LeftyBassist.com

Having been in a variety of businesses over the years - from restaurants to corporate-style companies, and being a salesman in many of them, I'm aware of customer wants and desires, and aware of the challenges of getting a product to a customer that satisfies his wants/needs. I also am aware of creation/set-up costs in producing unique, or low-run items. And Rod brings up a good point about products that sit on shelves, tying up space and profits until it's sold. As all of you know, left hand instruments sit on shelves for long periods... I'm sure all of us have bought a guitar or bass that sat in a guitar store for several years, and got a fire-sale price on it, simply because the owner wanted to get his original investment back. How many basses/guitars have we bought at a decent price only to lose money on it when we tried to sell it on eBay etc... I know I have....

In the case of a large company like Fender, and a host of others, almost all body and neck blanks are made with a CNC machine. The machines will be set to carve out a particular style and amount. After that, they reset the machines for another model, and the process is repeated. In the case of left hand models, or any new model for that matter, there is, as Rod has pointed out, time spent in R&D and programming code. But, with each successive run, the original costs go down. This is the case for any new model, left or right handed.

One more side point; when I worked in the restaurant business, most of the dishes we made were designed to have a certain amount of cost-to-profit ratio, which is usually about 25-35%. We also had dishes on the menu that sometimes approached 50%, but they appealed to a segment of the market we also wanted in our restaurant, and were willing to carry it as what is termed a "loss leader". More variety of good products promotes more excitement, and attracts more customers. It's as simple as that!

I feel Fender, and all other large guitar building companies need to realize that we do have buying power, and they should invest in the future by tooling up, making up a large inventory of blanks, ( in this case a variety of Rosewood and Maple necks) and paint bodies in a series of colors that will attract buyers. (Left or right, the bodies can be included in the painting portion of the factory process). I also feel that Fender and other companies should understand that they're not going to always hit a home run with profits on every model they make. As long as a product turns a profit, it helps at the end of the year for total profitabilty, along with all of the other products in the line-up.

As for guitar store owners, I know they don't want to carry lefty instruments, but if they're in colors other than standard black, and necks other than Rosewood, they're going to get more interest, and they should let Fender and other companies know that. As a buying segment, we're being treated to the same model Yugo year after year, and that's a literal slap in the face to us, and we're obviously not buying it.

I would imagine by now more and more lefties are turning to builders like Rod, and having a much better quality bass built, with the colors and electronics we want, rather than having to settle for cookie-cutter instruments. I also feel that Fender et al. have helped dry up the lefty market, simply because they're not willing to spend the money for long-term success. As the saying goes "use it, or lose it"... I think Ibanez has been one of the most lefty-friendly companies to date, as they have a variety of models through all of their price points. As I look around, I see I have an old SR800, an Ibanez acoustic, my ATK-4, with the ATK-5 due to arrive in the mail next week, and my new SR06. I would have liked to buy an SR506, but they are rare, although their are still a lot of SR504's and 505's out there.... Carvin also comes to mind as a lefty-friendly company, because they will build you anything you want - the only downside is you just can't walk into a store and buy one, but checking their website will sometimes show a couple ready for sale.

Seems to me that's why we are tending to buy more "vintage" basses these days, rather than settle for new.... Ok, 'nuff for now....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-2012-Ame ... 2c64760b69

Someone in marketing needs to get the boot!

Maybe it's a very light rosewood!

>>>I would imagine by now more and more lefties are turning to builders like Rod, and having a much better quality bass built, with the colors and electronics we want, rather than having to settle for cookie-cutter instruments. I also feel that Fender et al. have helped dry up the lefty market, simply because they're not willing to spend the money for long-term success.<<<

I started Scream Basses for this reason alone. For those of bassists that don't want to shell out 2k+ for a custom bass from one of the great luthiers,
and that don't want another $500 black or sunburst "made in another country bass", I felt that there might be a market for custom-ordered Fender
type basses for under under 1.5k. The problem is developing a market and finding suppliers that could give you what my customers would have wanted,
which is why I used only the best parts on my builds. But, I couldn't develop that market and by the time I started rolling I had run out of money, which
was my retirement. Plus, a few bad decisions like having Moses build me a dozen custom necks before I even had one order... so, I had to close.

And when I took a tour of Dean Guitars a few weeks ago the head of business relations reiterated why they don't make lefties, and it's pure supply and demand.
There isn't enough of us to warrant it.

p

And again I call BS on that. I have no doubt many people in the industry believe it, but I'd be interested to know how Dean arrived at that conclusion.

From where I sit, it looks like a guitar manufacturer will push one or two models, in limited options. Granted, they will do this to hedge their bets, but as we've seen in this thread with Fender, saying they won't buy maple when they don't buy rosewood is nothing short of crazy talk. Dollars to doughnuts Dean decided that if we won't buy the one they're offering, we won't buy anything.

Ultimately if you make guitars, you are obligated to make guitars for both hands. Otherwise, get out of the business and make something you don't have to offer in two versions. Like blenders. It's not like left-handers suddenly appeared on the planet last week. We're not going to go away, and just like with other minority groups that were marginalized in the past, we have to force a revolution in "their" thinking. Writing and making your voice heard and supporting those that do cater to us, are methods of changing those mindsets.

