Lefty hate...

[BatUtilityBelt]

Today I played that "Rock Taxi" Reville Jazzmaster I modded, and it was great. A thought occurred to me that the only thing I'd probably like more about it is if it was Gibson scale (24-3/4") instead of Fender (25-1/2"). That thought kinda stuck with me, but nobody makes that. Then the crazy idea hit... Short scale Jazzmaster is basically a Jaguar. I have one of those, and it's 24" scale length puts it in the ballpark. But I'll never mod that one. Lefty Jaguars are sorta rare and for that reason tend to be more expensive than they're worth, so I decided to see if I could do a Warmoth build to suit my goals. I set to that, and...

No dice. For whatever reason, their CNC machines are not CAPABLE of making a lefty. Actually, they are, but someone at Warmoth was too lazy to mirror the body model and generate a lefty toolpath. I feel hated.

[peskypesky]

It does seem kind of dumb that they don't make lefty bodies in the age of CNCs.

[peskypesky]

Any interest in a PRS style kit with 24 3/4" scale?
https://guitarkitworld.com/products/lef ... ple-veneer

[honyock]

Have you checked out https://www.byoguitar.com/

They are $30 more for a lefty Jag body though, $207 for Swamp ash lefty

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[BatUtilityBelt]

Have you checked out https://www.byoguitar.com/

They are $30 more for a lefty Jag body though, $207 for Swamp ash lefty

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Looking at them again now, thanks! First time I looked, I didn't see the lefty options. The fact they will fret with stainless steel for a $30 add-on is well worth it.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Any interest in a PRS style kit with 24 3/4" scale?
https://guitarkitworld.com/products/lef ... ple-veneer

Interesting and I like my PRS, but it's not as attractive a mod platform to me. The control plates of the JM/Jag guitars give me the option to wildly change the controls out for whatever my whim is, and the pick guard mounting means I can choose other than humbucker pickups.

[tobijohn]

FWIW, the 3/4 sized SX Strats have 24" scale necks but I'm not sure about the neck width/pocket compatibility and with a 1 1/2" nut, it might be difficult to play. Those SX Gypsy Rose Strats actually have 24 3/4" scale necks (1 5/8" nut) but I haven't seen them in stock for years now although they do show up in the used market occasionally.

@Brendan would be a pretty good resource for aftermarket neck options and availability for that style of guitar

[peskypesky]

FWIW, the 3/4 sized SX Strats have 24" scale necks but I'm not sure about the neck width/pocket compatibility and with a 1 1/2" nut, it might be difficult to play.

Broadway Steve is now playing one of the Epiphone Power Player SG's with a 22.73” scale and he loves it:


https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric ... 0/Lava-Red


Sadly, no lefties in the Power Player Series.

[Partscaster]

Maybe you could just get your hands re-grafted to the other arms?
Dont thank me. Just being helpful.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I don't want to go short-scale nuts here, LOL. Originally I was thinking Gibby scale (24-3/4), not mini. The shortest scale guitar I have is an Eastwood Warren Ellis 6, which I think is 23". It's a great guitar, but that gets cramped. 24-3/4 is really my ideal.

[peskypesky]

I don't want to go short-scale nuts here, LOL. Originally I was thinking Gibby scale (24-3/4), not mini. The shortest scale guitar I have is an Eastwood Warren Ellis 6, which I think is 23". It's a great guitar, but that gets cramped. 24-3/4 is really my ideal.

I picked up my neighbor's violin yesterday. The neck was so TINY it makes a mini Strat neck seem like a Precision bass neck!

[tobijohn]

I don't want to go short-scale nuts here, LOL. Originally I was thinking Gibby scale (24-3/4), not mini. The shortest scale guitar I have is an Eastwood Warren Ellis 6, which I think is 23". It's a great guitar, but that gets cramped. 24-3/4 is really my ideal.

Well, Warmoth definitely could provide you with the conversion neck you want but be prepared to take out an equity line of credit to pay for it

https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-scale-conversion

[tobijohn]

I picked up my neighbor's violin yesterday. The neck was so TINY it makes a mini Strat neck seem like a Precision bass neck!

It obviously can be done but I always marvelled at how stringed intruments without frets can even be played

[BatUtilityBelt]

Well, Warmoth definitely could provide you with the conversion neck you want but be prepared to take out an equity line of credit to pay for it
https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-scale-conversion

I just went through the dropdowns and priced one. I see what you mean. $364 for my preferences. More than twice what I paid for that guitar. Oddly, the compound radius was no upcharge, and the cheapest finish was nitro.

