sblueplanet Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Does anyone know if Ibanez made a lefty model of their RB999 or MC888 basses? Great looking small-bodied basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Don't think so, I've at least never seen lefty versions of their bean bass models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Hello fellas, this is my second post. I've been in touch with Gibson, and despite Andertons ads and the other rumours, they're telling me that the factory is saying no LH 2014 models. As usual with Gibson, they don't really have a clue about what's going on in their own company, so will it really happen? Anyone's guess. I was hopeful for a while, but now I'm not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 [quote name='mcarp555' timestamp='1395685372' post='2405105'] Hello fellas, this is my second post. I've been in touch with Gibson, and despite Andertons ads and the other rumours, they're telling me that the factory is saying no LH 2014 models. As usual with Gibson, they don't really have a clue about what's going on in their own company, so will it really happen? Anyone's guess. I was hopeful for a while, but now I'm not. [/quote]aaaarghh no !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 How did you manage to contact gibson? I emailed them 3 months ago.. Nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I just sent an email to customer service. I mentioned that LeftyFretz has an article about the entire 2014 range being available, and links to some of the Andertons ads. Their response (from "Boris") was that LF was not a site they had any control over, therefore it's just rumour. But the Andertons ads did confuse him, since they are an authorized dealer. He promised to look into it and get back with me. A week or so later, he responded by saying that he had been in touch with the factory, and they have no plans. If any do appear, it won't be until much later in the year. He didn't specifically address the Andertons ads, so who knows. LeftyFretz said they had heard from another service rep ("Bob") that it was a definite go. But of course, there's not one word about it on Gibson's site. So either one hand doesn't know what the other is doing, or they're jerking our chain on purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've spoken to Andertons and GAK and they both said that Gibson never reply to their emails or telephone messages, one of the shops, ( can't remember which) has a 2013 lefty sg bass on order which was supposed to of arrived last March that someone put a deposit on. there's not even any second hand ones about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 The SG bass is pretty symmetrical. Haven't you considered trying a righty flipped over? I used to play an old EBO this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm interested in the SG special bass, if they make a 2014 model. However, I don't believe in flipping righty guitars. I know some left-handers do that (and I know you do, since I've read this entire thread), but I think that's detrimental to encouraging guitar companies to produce more LH models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I have spent about half my playing years using righty instruments flipped around. At present all my basses are lefties but my two acoustics are right-handers. Symmetry helps lots. Unfortunately few guitar manufacturers can be bothered making lefty models. I have conversed with Fender about why no Mustang bass re-issue for southpaws. Also Squier as to why their Classic Vibe range only offered lefties in 6 string guitar models. I have been asking Sterling by Musicman if they ever plan to make a lh SB14 model but all these companies ever say is 'not at the present time' etc. You are not alone wishing there was more equality but to business its all about economics; sales and profits. Maybe if Sir Paul McCartney were to appear brandishing a few different basses at gigs instead of his Hofner, more bass makers would cater for lefties but we are in the minority. Even on this site, I had to moan when the lefty discussion thread was removed before eventually being reinstated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 And the way to combat this attitude is not to roll over and flip instruments. Make your voice heard by complaining (loudly) to the companies. It's a vicious circle - few or no LH models get made, so sales are poor or nonexistant. If we all start flipping guitars, then dealers say "nobody asks for left-handed guitars", few continue to be made. I've gone round and round with Hofner, Fender & Gibson about this more than once. It's nothing short of criminal that in this day and age, this form of discrimination against roughly 10% of a target market can be tolerated with hardly anyone batting an eye. And I don't buy the economic BS - I believe it's more than possible to make LH guitars and basses alongside righty models with little or not difference to the bottom line. Two obstacles stand in the way - 1) the few in the industry who wish left-handed people just didn't exist, and think we're all lazy for not bothering to learn the 'right' way. And 2), the people who simply accept the argument that it's difficult/expensive to make LH models, and then parrot the company line. The justification for this idea is slightly different than the one in the previous paragraph - Company F makes one LH model (usually black, usually one fingerboard style). Model goes to dealers. Left-handers refuse to buy the same tired black model they see in every shop, so it gathers dust. Dealer reports to Company F that model doesn't sell. Company F uses this as justification that "left-handed models don't sell". A self-fulling prophecy. The best thing we can do as LH players is to contact these companies and make our voices heard. Don't flip guitars. Support those brands that support us. I bought a Gaskell [url="http://www.gaskellguitars.com/models/71.html"]Thunderbass[/url], and sent a photo of it to Gibson along with a letter to let them know what i did with the money they didn't want from me. If we as a group were to raise our voices (cause face it, Gibson, Fender, [i]et al[/i] are not mindreaders), can we make changes? Maybe, maybe not. Epiphone is bringing back the Casino after it was the single most requested LH guitar not in production. I'd rather fail making the attempt rather than roll over and take whatever crumbs they feel like giving me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I deliberately posted a piccy of my SG Guitar on their Facebook page