How effective can any of us be on an individual basis? Can we make Gibson, Fender and the rest change their business models to simply agree that everything they make must be left and right handed? Who knows? But if we do nothing, then nothing will be what we get. I'd rather be the fly in the ointment instead of just another drone.

It's well-known that Leo Fender couldn't play guitar. But what if he was left-handed and decided at the very beginning that every guitar his company makes would be available in both versions. How would life be different today?

Ibanez currently offers the SR300 and the GSR200, 205, and 206... all of which are considered to be their entry level "budget" basses.

Yeah, they've offered a few others in the past (so has Fender), but I'd hardly call that lefty friendly.

You're right of course, and I should have done more research before making what is a general statement. And even the lefty models they do offer seem to be mostly black as well!

Also, I came across this Ibanez link, mostly from 2010....

http://forum.ibanez.com/yaf_postst80985 ... lease.aspx

Either Fender would go broke... or I would.

Ibanez is making the SR600 & 605, a maple body update of the SR500 & 505, although it's only available in Europe it seems. I have a 505 & 506 which are great basses, especially at their price points but at even double the price still excellent IMHO & they have always made a larger variety of lefties than Fender, guitars as well as basses. At least Fender Japan gives a damn. I'd say support makers like Ibanez, Schecter, Carvin, Warwick & others like them, & smaller companies & luthiers like Rod who are willing to give us what we ask for & offer some variety at least. Screw Fender USA & Mex, buy Japanese if you must have a Fender. Or do what I once did, find a decent luthier & get a refinish & a 22 fret maple board on your stock black, 20 fret r/w board Fender. There's always Warmoth too! Wish I hadn't sold that bass! One last thing, why would using a different color, except sunburst, cost any more if done in a run, & why would a maple board be more expensive or ROI negative than rosewood if done in a run; either board is simply a cap, not a one piece neck so why not offer these 2 simple options if they are aren't cost negative?

Not sure it'll make any difference, but I tried:

-------------------------------------------------

Thanks for writing in! I forwarded your mail to my marketing manager so that he can see the demand of the left hand player eager to buy our instruments. The more mail we get the more I forward therefore possibly making a change. Thanks!


Best Regards,

Matt Brown
Fender Musical Instruments
Consumer Relations
17600 North Perimeter Drive, Suite 100,
Scottsdale, AZ, 85255
480-845-5133
mbrown@fender.com

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To: Fender Consumer Relations
Subject: I know you don't truly care all that much about left-handed players, but...

...your recent gaff on your website, showing a lefty J-bass with a maple neck as a new offering for 2012, stirred up considerable excitement in the left-handed bass community. Yes, we've heard all the typical excuses -- cost-prohibitive to retool for lefties, not enough demand to justify, etc.

Yet, if you really got in touch with the bass playing community, I think you'd discover, just as G&L, Carvin, and other left-handed friendly companies have, that there's plenty of interest and demand. If you genuinely took the time to connect with your target audience (and in my books, 10% is not an insignificant market, especially given how underserved it is), I think you'd find a substantial enough incremental revenue stream that would more than offset any additional manufacturing cost.

Please join to this collective effort folks! Send your letters!

An encouraging response! I didn't get any reply (yet). But the important thing is to let them know we're here and we do matter. I applaud all of you who have taken the time to stand up and be counted.

Here is the response I received, it is very encouraging:

Philippe,
Sounds good sir! I will forward this above and if it happens know that you had a part in this change. Thanks!


Best Regards,

Matt Brown
Fender Musical Instruments
Consumer Relations
17600 North Perimeter Drive, Suite 100,
Scottsdale, AZ, 85255

If there is any chance you guys might be interesting in getting a Fender other than Black/Sunburst/Rosewood, now or in the future, I encourage you to join the mailing effort. The more mail they get, the more impact it will have. It took me 10 minutes to write this E-mail.

man i know im late on this thread but i would really love fender to make lefty jazzes with maple fretboards

just recieved a return email also encouraging more of us to keep up the interest in more lefty options!!! keep it going guys!!!

I got an email a couple of days ago from Fender. I am still in the process of trying to formulate a thoughtful response. I have a bunch of ideas. Anyhow, here it is, feel free to respond as you all wish.


Hello Alvin,

I have passed your concerns on to our production manager. In a limited line like
left hand oriented instruments we will tend to stay with our most popular selling colors
but if there is a strong demand we will examine the options for production.

Best regards,

Michael Roberts
Consumer Relations Representative
Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
(Fender, Squier, Gretsch Guitars, Guild, Charvel, Jackson, SWR, EVH, Groove Tubes)
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: 480-845-5134
Fax: 480-367-5262
E-Mail: mroberts@fender

In light of our recent complaints about the paucity of Fender's lefty choices, this is REALLY rubbing salt in the wounds: a lefty Jaguar sold as a production 'quirky' righty model with the scratch plate, volume controls & side dots put on righty, THAT'S IT!
Check it out....
http://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2012/05 ... agazine%29

http://bassmusicianmagazine.com/wp-cont ... r-Bass.jpg

At risk of sounding like a pessimist, don't get your hopes up that some petition singed by a multitude of lefties is going to amount to any change in Fender's business plan. We've been down this road before, and it's all basically lip service.



Ridiculous. The classic case of something like this was Fender's reverse Hendrix strat for righties. It was basically a lefty strat set up for righties with a reversed nut/PUPS.

And that was a comment from Mr. Curb-Your-Enthusiasm-On-Hump-Day...