Left Handed Bass roundup
Left Handed Bass: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Left-handed bass buyers have good options at the standard four-string long-scale level, but the selection thins significantly for short-scale, five-string and high-specification models. This guide covers where to look and what to expect at each budget.
Buying a left handed bass requires navigating a narrower market than right-handed players face, but the core decisions — body style, scale length, string count and budget — are the same. Understanding where the selection is genuinely limited versus where it is broadly comparable to right-handed instruments helps you set realistic expectations and find the right instrument faster.
Define Your Requirements First
Before searching for a left handed bass, establish your core requirements: four strings or five, standard long scale (34 inches) or short scale (30-30.5 inches), fretted or fretless, passive or active electronics, and your budget. Left-handed players with unusual requirements — short scale with active electronics, five-string fretless — will find their options significantly narrower than players who need a standard four-string long-scale instrument. The more specific your requirements, the more time it is worth spending on research before committing.
Where the Left-Handed Selection Is Adequate
As a left handed bass buyer in the standard configuration, you have good options from major manufacturers. Fender offers left-handed versions of the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass in their standard and Player series. Squier offers the same core body shapes at lower price points. Yamaha's TRBX series, Ibanez's GSR and SR ranges, and Epiphone's Thunderbird all include left-handed options. At the entry level — roughly £200–£500 — a left handed bass buyer has enough genuine choice to find a good instrument without compromise.
Where the Selection Is Thin
Short-scale models are underrepresented in left-handed catalogues. Five-string instruments are available but in smaller numbers. Limited-edition finishes and higher-specification variants (better pickups, premium tonewoods, more hardware options) are rarely converted to left-handed production runs. If the specific combination you want does not exist as a production model, custom orders from manufacturers such as Warmoth (parts) or dedicated luthiers are an option at higher cost and longer lead time.
What to Look for at Each Budget
Under £300: the Squier Affinity series and entry-level Yamaha models are consistent value. Between £300 and £700: the Fender Player series and mid-range Ibanez offer noticeably better pickups, hardware and finish quality. Above £700: Fender's American series, Lakland's USA models and equivalent tiers from other manufacturers — fewer left-handed options exist, but they can be sourced. Above £1,500: Fender Custom Shop lefty orders, high-end boutique builders and vintage instruments. Availability is patchy and lead times can be long.
Buying from a Specialist Retailer
Left-handed instrument specialists maintain larger stocks of lefty models than general music retailers. UK specialists such as Left Handed Guitars store physical stock and have relationships with manufacturers for special orders. General-purpose retailers often list left-handed models online but may hold none in stock. Confirm stock availability and ideally arrange a visit before purchasing — body weight, neck profile and fret finish vary between production runs and individual instruments, even within the same model.
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