Left Handed DIY Guitar Kits

Left Handed DIY Guitar Kits

Left handed DIY guitar kit bundles aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, but there are some excellent options available that will (fairly!) easily let you build something special and unique.

In this article, I’ll highlight and compare a few of the amazing guitar and bass kits that are currently available to us southpaws.

Psst, ever wondered why they call us southpaws? Check out this article for the answer.

Playing guitar is a brilliant hobby, but do you know what is even more brilliant? Playing a guitar that YOU BUILT!

However, the majority of us, unfortunately, don’t possess the necessary skills to create a guitar from scratch.

So what’s the next best option?

A DIY Left Handed Guitar Kit

Luckily, there are kits available that will take a lot (but not all!) of the hard work out of building a guitar or bass.

A left handed DIY guitar kit will generally come bundled with everything you need to put together a complete instrument with the minimum of fuss.

Although, you can obviously deviate from the instructions and add a little more complexity if you’re confident in your abilities.

Make it as hard or as easy as you’d like!

Are DIY Guitar Kits Worth It?

Absolutely! Even if you aren’t interested in fully diving into guitar building, it’s a great idea to try a do-it-yourself guitar kit at least once.

Even if you are as DIY-minded as me and it ends up being a bit of a disaster!

Why?

No matter how much (or little!) of a success your build is, you will unquestionably learn a ton about all of the different parts of the guitar and how they all function together.

The skills you pick up will help you to understand how to better set up your guitar, how all of the parts interact, as well as how to make small modifications and repairs without expensive guitar tech bills.

On top of this, you will also gain a massive sense of self-satisfaction through persevering and building something with your own two hands.

Got A Soldering Iron?

Although the electronics on the specific kits I’ve recommended below are pre-wired, you will need to carry out some very basic soldering to finish them off.

If you haven’t done this before, don’t panic – it’s very easy!

Check out my beginner soldering guide to learn everything you need to know!

Best Left Handed DIY Guitar Kits

As far as left handed DIY guitar kits are concerned, the bundles available from BexGears are a great option for absolute DIY newbies, as well as for those with a little more experience.

Their left handed range is inexpensive and surprisingly large, featuring DIY left-handed electric guitar kits, as well as a couple of options for bassists. In addition, these kits are very well-reviewed (read customer opinions in the links below).

The bodies are already routed, have most of the holes drilled in place, the frets are installed, and the electronics are pre-wired, requiring only basic soldering skills to complete.

Perfect for taking your first steps into the world of guitar building without taking on too much too fast.

If you decide to purchase one of these kits through my links I will make a small commission – thanks!

1. Left Handed DIY Telecaster Guitar Kit

Who doesn’t need a Telecaster in their collection? BexGear’s left-handed DIY Telecaster kit will let you put your own stamp on this legendary guitar.

Left Handed DIY Telecaster Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

This kit is supplied with everything you’ll need to build the complete guitar. You obviously have the choice to swap in some of your own parts if you’d prefer to source your own.

In terms of materials used, it features an easy to work with okoume body coupled with a maple neck and ebony fretboard.

The body is already pre-routed and has screw-holes ready for easy installation of the individual parts. This is actually pretty smart as it allows you to use your own pickguard if you’d prefer.

The body and neck are both raw wood, so those will need finishing before you put the instrument together. Other than that, it’s just a simple case of screwing and soldering – nice and easy!

The kit comes as a traditional SS pickup configuration, although the neck position is routed large enough to accommodate a humbucker if you’d like to be a little different!

Unlike with many DIY kits, the headstock on the BexGears kit is already finished so you won’t have to spent extra time coming up with your own design. A nice time saver, and the shape provided is actually fairly attractive – winning!

Check it out at the link above!

2. DIY Left Handed Stratocaster Kit

Fender fans will be pleased to discover that there is also an excellent lefty Strat kit available which will let you put your own stamp on this iconic guitar design.

Left Handed DIY Stratocaster Guitar Kit

Linkclick here to check it out

As with most BexGears kits, this Strat model features an okoume body. Okoume is a bright-sounding tonewood, with an articulate high-end and tight low-end, making it ideal for those classic Stratocaster sounds.

The bolt-on neck is constructed from maple and features a 22 fret ebony fretboard. The headstock is preshaped to save any additional work carving out your own design.

All neccessary parts are included to build a fully functional Stratocaster, and there’s even a cable to hook it up to your amp when completed.

To complete the guitar will require some elementary soldering skills, plus some paint or stain if you plan to really make it your own.

Head to the end of this article for some basic advice on customising and painting your guitar.

Otherwise, jump over to the link above to find out more about this quality kit.

3. SG Left Handed DIY Kit

The Gibson SG was first introduced in 1961 as the successor to the Les Paul. This low-cost, lightweight guitar became a huge success for Gibson with a neverending list of top players choosing to wield this iconic axe.