Just for reference, here's what I spec'd
Construction
Gibson® Scale Conversion
Shaft Wood
Maple
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Unique Choice
No, Warmoth can choose for me.
Nut Width
1-11/16" (43mm) - Modern Medium
Right / Left Handed
Left-Handed
Neck Back Profile
Fatback
Fretboard Radius
10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets
22
Scallops
None
Binding
None
Fret Size & Material
SS6150 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size
Gotoh/Grover (13/32" - 11/32")
Inlay Shape
Premium Dots
Inlay Material
Moon Glow
Side Dots
White Side Dots
String Nut
Standard Nut - GraphTech Black TUSQ XL
Mounting Holes
Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel Shape
Strat® Shape
Finish
Clear Satin Nitro (Maple/Non-Maple)

[peskypesky]

Well, Warmoth definitely could provide you with the conversion neck you want but be prepared to take out an equity line of credit to pay for it
https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-scale-conversion

I just went through the dropdowns and priced one. I see what you mean. $364 for my preferences. More than twice what I paid for that guitar. Oddly, the compound radius was no upcharge, and the cheapest finish was nitro.

Just for reference, here's what I spec'd
Construction
Gibson® Scale Conversion
Shaft Wood
Maple
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Unique Choice
No, Warmoth can choose for me.
Nut Width
1-11/16" (43mm) - Modern Medium
Right / Left Handed
Left-Handed
Neck Back Profile
Fatback
Fretboard Radius
10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets
22
Scallops
None
Binding
None
Fret Size & Material
SS6150 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size
Gotoh/Grover (13/32" - 11/32")
Inlay Shape
Premium Dots
Inlay Material
Moon Glow
Side Dots
White Side Dots
String Nut
Standard Nut - GraphTech Black TUSQ XL
Mounting Holes
Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel Shape
Strat® Shape
Finish
Clear Satin Nitro (Maple/Non-Maple)

The ways to save on a Warmoth neck:
1. get regular maple neck (with maple or Indian rosewood fretboard)
2. get 10-16" countour radius
3. standard dors
4. do your own nut install
5. get it unfinished and finish it yourself with Tru-Oil.

I just built a conversion neck and the cost is $177. Add $14 for Tusq XL nut.

Construction
Gibson® Scale Conversion
Shaft Wood
Maple
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Unique Choice
No, Warmoth can choose for me.
Nut Width
1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium
Right / Left Handed
Right-Handed
Neck Back Profile
Standard Thin
Fretboard Radius
10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets
22
Scallops
None
Binding
None
Fret Size & Material
6100 - Jumbo (Nickel)
Tuner Hole Size
Vintage Style (11/32")
Inlay Shape
Standard Dots
Inlay Material
Black
Side Dots
Black Side Dots
String Nut
No Nut Install
Mounting Holes
Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel Shape
Strat® Shape
Finish
None

[BatUtilityBelt]

The ways to save on a Warmoth neck:
1. get regular maple neck (with maple or Indian rosewood fretboard)
2. get 10-16" countour radius
3. standard dors
4. do your own nut install
5. get it unfinished and finish it yourself with Tru-Oil.

I just built a conversion neck and the cost is $177. Add $14 for Tusq XL nut.

Yeah, some of my choices added costs, but the only unreasonable one was the finish. I agree with you there. For what they cost though, I'd easily do the ebony fretboard and SS frets.

I'm not going this way, just because I'm too cheap to swap out a neck that doesn't have problems. If it was warped though, I'd probably go this route.

[peskypesky]

The ways to save on a Warmoth neck:
1. get regular maple neck (with maple or Indian rosewood fretboard)
2. get 10-16" countour radius
3. standard dors
4. do your own nut install
5. get it unfinished and finish it yourself with Tru-Oil.

I just built a conversion neck and the cost is $177. Add $14 for Tusq XL nut.

Yeah, some of my choices added costs, but the only unreasonable one was the finish. I agree with you there. For what they cost though, I'd easily do the ebony fretboard and SS frets.

I'm not going this way, just because I'm too cheap to swap out a neck that doesn't have problems. If it was warped though, I'd probably go this route.

I got a Warmoth Fatback neck for one of my Strats several years ago. Just to have something different. It's super comfortable for everything except shredding, which I don't do much of.

