Friday. Save up to an impressive $700 off!

6. General 2016 Black Friday Sales For Guitarists

These sales may not include left handed models, but do have some fantastic savings on loads of great gear.

• Amazon UK – browse the latest Black Friday lightning deals in Musical Instruments
• American Musical (USA) – register to be sent the latest offers as they happen
• Andertons (UK) – Some great deals on Marshall here
• Distinctive Guitar (USA) – Various discounts with coupon codes
• GAK (UK)
• Gear4Music (UK)
• Guitar Center (USA) – new deals every day
• Guitar Fetish (USA) – Save up to 90% with discount codes
• GuitarGuitar (UK) – Lefty Epiphone Tony Iommi and Ltd KH-602 discounted
• JamPlay (Worldwide) – 50% discount on lessons
• LA Music (Canada) – Online savings plus 15% in-store discount
• Lick Library (UK) – 50% discount on lessons
• Long & McQuade (Canada)
• Musicians Friend (USA) – Save up to 50%
• PMT (UK) – 10% off orders over £500 with code PMT25
• Pro Audio Star (USA) – Big savings plus 20% off your next order
• Reverb (Worldwide) – 15% off used gear with code USED15
• Rich Tone (UK)
• Sam Ash (USA)
• Sweetwater (USA) – New deals added every day
• Toontrack (Worldwide) – Save 70% off Superior Drummer 2.0
• TrueFire (Worldwide) – Up to 60% off plus raffle prizes
• zZounds (USA)

Check back over the next few days as we’ll constantly be adding the latest and greatest Black Friday 2016 offers!

Christmas is edging closer, so it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gifts to get for friends and family. The good news is that you’ve just stumbled across the most in-depth list of Christmas gifts for guitar players on the interwebs. I’ve done the hard part, so that you don’t have to!

If you’re looking for gifts for brand new guitar and bass players, definitely check out my Newbie Guide for the best beginner gear recommendations.

Christmas Gifts For Guitar Players

To make this mammoth list of killer gifts a little easier to digest I’ve split it up into 20 different sections, complete with links to actually buy the products. If you can’t find the perfect guitar related gift within this page, I’ll eat my hat… seriously.

Gadgets and gizmos for guitarists.  Many of these are absolutely essential!

• Ebow Electronic Bow – link
• G7th Capo – link
• Gripmaster Finger Strength Trainer – link
• GruvGear FretWraps String Muters – link
• Guitar Strap – link
• O-Port Acoustic Guitar Sound Enhancer – link
• Pick Holder – link
• Planet Waves Pro Winder String Winder and Cutter – link
• Slide – link
• Spider Capo – link

Crank up the volume! Check out our Newbie Guide for higher wattage alternatives.

• Micro Amps – Marshall Stack or Fender Twin or Blackstar Fly
• Vox amPlug Headphone Amp – link

Who doesn’t love a good book? Here are some of my personal favorites.

• Guitar Tone: Pursuing the Ultimate Guitar Sound – link
• Guitar Fretboard Workbook – link
• How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great – link
• The Guitar Player Repair Guide – link
• Zen Guitar – link

A good, well-made cable will last for years and will produce a better quality of sound.

• Fender Performance Guitar Cable – link
• Hosa Cable GTR Guitar Cable – link
• Line6 Relay G30 Wireless System – link
• Planet Waves Classic Series Instrument Cable – link
• Planet Waves Classic Series Patch Cables – link

A quality gigbag will ensure that you get from A to B safely. For the ultimate tech, be sure to check out Mono.

• Mono M80 Softcases – electric or bass or acoustic
• Ritter Gigbags – link
• Popular Gigbags – link

Keep those guitars in tip-top condition. Grab some lube to cut down on string breakages!

• Big Bends Nutsauce Guitar Lubricant – link
• CruzTools Multi-Tool – link
• Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit – link
• Fast Fret String Lubricant – link
• Humidification System for Acoustic – link

For those late night practice sessions. Don’t wake the neighbors! There are literally hundreds of great choices out there, but here are three customer favorites.

• Sennheiser CX300 II Earbuds – link
• Sennheiser HD2.20 Pro Headphones – link
• Shure SE215 In-Ears – link

Inexpensive, and incredibly useful. Free up a spot on your pedalboard. Everybody needs one of these!

• Snark Clip on Tuner – link
• D’Addario NS Micro Clip on Tuner – link
• Fender Chromatic Clip on Tuner – link

Deck out your house with some music themed accessories. A guitar calendar is a safe bet!

• Bar Stools – Fender or Gibson
• Fender Bookends – link
• Fender Custom Shop 2017 Wall Calendar – link
• Guitar Pillows – link
• Guitar Rug – link
• Fender Wall Clock – link
• Guitar Toilet Seat Tattoo – link
• Guitar Toilet Flush Handle – link
• Jack Rack Amplifier Key Holder – link

There is a surprising number of novelty guitar themed products for your kitchen!

• Amplifier Coffee Mug – link
• BBQ Guitar Spatula – link
• Fender Chopping Board – Strat or Tele
• Fridge Magnets – link
• Guitar Cheese Board – link
• Guitar Ice Cube Tray – link
• Guitar Shaped Skillet – link
• Bottle Opener – link
• Guitar Wooden Spoons – link
• Marshall Amplifier Fridge – link

Buy a year of magazines for the gift that keeps on giving!

