Left-Handed Legend Awaits

The Struggle of the Left-Handed Player Is Real

Let me paint you a picture. You walk into a guitar store – any guitar store. Rows upon rows of beautiful instruments gleam under the lights. A sunburst Strat here. A sleek telecaster there. Your heart races. You reach out… and then it hits you. Every single guitar is backward.

For anyone who plays left-handed electric guitar, this is the daily reality. You either learn to play upside down (hello, Hendrix – but that’s not most of us), or you settle for a badly converted righty with knobs right where your arm needs to go. Or worse, you buy a cheap, poorly made lefty that feels like a toy.

I’ve been there. For years, I convinced myself that “good enough” was all a left-hander could hope for. I played a flipped right-handed guitar with a crooked nut and controls that dug into my forearm. I told myself tone didn’t matter as much as just being able to play.

Then I found the G&L Tribute S-500 lefty. And friends, everything changed.

This isn’t a review that sits on the fence. This is a confession: If you are a left-handed player searching for a professional-grade, Leo Fender design guitar that doesn’t compromise on a single feature, you need to stop scrolling. Let me tell you why this left-handed electric guitar is the one you’ve been waiting for.

Why “Left-Handed” Should Never Mean “Second Best”

For decades, the big guitar brands have treated lefties like an afterthought. They’ll offer one or two models, usually in boring colors, with cheaper electronics, and call it a day. Then they charge you a premium for the “privilege” of playing left-handed.

It’s frustrating. It’s unfair. And it’s exactly why the G&L Tribute S-500 lefty matters so much.

The Leo Fender Connection – The Legend’s Final Masterpiece

Most players know Leo Fender invented the Telecaster and Stratocaster. But what many don’t realize is that after leaving Fender, Leo started a new company: G&L (George Fullerton & Leo Fender). The S-500 was Leo’s personal evolution of the Stratocaster. He fixed everything he wished he’d done differently the first time.

Better pickups. Better tremolo system. Better electronics.

And here’s the kicker: Leo insisted that left-handed models receive the exact same attention as right-handed ones. No shortcuts. No cheaper parts. The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty is built to the same specifications, on the same tooling, with the same quality checks. That is astonishingly rare.

So when you hold this Leo Fender design guitar, you aren’t holding a compromise. You are holding his final word on what an electric guitar should be. And it’s made for you.

First Impressions – The Tobacco Sunburst Finish That Stops Hearts

Let’s talk about looks, because yes, they matter. You want a guitar that inspires you the second you open the case.

The tobacco sunburst finish on this model is nothing short of stunning. Unlike the three-color sunbursts you see everywhere (pale yellow to red to black), tobacco sunburst goes from a warm, rich amber in the center to a deep, dark espresso brown at the edges. It’s vintage. It’s classy. It looks like something that just came off a 1959 recording session.

The swamp ash body (real wood, not cheap poplar or basswood) shows its grain through the translucent finish. Every guitar is a little unique. You can see the natural lines and swirls. It feels organic. Alive.

Attention to Left-Handed Details

G&L didn’t just flip a template. Look closely:

• Cutaway: The upper horn is sculpted perfectly for left-hand access to the highest frets.
• Controls: The volume knob, tone knob, and the mini-toggle pickup expander are positioned so your picking hand easily reaches them without accidental bumps.
• Jack plate: Angled so your cable doesn’t stick straight into your leg.
• Headstock: The legendary G&L headstock with the “by Leo Fender” signature – correctly oriented for a lefty, not just a reversed decal.

This is a left-handed electric guitar designed by someone who actually understood left-handed ergonomics. You don’t realize how much tension you’ve been carrying from awkward righty conversions until you play something like this.

The Feel – Neck, Frets, and Playability

Pick it up. The first thing you notice is weight. At about 7.5 to 8 pounds, it’s substantial but not a backbreaker. It balances perfectly on a strap – no neck dive.

The maple neck is satin-finished. Not sticky gloss. Your hand glides. The neck shape is G&L’s “Modern Classic” – a comfortable C shape that’s neither a baseball bat nor an anemic toothpick. It fills your palm nicely.

Fretwork? Immaculate. Medium-jumbo nickel frets, perfectly leveled. No sharp edges. The Plek machine at the G&L factory dresses each fret for zero buzz. You can set the action very low – we’re talking shredder low – with no choking out on bends.

The fingerboard radius is 12 inches (vintage Strats are 7.25 inches). That means you can bend notes high up the neck without notes fretting out. For blues, rock, or even metal, this is a dream.

Left-Handed Players – Stop Fighting Your Guitar

When you play a poorly made lefty, you spend half your energy fighting the instrument. String spacing feels off. The nut slots are cut wrong. The tremolo arm is on the “wrong” side of the bridge, so it hits your hand.

The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty eliminates all of that. The nut is cut perfectly for a left-handed string arrangement (low E on top, high E on bottom). The tremolo arm screws into the left side of the bridge block, so it sits naturally under your left hand’s pinky. This is the first time I’ve ever enjoyedusing a vibrato arm.

It feels like the guitar finally listens to you instead of fighting you.

Sound – The G&L Magnetic Field Design (MFD) Pickups

Now, the soul of any guitar is its pickups. Most left-handed guitars under $1,000 come with generic ceramic pickups that sound thin, ice-picky, or muddy.

The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty comes with Leo Fender’s final pickup design: Magnetic Field Design (MFD) single-coils.

What Makes MFD Pickups Different?

Without getting too technical, traditional single-coils use small alnico magnets. MFD pickups use a larger ceramic bar magnet with adjustable steel pole pieces. The result?

