Trying to track down a gold scratchplate for an American Standard Strat - Left Handed....

Fender UK told me they don't do it - so gonna make my own with some spray paint.

Why can't they be bothered to produce the same colours for both lefties and righties?

Not just scratchplates but also body colours too?

Lazy Fender. Really lazy.

Nice guitars though...

Hello

I'm not sure if it down to Fender being lazy as such. The percentage of people who are left handed is roughly 8-15%. You have then got to factor in the percentage of those left handed people that play guitar and the percentage shrinks. Then factor how many lefty guitar players will want a Fender and the percentage shrinks again.

In Fenders defence I believe that its far easier to get Fender Lefty parts than any other guitar manufacturer. I don't think that it would be cost effective or a sound buisness strategy to make just as many lefty parts as righty. Fender is simply following supply and demand. Your just unlucky that they don't do a lefty gold pickguard.

Still if you do successfully make your own Pickguard why not detail your efforts here to benifit other lefty players who find themselves in a similair situation. I'll be posting a build thread later on in the year which will include the process of making your own scratchplate. which may benifit you.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Hi bwolfin, and welcome to the forum!

As Andybighair points out, Fender is simply making business decisions based on the market. I'm a lefty myself, but I decided to play right-handed--availability of equipment and accessories played a part in that decision.

However, you needn't despair. The good folks at Pickguards.com will make anything you need.

Best of luck!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Lefties have always had it a little rough. I'm left handed and play guitar right handed. I'm glad too. Left handed people are the minority. Scissors. and lots of other things are geared for right handers. It's like Andy pointed out we're what 15% tops of the population and how many play guitar? A lefty friend of mine was making his lefty scratchplates from vinyl floor tiles of all things.

Yes I would have to say Andy answered it perfectly. It is the same with every major company. I due believe there could be some lead way and maybe a quota of left handed guitars made on certain models instead of shutting everyone out. I remember some artist not a Fender one that a company made a signature model of that did not come left handed, meanwhile the guy played lefty.lol

Well, I too think the others have pretty much nailed it there. I'm like 63supro there in that I'm a lefty myself but I play guitar right handed...and I'm quite grateful that I do. Yea...it's hard being a lefty in a right handed world and it doesn't always seem fair at all. That said, I can't really call the folks at Fender lazy here either...at least not in this case...it's a supply and demand thing more than anything else I'm sure.

I would however advice against just "painting" your existing pickguard...this is just my opinion but any time I've ever seen anyone try this (including myself) it usually ends up looking like trash. Not to mention even if you are able to do a decent job, being plastic chances are it's not going to look nice for long...sooner or later when the paint starts to dry out it will start to "crack" and again end up looking nasty. If you're really intent on trying this, at the very least I would suggest just picking up a second lefty pickguard and painting that so that if you're not happy with the results, you haven't destroyed your original.

That said, I do have another suggestion for you. There -are- several places on the internet that do have a wide selection of pickguards, including for lefties and a few can custom cut you a pickguard if you send them a tracing of your original. A lot of Squier owners end up doing this because some Squiers don't always line up correctly with those genuine Fender pickguards. Here's just a few links to get you started...with a simple Google search (or even searching these forums) I'm sure you can find even more...

http://www.terrapinguitars.com/pg2009/strat/index.htm

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx (while Warmoth doesn't seem to do "custom", they do seem to have a large selection of left handed pickguards)

http://www.greasygroove.com/pickguards.php (these guys do some -wicked- graphics!)

http://www.wdmusic.com/fender_strat_pic ... t_214.html (same as Warmoth...lots to choose from including a gold anodized for lefties...of course you have to add 25% to the price!)

http://pickguards.us/

Ok...that should get you started...good luck!
Jim

I feel your pain my lefty brother.

please... don't get me started. Oh no, I can't stop myself. It's a conspiracy started by righties to hold the lefties down. Don't fall prey to it and by all means be true to your left-handedness. There, I said it. It still doesn't make me feel better though. Persevere brother.

I'm a lefty that plays righty too.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

I'm a lefty that plays lefty.

I seem to always or most always find what I'm looking for.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.