Left Handed Acoustic Guitars article
Common Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Mistakes to Avoid
The same handful of avoidable mistakes trip up left-handed acoustic guitar buyers again and again. Here's how to sidestep every one.
I've seen so many left-handed players get talked into the wrong purchase, usually not out of dishonesty, just because the person selling them the guitar didn't actually know the difference between genuine left-handed construction and a quick restring job. Let's fix that knowledge gap right now, because these mistakes are genuinely easy to avoid once you know what to watch for.
Mistake: Accepting "Reversed" as the Same Thing as "Left-Handed"
This is the big one. A listing that says "reversed" or "re-strung" is not the same claim as "left-handed," and the difference shows up exactly where it matters — the nut, the saddle compensation, and often the internal bracing. A genuinely left-handed acoustic guitar is built from the ground up for the reversed string order. Always ask the seller directly which one you're actually looking at, and don't accept a vague answer.
Mistake: Assuming Every Model Has Mirrored Bracing
Buying guides sometimes state that genuine left-handed models use fully mirrored internal bracing, but manufacturers don't universally publish detailed bracing diagrams for every model, and it genuinely varies. Don't assume total structural symmetry just because a guitar is marketed as left-handed — check the manufacturer's actual specifications, or have a luthier inspect it, if that level of detail matters to your buying decision.
Mistake: Choosing Handedness Over the Right Body Shape
Finding a genuine left-handed acoustic guitar feels like enough of a win that people sometimes stop comparing body shapes entirely, buying whichever left-handed guitar they happen to find rather than the shape that actually suits their playing. A dreadnought, concert, parlor and travel body all feel and sound genuinely different — compare shapes the same way a right-handed buyer would, rather than settling purely on availability.
Mistake: Skipping a Proper Setup Because "It's Left-Handed, So It's Already Special"
A genuine left-handed build solves the construction problem, not the setup problem. Neck relief, action height, intonation and fret-end smoothness still need checking and adjusting on any acoustic guitar, left-handed or not. Treating "left-handed" as a substitute for a proper setup check is an easy trap, and it leaves a genuinely well-built guitar feeling harder to play than it should.
Mistake: Buying Used Without the Extra Checks
A used left-handed guitar deserves the same inspection as any other, plus a bit more attention to orientation-specific parts. Check neck relief, saddle orientation and intonation, bridge security, and — on acoustic-electrics — that the pickup and preamp genuinely work. Cracks around the bridge or bridge plate are a real red flag, not a minor cosmetic issue, so don't wave them off because the price looked good.
Mistake: Assuming Accessories Are Universal
Pickguards, some molded cases, and certain control layouts can be model-specific for left-handed instruments. Buying a generic accessory and assuming it'll fit is a common, easily avoided disappointment — check compatibility with your specific model before you order anything extra.
Mistake: Panicking About Narrow Selection Instead of Planning Around It
Yes, left-handed stock is genuinely narrower than right-handed, and yes, some specifications need a special order. That's a planning problem, not a reason to settle for the wrong guitar out of impatience. Confirm return and special-order policies up front, and give yourself enough lead time before an important purchase rather than grabbing whatever's in stock that week.
Mistake: Ignoring the Return Policy Until It's Too Late
Because so much left-handed shopping happens online given the narrower in-store selection, the return policy matters more here than it does for a right-handed buyer walking into a well-stocked shop. Read it before you pay, not after something feels wrong in your hands, and factor return shipping costs into your decision if the retailer doesn't cover them.
Quick Reference
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Accepting "reversed" as "left-handed" | Confirm genuine left-handed construction explicitly |
| Assuming universal mirrored bracing | Check manufacturer specs or have a luthier inspect it |
| Choosing handedness over body shape | Compare shapes properly, not just availability |
| Skipping a proper setup | Check action, relief and intonation regardless of handedness |
| Assuming accessories are universal | Verify model-specific compatibility before ordering |
The Bottom Line
Every mistake here comes from treating "left-handed" as a single guarantee rather than a starting point that still needs verifying. Confirm genuine construction, check the actual specifications, and get a proper setup regardless of handedness. If you're still working out where to start, our complete buyer's guide walks through the decision properly, and our beginner's guide is the gentler starting point if this is your first acoustic.
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