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Convert Tele to left-handed
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=10602
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Author:  bob J [ Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:46 pm ]
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I have a Mexican Tele I want to convert to L/H.
I know the nut must be reversed along with a L/H bridge. Do I have to do anything with pickups (2 single coil) other than change the heights between strings and pickups-any other elec. Changes?
Any heads up?

Author:  crazymanmichael [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:26 am ]
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your cutaway is going to be in the wrong place.....the control panel being on top may be a hindrance.... the tuners will operate backwards.....etc. seems more trouble than its worth to me. given the low cost why not sell it and get a lefty.

Author:  bob J [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:50 am ]
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Mmmm,
Michael, as always, your suggestion makes good sense!
Thanks,

Author:  Dave Rickard [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:09 am ]
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Didn't Jimmy Hindricks play right tele flipped over ??

Author:  crazymanmichael [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:26 am ]
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i think it was a strat, and he left the strings in the normal position for the instrument, but because a freak talent got away with it doesn't mean it is recommended.

Author:  Sam Price [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:45 am ]
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I played a righty bass flipped for a couple of years, the volume knob kept getting in the way...

Author:  charliewood [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:52 am ]
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[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] i think it was a strat, and he left the strings in the normal position for the instrument, but because a freak talent got away with it doesn't mean it is recommended.[/QUOTE]

I dont think thats right I looked into it a little more just to make sure I wasnt off base - and I found this quote at Wikipeadia among others
"A self-taught musician, Hendrix played a right-handed Fender Stratocaster guitar turned upside down and re-strung so that the strings were right-side up"

Im pretty sure he reversed the string order and just had the adjustable saddles compensated.
I {and others} could be wrong though.
Cheers
Charliewoodcharliewood39111.4952662037

Author:  James Orr [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:57 am ]
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If you can have the body sliced down the middle and square the rounded
edged back up, you can use the current body as a set of routing
templates. One for the body without the neck pocket, and once the basic
outline of the body is shaped, fasten the other half to the top to rout the
pickup/control cavities and neck pocket.

The wood shouldn't be much more than $120 raw. OR http://
www.usacustomguitars.com has a big reputation for having very light,
resonant bodies, though their necks are a bit much.

If I were to buy one to do a pickup change in, I would go the rout of a
parts guitar instead. The body will be so much more resonant.

For pickup recommendations, I had a set of VanZandts in my tele. Now I
have a VanZandt bridge and Fralin Blues Special in the neck. The
VanZandt neck wasn't covered, so the coil broke. I hear it's somewhat
common for it. These pickups are both more for rock and blues than
twangy country. FWIW

Author:  Dave Rickard [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:05 am ]
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I just had a senor moment. sorry about that. I stand corrected it was a Strat not a Tele.

Author:  crazymanmichael [ Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:14 am ]
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to an extent both of us were off the mark. pop stars plus includes this factoid in their bio:

   "The Strat's easy action and relatively narrow neck were also ideally suited to Hendrix's evolving style and enhanced his tremendous dexterity — Hendrix's hands were large enough to fret across all six strings with the top joint of his thumb alone, and he could reputedly play lead and rhythm parts simultaneously. A more amazing fact about Hendrix is that he was left-handed, yet used a right-handed Stratocaster, meaning he played the guitar upside down. While Hendrix was capable of playing with the strings upside down per se, he restrung his guitars so that the heavier strings were in their standard position at the top of the neck. He preferred this layout because the tremolo arm and volume/tone controls were more easily accessible above the strings.'

they also include a complete instrument list which was an eye opener for me:

     " Musical equipment

Guitars
Fender
Stratocaster; his main guitar
Jaguar
Fender Duo-Sonic and Musicmaster (1961)
Fender Telecaster
Fender Jazzmaster
Gibson
Gibson Les Paul
Gibson SG
Gibson Flying V (1967 and 1968 makes)
Gibson 330
Gibson Firebird
Others
Danelectro Shorthorn (1959)
Supro Ozark 1560S Electric
Three Rickenbackers - a bass, a 6-, and a 12-string gitar
Martin D-45, new when bought
Hofner electric
Guild 12-string acoustic
Gibson stereo
Black Widow acoustic (Mr. Hendrix salvaged it)
two Hagstrom 8-string basses (Jimi played them on "Spanish Castle Magic" on Axis:Bold As Love)
Eric Barrett adds that Jimi generally had more than one of everything, except the Rickenbackers."

the d45 and the guild were the two most surprizing on the list, at least for me.




Author:  martinedwards [ Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:24 am ]
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I saw a vid of Hendrix playing the guild 12 fingerstyle..... AWESOME!!

And Doyle Bramhill plays left handed guitars but strung right handed.

He must be a reasonable player if Clapton has him in his band!!

Author:  charliewood [ Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:34 am ]
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I like when two people with contrary positions, can both stand corrected
Cheers Michael
Charliewood

Author:  Sam Price [ Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:57 am ]
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I believe this will solve the problem.

Author:  Dave Rector [ Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:13 am ]
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Thanks Sam! That really cleared things up for me.

But I'm only going to bid as high as $1500 on it.

Author:  Mike Dotson [ Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:49 am ]
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I didn't realize that Doyle Bramhall played like that.
So did Otis Rush and Libba Cotten.

Author:  crazymanmichael [ Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:19 am ]
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sam, you are baaaaddddd!!!!!!!

he really does have a sense of humor.

just waiting to see the first bid?

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