• Guitar World – link
• Guitar Player – link

Just for fun! These are sure to put a smile on your secret Santa’s face.

• Car License Plate Frame – link
• Musician Cufflinks – link
• Fretboard Neck Tie – link
• Guitar Necklace – link
• Guitarist Office Pen Holder – link
• Guitar Socks – link
• House Keys – link
• Stratocaster Sunglasses – link
• Musical Note Earrings – link

Us guitarists are ALWAYS losing picks. Seriously, they seem to vanish into a black hole as soon as they hit the floor.

• Planet Waves Assorted Pearl Celluloid Guitar Picks – link
• Fender Premium Picks Sample Pack – link
• Dunlop Pick Variety Pack – link
• Pick Punch (make your own picks!) – link
• TimberTones Exotic Wood Picks – link

All you need to get started on that next hit album!

• Focusrite Scarlett Studio Complete Recording Package – link
• Line 6 Sonic Port Interface – link
• IK Multimedia iRig 2 Mobile Interface – link
• Microphone Boom Stand – link
• Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone – link

Mmmm…digital goodness. Edit your next YouTube video or tab out song ideas.

• Guitar Pro 6 Tablature Editor – link
• EarMaster 6 – link

Don’t be that guy who props their guitar up against a wall. Make sure you have a safe spot to store your instruments when not in use.

• Closet Guitar Hanger – link
• OnStage Tubular Stand – link
• Hercules Auto-Grip – link
• Planet Waves Guitar Rest – link
• Hercules 5 Guitar Rack – link
• String Swing Wall Hanger – link

From 2000 to 2015 the number of people with hearing loss has increased by 44% worldwide! Don’t become a part of this statistic – band practice and concerts are WAY too loud. Save your hearing with a pair of inexpensive earplugs.

• DUBS Earplugs – link

Chill out between practice sessions with a music based game, or even improve your guitar playing in a fun and interactive way with a copy of Rocksmith!

• Rocksmith – link
• Guitar Hero Live – link
• Rock Band 4 – link

So there you have it folks – the useful, the novelty, and the downright ridiculous Christmas gifts for guitar players. Choose wisely and have a great Christmas! Oh, and if for some insane reason you still haven’t found the ideal gift…there’s a few more ideas here.

Share these Christmas gifts for guitar players with your friends by using the buttons below.

Want to get your hands on a 2017 left handed Gibson USA, much earlier than anyone else?

The new 2017 Gibson USA lefties aren’t supposed to begin production until next month. BUT! Amazon USA has managed to somehow grab a handful of the new models much earlier! They’re in stock right now, so if you want to be the first to own one head to the link below.

At the time of writing, there are 2 Les Paul Studios (Black and Cherry), a Honeyburst Les Paul Standard, and 2 Les Paul Tributes (Gold Top and Faded Honey Burst). They did also have a Les Paul Faded, but that has already been snapped up by an eagle-eyed southpaw.

Click here to check them out, or hit the image below.

If none of these float your boat, check out the full 2017 Gibson range to see what else is expected next year.

As many of you will be aware, Fender has recently discontinued the American Standard range of guitars. Well, today they have announced what will take their place – the brand new American Pro Series.

With the American Pro range, Fender has introduced features such as fresh colors, new frets, upgraded pickups and a more modern neck profile. As the name suggests, the new models essentially give us a range of reliable workhorse guitars designed to be gigged and taken on the road.

As far as left handed models are concerned, we’ve essentially been given the same selection as we had with the American Standards, albeit with a few new colors and upgraded features. Standout models to me are the Butterscotch Blonde Tele and Sonic Gray Jazz Bass. Check them out below!

Left Handed Fender American Pro Stratocaster

• Body : Alder
• Neck : Maple (Modern ‘Deep C’ Profile)
• Fretboard : Maple or Rosewood
• Frets : 22 Narrow Tall
• Nut : Bone
• Bridge : 2-Point Synchronised Tremolo with Pop-in Arm
• Pickups : V-Mod Single-Coil Strat
• Finishes : 3-Color Sunburst, Olympic White, Black
• Case : Fender Elite Hardcase

Left Handed Fender American Pro Telecaster

• Body : Alder (Ash on Butterscotch model)
• Neck : Maple (Modern ‘Deep C’ Profile)
• Fretboard : Maple
• Frets : 22 Narrow Tall
• Nut : Bone
• Bridge : 3-Saddle with Removable ‘Ashtray’ Cover
• Pickups : V-Mod Single-Coil Telecaster
• Finishes : 3-Color Sunburst, Butterscotch Blonde, Black
• Case : Fender Elite Hardcase

Left Handed Fender American Pro Jazz Bass

• Body : Alder
• Neck : Maple (‘Slim C’ Profile)
• Fretboard : Rosewood
• Frets : 20 Narrow Tall
• Nut : Bone
• Bridge : 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage
• Pickups : V-Mod Single-Coil Jazz
• Finishes : 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Sonic Gray
• Case : Fender Elite Hardcase

Left Handed Fender American Pro Precision Bass

• Body : Alder
• Neck : Maple (‘1963 C’ Profile)
• Fretboard : Rosewood
• Frets : 20 Narrow Tall
• Nut : Bone
• Bridge : 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage
• Pickups : V-Mod Split Single-Coil
• Finishes : 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Olympic White
• Case : Fender Elite Hardcase

The new series is expected to arrive in stores shortly, and carries a slight upcharge over the American Standard range that they have replaced.

