How To Restring A Left Handed Guitar Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

                          15 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Guitar Strings
5 steps

Flags

Featured Student Guide

This guide has been the hard work of our awesome students and is found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

BackGuitar
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

The process of restringing a left handed guitar is very similar to restringing a right handed guitar. To restring a right handed guitar to be played left handed, one needs to restring the guitar strings in reverse order. Restringing a left handed guitar is a relatively simple process that most people can accomplish at home. You can either reuse the strings already on the guitar, or put on a new set of strings.

Step 1

              Guitar Strings

For each string, turn its tuning nob so that the string is slack, then uncoil it from the tuning peg.

For each string, turn its tuning nob so that the string is slack, then uncoil it from the tuning peg.

1024

Step 2

Untie the loops connecting the three thinner strings to the bridge and remove the strings.
Apply force away from the neck on the three thicker strings to unseat them from the bridge, then remove the strings.
Once each string is out, coil it up.
Make sure to be careful of the sharp edges on the strings.
For restringing a guitar, it is helpful to label the strings in some way such as placing each string on a labeled note card.

Untie the loops connecting the three thinner strings to the bridge and remove the strings.

Apply force away from the neck on the three thicker strings to unseat them from the bridge, then remove the strings.

Once each string is out, coil it up.

Make sure to be careful of the sharp edges on the strings.

For restringing a guitar, it is helpful to label the strings in some way such as placing each string on a labeled note card.

Step 3

To restring the guitar for a left-handed guitar player, flip the guitar so that the strings can be put on in reverse. The guitar’s neck should face to the right when the guitar is sitting on your lap.
Pull each string through the bridge.
Retie each of the three thinner strings to the bridge.
Push each of the three thicker strings through the bottom of the bridge, locking it in place.
It is essential to make sure the strings are in the right order when restringing a guitar. The thickest string, the low E, should be highest from the ground when playing the guitar. The order goes: low E on the top, followed by A, D, G, B, and then high E, the thinnest string, on the bottom.

To restring the guitar for a left-handed guitar player, flip the guitar so that the strings can be put on in reverse. The guitar’s neck should face to the right when the guitar is sitting on your lap.

Pull each string through the bridge.

Retie each of the three thinner strings to the bridge.

Push each of the three thicker strings through the bottom of the bridge, locking it in place.

It is essential to make sure the strings are in the right order when restringing a guitar. The thickest string, the low E, should be highest from the ground when playing the guitar. The order goes: low E on the top, followed by A, D, G, B, and then high E, the thinnest string, on the bottom.

Step 4

Feed each string through the guitar and into its respective tuning peg, then tighten the tuning peg.

Feed each string through the guitar and into its respective tuning peg, then tighten the tuning peg.

Step 5

Tune the guitar, using either your ears or an electric tuner.
If you want to improve the sound quality of the left-handed strung guitar, the guitar’s nut can be replaced with a left-handed guitar nut for better sound quality.
If the guitar uses a saddle, the saddle and its slots can be adjusted to help the strings fit better. One could also buy and install a new left-handed bridge for the same effect.

Tune the guitar, using either your ears or an electric tuner.

If you want to improve the sound quality of the left-handed strung guitar, the guitar’s nut can be replaced with a left-handed guitar nut for better sound quality.

If the guitar uses a saddle, the saddle and its slots can be adjusted to help the strings fit better. One could also buy and install a new left-handed bridge for the same effect.

Enjoy your left-handed strung guitar!

Happy fixing!

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      One other person completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 1 other contributor

                    Joseph Chavez

Member since: 08/22/2022

121 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



                       Badges:
                       4







                                                        +1 more badge

Team

                       CSU Los Angeles, Team 3-10, Briggs Fall 2022                        

                                                  Member of CSU Los Angeles, Team 3-10, Briggs Fall 2022 



                    CSULA-BRIGGS-F22S3G10                     


                                            1 Member                     


                                            1 Guide authored

Featured Student Guide#

Introduction#

Team#

Featured Student Guide

Introduction

Team