And now you can build your own in southpaw mode!

Left Handed DIY SG Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

All parts and hardware necessary to build a fully functional guitar are included in this kit.

The body is okoume and has all holes pre-drilled to avoid any guesswork on your part.

The neck is maple with an ebony fingerboard, and has been custom paired at the factory to ensure a good, snug fit. A nice touch rather than just pulling mismatched parts from the shelf that might give a loose or non-fitting pairing.

This kit comes with two powerful humbucker pickups which you will need to solder in yourself.

Basic soldering skills will be required to install both the pickups and output jack. See the top of this article for a link to my beginner’s guide.

Check this left handed SG DIY kit out at the link above!

4. Left Handed DIY Les Paul Guitar Kit

Prefer the warmth and thickness of a Les Paul? Well, this left handed DIY single-cut kit might tick all of your boxes!

Left Handed DIY Single Cut Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

Again, this kit is bundled with all the necessary parts and components to assemble a complete instrument. Feel free to substitute in your own parts however – as this is a DIY guitar after all!

It features an okoume body with a flamed maple veneer, so it will look great either with a clear finish or fully painted. It also features a bolt-on maple neck with an ebony fingerboard (due to CITES regulations).

The wood is raw and unfinished, so you will need to carry out some basic prep work before you apply any finishes.

Unlike on some of the other kits in this article, the headstock shape on this model could be left as is. However, there is still scope for some customization if you were so inclined.

This left handed DIY Les Paul kit has a scratchplate included, but obviously, you have the option of not installing it if you prefer a cleaner look.

The instruction manual is provided as a download from the manufacturer.

Check it out at the link above!

5. Jaguar Left Handed Guitar Kit

Although Fender has started to offer a few southpaw offsets over the last few years, they are still fairly rare beasts. So it’s great to see that FretWire is producing this awesome left handed DIY Jaguar style kit!

Left Handed DIY Jaguar Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

Inside the package is all of the required bits and pieces needed to assemble a fully functional Jaguar-style guitar.

Main features include an alder body, and a bolt-on maple neck coupled with an engineered rosewood fingerboard.

Other highlights include a Fender-style tremolo, 1 volume and 2 tones pots, a 5-way toggle switch, and a classy tortoiseshell scratchplate.

It’s also the only left-handed DIY guitar kit here that features an HSS pickup configuration (as standard!). You should be able to coax a wide variety of different tones from this beauty when completed.

You do have the option of using your own pickguard if you’d prefer a different pickup setup, however!

Interestingly, the manufacturer has decided to pre-shape the headstock on this model, in contrast to some of their other kits. So that will save you a little elbow grease.

An online instruction manual is supplied with this kit, and the manufacturer also has several videos which will clearly take you through the process of wiring up the electronics.

Check it out at the link above!

6. Left Handed DIY Semi-Hollow Guitar Kit

Next up we have this semi-hollow kit, which features F-holes for that classic Gibson ES-335 style aesthetic.

Left Handed DIY Semi Hollow ES-335 Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

As you can see in the image above, the left-handed DIY semi-hollow kit is supplied with all parts and hardware that you will need to build a complete functioning instrument.

In terms of tonewoods, this guitar features a laminated maple body with flame maple veneer, mated to a maple set-in (glued) neck and rosewood fingerboard.

As the neck is set-in you will require some wood glue to complete this build. FretWire recommends Titebond Original wood glue for this job.

The headstock on this model has already been shaped for you, so this will save a little additional work. You will still need to perform some basic prep work before applying a finish to the wood, as well as some simple soldering to wire up the electronics.

Unlike other cheaper alternatives, this Fretwire pack comes with a body and neck which have been paired at the factory to ensure a solid, snug fit. This should result in improved tone and resonance when completed.

Unusually, there is no scratchplate supplied with this kit, so the finished guitar will have a very clean look. If you prefer the more traditional aesthetic you can obviously source your own scratchplate for the guitar.

You will be provided with an online manual for the build process, as well as a link to FretWire’s library of instructional materials.

Check it out at the link above!

7. Left Handed DIY Hollow Body Guitar Kit

FretWire has already spoiled us with the sheer range of styles available, but they’re not finished yet! Check out this awesome left handed DIY hollow body kit!

Left Handed DIY Semi Hollow Body Guitar Kit

Link click here to check it out

Once again, this kit contains absolutely everything you will need to build your very own, fully completed guitar. Minus wood glue and a soldering iron of course…

Main features include a basswood body with maple veneer and dual f-holes, and a set-in maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. The neck has been matched to the body in the FretWire factory to ensure a tight fit.

Other highlights include a trapeze style bridge, dual humbuckers, 2 tone and volume pots, and a 3-way toggle switch.

The body also features multi-ply binding to complete that elegant, left handed hollowbody aesthetic.

As the wood is raw and unfinished, you may have to prepare it before applying a finish. This might include sanding, patching, and drilling pilot holes if needed.