Check out the rest of the current left handed Fender guitar and bass range!

For More Information:
Fender Guitars Website

Looking for your first steel-string acoustic lefty guitar? This article will help you find the best left handed acoustic guitar for beginners.  Head to the bottom of the page for an in-depth list of the best beginner left handed acoustic guitars, sorted by price bracket.

If you’re looking to buy for a child or just have smaller hands, you may like to check out my article on 3/4 Sized Lefty Acoustic Guitars.

Just before we look at the guitars, there’s a couple of important questions that you’ll need to ask yourself…

Acoustic or Electro-Acoustic Guitar ?

The first thing you’ll need to do is decide whether you want a traditional acoustic or an electro-acoustic guitar.  The main difference between the two being that you can plug your electro-acoustic directly into an amp or computer, whereas with a traditional acoustic you will need to use a microphone to amplify the sound when playing live or recording.

A great advantage to starting out with an electro-acoustic guitar is that many will come with a built-in tuner.  If your guitar doesn’t come with a tuner I highly recommend a clip-on headstock tuner such as a Snark – find out more about these in Part 7 of the Newbie Guide.

After reading this you may be thinking of just buying an electro-acoustic. Hell, it’s the same as an acoustic with a few extra bells and whistles right?  This is true, but these extra gadgets obviously come at a price. Think carefully about what you need.

Types of Wood

The main element which will affect the sound coming from your guitar besides the shape is the wood that it is made from.  However, as a beginner this is not something you should be desperately concerned about.  There is a difference, but to an untrained ear most acoustics will sound more or less the same! If you’d like to learn more about guitar woods, head to the bottom of the page for extra information.

Enough chat, let’s look at the guitars!

In every price bracket, I’ve arranged the guitars in order of my personal preference. For nylon string classical options, head to Part5 of the guide.

It’s worth noting that with acoustics more so than any other style of guitar, you should really try to spend as much as you can comfortably afford. It’s a false economy to buy something cheap now, only to spend more later on getting the guitar you should have chosen in the first place.

Beginner Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Around or Under $100

1. Rogue RG-624 – click for info
2. Jameson Thinline Electro-Acoustic – click for info
3. Kona K1L – click for info
4. Moz Thin-Body – click for info

Neal Says: On a tight budget my top choice would be the Rogue RG-624. With its mahogany back/sides, spruce top, and mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, it’s a lot of guitar for such little money. You won’t find a better lefty acoustic under $100. Check out the link above and read the absolutely glowing customer reviews on this little beauty!

However, if you need an electro-acoustic, then the Jameson Thinline would become my top pick. These are only slightly more expensive than the Rogue, but come with a handy cutaway for improved upper fret access, as well as electronics to allow you to plug in to an amp or computer. It comes in a choice of 4 great colors and even includes a gigbag – great value for money! The body is also a little slimmer than you’ll find on most dreadnought acoustics, making it ideal for new players.

The Kona K1L is also another great choice if you don’t need an electro-acoustic but would like the benefits of a cutaway. It features a spruce top, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. The guitar comes with an impressive 10 year warranty, two scratchplates and a polishing cloth.

Or if you have to have a little color in your life, you’re going to love the eye-catching Moz models. These three have dazzling photo-finish bodies which are sure to impress.

Best Left Handed Acoustic Guitar Under $200

1. Ibanez PF15L – click here for info
2. Kona K2L – click here for info
3. Oscar Schmidt OG2 – click here for info
4. Stagg SA30D – click here for info
5. Jay Turser JTA424 – click here for info

Neal Says: My top choice in this price bracket is definitely the award-winning Ibanez PF15L. This dreadnought guitar features a spruce top with mahogany back/sides, a long proven tone-wood combination that resonates perfectly. It is a gorgeous looking instrument, and the respected Ibanez badge on the headstock will ensure that resale value will always be high if you decide to upgrade later on. Unless you need built-in electronics, it’s easily the best lefty acoustic under $200.

If you love the idea of a handy built-in tuner and the ability to plug into an amp, then any of the other guitars listed above will surely tick your boxes.

Popular Lefty Acoustic Guitars Under $300

1. Fender CD-100 – click here info
2. Ibanez AW400L – click here for info
3. Alvarez AD60L – currently out of stock
4. Ibanez AEG10LII – click here for info
5. Stagg SA30DCE – click here for info

Neal Says: This is the price range at which we begin to see guitars from the bigger, well known brands (and if it were me personally, I’d start my search here!). The Fender CD-100 is pretty much the go-to beginner guitar for southpaw players – it’s affordable, you’ve got the big name on the headstock, and it sounds great. It’s our best selling lefty acoustic by a long way and is a very good choice!

