Acoustic bass for lefties

[velalv]

So, recently heard from various sources that the Rockbass Warwick alien has still not hit any stores. Making matters worse, when I looked at Warwick's website it seemed like they are not going to offer their Rockbass line of Alien basses left handed at all. In other words, if I want a Alien, I have to get a high end, $1800 one. I find this strange since Warwick is usually good to us. See here:

http://www.warwickbass.com/modules/prod ... 3257&cl=EN
http://www.warwickbass.com/modules/prod ... 3258&cl=EN

On the good side, it looks like other stores are making the Takamine more available, but honestly, I feel like this was because Dennis from Adirondack was willing to blaze a trail for us here.
See for example:
http://www.music123.com/Bass/Acoustic-B ... 35.product
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/tak ... ctric-bass

I know we have touched on this vaguely before, but what are people's thoughts about the new offerings. Does Takamine get something other manufacturers don't? Also, are teh Takamine's worth buying for the living room jam? My friend is really trying to get me to move in the Martin category or Taylor, but I wanted to see what the lefty breathren sayeth about these developments.

Thoughts?
http://leftybassist.com/viewtopic.php?f ... tic+basses

[andrew]

I've played the budget Takamine in stores and thought it sounded decent unplugged and was pretty fun.

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This doesn't help you find an affordable ABG, but this is the new kid on the block in ABG and I'm loving the look of it:

http://www.rigelinstruments.com/publish/abg.shtml

These are available left handed, but they're priced in the "low $2,000" range.

[belinmad]

A friend recently got an Ortega ABG 5 string, and its a pretty awesome guitar. Need to ask him how much he got it for, no idea what price range they are in

http://ortegaguitars.com/en/products/acoustic-basses/

[velalv]

I've played the budget Takamine in stores and thought it sounded decent unplugged and was pretty fun.

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This doesn't help you find an affordable ABG, but this is the new kid on the block in ABG and I'm loving the look of it:

http://www.rigelinstruments.com/publish/abg.shtml

These are available left handed, but they're priced in the "low $2,000" range.

Glad to hear the positive review. Thanks Andrew!
The Rigel looks pretty cool. But I did not see any mention of onboard electronics for this thing.
Even if I moved up in price range, I probably would not go up that high. My buddy was really pushing for me to go into Martin territory at least, we'll see. It's easier for him to spend my dollars. I will be looking at the Martins when I go to Houston for my friends wedding and make the trek over to Southpaw guitars while I am at it.

Speaking of dollars, I tried looking up the price points for Ortegas. The first link I saw was this one. Seems like they would run from $900-1800 dollars, based on my inexact currency conversion of Euros to dollars.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ortega_acousti ... asses.html

I'm glad your friend had some luck with it. I am a little skeptical of overseas shipping, I know I should not be, but I am. If I have reason to go to London soon I may check it out.

Anybody have experience with the Alien? Also, does anyone know if Boulder Crek makes lefties? Those look promising.

[belinmad]

Euro * 1.36 = dollars
so 100 euro is 136 dollars.

I would shoot an email to Ortega and see if they have a US representative. My friend bought his in Germany but took delivery of it in Spain.

BTW Thomann only shows one current model in lefty version, the D1-4LE (http://www.thomann.de/gb/ortega_d1_4le_deep_na.htm) for 600 Euro, roughly 820 dollars.

I've played the budget Takamine in stores and thought it sounded decent unplugged and was pretty fun.

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

This doesn't help you find an affordable ABG, but this is the new kid on the block in ABG and I'm loving the look of it:

http://www.rigelinstruments.com/publish/abg.shtml

These are available left handed, but they're priced in the "low $2,000" range.

Glad to hear the positive review. Thanks Andrew!
The Rigel looks pretty cool. But I did not see any mention of onboard electronics for this thing.
Even if I moved up in price range, I probably would not go up that high. My buddy was really pushing for me to go into Martin territory at least, we'll see. It's easier for him to spend my dollars. I will be looking at the Martins when I go to Houston for my friends wedding and make the trek over to Southpaw guitars while I am at it.

Speaking of dollars, I tried looking up the price points for Ortegas. The first link I saw was this one. Seems like they would run from $900-1800 dollars, based on my inexact currency conversion of Euros to dollars.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ortega_acousti ... asses.html

I'm glad your friend had some luck with it. I am a little skeptical of overseas shipping, I know I should not be, but I am. If I have reason to go to London soon I may check it out.

