Help! VERY limited availability of left-handed models in the UK

[Siro Rayge]

I'm based in the United Kingdom and am desperate to get my hands on a Music Man. As always, the availabilty of left-handed models is generally poor (e.g. less than one percent of the Music Man guitars on ebay is left-handed).

I've spent months trawling through websites, calling stores and have seriously considered a brief holiday to the States to buy one. I have located an Axis Super Sport 250 miles away in one direction and a Silhouette Special 300 miles in the opposite direction. As for a Luke, ha ha ha!?!

I cannot imagine spending close to £2000 on a guitar that I've never tried. To all the lefties out there, did you buy the first one you were lucky enough to find or did you 'just' risk it?

I look forward to hearing other lefties opinions. Thanks, Siro.

 

[GWDavis28]

Siro, welcome man. It might help if you put your location for people. There is always the possibility that another forumite doesn't live too far from you has a model you can try, like a meet and greet.

Good luck in your search, Glenn |B)

 

[DrKev]

Did you try contacting the EBMM distributor Strings & Things. They may be able to tell you which stores closest to you have had leftys recently delivered. Give them a call...

Welcome To Strings and Things Ltd

 

[brasco68]

As a lefty...I had to purchase all 3 of my EBMM's sight unseen. 2 I purchased after seeing online...one I ordered. When I went to buy my first Axis Super Sport...I knew I was taking a chance due to not being able to play it ahead of time, however once it was delivered and I played it for the first time...I couldn't put it down. Simply one of the best investments I ever made!

 

[Siro Rayge]

Thanks

Thanks so much for your advice guys; I realise that this is a common lefty problem. Thankfully, due to Music Man's phenomenal quality control (which I've gathered from this and other forums,) I feel that if I play a particular model, then order it in my desired specification, it will play just as well (string gauge and set-up aside).

I'm based in North Wales and am planning to attend the Merseyside guitar show in November with the intention of trying any model. I have two premier dealers within a 60 mile radius, one even has a left-handed salesman, yet neither have had any LH models for months.

I will contact the distributor as advised. Cheers, Siro.

 

[TNT]

What made you play that way in the first place??? Just curious.

 

[Siro Rayge]

Hi TNT, although I'd always air-guitared left-handed as a child, I first tried to learn right-handed. As a child, I had a very strict guitar teacher (this was at a time when the school teacher wanted me to sit on my left hand and learn to write with my right!). As a teenager, my friends and I bought guitars and started learning together. I couldn't believe how hard it was, so I turned it upside down and it was SO MUCH easier. I know there are certain left-handed people who play guitar right-handed, but I think it would have been easier for me to play it with my feet.

 

[coldsummer]

The last couple of posts raise some interesting points. As a right handed guitarist I've always wondered if it would better to use my stronger (right) hand to fret notes and strum/pick with my left hand. It would seem that the brain dictates the most appropriate hand to use?

As a separate example, I ride motorcycles and someone once told me that right handed riders find it easier to negotiate left hand bends (ie lean to the left). I have found this to be true. In the UK we ride/drive on the left and roundabouts (rotaries in the US?) would be so much more fun if we entered on the right.

Sorry Siro, not meaning to hijack your thread but I find it quite interesting.

 

[Cover'd]

Just to dwell on the off topic bit for a mo - I'm right-handed and do everything right-handed... except eat (fork in right hand). Conversely, my Dad was left-handed, but ate right-handed. My son is the same as me. Yep, we're a bit odd!

/carry on

 

[DrKev]

I've often wondered the same thing. But I think of two things here - 1) the fact that we CAN do so much with our "wrong" hand just goes to show that anything is possible with either hand if you put the time in, and, 2) for beginners the same problems will be faced no matter which way they learn, namely coordination, strength, stamina, and autonomy. That will still be the case if we use our right hand or left hand. Compared to picking up a rock, or a banana, or digging a hole, there is so much so alien about playing the guitar, so totally not what our fingers were designed to do, that I don't think it matters which hand we use.

 

[Luc]

Left handed, but right handed guitar here...My first guitar teacher only said: you start at the absolute beginning, and the amount of right handed guitars is so much larger, so i recommend you to start right-handed. I don't regret it. I do play air guitar left handed, though

 

[TNT]

I kinda figured that if you are at the VERY beginning it's your choice which hand! However, the tendancy would be then to say, "...well, which hand is easier, I'll go with that". And, THAT could lead to the concern of limited available products down the road.

