Source for left-handed mandolins

[MikeEdgerton]

We have a member that is looking for a left-handed mandolin. Has anyone got a source other than the two in the Classifieds? Any stores in your area with one in stock?

[MikeEdgerton]

Three Eastman's at Fuller's in Houston:

Three at Fuller's in Houston:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastman-MD5...YAAOSwO0VeLGvd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastman-MD5...wAAOSwHwReK1yT

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastman-MD6...sAAOSwBm9eK34G

[MikeEdgerton]

Five at the Mandolin Store, currently in Arizona but moving the Nashville very soon:

https://themandolinstore.com/product...and-mandolins/

[MikeEdgerton]

Elderly in Lansing has one.

https://www.elderly.com/search?q=lef...ry_Instruments

[Timbofood]

How kind of you to do the leg work for someone!
What a nice guy!

[Chuck Leyda]

Here's one at Avenue Guitars. A nice looking Northfield.

https://www.avenueguitars.com/collec...5s-left-handed

[pops1]

One on Reverb

https://reverb.com/item/31504854-col...ft-handed-2018

[bigskygirl]

Jerrys lefty guitar sells mandos...scroll about 1/2 down this page for the mando info...

https://www.jerrysleftyguitars.com/l...directory.html

[buckhorn]

I've had a lefty made for several years now, listed on Café a couple of times, and have had no interest at all.....

[lefty1212]

I certainly appreciate the help folks. My goal is try actually try the mandolin before buying it, which seems to be common advice given here. My challenge is that most of these mandolins are halfway across the country from where I’m located in Birmingham, AL. I drove to 3 hours to Nashville to try the only two left handed mandolins in all the music shops of Nashville. I tried the three Eastmans that were at Corner music. The 305, 505, and 403? I didn’t fall in love with any that I played today. I’ve got my heart set on an F style model. Do I just need to order online and hope for the best that I like the one I get? Thanks again for the help

[bigskygirl]

Hiya lefty, it is hard to find decent mandos period and then to find some left handed ones...well, you know thats very hard. You didn't mention what your budget is but id say if you go with a nice kinda entry level mando - I have an Eastman 315 and I still have it, it is a nice mando for the price and if I want to sell it I wont be losing too much money. You can read many threads and hopefully others may chime here in about the Kentucky’s, Loars, and other entry level price point mandos that are very good.

Call some of the stores - many are cafe sponsors - and ask about an approval period...you may end up having to spring for shipping but thats not a huge expense and youll get to sample some mandos.

Good luck, don't hesitate to ask ques here its a great group of folks with a wealth of knowledge they are willing to share.

[pheffernan]

I’ve got my heart set on an F style model. Do I just need to order online and hope for the best that I like the one I get? Thanks again for the help

Lefty F-styles are rare to begin with and particularly so in your stated ~$1500 price range. The best I’ve seen is probably 650 miles away:

https://www.jerrysleftyguitars.com/l...relic-man.html

I think you’d be better served pursuing one of the several used MT’s upthread in the ~$2100 range if feasible, getting increased “value” if you will from an A-style that has depreciated as well as the confidence of Collings’ consistency when buying at a distance:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/149918#149918

https://reverb.com/item/31504854-col...ft-handed-2018

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/147829#147829

But I well understand that the heart wants what the heart wants. If the heart gets what the heart wants, then this one is a good buy in a luthier-built instrument:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/150628#150628

Just negotiate an approval period into anything that you order online.

[Steve 2E]

I know this is an A and it’s way over budget, but it sure is nice.
https://vintage-instruments.com/shop...mandolin-1995/

[allenhopkins]

...I didn’t fall in love with any that I played today. I’ve got my heart set on an F style model...

If you have to have a "lefty" F-model, you may have to settle for falling in "intense like" rather than love. A-models can be easily converted to left-handed playing, but the asymmetric F-model, not so much. Your pickin's will be slimmer...

[Jim Garber]

Wow, is that a lefty-case?

[Mary Lee]

We have a member that is looking for a left-handed mandolin. Has anyone got a source other than the two in the Classifieds? Any stores in your area with one in stock?

I recommend the Mandolin Store www.themandolinstore.com

They always have some leftys in stock. I bought my Eastman MD505 L there.