Anybody have experience with the Alien? Also, does anyone know if Boulder Crek makes lefties? Those look promising.

[fivebass52]

It's been awhile since I checked into the Boulder Creek basses, but I don't believe they make them left handed. Too bad, as I think it's a great concept, and would like to have one. Just sent them an email, so will let you know what their reply is.

[fivebass52]

It's been awhile since I checked into the Boulder Creek basses, but I don't believe they make them left handed. Too bad, as I think it's a great concept, and would like to have one. Just sent them an email, so will let you know what their reply is.

Just got this reply back from Boulder Creek Guitars....

On Sep 13, 2011, at 12:27 PM, Mike Shellhammer wrote:

Hello Ian,
We do not have a left hand version available now, but may have one coming in
2012. We are starting to get enough requests that we may offer one in the
future. Check with us after the first of the year.
Regards,
Mike Shellhammer

Mike Shellhammer
President
Morgan Hill Music / Boulder Creek Guitars
www.bouldercreekguitars.com
408-779-3845

[andrew]

Has anyone tried any of the budget resonator ABG's that pop up on ebay occasionally?

I really like the look of them.

[velalv]

It's been awhile since I checked into the Boulder Creek basses, but I don't believe they make them left handed. Too bad, as I think it's a great concept, and would like to have one. Just sent them an email, so will let you know what their reply is.

Just got this reply back from Boulder Creek Guitars....

On Sep 13, 2011, at 12:27 PM, Mike Shellhammer wrote:

Hello Ian,
We do not have a left hand version available now, but may have one coming in
2012. We are starting to get enough requests that we may offer one in the
future. Check with us after the first of the year.
Regards,
Mike Shellhammer

Mike Shellhammer
President
Morgan Hill Music / Boulder Creek Guitars
http://www.bouldercreekguitars.com
408-779-3845

Thanks for being pro active on this. I appreciate it. Hopefully Boulder Creek will get them going and create some form of competition in the niche. I talked to Dennis at Adirondack when he first got the Takamines in, and he said he had ordered 24 of them, and that 18 were accounted for before he had even gotten them. Takamine wouldn't make them unless he ordered that many, good for him for taking that risk. And good for him on succeeding as well.

[Frenchy-Lefty]

You guys may want to look into this:
Personally I can't say enough good thing about Gold Tone instruments. They are always great for the price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GOLD-TONE-L ... 999wt_1102

[velalv]

You guys may want to look into this:
Personally I can't say enough good thing about Gold Tone instruments. They are always great for the price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GOLD-TONE-L ... 999wt_1102

Frenchy, thanks for the recommendation. I appreciate it. I saw this listing too, and I have to admit I was extremely skeptical of it since I had never heard of them.

How would you compare it to the Takamine?

I have been doing a lot of thinking and talking with my music director, bandmates, TB (as danomite knows) etc, and I think that I will get something in the Takamine/Gold Tone price range, instead of something in the Martin category. Rather save those ducats for a higher end electric, than for something I would use for living room/outdoor jam alongs. I would be open to the Rockbass Alien if it existed. But, since all we have are unconfirmed sightings and cover ups afterwards, I would rather put my energy and savings toward something that is actually on the market.

[Frenchy-Lefty]

I have not tried this model but I own a Gold Tone dobro that I love. Every Gold Tone instrument I've tried or seen was flawless and sounded good (the make great lefty banjos!).

[pjmuck]

I have not tried this model but I own a Gold Tone dobro that I love. Every Gold Tone instrument I've tried or seen was flawless and sounded good (the make great lefty banjos!).

I could sworn somebody here either owned or was buying the Goldtone Dobro bass. I'm VERY curious about that one.

[Frenchy-Lefty]

I remember that too. Wasn't it Sly3000 (Sylvain)?

Yeah this dobro bass got some raving reviews. My guitar dobro is incredibly bassy with a huge sustain, I can picture what the bass would sound like.

[slybass3000]

I have not tried this model but I own a Gold Tone dobro that I love. Every Gold Tone instrument I've tried or seen was flawless and sounded good (the make great lefty banjos!).

I could sworn somebody here either owned or was buying the Goldtone Dobro bass. I'm VERY curious about that one.

Yep, it is me.

I got the thing, beautiful instrument for the price, sounds loud enough but.....

The dam thing is out of tune. So brought it to my luthier and I'll see if he can do something with the bridge.