hey all,

im a big hendrix fan, so i was thinking about making my own hendrix-inspired guitar. the idea is to take a lefty strat and reverse the strings. simple right? i was just wondering how stringing them backwards might affect them and the playability.

You have to "flip the nut" and move the upper strap button too.

Try it.

As for playability, it's harder to reach the high frets on the High E string and the controls get in the way of your strumming arm.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Hi hendrixchild45: if I remember right orvilleowner (above) has a left-handed guitar modded the way you intend. If I correctly understand that gentleman's tastes it also was done with Jimi in mind. So he knows.

I'm wondering about pickups: are they staggered, and does that present an issue? Depending on the body routing, it ain't always so easy to flip pickups around...

Cheers - C

Warmouth does Hendrix necks with the headstock flipped but the nut and top edge fret markers correct, and they will do Hendrix bodies with the proper route for the pickups and a right handed trem configuration.

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'95 Custom Warmoth Soloist Solid Flame Koa Body/Neck, Duncan Classic Livewire SSH, Sperzel locking tuners, Wilkinson VS100 bridge, all black chrome.
2008 MIM Lonestar Strat Black/White Pearl
2008 Taylor 114 CE

It's my understanding that Hendrix didn't "flip" the pups and that made a huge difference in the sound that he got.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Yes, I've heard something like that said - but then we've heard Jimi's tone accounted for by all kinds of things.

I know nothing about his pickups - were they staggered ones?

For that matter, I'm struggling to remember whether I've ever heard of aftermarket staggered pickups sold specifically as right- or left-handed...?

Cheers - C

Seymour Duncans website has a "left-hand magnet stagger" as an available mod for the SSL-5. http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... _staggere/

Just thought it was interesting.

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2005 Fender American Stratocaster W/Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge and Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in neck.
1995 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider II 150 watt head W/Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Laney Pro-Linebacker PL65R

This article from Premier Guitar mentions some things about the stagger and possible rotation, but like everything else....speculation mostly.

http://digital.premierguitar.com/premie ... 5_1/?pg=61

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Like I said in my post above, you can get a "left hand stagger" SSL-5 pickup from Seymour Duncan. You should be able to jsut pop that sucker in.

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2005 Fender American Stratocaster W/Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge and Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in neck.
1995 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider II 150 watt head W/Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Laney Pro-Linebacker PL65R

That's right, I'm a long time flipped-over-lefty-player-owner. Some guys can't deal with the controls under the forearm problem. It doesn't bother me, but I'm very used to it after 3 decades!

As for the pickups, I don't think Hendrix flipped them around. Having the "wrong" stagger is part of the Hendrix Tone Mojo.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Just for one second I thought: "Ah, so that's what Orville looks like."

Then I realised; "Wait a minute...!"

The name on the picture code confirmed it...

- C

Aahh! Too funny, man!

Besides, you know that my left-handed Strat is Black!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Yep, I did know really...

- C