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Post subject: Best Tele available for Lefties
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:18 pm
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Hi all,

I currently have a MIM Tele that's pretty cool, but I had a chance to play the new american standard that I thought played really nice....

I also goofed around on a righty '51 ri that comes in the cool butterscotch. Can't tell which one I liked better as far as the sound, but the 52 sounded a lot more trebely to me and the american std, felt better bending strings and such. I've heard that there have been some deluxe models made as well as the hot rod deluxe but never actually seen a lefty in either of those versions.
What else is out there and is it worth getting rid of the Mexi to get the american std/ 52?

Thanks.
dk


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:15 pm
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Hey man, I just bought a lefty American Standard Tele five days ago. I'm very happy with it, mostly. My one complaint is the volume knob is "all or nothing". The increase in volume is not gradual at all.

But the neck feels great, bending is easy (maybe too easy, but it's still got the 009-042's it shipped with and I'm used to 010-046's), the tone is delicious...

Good luck in your quest.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:40 pm
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HA!

you figured out what I figured out a long time ago!!!!

the reason why the pot is all or nothing, is because they are using a righty pot that is wired backwards.
Since it is audio taper instead of linear taper, they come on at something like 90% when you open it up and the rest 10 is from pos 2 to 10

sux, ha?

anyway, the only way to fix that is to get left handed specified pots. they are available, but you have to look for them.

Which one did you get? American Std? (that's standard not the disease)


d


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:49 pm
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Well it's funny. My Strat (also a lefty) has the right (e.g. left) pots and the volume knob works very nicely. The guy at the shop, when I pointed out to him that the knobs on the Tele were "backwards" told me I had it wrong, and that my Strat was backwards. Geez.

Yes its the American Standard.


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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:43 am
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If you're not too picky about the name on or the shape of the headstock, I suggest looking into RondoMusic.com as they have a huge selection ot left handed guitars. I ordered a righty version of the Douglas WF-150TA Telecaster (which I know they have lefties of, or they do from time to time) that still amazes me when I look at it because the guitar cost me less that $150, and looks like it could fetch 2 or 3 times that.

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA


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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:04 pm
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Sure it looks great, but does it play great? Thanks for the tip but I swore off low-priced guitars years ago. Not trying to be a snob, but in my experience you get what you pay for. I've owned inexpensive guitars before and always ended up getting rid of them. I figure I'm better off saving my money and buying something I know I'll be happy with for years to come.


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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:52 am
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The guitar is not a handed instrument, wouldnt it make sense to have your stronger hand working the Fret Board than struming? Its like asking for a left handed saxophone... just unnecessary.


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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:31 pm
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I get lefty when I can, righty when I have to. Got a Gretch electromatic double jet that I turned lefty and it's got gobs of tone. Turned my 52 hot rod tele into a lefty too. Could have gotten the 52 reissue, but hot rodding it would have cost quite a lot. The advantages of "turning" a righty to a lefty on Tele's and Strats are you get to avoid knocking the pickup selector around. And on the tele's the whole knob bar is in the crook of your arm.

BTW, you're right about getting what you buy. Cheap guitars (and I've had dozens) don't compare to quality. You don't have to spend thousands. A used Musicman has a great neck and can be had for 700-1000. But then again so can a used Tele. But against any guitar under 500 new there is just no comparison.

I've tried to "up" a guitar many times. Turn a squire into an american, even by putting an american neck on it. Just isn't the same and thats after using a guitar shop guy to shimmy it etc.

Play a guitar and if you connect with it, buy it regardless of being a righty. While SG's and Duo or Double jets are nice due to the extra frets, really, how many times do you hang at the last 5 frets anyway? If you're doing that, you can probably afford a custom no problems.


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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:45 pm
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teamshakenbake wrote:
The guitar is not a handed instrument, wouldnt it make sense to have your stronger hand working the Fret Board than struming? Its like asking for a left handed saxophone... just unnecessary.


Eh i'd have to disagree there. Yea its possible to learn the other way, but it's difficult (think writing). On a sax you're doing essentially the same thing with both hands. They don't change position and each hand is making the same movements. On a guitar one is fingerbased, one is arm based. I'm personally messed up altogether (write left, play right, kick right, bat left, board regular etc.) but with everything, there was a way that felt the most comfortable to me. lefty felt wierd on guitar, goofy felt wierd snowboarding and my handwriting is garish using my right hand. The fact that both hands are acting so differently is why the guitar is in fact a handed instrument. Just my $.02


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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:00 am
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I just do not see how the more dominant hand would be better for strumming. The technical stuff where dexterity is really an issue resides almost exclusively on the fret board. If you start everyone with the standard guitar from the get go (maybe not so if you first buy them a left handed guitar) lefties have a huge advantage.


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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:03 pm
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The idea is to have the dominant hand do the rhythm since it's the reflex part and not the conscious effort. Typically that is the given explanation. One could say lefties have an easier time at the piano if this is true, but if you play Bach each hand is a master so we all know you can learn either way if you do it long enough. That's not to say that handedness is just an accident. It's apparently hard-wired in utero and seemingly not before or after. But we can naturally feel hunger and starve ourselves too. Doesn't make you not hungry even if you're good at it.

Since it's about what's "natural" in terms of feel, I think you naturally tend to use your weak hand for non-conscious stuff a la the fret hand.

That said, we probably all know people who were lefties who learned right-handed ways. Even on drums (Ringo for one) I am mixed, like the other poster, using left for writing and guitars, right for batting and golfing, right foot dominant for soccer, both for catching, etc.

Studies bear out that people who excel at creativity tend to be "mixed" handed. Meaning you might have a dominant hand, but you are comfortable with practice using the other hand. There are people who are extremely handed. Lefties and righties that are uncoordinated even with practice with their "off" hand. So un-mixed Lefties have no seeming creative advantage, although it's often stated lefties do without making the distinction of "mixed" (there's a book on being left handed I saw this in) So in that regard mixed-righties are not getting enough press as they have the same advantages!

That said, when anarchy happens and I'm crowned king of the world my first order will be equality of guitars for left-handers. Well, maybe I'll make an exception and allow 52 Reissue Hot Rod Tele's to be issued only in left hand. To remind people of the history of our plight.


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Post subject: lefty issues
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:29 pm
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I enjoy these forums very much. It is interesting to hear all the different viewpoints from everyone...
..so here is mine..as a lefty, and a new MIM Tele owner..
I did not start playing guitar till I was an adult, and had tremendous difficulty trying to learn righthanded. My right hand seems to have no sense of rythm or timing. I could pluck strings, but could never get them to flow as a series of notes. when I found a lefty to play, it came together in minutes, I was able to learn measures much more quickly. my brain just seems to talk better to my left hand. My right hand was constantly trying to find its place when picking.

Perhaps, if i started younger, I could have fought through it, but as an adult, it was much more satisfying to find proper lefthanded gear.

...Personally, I'm waiting for a LH Jazzmaster.. :-)

Tom


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:50 pm
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You didn't say if you're naturally left handed or right handed (I'm assuming right handed yes?)

My reading suggest that handedness is an in utero process that may have a genetic influence by requires an environmental trigger (in the womb, not after)

Animals exhibit handedness as well in roughly the same percentages as humans from studies done on them (rats, dogs)

Wish I was right handed because some companies charge more for their frigin left handed models. Or you just can't get one. Like say a Rickenbacker 4001 bass. Hard to come by. And Paul McCartney put it on the map. Hendrix put Fender Strats on full display and so you can find plenty of left-handed Strats, but stores are still reluctant to carry left-handed Teles. (though you can find them online no problems)


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