The Steel Guitar Forum

Looking for a D8 Lefty, i know this will be hard to find

Hi Walter, I'm a lefty too and I've never come across a D8 lefty. Over the years I've have looked for D8's with level necks with the hope to convert to lefty. I have seen only really early Epiphones with flush necks. There are so many great old Rics, Fenders, Magnatone, National, all with higher front necks. I finally came across a basket case D8 Fender Stringmaster that I am in the process of converting to lefty. It wasn't much cheaper than a clean one but as a lover of vintage instruments I wouldn't do this to a nice old Fender. The one I bought was already refin'd, had no decal and was subject to years of torture. I hope in the next 6 months to have refinished it blond and will reverse the necks to be lefty. Another option to consider, GeorgeBoards makes beautiful stuff. George makes lefties too. You could find out about having a lefty D8 built. Anyway, good luck in your lefty quest.

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I have one of those National Grand D8 Consoles that I plan to put up for sale once I've gone through the electronics. There is also a D8 Supro currently in the for sale section that appears to have level necks.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=310960

You might check with Melbert Guitars. He could build you one reasonably.

http://www.melbert.guitars/

Thanks so much for your informations!
Bill, i'm very interested in buying your National Grand D8 Consoles!

Hi Walter,
I haven't had a chance to take pictures or work up a detailed write up for it yet. (Maybe this weekend). Here is a preliminary picture of it. I will be asking $675 plus shipping. It looks like shipping to Switzerland would be around $190.00 though. We might be able to get that price down some if you don't want the home-made adjustable legs (made from Atlas mic stands) or the case that I customized for it. Let me know if you're still interested and I'll get you more details.

Walter,

Darn. I just noticed that my National Grand Console has a raised outside neck. Probably won't work for you.

WalterT wrote:Looking for a D8 Lefty, i know this will be hard to find

I can build you a D8 Lefty non pedal steel.
2 necks flat or outside neck raised. Built however you want.
Jimmie Hudson
hudsonsteelguitars.com

Mark Addeo wrote:I finally came across a basket case D8 Fender Stringmaster that I am in the process of converting to lefty.

This is the way I'd do it for sure. The necks just bolt together and so can be easily reversed - you will just need to drill/fill the odd hole here and there.

I'd only advise it though if you are absolutely sure you can't learn to play right handed - many great steelies are naturally left handed.

If you are new to the instrument and start to really get the bug, you'll want to add to your collection a some point and your choice will be limited.

And if, at some point, you decide to experiment with pedal steel you would be pretty much limited to very expensive custom builds.

My 2 cents: Buy a right handed double neck, restring it, and adapt to the controls and necks.
I have always done this for non-pedal steels.
Now if I tried to play a lefty it would seem odd.

Bill's guitar above is a nice one and a good price.
regards,
Lefty

Now that I've acquired a beautiful T8 long scale, and about to convert it to lefty, I took a test drive with it still as a righty.
There's serious issues (for me) about having the outside necks going "down hill" from the front neck. First, it gives me an unnatural angle to my wrist and it feels like I have less control of the bar, ---worse for the far neck.
Second and more importantly, when I reach out to the outer necks, my arms start to ride on the strings of the closer neck, and that pushes the strings onto the PU's.
Probably the reasons why builders starting stepping the necks up in the first place.