The Ibanez AW400 just scrapes into this price bracket.  But if you can stretch to it this should also be high on your list, as it it the very first acoustic in this guide to feature the highly sought after solid wood top. Head to the bottom of this page for more info on solid wood versus laminated wood, but in a nutshell – a solid top acoustic will give a slightly improved sound quality over cheaper laminated options. The Alvarez is also another great choice featuring a solid wood top.

No.4 is the excellent Ibanez AEG10LII which is a little bit smaller and thinner than the typical dreadnought acoustic. It looks extra classy with its sleek black finish and fully bound body and neck, and the on-board electronics and tuner makes it a great all-rounder.

Popular Acoustic Guitars Under $400

1. Fender CD-100CE – click here for info
2. Yamaha FG820L – click here for info
3. Ibanez AW400CE – click here for info
4. Ibanez AC240L – click here for info

Neal Says: In the previous price bracket I picked the Fender CD-100 as the best buy. For a little bit extra cash here, the CD-100CE adds electronics, a built-in tuner, and a cutaway for improved upper fret access – once again the Fender is a great all-round choice. Click here to see it in action.

Another top pick in this bracket is the solid wood topped Yamaha FG820L – Yamaha is famed for producing guitars that seem to punch well above their price – and this model is no exception. This is my top choice in this bracket if you don’t require electronics. Click here to see it in action.

The Ibanez AW400CE is super similar to the Yamaha with its solid spruce top and mahogany back/sides, but the slightly higher price tag also gives you a cutaway and electronics. If you’d like an electro-acoustic with a solid wood top then this is going to be your top pick in this price bracket.

Finally we have the AC240L, which is also from Ibanez. Like the Yamaha and Ibanez AW400CE above, this guitar also features mahogany back and sides, but also adds a solid mahogany top for a different look to the rest. Where does it fit into our list? It is the same price as the FG820 and of a comparable quality, but it has a smaller ‘grand concert’ style body shape, making it ideal for smaller framed individuals. Plus, the mahogany top just looks plain awesome!

Popular Acoustic Left Handed Guitars Under or Around $500

1. Taylor GS Mini – click here for info
2. Seagull S6 – click here for info
3. Fender Sonoran SCE – click here for info

Neal Says: Now we’re getting into the real quality picks – anything here will potentially last you for life. Personally, I would take the Taylor GS Mini (in fact, I did! I have one hanging on my wall right now!). These guitars are slightly smaller than usual (7/8 size), making them ideal for new players – but they sound every inch as big as a full sized acoustic. In my opinion, the GS Mini is the best left handed acoustic guitar for beginners – period. Click here to see it in action, with guest appearance by Kevin Bacon! Unless you’re 6’5 with shovels for hands…

For full sized options, the multiple award winning Seagull S6 is fantastic value for money with its solid cedar top. Seriously, people rave about these – this is the one to consider if the GS Mini is too small for you. Check out the player reviews at the link above – every single customer rated it 5/5 – very impressive! Click here for a quick video overview.

So there you have it! The best left handed acoustic guitars for beginners. Hopefully you’ll have spotted something that interests you amongst these choices. Now that you’ve hopefully found your dream guitar, your next step will be to visit Part Eight below to find out which accessories you’ll also need to pick up!

Up until now we’ve looked at things at a fairly basic level, with the aim of getting you into guitar as quickly as possible. But for those of you who really want to nerd out and learn a little more about what you’re about to buy, here’s a few more pieces of additional information that you may like to consider.

Steel String or Nylon String Guitar?

There is a common misconception that new players should start out on a nylon string guitar due to the strings being much easier on the fingers. My advice is to start out on the instrument that best reflects your musical tastes. Likewise, if you ultimately prefer electric guitar, there’s no need to start out on an acoustic. For some reason, many people feel like acoustic is a stepping stone on the way to playing electric. If you are unsure, just take a look at what your favorite artists use and go down that route.

Steel string guitars are best for rock, pop country, and to be honest, most other styles. The most popular style of steel string acoustic guitar is the Dreadnought shape (above left) as it can handle pretty much any style of music and is a good size for most people. For most new players, a Dreadnought steel string acoustic is the right choice. For a more in-depth look at the various different body sizes available, scroll down to the bottom of the page. I’ve recommended the best beginner left handed acoustic guitars in the lists above.

If you want to play classical, folk or flamenco/latin style guitar then you will need a Nylon string Classical (shown above right with cutaway) model. While steel string acoustics have a crisp, bright tone, classical guitars tend to sound a lot more mellow. If you decide that you need a classical guitar, click here to go to Part 5 of the Guide to check out the best nylon string options!

Solid Wood versus Laminate Acoustic Guitars

Alrighty! Broken down into its component parts, an acoustic guitar body is made up of a top, sides and a back section. As a general rule of thumb, more expensive guitars will be constructed entirely of solid woods, whereas cheaper guitars might be composed of laminate wood sections, or a mix of solid and laminate parts. Due to the low price of the guitars I’ve recommended above the majority are going to be full laminate, or laminate back/sides with a solid top.

Solid wood is exactly as it sounds – one solid piece of wood.  Whereas laminate is constructed of several thin layers of wood – usually a more expensive piece on top and cheaper layers underneath. As I’ve already mentioned above, as a beginner you really aren’t going to notice too much of a difference, but it’s generally accepted that solid wood sounds better than laminate. Why? Laminate doesn’t resonate as well, giving a slightly thinner sound.