[Brendan]

FWIW, the 3/4 sized SX Strats have 24" scale necks but I'm not sure about the neck width/pocket compatibility and with a 1 1/2" nut, it might be difficult to play. Those SX Gypsy Rose Strats actually have 24 3/4" scale necks (1 5/8" nut) but I haven't seen them in stock for years now although they do show up in the used market occasionally.

@Brendan would be a pretty good resource for aftermarket neck options and availability for that style of guitar

These guys, http://www.bestguitarparts.com/ made my lefty Jaguar body and neck. You have to order the big U3 headstock shape and sand it down. It's easy to do. Templates to print out are online. I put a 1" drum sander attachment with coarse grit on a drill press to get 85% of it. I do the rest by hand.


I'm extremely pleased with this one. They don't paint, but I had Marty Bell paint the body for me. If you go this route, let them know if you have a weight range in mind. All the lighter woods are getting scarce.
EY Guitar parts has the lefty chrome. I originally got some polished SS pieces, but the polishing wasn't as nice as I'd hoped. Angela has the lower chrome piece in lefty for $9.99.

[Brendan]

The ways to save on a Warmoth neck:
1. get regular maple neck (with maple or Indian rosewood fretboard)
2. get 10-16" countour radius
3. standard dors
4. do your own nut install
5. get it unfinished and finish it yourself with Tru-Oil.

I just built a conversion neck and the cost is $177. Add $14 for Tusq XL nut.

Construction
Gibson® Scale Conversion
Shaft Wood
Maple
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Unique Choice
No, Warmoth can choose for me.
Nut Width
1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium
Right / Left Handed
Right-Handed
Neck Back Profile
Standard Thin
Fretboard Radius
10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets
22
Scallops
None
Binding
None
Fret Size & Material
6100 - Jumbo (Nickel)
Tuner Hole Size
Vintage Style (11/32")
Inlay Shape
Standard Dots
Inlay Material
Black
Side Dots
Black Side Dots
String Nut
No Nut Install
Mounting Holes
Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel Shape
Strat® Shape
Finish
None

I've done a lot of the Gibson scale conversion necks and I really like them when paired with a boat profile. I've got one on a Tele now. I used Tung oil on that one.

[Brendan]

I should note that "Best Guitar Parts" is the same company as "Sound Guitar Works". They have two web pages and it's a bit confusing. Their necks are excellent.

[BatUtilityBelt]

These guys, http://www.bestguitarparts.com/ made my lefty Jaguar body and neck. You have to order the big U3 headstock shape and sand it down. It's easy to do. Templates to print out are online. I put a 1" drum sander attachment with coarse grit on a drill press to get 85% of it. I do the rest by hand.


I'm extremely pleased with this one. They don't paint, but I had Marty Bell paint the body for me. If you go this route, let them know if you have a weight range in mind. All the lighter woods are getting scarce.
EY Guitar parts has the lefty chrome. I originally got some polished SS pieces, but the polishing wasn't as nice as I'd hoped. Angela has the lower chrome piece in lefty for $9.99.

That's a beauty. I'm not having much luck on their site (a lot of "out of stock"), but I might shoot them an email. Thanks!

[Brendan]

That's a beauty. I'm not having much luck on their site (a lot of "out of stock"), but I might shoot them an email. Thanks!

They produce bodies and necks for other companies, so you won’t see much “ ready to sell “ items on the web page. I just sent them an email to get the ball rolling.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I'm waiting on a quote from BYOGuitars. In the meantime, the thought occurred to me to also put a bug in Kurt's ear that he could probably make a killing on lefty Jaguars, or even 24" scale dual P90 Liquids. That would be interesting to see, and I would probably buy several (one to keep original, and some mod platforms).

[tobijohn]

I'm waiting on a quote from BYOGuitars. In the meantime, the thought occurred to me to also put a bug in Kurt's ear that he could probably make a killing on lefty Jaguars, or even 24" scale dual P90 Liquids. That would be interesting to see, and I would probably buy several (one to keep original, and some mod platforms).

While there have been plenty of left-handed Jazzmaster style copies (Thomann currently has one as well as a Mustang style copy), I can't recall ever seeing a Jaguar copy (other than maybe an Ali Express counterfeit)

And while I'm not sure about a lefty veraion, once, long ago, wasn't there a shorter scale Liquid avalable?

[tobijohn]

...And while I'm not sure about a lefty veraion, once, long ago, wasn't there a shorter scale Liquid avalable?

Yes, there was, both righty and lefty:

https://www.rondomusic.com/SJM623TSSHORT.HTML

https://www.rondomusic.com/SX_Liquid_MN ... _Left.html