Left Handed Guitar & Ukulele Conversions: What You Need to Know

Can Any Guitar or Ukulele Be Converted for a Left Handed Player?

It's one of the most common questions we hear from left handed players — can my instrument be converted? The honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes technically yes but at a cost that makes it impractical. Let's break it down.

Instruments That Lend Themselves to Conversion

The key factor is symmetry. Instruments with a symmetrical body shape and a straightforward internal construction are the most realistic candidates for conversion. A traditional classical guitar is a good example — the body is symmetrical, there are no cutaways, no electronics, and no asymmetric bracing to contend with. Many classical guitars can be converted with a relatively modest amount of work.

The same logic applies to certain ukuleles. A standard soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele with a symmetrical body and a simple bridge is often a viable conversion candidate.

What the Conversion Process Actually Involves

The process sounds simple — flip the strings over and you're done. In reality, it rarely is. At a minimum, a proper conversion will involve:

• Recut or replace the top nut — the string slots need to be repositioned and sized correctly for the new string gauges in each position.
• Modify or replace the bridge saddle — this is where things can get complicated. On instruments where the saddle sits perpendicular to the strings (as on many classical guitars and ukuleles), the conversion is more straightforward. On instruments where the saddle is angled or compensated — as on most steel-string acoustics — reversing it can introduce intonation problems that are difficult or impossible to fully correct without significant additional work. You can browse our range of guitar nuts, bridges and tail pieces if you need replacement hardware.

When Conversion Becomes Impractical

Certain features make conversion a much more difficult proposition:

• Cutaway bodies — a cutaway is designed to give access to the upper frets on one side. Flip the instrument and that cutaway is now on the wrong side, and the upper fret access you gained is lost.
• Onboard electronics and EQ systems — controls positioned for a right handed player will end up in awkward or inaccessible positions on a converted instrument. You can live with it, but it's far from ideal.
• Asymmetric body shapes — instruments like the Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul have distinctly asymmetric body contours and horn shapes designed around right handed playing. They can be converted, but the result will always feel and look like a right handed instrument played upside down — because that's exactly what it is.

The Intonation Problem

One area that often catches people out is intonation — and it's worth understanding why it differs so significantly between instrument types.

On electric guitars with individually adjustable saddles — such as those found on a Stratocaster-style or Les Paul-style bridge — intonation can be set independently for each string. This makes compensating for a left handed conversion relatively straightforward; each saddle can simply be adjusted to bring the instrument into correct intonation.

On an acoustic guitar with a fixed, non-perpendicular saddle, however, this is simply not possible without invasive work. To correct the intonation properly, the saddle slot would need to be filled and a new one routed at the correct angle for left handed stringing. This is time-consuming, potentially unsightly no matter how carefully it is done, and adds meaningful cost to what is already a complex job. The alternative — removing the entire bridge and fitting a purpose-made left handed replacement — is technically cleaner but comes at a cost that is, frankly, exorbitant for most instruments. Unless you have a particularly treasured instrument that you simply cannot live without converting, it is rarely worth it.

The Cost Question

We can convert almost any instrument if required. But the amount of invasive work involved — and the associated labour costs — can often make it a less attractive option than simply purchasing a dedicated left handed instrument. For complex conversions, it's always worth having an honest conversation about whether the cost is justified.

Famous Left Handed Players and Their Solutions

Some of the greatest guitarists in history have been left handed, and their approaches to the problem are instructive:

• Jimi Hendrix — perhaps the most famous example of all. Hendrix played a right handed Fender Stratocaster restrung for left handed playing. The body contours were upside down, the controls were in unconventional positions, and the tremolo arm was on the wrong side — but it didn't stop him becoming arguably the greatest electric guitarist who ever lived.
• Paul McCartney — McCartney is a natural left hander who plays left handed instruments, most famously his Höfner 500/1 violin bass and his Epiphone Casino. His instruments were purpose-built or converted for left handed use.
• Kurt Cobain — Cobain was left handed and primarily played left handed guitars, though he was known to play right handed instruments restrung on occasion.
• Dick Dale — the King of Surf Guitar was left handed but famously played a right handed Stratocaster without restringing it — simply flipping it over and playing it upside down with the strings in their original order.
• Tony Iommi — the Black Sabbath guitarist lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in an industrial accident and adapted his playing accordingly, ultimately developing the heavy, down-tuned style that defined heavy metal.

Our Advice to Left Handed Beginners

Here's something we always say to left handed players who are just starting out: try learning right handed first.

It doesn't work for everyone, and we'd never push anyone to play in a way that feels unnatural. But if you can get comfortable playing right handed, you'll avoid the limitations that come with being a left handed player for the rest of your musical life — the reduced choice of instruments, the higher prices, the difficulty finding instruments, and the challenges of conversion.

Many left handed players have successfully made this adjustment and never looked back. Many others have tried and found it simply doesn't feel right — and that's completely valid too. The important thing is to give it a genuine try before committing to a left handed setup. Browse our full range of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and classical guitars to explore your options.

Talk to Us

Whether you're looking for a dedicated left handed instrument, considering a conversion, or just starting out and not sure which way to go, we're happy to help. Come and see us in store or give us a call — we'll give you an honest assessment of your options.