Or, just turn it upside down.

 

[beej]

The last couple of posts raise some interesting points. As a right handed guitarist I've always wondered if it would better to use my stronger (right) hand to fret notes and strum/pick with my left hand. It would seem that the brain dictates the most appropriate hand to use?

I've always wondered that as well, and I've actually tried to learn lefty for periods of time just to see. Damn near impossible.

Of course, it works for Steve Morse ... lefty who plays righty. But he's not human.

 

[streck]

Of course, it works for Steve Morse ... lefty who plays righty. But he's not human.

Absolutely agree. Steve is god.

 

[SouthpawGuy]

I'm based in the United Kingdom and am desperate to get my hands on a Music Man. As always, the availabilty of left-handed models is generally poor (e.g. less than one percent of the Music Man guitars on ebay is left-handed).

I've spent months trawling through websites, calling stores and have seriously considered a brief holiday to the States to buy one. I have located an Axis Super Sport 250 miles away in one direction and a Silhouette Special 300 miles in the opposite direction. As for a Luke, ha ha ha!?!

I cannot imagine spending close to £2000 on a guitar that I've never tried. To all the lefties out there, did you buy the first one you were lucky enough to find or did you 'just' risk it?

I look forward to hearing other lefties opinions. Thanks, Siro.

I'm left handed and in Ireland. If you think the lefty situation in the UK is bad .... think again. Even right handed ones are very thin on the ground here. Left handed ... not a chance. I bought my first EBMM in '96 or so, had to order it sight unseen. Still the same today, no shop is going to stock high end lefty guitars. My last 4 EBMMs have all been bought used and imported from the USA, it's just the way it is.

 

[TNT]

I'm left handed and in Ireland. If you think the lefty situation in the UK is bad .... think again. Even right handed ones are very thin on the ground here. Left handed ... not a chance. I bought my first EBMM in '96 or so, had to order it sight unseen. Still the same today, no shop is going to stock high end lefty guitars. My last 4 EBMMs have all been bought used and imported from the USA, it's just the way it is.

Well, the easiest solution would be to move across the Atlantic (California preferrably) and you would then be in walking distance of hundreds of Guitar Centers, with plenty of lefty models. Wouldn't it be worth it?!
lol

 

[Siro Rayge]

I had no idea that a recent moan of mine would produce such insight. In some ways I'm glad I'm left-handed. I would have bankrupted myself via Guitar Acquisition Syndrome if I were dextral (such a happier word that sinistral). I'm also a keen motorcyclist and was intrigued to read the comment about roundabouts.

I have 'imported' three guitars from the States but always seem to end up getting stuck massively for custom charges. Maybe we should organise a lefty buying trip to a highly recommended guitar store in the States, or just picket outside of SLO until we get what we what! A lefty Steve Morse please, or a 20th Anniversary but with a maple board. D. . . R. . . E. . .A. . .M. . !

 

[coldsummer]

I had no idea that a recent moan of mine would produce such insight. In some ways I'm glad I'm left-handed. I would have bankrupted myself via Guitar Acquisition Syndrome if I were dextral (such a happier word that sinistral). I'm also a keen motorcyclist and was intrigued to read the comment about roundabouts.

I have 'imported' three guitars from the States but always seem to end up getting stuck massively for custom charges. Maybe we should organise a lefty buying trip to a highly recommended guitar store in the States, or just picket outside of SLO until we get what we what! A lefty Steve Morse please, or a 20th Anniversary but with a maple board. D. . . R. . . E. . .A. . .M. . !

I guess roundabouts are more fun for you then! Importing from the States does have it's risks, the initial low price seems attractive but as you say shipping and massive import fees soon outweigh any price differential. Unless of course you are the 'creative' sort ;-)

 

[Siro Rayge]

I guess roundabouts are more fun for you then! Importing from the States does have it's risks, the initial low price seems attractive but as you say shipping and massive import fees soon outweigh any price differential. Unless of course you are the 'creative' sort ;-)

Yes, happy memories of a large roundabout on a first year Yamaha R1, until I underestimated the bike and over estimated my talent. Foot down power slides agogo! I'm interested in your 'creative' abilities. I tried to get sellers to tick the gift or sample option on the customs declaration, but have always been stung.

 

[Sweat]

Not to high jack this again but I will I am left handed I mean very left handed but when I decided to try and play guitar several years ago right handed just felt natural, though it explains my issue with my picking hand very weak right hand skills!! Hope you find a a good lefty