Sourcing a Lefty Partscaster for $250?

Hi everyone,

I hope this is the best place for this post. My 14 year old nephew is visiting in July--and he is very much a lefty. I've talked to his parents and we're going to chip in together to get him a Strat (more than likely--I posed the Strat vs. Tele question to him and he's leaning toward a Strat). With some patience, I know it's possible to find a used MIM Strat in the $250-$300 range. On the other hand, I thought it'd cool to source the parts and put it together with him, but I don't think I can get to the same quality as the MIM for the same price.

I've put together a Warmoth Strat which I sprayed with ReRanch fiesta red (one pic in my Welcome Wagon post). Consequently, I have enough experience spraying to know that's not the route I want to go with this one (not enough time with 5 kids at home). So...

Anyone think it's possible to find the lefty parts to put together a build that would compete quality-wise with a MIM? Any suggestions for resources--especially the body and neck (both pre-finished)?

Maybe I should just buy a MIM Strat and take it apart before he gets here. We can put it together and do all the bonding without the sourcing/set-up issues. But what fun would that be....?

Mods, if you think this is best posted in the Stratocaster Discussion Forum, my apologies and I'd appreciate the post moving there.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and/or suggestions.

Shaun

Here is a source for finished bodies: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Strat-Style-Bodies_c_75.html

That site has a TON of good stuff for budget building (pickups, tuners, bridges, etc.)

Keep in mind that things won't fit extremely well out of the box, so some quality time with your nephew will be spent in frustration.

As far as necks go, I'd say you should go for a Mighty Mite on eBay or Amazon. I'm pretty sure they come finished, and they are good quality for the price.

Thanks! I looked at GFS. No lefty bodies or necks. I saw the Hong Kong bodies on EBay. Not sure I want to go that route.

Right, a lefty, how did I miss that? Well then, does your nephew happen to be a fan of Jimi Hendrix?

I put together a few guitars for around 200-ish for my lefty mate and his lefty son.. mighty mite necks and cheap bodies off ebay.. and spare parts I had here... they both came out as good players... danish oil finish on the clears...
the "leftys" were stoked...:grin:

first I made the strat for an old school mate.. and his son grabbed it... so I put together a Tele for the old man... he was always a gibbo kinda guy...:wink:

I got the HSH with morello kill switch off ebay posted for 50.. I mentioned in the email to the seller I was doing a project for my lefty mate.. he said I was doing a good thing and "rewarded" me by offering to send me a similar loaded PG righty for FREE for me to use along with the lefty...:shock:...
now that was something I never expected... :cool:

I used the hsh righty on a strat I gave to a local kid in the school rock band... what comes around, goes around...:wink:.. it's all good...

good luck with your quest to "give a kid a guitar"...:cool:

I seriously doubt that you will find everything that you will need for a partscaster for that kind of money .
Just buy the MIM Strat and take it apart with him and reassemble with him as well .
By taking it apart much will be learned . Much more than just assembling one ,
As a side note , I am a lefty . The lefty brain will learn better by starting with an assembled guitar and taking it apart . There are studies that prove that lefties do better at beginning with a complete concept and going in reverse . This is truly a right brain thing .
Trust me when I tell you that he will not find the entire process of disassembly and reassembly as boring as you apparently think he will . Be ready to answer many questions along the way .
I applaud you and ask what is stopping you ?
If you go this route , I will suggest that you purchase some lefty pots to install when you reassemble it . They are inexpensive and can be found at a number sources . I use Guitar Parts Resource for mine . 250K for single coils .

Thanks for the ideas. I think cost-wise it is going to be tough to get MIM quality for $250. If he's a Hendrix fan, maybe we can convert a righty as a last resort--although I've played a lefty converted righty and the ergonomics were very challenging. Would a left handed strat still need left handed pots? I'm trying to wrap my right handed brain around that concept.

I built a lefty tele for about $250 a few years ago .It took time rounding up all the pieces.Got most of the stuff on Ebay.I've seen squier lefty Strats in pawn shops.I also go on Craigslist.I search "All of Craigslist" That's where I got my Mim red vine ,mint condition lefty. good luck. (I'm going to search it now.If I find something ,I'll let you know)

Thanks for the ideas. I think cost-wise it is going to be tough to get MIM quality for $250. If he's a Hendrix fan, maybe we can convert a righty as a last resort--although I've played a lefty converted righty and the ergonomics were very challenging. Would a left handed strat still need left handed pots? I'm trying to wrap my right handed brain around that concept.

Wow I have never thought about that before

I guess from being in a right handed world, lefties would be used to turning volume knobs clockwise to go louder so they use the same pots.

Check out rondomusic for budget left handed guitars. If you start with an sx you'd still have $100 of budget to upgrade pickups controls and tuners, eg from guitarfetish. Maybe squeeze in some saddles too?

You can get lefty guitars from Rondo for low bucks:
http://www.rondomusic.com/electricguitarleft.html

I have a lefty strat body, neck and tuners whch were destined to a build for a friend but I might do one from scratch for him. I have $225.00 invested in the parts.

Shaunpski, Yeah, there's a bunch of strats on CL "search all of craigslist" Mostly Squier,however in Atlanta there is a fender lefty ,black ,with case $250 worth looking at

can't you just reverse the lug wiring on the pots?... to reverse the action..

the lug that's normally earthed on the V pot diagram becomes the one where the pu wire goes.. the other outside lug gets earthed and centre one stays the same...

I think that's what I did to change a pots direction ... easy to try...

can't you just reverse the lug wiring on the pots?... to reverse the action..

the lug that's normally earthed on the V pot diagram becomes the one where the pu wire goes.. the other outside lug gets earthed and centre one stays the same...

I think that's what I did to change a pots direction ... easy to try...

Works only for linear pots

For volume you'd need a reverse log taper pot todo that

I'd be firmly in the get him a RH strat camp. Heck, I'm right handed and I can't tell you how many times I've almost bought a lefty strat just so I could feel the inverse Jimi vibe, right handed, no talent, white, I'm the negative of Hendrix.

Thanks, everyone. I think I'm just going to diligently search for a MIM. Hopefully, I can find a nice lefty for him. I've actually played a lefty strung righty and it was a challenge (to say the least). Then again, if he is a big Hendrix fan...

I knew it was time to join the TDPRI and you didn't let me down. Thanks again.

Regards,
Shaun

Just get some proper lefty pots and be done with it or don't .
If you wire righties in reverse , they will act/function like on/off switches .
Would all of you righties want lefty pots in your guitars ? :roll:
Heck , you'll get used to it . :roll::roll:

Find a MIM that fits your budget! There's 'used' lefty MIMs all over the place, I nearly trip over them on a regular basis.

A frankencaster? Fuggetaboutit.

http://www.hergoods.info/avatar1.jpgdoes your nephew happen to be a fan of Jimi Hendrix?

His parents have taught him well. He is a fan.

His parents have taught him well. He is a fan.

Having just built a Hendrix replica parts-o-caster I would not recommend flipping a righty strat to be played lefty.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/323298-hendrix-strat-tele-neck.html

It was a fun project, but the controls do get in the way. The starting point was a left hand Indiana strat copy (IE1L-WT). Cost me US$99 before tax and shipping. It wasn't a bad guitar to start with, although the original neck was pretty basic. Certainly good enough for a first guitar though.

Having just built a Hendrix replica parts-o-caster I would not recommend flipping a righty strat to be played lefty.

We're not going to do that. I tried it with a lefty I had a while back (flipped righty) and it was an ergonomic challenge. I'm keeping my eye out for a MIM lefty--or a similar quality Strat in the price range. Thanks for the reply.

Shaun