The big advantage to a laminate guitar however is the much lower cost, as well as the fact that they will be much more resistant to changes in humidity.

If budget permits, try and opt for a guitar with a solid top. But I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it…

Acoustic Guitar Body Sizes

Acoustic guitars come in a seemingly endless variety of different shapes and sizes and you’ll want to take this into deliberation when buying your first guitar.  Various shapes and styles are suited to different genres and so this can be an important consideration to make.  Let’s take a look at a few of the most common shapes – click each tab below for a brief overview.

Still have questions? Feel free to send me an email and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Beginner Classical Guitars
Part Six : Amps
Part Seven : Effects
Part Eight : Accessories
Part Nine : Lessons

So you’re looking for the best beginner left handed electric guitars, huh? Let’s see if I can get you started…

This article lists a number of quality beginner guitars that are still reasonably priced and should give you a solid introduction to your new hobby.  As a good rule of thumb, if you stick with big name brands it is hard to go too far wrong. If you are buying for a child or would prefer a smaller guitar, check out my post on 3/4 sized left handed guitars.

As a beginner there really isn’t a lot you need to ponder over. Seriously. But just before we start looking at the guitars, there is one thing you might like to consider…

Do You Need Single-Coil or Humbucker Pickups?

The image above shows the two most common styles of electric guitar – on the left a Fender Stratocaster, and on the right a Gibson Les Paul. The thin pickups on the Stratocaster are called Single Coils, and the larger pickups on the Les Paul are Humbuckers.

Single-Coil – As you can probably guess from the name, these pickups are made using a single coil of wire. Typically they produce a bright, lively tone with low to moderate output which makes them better suited to clean or lower gain play styles. That’s not to say they can handle the heavier stuff, here’s a video of me using the Squier Strat shown above (and recommended below!) for some reasonably high gain music.

Humbuckers – These typically have a fatter sound and higher output than single-coil pickups, and are therefore a little more suited to styles of playing which use distortion. Although that’s not to say that they can’t handle cleaner tones as well – they just won’t be quite as bright and crisp sounding as a single-coil options.

I would suggest that for your first guitar, it really doesn’t matter too much what you pick. You will be able to play any style of music on either option. That is, unless you want to rip out some high gain metal as soon as possible. You sir, need humbuckers!

Enough talk!  Let’s see the guitars! 

Complete Packages Under $150

If you don’t have the time to pick and choose everything you need, then a package deal is going to give you the easiest route to getting started. There’s a couple of options I recommend, depending on whether you need a single-coil or humbucker equipped guitar. Let’s take a look…

Most of the kits listed below feature (Fender) Stratocaster style guitars. The Strat is the most popular guitar style in the world, and for good reason! It makes for a great first guitar because it is super versatile, has a comfortable contoured body, and is lightweight and easy to handle. Perfect!

On a tight budget, the package that I happily recommend is the SX RST kit shown below. This Stratocaster style package comes in a ton of different colors, and includes everything you need to get started. i.e. a Guitar, amplifier, tuner, gigbag, cable, lessons, strap and picks. For a mere $125 the value on offer here is nothing short of astonishing – how do they do it!? Check them out at the links below.

• Links (choose your color) – Green / White / Black / Sunburst / Purple / Blue / Red

Main features on the guitars include a basswood body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, adjustable truss-rod, 3 single-coil pickups with 5-way selector switch, and a vintage style bridge with 6 adjustable saddles to ensure perfect intonation. The included amplifier is a 10-watt SX model with a 5.5″ speaker. The perfect size for bedroom practice, but also has a headphone jack for night time jamming. Click here for a great overview video from our friend (and fellow lefty!) Jon Way.

Another Strat (and Tele!) style bundle that I recommend is this similar package from Sawtooth (pictured below) which includes a few extra color combinations!

• Links – Strat Pack / Tele Pack

The Sawtooth kit is very similar to the SX RST bundle, and when you consider the free shipping, both kits end up at roughly the same price point. There’s also the choice of a great looking Telecaster style package. This package offers a few extras over the SX kits, such as quality Chromacast headstock tuner and picks, as well as a handy guitar stand. The Sawtooth kit gives you a few extra options such as maple fingerboards, matching headstock finish, black pickguards, and one black model even has a fancy mirrored scratchplate! When all is said and done, there isn’t much difference between the two kits, so pick whichever you think looks best!

For Those About to ROCK…

While the SX or Sawtooth packages above are going to be ideal for most styles of music, what about if you want to tackle some heavier styles of rock and metal? Well for you, I recommend the humbucker equipped packages by Davison shown below. Pick your favorite color!

• Links (choose your color) – Black / Blue

Again, this package comes with everything you need to get started. This no-frills guitar is designed to be as simple as possible, with just a single humbucker pickup in the bridge position. It’s unlikely you’ll miss having a neck pickup, as if you’re into heavier music the bridge humbucker is what you’ll use 95% of the time anyway.

