Born 2B Mild Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Is a LH version of a bass needing to be any different in any way to a RH version, other than be a 'mirror' image? Please forgive my obvious ignorance in this matter, but as I make a positive attempt to include left-handed basses in my ordering of instruments, I have been wondering if makers do anything different to the design, and if they don't ...should they? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 The logo tends to not fit right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 As far as I know, they should just be the same but the other way around. Ask the manufacturer if they do anything different for LH but I assume they wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldude Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 The control cavity might have to be the same shape, i.e. not a mirror image, to fit in the innards. Probably would be more trouble to produce a few circuit boards just for left hand versions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Don't the pots have to turn anti-clockwise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1317395792' post='1390359'] Don't the pots have to turn anti-clockwise? [/quote] They have to turn both ways like on a RH instrument. I don't think I've ever tried a lefty instrument but I probably would expect the pots to turn the wrong way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1317400026' post='1390430'] They have to turn both ways like on a RH instrument. I don't think I've ever tried a lefty instrument but I probably would expect the pots to turn the wrong way [/quote] Pots are easily wired whichever way you like, bit like a left handed tea cup really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 I have never really understood why anyone plays left handed you know? If no one had ever made one or played one upside down and for devils advocates if they were the other way round in the first place we would all just be the same way up. Can you get a left handed piano with the low notes up the other end? Any item that can has to be operated with similar levels of skill from both hands should just be one way round IMO. I will grab my own coat...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 that part of this conversation has been covered before recently - yes you can get a left handed piano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1317400319' post='1390438'] Pots are easily wired whichever way you like, bit like a left handed tea cup really [/quote] That'd work for linear pots but how about log pots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1317402217' post='1390468']I have never really understood why anyone plays left handed you know? If no one had ever made one or played one upside down and for devils advocates if they were the other way round in the first place we would all just be the same way up. Can you get a left handed piano with the low notes up the other end? Any item that can has to be operated with similar levels of skill from both hands should just be one way round IMO. I will grab my own coat......[/quote] There have actually been pianos that were made left handed. I get your point though, you don't get left handed cellos or violins (that's because they all play in a row in an orchestra so you would have someones elbow hitting your face if they were playing the other way round) and plenty of left handed people are fantastic at playing them. [quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1317412593' post='1390600'] That'd work for linear pots but how about log pots?[/quote] I should imagine they're still going to be symmetrical since you are still in effect taking a signal from one input and putting it out to one of 2 places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 'Mirror Image' sums it up. Obviously taking into account the aesthetic elements. It's nice to be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Here you go [url="http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm"]http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1317402217' post='1390468'] I have never really understood why anyone plays left handed you know? If no one had ever made one or played one upside down and for devils advocates if they were the other way round in the first place we would all just be the same way up. Can you get a left handed piano with the low notes up the other end? Any item that can has to be operated with similar levels of skill from both hands should just be one way round IMO. I will grab my own coat...... [/quote] I've called you a taxi.... I personally cannot physically hold or play a right handed instrument,it's leftys or nowt.And I'm not left handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 [quote name='EdwardHimself' timestamp='1317416011' post='1390638'] ... you don't get left handed cellos or violins (that's because they all play in a row in an orchestra so you would have someones elbow hitting your face if they were playing the other way round) [/quote] I use a knife and fork left handed and I've had the elbow problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) I think we've gone a bit off-topic guys - and the lefthanded debate has been covered several times in my time as a member (a little over 2 years) - usually winding up as a slanging match between those who get it and those who don't. To answer the OP's question, there's no musical reason why a lefthanded instrument needs to be anything other than a mirror image of a righthander. To be picky, the pots issue is simply a part of the mirror image thing - some of you may need to think about that one for a while. (The lefthanded equivalent of a log pot is an antilog pot I believe.) If the manufacturer gets it correct it should all feel and work the same only the other way round. Generally speaking Japanese and English makers (especially bespoke luthiers) are best at this, and American makers are historically the worst - hopefully they've improved since I last bought an American instrument. Oh, and there is one other thing about lefthanded instruments that you might like to think about - they usually cost more - which is a bad thing! Hope this helps. Edited September 30, 2011 by leftybassman392 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born 2B Mild Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 [quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1317423711' post='1390725']I think we've gone a bit off-topic guys - and the lefthanded debate has been covered several times in my time as a member (a little over 2 years) - usually winding up as a slanging match between those who get it and those who don't. To answer the OP's question, there's no musical reason why a lefthanded instrument needs to be anything other than a mirror image of a righthander. To be picky, the pots issue is simply a part of the mirror image thing - some of you may need to think about that one for a while. (The lefthanded equivalent of a log pot is an antilog pot I believe.) If the manufacturer gets it correct it should all feel and work the same only the other way round. Generally speaking Japanese and English makers (especially bespoke luthiers) are best at this, and American makers are historically the worst - hopefully they've improved since I last bought an American instrument. Oh, and there is one other thing about lefthanded instruments that you might like to think about - they usually cost more - which is a bad thing! Hope this helps.[/quote] Thanks for this and all other OT posts. I'm going to make 2012 the year of the Lefty, judging by the forward orders I've got/placing for LH basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) [quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1317423711' post='1390725'] Generally speaking Japanese and English makers (especially bespoke luthiers) are best at this, and American makers are historically the worst - hopefully they've improved since I last bought an American instrument. [/quote] The last time I tried to order some; about 4 years ago, Encore do make left-handed speed knobs, numbered 10-0 rather than 0-10, though Gibson, who they copied them from, don't. (Or at least if they do/did, they won't supply as spares.) Edited October 1, 2011 by Big_Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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