mandolin conversion

[Lee Gendvilas]

Would it be possible to convert the mandolin in the pictures from right hand to left hand. I own the mandolin in the pics. My son is showing me that he is left handed when he picks up my string instruments so I was thinking if it's possible to convert the mandolin I may be able to get him to play mandolin.

I put a mirror inside and it looks like there is just one brace, on the top right under the bridge.

Looking forward to your replys.

[Eric Steven Johansen]

Easy conversion. New nut, new bridge, and new strings, oh and some elbow grease. Should be a nice sounding instrument to boot. Soak them tuner gears in some oil too. Happy tunes to your son as well.

[Matt Haugen]

I don't know why a new bridge would be needed, it seems that you should be able to just flip the one you have, but I agree with Eric, (if you have the tools), very easy conversion.

[Eric Steven Johansen]

New bridge cause I'm anal about intonation.

[Ned Knepp]

Lee, How old is your son?  Are you sure  you don't want to get  him started playing right handed even if he's a lefty? It would sure make it easier for him to find instruments when he gets older. 

[LARRY KLOSE]

I'm a lefty who learned righty, mainly because the guitar in the attic was right handed and in the early 60's, used lefty instruments were not available--and used was what the family budget would allow.  My view is that it's a two handed instrument, like a piano, so it really shouldn't matter--both hands need to learn how to do the music.  I've never regretted it and love that I can pick up an available instrument anywhere I am and play it.  My cousin and his wife visit occasionally and she is very frustrated because she plays lefty and I have 6 axes on stands in the living room that she can't play.

On the other hand, it somewhat depends on how dominant the left hand is.  Some players simply can't get comfortable with a righty instrument.  I'd try to start him with a standard instrument and switch if he just can't get it.

FWIW, when I was young we had a family friend who was a surgeon.  A righty, he trained himself to be ambidextrous because he felt that it was necessary for his occupation.  He could do fine motor work with either hand and would often write with whatever hand was free--and the handwriting was nearly identical with either hand.  Everyone's different, but it may be more of a psychological barrier than a hard wired trait, especially with a young child who is still forming brain connections with ease.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Thanks Eric, Matt, and Ned for your replys. I posted 'cause I'm construction/structurally deficient at the moment about mandolins and guitars. I'm doing as much reading as I am able to get a better understand about structure and construction. I agree with Eric about intonation (btw the bridge is straight, no compensation) but this is a quick project to see if I can get my 13 year old special needs son to stay interested for longer than a microsecond in playing an instrument. I agree with you Ned about keeping him right handed, but I've tried before to get him to play right handed but he just naturally picks up the guitars and mandolins and tries to play them lefty. So I'm gonna go with the flo this time and see if I can get him to stick with it this time.

[Ned Knepp]

I understand Lee. I posted what I did because I have a lefty brother and remember how many times he has been forced to work with his "off" hand because there is no alternative.  I also understand that I'm not so good at changing hands so it's not too reasonable to assume that it would be any different for a lefty.  It would be, I think, much harder but you could try teaching him to play a righty mandolin upside down. I knew a kid when I was in high school that played this way. It was weird to watch but he it managed it even if I couldn't wrap my mind around it for myself.  BTW, he said he couldn't play a lefty guitar.