Main features include a basswood body, maple neck and fingerboard, powerful bridge humbucker and tone/volume controls. The packs ship with a 10 watt amp which includes a headphone jack for quiet night-time practice. At just $110 this little gem of a package will get you rocking out in no time at all.

To give you an idea of how good these kits are – at the time of writing, the right handed versions are the number one, best-selling electric guitars on Amazon, with an average customer rating of 4.5/5. That’s an incredible feat when you consider how many 1000s of guitars the retail giant sells!

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $200

Unlike the packages above, none of the guitars in the remainder of this article are bundled with amplifiers. So make sure to also check out Part Six of the Newbie Guide where I make choosing your first amp super simple!

1. Squier Affinity Stratocaster – click here for info
2. Squier Affinity Telecaster – click here for info

Neal Says: The Squier Affinity series is where most new electric guitarists on a budget will start out. They’re affordable, look fantastic, play great, and you’ve got that famous name on the headstock, which means that they’ll hold their value over time! Both guitars have an alder body coupled with a maple neck and your choice of maple or rosewood fingerboards. They will handle any genre of music comfortably, with the exception of heavy metal and other very high gain styles. For under $200 these two are definitely your best choice – pick whichever style you like best, as both are very similar sound-wise. All you need to ask yourself is whether you are a Strat or a Tele person.

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $300

1. Squier Standard Stratocaster Black – click here for info
2. Squier Standard Stratocaster Antique Burst – click here for info
3. Schecter C-6 Deluxe – click here for info
4. Ibanez GRG120BDXL – click here for info
5. Jackson JS32L Dinky – click here for info

Neal Says: Once again I’ve placed a Squier at the top of the list! The Standard Series is a step above the Affinity models mentioned in the previous price bracket. You just can’t go wrong with one of these little gems. They are available in black, or an eye-catching antiqueburst finish, and feature an agathis body coupled with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. One of these is going to be a very versatile choice in this price bracket.

Although! If you are looking to rock out that little bit harder, you’ll probably need some powerful humbucker pickups, right? In this case, you’ll want to take a look at the excellent C-6 Deluxe from Schecter. The Ibanez GRG120DBXL and Jackson JS32 are also excellent picks, but the fixed bridge (no whammy bar) on the Schecter makes it a little more beginner friendly. Think about whether or not you need a whammy bar.

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $400

1. Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster – click here for info
2. Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster – click here for info
3. Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster – click here for info
4. Epiphone G-400 Pro – click here for info
5. Schecter Omen 6 – click here for info

Neal Says: Are you starting to see a trend here? Squier once again claims the top spot. In my humble opinion, the Classic Vibe series from Squier are the best value electric guitars available – period. I have the 50s Strat (cheesy video) and Tele myself, and honestly prefer them over my USA Fenders which cost 3-4 times the price. One of these could potentially be your main guitar for life. As a beginner, you just aren’t going to notice the marginal difference in sound between the 50s and 60s models – pick whichever looks the best to you. You’ll thank me later..honest!

For a thicker sound check out the humbucker equipped Epiphone G-400 Pro or Schecter Omen 6. The Epiphone has a neat little trick up its sleeve – you can ‘split’ the humbucker coils to give a brighter single-coil sound. The best of both worlds! Metal fans and budding shred maestros will love the Schecter, with its sharp looks and fast, thin neck.

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Around $400-$600

1. Epiphone Les Paul Standard – ebony / heritage cherry burst
2. Fender Standard Stratocaster – click here for info
3. Fender Standard Telecaster – click here for info
4. Epiphone Les Paul Custom – click here for info
5. Ibanez RG450 – click here for info

Neal Says: These are all really solid choices. For under $600 you can get yourself a bona fide Fender Strat or Tele, and these guitars come in a huge number of color choices to sweeten the deal. You get a lot of bragging rights by having that logo on your headstock too! These are definitely your best choice if you need a single-coil equipped guitar.

Alternatively, the Epiphones will give you that authentically beefy sound that only a Les Paul can produce. Everyone looks cool wearing a Les Paul! If you’re wondering why the Heritage Cherry Les Paul Standard costs a little more than the Ebony, it’s because it’s a slightly different model. The Heritage Cherry comes with a fancy flamed maple top, pickup upgrades, and the ability to coil tap. This basically means that you can ‘split’ the humbucker pickups to give a more jangly, singlecoil sound if desired – pretty cool! Or for the ultimate in class, check out the Les Paul Custom, with it’s sleek black finish and all gold hardware.

Finally. the Ibanez will be the best choice for those of you wanting to become the next shred maestro or heavy metal monster! Its fast, thin neck, powerful humbucker pickups and aggressive styling makes the RG the world’s favorite precision instrument.

Any one of these will make a great starter guitar, but obviously if you are willing to drop a little more coin then things can only get better! As a beginner left handed guitarist the choice isn’t exactly overwhelming, but don’t worry, things get much better later on. And hey, it makes your decision right now much easier!

A Note on Scale Length

Scale length is defined as the distance between where the strings contact the nut and where they contact the bridge, i.e. the length of the string that will vibrate to produce a sound.  Typically there are two common scale lengths – 24 3/4 inches and 25 1/2 inches.  For the most part, Gibson style guitars (Les Pauls, SGs etc..) will utilise the shorter 24 3/4 inch length, while most other guitars will generally use the more common 25 1/2 inches.

