Harrison Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Hi all, So here's the crack, I really like high quality guitars, I have the money to buy an elitist Casino , but I am a lefty..... I have looked at getting a Peerless Songbird but a bit of me is worried ill still want for a higher quality guitar as I don't want to pay for pickups etc.. I've looked at gibson 330's but don't want to spend £2700. So I've contacted a luthier, who can do all the changes, including relocating the pots etc......£150 That leaves holes to fill tho... Anyone know if you can re-top with a couple of sheets of ply????? I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this, if you were a lefty what would you do? Or if you've got a Japanese casino that needs some tlc or is broken left me know! Thanks in advance guys..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spamonkis Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 ...if you were a lefty what would you do? I would do almost exactly what a very famous lefty Casino player did, TURN IT OVER AND PLAY! Paul moved the strap button to the horn, but why bother? God bless, Spamonkis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrison Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 I would do almost exactly what a very famous lefty Casino player did, TURN IT OVER AND PLAY! Paul moved the strap button to the horn, but why bother? God bless, Spamonkis So you wouldnt get a peerless? Would you move the controls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverden Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 IMHO- I would not destroy a right handed Casino. Value- out the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilm3 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I don't think I'd move the controls on an Elitist. I dropped a Vibrola on a MIC Casino, but I bought that for $150 including Hard Shell Case. I think I would just make a new nut and flip the saddles and leave the controls alone. Resurfacing the guitar might just get you into ES-330 territory cost wise, I would guess. But it's your guitar. Do what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Hi Alex, I'm one of the fortunate few to own a Peerless-made lefty Casino which is very similar to the Songbird. Mine is a very nice guitar and if you can get a lefty Songbird over there I would recommend it. You might like the stock pickups on the Songbird, but if not WD Music in the UK has Kent Armstrong P-90's for Casino that have gotten some fine reviews. There is another guitar you might consider...the Heritage H-530 and it is available left-handed. Adirondack Guitar has the first lefty H-530 built for sale; I haven't inquired about the price, but they do ship internationally. The Heritage company was formed by Gibson workers who wanted to stay in Kalamazoo, Michigan instead of moving when production shifted to Nashville. As far as flipping a right-handed guitar over and playing it lefty, I would strongly suggest that you go to a music store and see how that feels to you. I'm very used to having the controls at the bottom and doubt that I would be happy with them at the top. I held a righty Strat left-handed once (a la Hendrix, of course) and disliked it. Check out this jazz guitar and see how they plugged the holes after moving the controls: http://www.archtop.com/ac_89borys_lh.html Good luck with your decision! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spamonkis Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 So you wouldnt get a peerless? Would you move the controls? I've not played a Peerless, so I don't know, but I would NOT move the controls. Flip the bridge saddles, get a new nut cut and PLAY. I'm sure you can get used to (or learn to love) the controls on top. McCartney says if he could have only one electric guitar, it would be his righty Casino. If it's good enough for him ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've not played a Peerless, so I don't know, but I would NOT move the controls. Flip the bridge saddles, get a new nut cut and PLAY. I'm sure you can get used to (or learn to love) the controls on top. McCartney says if he could have only one electric guitar, it would be his righty Casino. If it's good enough for him ... My opinion only, not having played a Peerless, but I'd agree. See the video below about said Macca guy. Interesting video in it's own right, but fast forward to 7:25 and you'll see what you should do with your Casino, IMHO of course... I am, however, a bit biased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrison Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 What about re topping the guitar? Or re skinning the top layers? I've seen people get les Paul's re topped. Surely it be cheaper than a £2700 Gibson 330 or having a custom guitar built from scratch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'm no Casino expert, I'm not even a guitar expert. I've re-topped flat, solid bodies before. Not too difficult. But redoing an archtop? There are a lot of inherent problems there. I think it'd take a skilled luthier, with the proper equipment to do it right. Find one in your area and pose the question. My guess is, you'll be surprised how pricey it'd be. And, if it turned out not to be up to your expectations, you'd be out a nice guitar. Cool idea, but too many risks. Flip the saddles, get a new nut done (keep the old one) and learn to live with the controls. It's not like you're constantly fiddling with them (I hope). That way, it's all reversible if you want to sell it and holds it's value. That's what I would do, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 No one has mentioned that the bridge would need a reverse slant if you flip over a right handed guitar for left. The Beatles "Fab gear" book has a photo of McCartney`s Casino, and the bridge has been moved on that (Although his looks almost parallel with the back of the bridge pickup). If down to me I would go the McCartney route, flip the guitar over, reverse the top nut, and either re-slant the bridge, or easier still, replace the bridge with a long travel type such as a "Nahville" bridge (That should be able to cope with the intonation). As for the controls, it would be a lot easier to leave as they are if you could bear it. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Good point, Frenchie. As far as a lefty Peerless Songbird goes, are there even any available in the UK? Here in the States, Jerry's Guitars sold one a couple of years ago and none since. There have been rumors of more coming in, but nothing yet. Could you be happy with a Gretsch or Rickenbacker for a Beatles vibe? Gretsch has a lot of models available in left-handed versions and Rickenbackers come up every once in awhile on Ebay. What about a used semi-hollow guitar like the Epiphone Dot or Sheraton with P90's made for humbucker routing installed in place of the HB's? Not the same thing, I know. I haven't seen a Casino with the controls moved to the bottom, but I once saw a 1970's ES-335 on Ebay that had that mod done and it looked awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Flip the saddles, get a new nut done (keep the old one) and learn to live with the controls. It's not like you're constantly fiddling with them (I hope). That way, it's all reversible if you want to sell it and holds it's value. That's what I would do, anyway. + 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrison Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 There are lefty peerless songbirds in the uk that I have found in natural, sunburst (Gibson style) and black. Decently priced. A shop near me has epiphone casino, vintage, and Gibson 330 's as well as peerless so I can compare them all. I've decided to support a guitar company that caters for lefty's. Naughty epiphone is not getting my money. Now the only problem is which colour to have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrison Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 Peerless are coming to the USA soon it says on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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