Left handed and extended range players face limited options in production guitars. Most manufacturers focus on right handed six string guitars. When you fall outside that narrow target, production guitars either don't exist in your configuration or cost significantly more for fewer options. Custom electric guitars solve this problem by building exactly what you need.
Here in Bend, we build custom electric guitars for left handed players and extended range musicians — seven strings, eight strings, left handed configurations. Instruments that work for how you actually play. These builds follow the same process as any other custom guitar — same decisions around body shape, pickups, and hardware, just configured for your specific needs.
Left Handed Custom Electric Guitars
Left handed players get stuck with limited production options. Most models don't come in left handed versions. The ones that do cost more and offer fewer finish choices. Selection is poor compared to right handed guitars — and that's being generous.
Custom electric guitars eliminate this problem entirely. We build left handed guitars the same way we build right handed guitars — same materials, same quality, same options, no upcharge just because you're left handed. Body shapes work the same left or right handed. Strat bodies, Les Paul bodies, Tele bodies — all work for lefties. The only difference is component placement. Everything gets mirrored.
For musicians, left handed custom guitars mean no compromises. For collectors building left handed tribute guitars, custom work is often the only way to get accurate replicas.
True Left Handed vs Converted Right Handed
Some left handed players flip right handed guitars upside down — Jimi Hendrix did this. It works but it's not ideal. The controls end up in wrong positions. The cutaway is backwards. String spacing at the nut isn't right for left handed playing.
True left handed guitars get built correctly from the start. Controls fall naturally under your hand. Cutaways give access to upper frets. Nut slots are cut for proper string spacing. Everything works right. For custom electric guitars here in Central Oregon, we build true left handed instruments — not flipped right handed guitars.
Seven String Custom Guitars
Seven string guitars add a low B string below the standard low E. This extends the range down for heavier music. Metal players use seven strings constantly. Some jazz players use them for extended chord voicings.
Production seven strings exist but options are limited — most are designed for metal. If you want a seven string Strat or Tele style guitar, custom is usually the only option. Neck width on seven strings needs careful consideration — the neck has to fit an extra string without getting too wide. We balance width against playability based on your hand size. Bridge and nut need seven string specific designs — string spacing at the bridge affects picking accuracy, spacing at the nut affects fretting comfort.
Eight String Custom Guitars
Eight string guitars add further range — a low F sharp below the B string and sometimes a high A above the high E. Extended range metal uses eight strings. Some experimental players use them for unique voicings that simply don't exist on a six string.
Neck width becomes a bigger challenge with eight strings. We measure your hand and design necks that work without becoming unplayable. Pickup selection for eight strings requires specific designs — standard pickups don't cover the wider string spread properly, eight string pickups are wider with pole pieces positioned correctly across all strings.
Scale length for eight strings often goes longer — 27 or 28 inch scales keep the low strings tight and properly intonated. Shorter scales result in floppy low strings. Custom electric guitars are often the only way to get eight strings with specific features: want an eight string Tele? Custom build.
Fanned Fret Guitars
Fanned frets angle across the fretboard — the bass side has longer scale length, the treble side has shorter scale length. This optimizes string tension across all strings individually. Extended range guitars benefit from fanned frets: the low strings get proper tension while the high strings don't get too tight.
Fanned frets take some adjustment if you're used to parallel frets — your hand angle changes as you move up the neck. Most players adapt quickly, and the benefits in tone and playability outweigh the learning curve. For custom electric guitars, fanned frets are an available option. Common ranges go from 25.5 to 27 inches.
Hardware Considerations
Left handed guitars need left handed hardware — bridges, tuners, and nuts all get configured differently. Some hardware is universal, other hardware is handed. Extended range guitars need wider nuts and bridges — seven string nuts are wider than six string, eight string nuts are wider still. Tuners require more posts: seven strings need seven tuners, eight strings need eight. Headstock design has to accommodate the extra hardware cleanly.
Here in Bend, we source proper hardware for left handed and extended range custom electric guitars. Quality components designed for the specific configuration — not adaptations of six string parts.
Pickup Options
Left handed pickups aren't necessary for symmetric designs like humbuckers, but single coils with staggered pole pieces need to be oriented correctly. We install pickups properly for left handed guitars every time.
Extended range pickups need to cover wider string spreads — seven string pickups are wider than six string, eight string pickups are wider still. Standard pickups don't work right on extended range guitars and the tonal balance across strings suffers. We source pickups designed for your specific string count from quality manufacturers.
Body Balance and Weight
Extended range guitars can suffer from neck dive — the wider neck is heavier and the body needs enough mass to balance it. We design bodies that balance properly. Chambering can reduce overall weight without sacrificing balance. Strap button placement is also carefully considered to prevent neck dive and ensure the guitar hangs at the right angle. This connects to the broader ergonomic design decisions that affect comfort during long playing sessions.
Pricing Considerations
Left handed custom electric guitars cost the same as right handed guitars. No upcharge for being left handed — the build process is identical and materials cost the same.
Extended range guitars cost slightly more than six string guitars. Wider necks require more material. Seven and eight string hardware costs more than six string hardware. Pickups cost more. The upcharge reflects actual material costs, not a penalty for being a specialty player. Fanned fret guitars cost more because of additional labor — cutting and installing fanned frets takes longer and the precision required adds to build time.
Making Your Decision
For musicians, left handed and extended range custom guitars solve specific problems that production guitars can't — left handed players get proper instruments with full options, extended range players get the notes they need with the specs they want. Custom work makes both possible without compromise.
For collectors, left handed and extended range guitars represent unique pieces — left handed vintage tributes, seven string metal guitars, eight string experimental instruments. These are builds that simply cannot be sourced from production lines.
Call us at (541) 876-7961 to discuss building a left handed or extended range custom electric guitar, or visit our custom electric guitars page for the full overview.
Central Oregon Guitars. Building guitars for everyone.