and said it would be nice to have a white T-Bird next to it. Was worth a try but I suspect will not get anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 One drop may not seem like much, until you realize the Grand Canyon was carved by nothing more than water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 They have been pretty silly (not that that is unusual for guitar companies). I tried a Epi T-Bird last year and loved it, tried a Gibson EB (this was a lefty) and liked it but not the finish and have a craving for an SG bass. If the 'promised' leftie T-Birds had appeared, I might well have bought one (even with the steep pricetag and not being available in white). If the promised 2014 EBs had appeared, with the improved IMHO finish which solved my problem with the 2013 EB and which has a 5 stringer version, I might well have bought one of those. If the SG special appeared, I would definately have one. Instead I have bought an ACG 5 stringer second hand, to clear my 5 string needs/learning and retro fitted my Cort with an ACG preamp that covers pretty much most sounds I can envisage needing. So they have lost sales of a TBird and/or an EB now and probably forever (my money will likely be heading Alan's way in the future). The annoying thing is, I still have that damn itch for the SG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I had my eye on the 2014 SG special because I'd like a 30" solidbody, and as you no doubt know, finding a Fender Musicman or Mustang is... difficult. Plus, I really liked the Fireburst finish. If they do someone decide after all to produce 'em (and I've told them as much), I might still pull the trigger. But if not, I'll find something else to spend my money on. You should let them know that their dithering has cost them yet another sale. Send Gibson pics of your ACG and rub it in. Otherwise they'll never learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Also worth noting that Total Guitar reviewed the Futura and Special versions of the SG and LP guitars this month and have stated as 'Available Left Handed' in the review. None of these guitars have appeared for sale yet either and left handed guitars are far more likely due to a larger marketplace. Perhaps Gibson is going to get to a specific amount of righties made before switching the CAM routers into mirror mode - we can only hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I've heard that, but supposedly the time frame for doing so would have been last month (February). The Gibson rep I spoke to said: [quote][color=#1F497D][size=2]At this point no 2014 production with left handed appointments has been confirmed by Gibson USA yet. We might put some models into production with lefty appointments, but that would be earliest in a few months from now.[/size][/color][/quote] When I asked about the fact that dealers like Andertons were advertising 2014 LH models, his response was: [quote][color=#1F497D][size=2]The information we gave you has been confirmed by the factory.[/size][/color][/quote] So unless they do a run later a few months from now, we're SOL. But it seems odd that by March they don't know what they'll be doing before the end of the year. Seems like a pretty poor way to manage resources for a company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 [quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1395699429' post='2405352'] The SG bass is pretty symmetrical. Haven't you considered trying a righty flipped over? I used to play an old EBO this way. [/quote]that don't interest me Steve, reversing the bridge saddles and then the nut and still catching the knobs with my forearm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1395774576' post='2406173'] that don't interest me Steve, reversing the bridge saddles and then the nut and still catching the knobs with my forearm [/quote] It may be a longshot Paul, but there was someone on leftybassist.com selling a mahogony SG around November time and was willing to ship from the USA. May still be available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) [quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1395777613' post='2406233'] It may be a longshot Paul, but there was someone on leftybassist.com selling a mahogony SG around November time and was willing to ship from the USA. May still be available. [/quote]cheers Steve i'll have a look.. That's the one that was on ebay U.S.A. I begged him to ship to the UK but he wouldn't budge Edited March 25, 2014 by rogerstodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Really? That's strange. I was tempted at the time and expressed an interest and the guy suggested shipping was a possibility. Maybe he looked into it and decided it was too much hassle. Im also guessing import duty would be around £20% of insured value etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcarp555 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Is there any interest in having a left-hand [i]section[/i]? One meandering thread seems a bit limiting. I'd also like to know why the LH basses for sale area is labeled a "ghetto". I know there are people on this site who don't see left-hand issues as worthy of serious consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) Not sure about the potential usefulness of a full-fledged LH "section", as we already have this thread for LH-related talk and the Lefty for Sale ghetto (Note: I'm quite positive that's meant as a joke! All the subforum headings are supposed to be read with GSOH). As for the rest of this site, we're bassists like everyone else on here, so we can, and should, engage in common discussions. Edited March 30, 2014 by bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Maybe start a Left-handed thread in the eBay - Weird and wonderful subforum to post links to interesting lefty items on eBay, Gumtree and the likes? Otherwise I'm pretty much fine with a lefty for sale-subforum and this thread right here. A lefty-only subforum would be a bit overkill I guess, there aren't [i]that[/i] many lefties on this forum so I don't think it would become a very busy place. If you really want a lefty-only forum, there's always leftybassist.com (quite a cool and busy place by the way, although very American with few European members) or the forum over at Arni's site (leftybass.com - but it's dead quiet on that forum). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 My lefty P bass will be in the market very soon, dunno whether to sell the USA or CIJ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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