You will save a little time having to shape the headstock on this model however, as it has already been completed.

As with the rest of the kits, you will be provided with an online instructional manual as well as other tuitional resources to help with the build.

Check it out at the link above!

8. Left Handed Bass DIY Kit

You didn’t think I’d forgotten about you southpaw bassists, did you? Next up we have this very cool left-handed DIY bass kit in the style of a Jazz bass.

Left Handed DIY Jazz Bass Kit

Link click here to check it out

You’ll be pleased to hear that this pack is bundled with all the necessary parts to complete your very own 4-string Jazz bass. Although you are obviously free to source some of your own parts if there’s specific hardware you’d prefer to use.

Main features include an okoume body, maple bolt-on neck, and composite ebony fingerboard.

Other highlights include dual jazz bass pickups, 1 tone and 2 volume controls, and a classy white pickguard.

Other simple tasks might include prepping the wood before applying your finish, and you will also need to carry out some basic soldering to install the electronics.

If you think you might struggle with the wiring of the bass, the manufacturer has also provided a collection of videos that will walk you through this process.

Check it out at the link above!

9. Left Handed DIY P-Bass Kit

We’ll round off this list with another option for you southpaw bassists. This left handed p-bass kit comes with everything you need to put your own stamp on a killer precision bass.

Left Handed DIY Precision Bass Kit

Link click here to check it out

Main features include an okoume body, and a bolt-on maple neck with engineered ebony fretboard.

Other highlights include powerful pickups, tone and volume controls, and a 3-way toggle switch.

Additional work required might include some light prepping of the wood before applying your finish, and you will also need a soldering iron to install the electronics.

A manual for the build process is available online, and you will also be provided access to an online library of tuitional videos.

Check it out at the link above!

Things To Consider When Buying a Left Handed DIY Guitar Kit

1. Style/Aesthetics

The entire point of building one of these kits is to hopefully end up with a guitar that you’ll love.

So make sure to choose a design that you’ll want to pick up every time you see it!

2. Assembly Difficulty

The kits I’ve listed above are some of the easiest to put together, which will make a perfect first project for most. However, a few of them will be a little more involved than others.

For example, the ones with set-in necks will require additional wood glue and clamps, and some of the Fender style kits will also need the extra step of having their headstocks shaped.

The guitars which feature binding will also require extra consideration before applying your finish, as the binding may need to be masked off.

Even after the finish has been applied the binding may need additional work to clean up.

3. Cost

I specifically chose to feature the kits above as they were some of the most affordable that I could find, while still receiving good customer feedback.

This is important, as during your first build you may make a few mistakes here and there and end up with a less than perfect guitar.

Don’t throw away your hard-earned cash by starting with a much more expensive kit from the likes of Warmoth.

Work towards that, unless you are already very confident in your abilities!

4. Tools

Make sure to have the correct tools ready for when your kit arrives! As I’ve mentioned at the start of this article, you will need a soldering iron to complete all of these kits.

In addition, you will require screwdrivers, pliers, and finishing products such as various grades of sandpaper, stains, and paints, etc.

For models that require headstock shaping, you will also need a coping saw, jigsaw, or bandsaw.

Other models might need wood glue and clamps to attach the neck to the body.

5. Upgrades

As these are DIY guitar kits, it is fairly common to swap out a few of the supplied components for better quality or differently colored hardware.

For example, you might want to install branded humbuckers or tuners. Or maybe you’d like a black pickguard rather than the supplied white one.

Think about this before you purchase and save a lot of extra work swapping them out later on.

6. Ventilation

When I was younger, I refinished a guitar using spray cans inside my apartment hallway. Terrible idea! I was coughing for days and ruined the carpet.

And to add insult to injury, I then managed to sand straight through the clear coat when done…

When finishing the guitar, make sure you have access to a well-ventilated area that you don’t mind getting a little messy.

Outdoors will be ideal if you have a sheltered area away from the wind. Especially if using spray cans!

Easily Mock Up Your Guitar Designs

If you’re planning to pick up one of these left handed DIY guitar kits, you might also want to test out a few looks before you commit to the build.

You can easily do this online with the help of a guitar builder tool.

Custom Left Handed Guitar Designs

Check out my article ‘How to design a custom guitar without photoshop‘ to learn how easy it is to do this!

Send Me Photos!

If you decide to grab one of these kits, please send me a photo or two of the finished guitar so that I can share your triumph on social media!

Click here to email me.

A Guide To Guitar Setup

Once you’ve built your DIY axe you’ll probably want to have it set up to make sure that it’s playing at its absolute best.

So make sure to also check out my guitar setup guide to learn more about this step!

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Neal Author Bio
Author
Neal
Neal has been playing guitar (left-handed!) for over 20 years, and has also worked in various roles within the guitar retail industry since 2012. He started LeftyFretz in 2010. More Info