All other things being equal, a longer scale length will result in increased string tension.  This will give a slightly brighter sound with a tighter bottom end.  The added tension will also make it slightly more difficult to bend strings. Shorter scale lengths will give a thicker, chunky lower end, and make string bending a little easier.

If you have smaller hands you may prefer to start with a 24 3/4 inch guitar such as a Les Paul or SG type due to the slightly shorter stretches required.  Otherwise, don’t worry about it too much for now.

Next Task! If your chosen guitar didn’t come bundled with an amplifier, then head to Part Six below where I make choosing your first amp super easy. Otherwise, Part Eight will hook you up with a few extra inexpensive accessories that you’ll need to get off to the best start.

Still have questions? Feel free to send me an email and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Beginner Classical Guitars
Part Six : Amps
Part Seven : Effects
Part Eight : Accessories
Part Nine : Lessons

So you want to learn to play guitar or bass but are unsure of where to start?  You’ve come to the right place my friend! This nine-part guide will clue you in on everything you need to know when starting out with your new hobby.

I am periodically adding to this guide, so keep checking back for updated information. Everything in this series will also apply to our right handed friends so tell them to check out the information out as well.

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Beginner Classical Guitars
Part Six : Amps
Part Seven : Effects
Part Eight : Accessories
Part Nine : Lessons

Part One : Your First Guitar and Important Tips Before You Buy

Before we start looking at gear, here are a few ideas to consider that will hopefully help you to avoid any newbie pitfalls.

Left or Right Handed?

First things first.  Are you a left handed or a right handed guitarist?  If you’re unsure, check out Should I Learn Guitar Left or Right Handed? Although there are less options for new left handed players, this is not a reason to play the wrong way around and potentially hinder your progress over.

Acoustic, Electric, Classical, or Bass?

There’s this odd belief floating around that new players should start on a Classical or Acoustic guitar before “advancing” on to Electric or Bass. Absolute nonsense.  Start out on whichever instrument you ultimately want to play. Sure, a nylon strung classical will be easier on the fingers – but what’s the point if all you want to do is rock out? If you want to be the next Ed Sheeran, get a steel string acoustic, or if you want to be the next Flea, you need a bass!

Decide What Your Budget Is

The next thing to do is to plan out what your total budget is, and then when buying your equipment stick within that budget! You’ll most likely need more than just a guitar, so tally up all of of the equipment you will need when doing your calculations.  For example if you want to play electric guitar you will at minimum require a guitar, a lead, and an amp or effects unit.  Also budget for any additional expenses once you have your gear, such as instructional materials, lessons, guitar stands, gig bag etc.

Buy The Best You Can Afford

As far as guitar is concerned, it really is a case of ‘you get what you pay for ’. It’s a false economy to purchase a cheaper guitar now, only to spend more money further down the line when you realise that you need something of a higher quality. Start off with a great setup and it will service you for years to come and save you money in the long run.

I’m not suggesting that you buy a $4000 Fender Custom Shop Strat as your first guitar (although how cool would that be?!), just do yourself a favor and don’t buy whatever is on sale in your local Best Buy.

Keep It Simple Stupid

When choosing your first guitar you don’t want to become overwhelmed by buying something loaded with fancy gadgets and gizmos.  For example I would not recommend initially buying a guitar with a floating tremolo (floyd rose style) system. I cannot imagine the frustration a beginner would have trying to tune his or her guitar for the first time with one of those bridges. You also probably don’t want to start out on a 7 or even 8-string monster – yikes!

Comfort and Ergonomics

Your first guitar is primarily going to be something you play at home, probably in your bedroom, possibly in front of the mirror! You may think it will be cool to buy a Flying V right off the bat, but you are going to get quickly frustrated when you’re sitting at home and the thing keeps sliding off your leg. An uncomfortable guitar is only going to cut your practice sessions short and introduce tension into your playing.

Beware of Guitar Store Sales Staff

It can be incredibly intimidating stepping into a guitar store for the first time.  Unfortunately many guitar sales staff are there for one reason and one reason alone; to make the biggest commission possible.  If your rookie ass ventures into a guitar store alone they are going to eat you alive, and you’ll come out of the place $1000 poorer with a guitar that they’ve been trying to shift for months.  Have a good idea of what it is that you’re after before heading to the store, and if possible take some guitarist friends with you.

Make Use of Internet Knowledge

Sign up to one or more guitar websites that have online forums and read the relevant sections – you can learn a lot by reading other new players’ questions.  Ask as many stupid questions as you like as people are always glad to help out newcomers.  They could save you making a costly mistake!

Blah, blah, blah.  You just want to see the gear right? Choose the relevant section below!

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Beginner Classical Guitars
Part Six : Amps
Part Seven : Effects
Part Eight : Accessories
Part Nine : Lessons

I’m a big fan of the festive period, but if I hear Noddy Holder scream ‘it’s Chriiiiistmaaaasssss!’ one more time on the office radio i’m gonna be busting out my best Negan impression on that plastic hell-box… There’s only so much Wham, Mariah Carey and Band Aid that a guy can take.

Seriously, it’s the same damn 10 pop songs on repeat every single year. So to save your sanity, I’ve put together a list of 7 of the best Christmas guitar albums that you can enjoy, and pick up a few tasty licks at the same time!

Please note that the images below are just mockups I put together for this article. Check out the links below for accurate album artwork.

7 of the Best Christmas Guitar Albums

I’ve included links underneath each album which you can use to hear samples from each CD.

1.  Merry Axemas – A Guitar Christmas

What happens when you ask 11 world-class guitarists to each write a Christmas track? You get Merry Axemas! Featuring artists such as Eric Johnson, Jeff, Beck, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani, this album is a veritable smorgasbord of virtuoso talent! My personal favorite track is Steve Morse’s version of Joy to the World.

Click Here to Listen

2. Al Di Meola – Winter Nights

Capturing the calm and serenity of a star-filled winter night, Al Di Meola’s album is for those after a more chilled out, jazzy Christmas vibe. In this album Di Meola has teamed up with Roman Hrynkiv, a Ukrainian bandura musician, to produce an album laden with exotic sounding seasonal songs.

Click Here to Listen

3. Joe Pass – Six String Santa

A fantastic collection of some of the best loved Christmas songs by master jazz guitarist Joe Pass.

Click Here to Listen

4. Steve Lukather – Santamental

For Santamental, Steve Lukather has teamed up with artists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Sammy Davis Jr to produce 10 of your favorite Christmas songs with a hard-rocking edge. Chock-full of tasty guitar licks!

Click Here to Listen

5. Christmas With Chet Atkins

The ideal album for hanging out in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate while the snow falls outside. An absolute gem, and the first album that Chet first used chordal harmonics.

Click Here to Listen

6. Gary Hoey – Ho Ho Hoey

This has to be one of the best value albums in this list, as ‘Ho Ho Hoey’ features a whopping 37 tracks! Originally recorded solely as a gift for friends, this album was so well received that Gary gave it a full worldwide release. All tracks are high-energy, riff-laden takes on classic festive songs which are sure to spice up any slow-paced Christmas party!

Click Here to Listen

7. Christmas – Brad Paisley

Although responsible for some of the most terrible song lyrics/titles ever penned (Ode de Toilet? I’d like to check you for ticks!?), Brad Paisley is one damn fine guitarist. Plus the majority of this album is covers, so there isn’t much opportunity for him to start singing about how he wants to grab Santa’s sack, or something else equally as bizarre.

Click Here to Listen

Which Christmas guitar albums did I miss? Leave a comment below.

In 1967, Jimi Hendrix purchased a second-hand 1951 Epiphone FT-79 acoustic for the paltry sum of $25. Fast forward 50 years and that very same guitar has just sold at Bonhams auctioneers for $258,000 – over 10’000 times the original value.

It was expected to go for anywhere up to $150’000, but clearly the Hendrix touch is a massive draw for collectors and a competitive bidding war ensued. That’s quite a premium when you consider that on eBay, a 1950s FT-79 recently sold for just $1000!

As was the case with many of Jimi’s guitars, this is a right handed guitar which he strung upside down for left handed play.

The Epiphone was originally purchased due to Hendrix receiving noise complaints from neighbors in his London apartment. It is claimed that the Epiphone is his longest owned guitar (3 years), and was used extensively when writing songs, including his version of ‘All Along the Watchtower’. His manager claimed that it was used so extensively that Jimi would even take it into the bathroom to capture new song ideas.

The guitar was eventually given to Alan Parker (Blue Mink guitarist), hence the stencilling on the hard-case. It would later go on to to be used in recordings by Dusty Springfield, Paul McCartney and even David Bowie!

The video below shows Hendrix using the Epiphone live at an after-show party in 1969.

Despite the massive final sale price of over a quarter of a million dollars, this wasn’t quite enough for the guitar to enter our list of the top 30 guitars ever sold at auction. Although the list does feature quite a few Hendrix owned guitars!

Jimi would have turned 74 his year. Read more about Jimi Hendrix.

I don’t think I’ve been this shocked by a left handed Ibanez release…EVER.

I’ve known about this for a little while now, but finally the embargo has been lifted. Happy New Year!

Ibanez are releasing a left handed Iceman. The Paul Stanley PS120L signature model to be exact. Talk about a niche within a niche within a niche! I’m far from being an Ibanez expert, but I believe this is the first time they’ve offered this body style in a left handed version. That should make this a pretty exciting addition to the southpaw range!

Ibanez PS120L-BK Paul Stanley Signature Left Handed

Main Features:

• Body : Mahogany w/ Maple Top
• Neck Type : 3-Piece Mahogany Set-In Neck
• Fretboard : Bound Ebony w/ Block Inlays
• Frets : Medium
• Bridge : Full Tune III
• Tailpiece : Quick Change III
• Pickups : Seymour Duncan Custom 5 Bridge & ’59 Neck
• Gigbag : Included

Here is a link with pricing on the right handed model. Judging by Ibanez’s current pricing structure, we can make an educated guess that the new lefty will be an additional 10-15% on top of that.

Expect more information at the upcoming NAMM exhibition.

For more information:
Ibanez Website