• More output: They push an amp harder than vintage Strats. Think Texas blues hot, not weak.
• Better bass response: No flubby low end. Tight and defined.
• Clear highs: But not harsh. The high end is sweet and chimey.
• Noise reduction: They’re quieter than standard single-coils. Still not hum-canceling like a humbucker, but noticeably less 60-cycle hum.

In plain English: These pickups sound like a vintage Stratocaster that went to the gym, got stronger, and learned manners. You get that glassy, bell-like clean tone for funk and surf. But when you add overdrive? They roar without getting muddy.

The Secret Weapon – The Mini-Toggle “Expander” Switch

This is the feature that makes the G&L Tribute S-500 lefty more versatile than any Strat-style guitar.

Standard 5-way switch: Positions 1 (bridge), 2 (bridge+middle), 3 (middle), 4 (middle+neck), 5 (neck).

Now flip the mini-toggle down. Suddenly, position 1 becomes bridge+neck (a telecaster-style quack). Position 2 becomes all three pickups on. Position 3 becomes bridge+middle+neck in parallel. And so on.

You get 12 distinct pickup combinations instead of 5. Want a pseudo-humbucker thick tone? Yes. Want an acoustic-like shimmer? Yes. Want out-of-phase quack? Yes.

For a left-handed player who plays multiple genres – blues, rock, country, pop, even light jazz – this is a godsend. You don’t need a second guitar.

Hardware That Doesn’t Quit

Cheap lefties often come with terrible hardware that rusts, strips, or goes out of tune if you look at it wrong. Not here.

The G&L Saddle-Lock Bridge

This is another Leo Fender innovation. Instead of individual bent-steel saddles (which can shift), the Saddle-Lock bridge uses brass saddles that clamp together when you tighten the two outside screws. The result? Incredible sustain. Like, acoustic-level sustain. Your notes ring forever.

Also, the bridge plate is solid steel. The tremolo block is massive brass (not thin zinc). Dive bombs? Flutters? It returns to tune reliably.

G&L Sealed Tuners

18:1 gear ratio. Smooth. Precise. No wobble. They look vintage but work modern. String changes are easy – just cut the ball end off and feed it through the tuning post (reverse stringing for lefties). Stays in tune even with heavy whammy use.

Pros and Cons – Honest, No Hype

Let’s be completely transparent. Every guitar has trade-offs. Here’s the unvarnished truth about the G&L Tribute S-500 lefty.

Pros (What You’ll Love)

• True left-handed ergonomics: Not a flipped righty. Designed from the ground up for southpaws.
• Leo Fender’s final and best designs: MFD pickups + Saddle-Lock bridge + PTB tone system (bass roll-off as well as treble).
• Tobacco sunburst finish: Genuinely beautiful. Vintage class.
• 12 pickup combinations: Incredible tonal range without mods.
• Excellent build quality: Indonesian-made but with U.S. G&L specifications and final setup in the U.S.
• Stays in tune: Even with heavy tremolo use.
• Plays great out of the box: Low action, no sharp frets.
• Resale value: G&L Tributes hold value better than most import lefties.

Cons (What to Know Before Buying)

• Weight: Some examples are around 8.5 pounds. Not heavy for a Les Paul, but heavier than a vintage Strat. If you have back issues, try before buying or use a wide strap.
• Mini-toggle location: If you’re a very aggressive picker, you might accidentally flip it. I’ve never had it happen, but some players mention it.
• No case included: You’ll need to buy a left-handed electric guitar case separately (standard Strat case works but check internal padding orientation).
• Finish is polyurethane: Not a thin nitro finish. Poly is durable and won’t crack, but vintage purists might miss the nitro feel. (For most players, this is a pro – it’s indestructible.)
• Availability: Left-handed models can sell out. Demand is high.

Who Is This Guitar For? (Use Cases)

You might be wondering: “Is this the right left-handed electric guitar for me?” Let me break it down.

For the Blues Player

You live between clean and overdrive. You need dynamics. Roll the volume knob down for glassy cleans; roll it up for singing lead tones. The MFD pickups respond beautifully to your touch. The 12” radius lets you bend like B.B. King or Albert Collins without fretting out.

For the Rock and Alternative Player

From 60s garage rock to 90s grunge to modern indie. The expanded switching gives you humbucker-like thickness for rhythm parts and single-coil bite for leads. The tremolo is stable enough for aggressive use. Tom Morello-style tricks? Absolutely.

For the Studio Musician

One guitar that covers Strat tones, Telecaster tones (bridge+neck), and unique sounds no other guitar makes. Producers will love the noise-canceling-ish property of MFD pickups. Bring this to a session, and you won’t need a second axe.

For the Beginner Left-Handed Player (Who Wants to Do It Right)

Do not buy a cheap $150 left-handed starter pack guitar. Those instruments fight you, stay out of tune, and kill your motivation. Invest a little more upfront. The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty will actually make you want to practice. It stays in tune. It feels good. It sounds inspiring. That’s how you progress.

For the Veteran Lefty Who Is Tired of Compromise

You’ve owned a MIM Fender lefty. You’ve tried the Squier. You’ve even considered buying a custom build. Stop. This guitar gives you custom-shop thinking at a production price. Leo Fender knew what he was doing. Trust him.

Common Questions and Answers (Left-Handed Edition)

I’ve talked to hundreds of left-handed players over the years. Here are the questions I hear most often about this specific model.

Q1: Is the G&L Tribute S-500 lefty better than a Fender Player Stratocaster left-handed?

A: Yes, and I’ll tell you why without bias. The Fender Player lefty is a good guitar. But the G&L has better pickups (MFD vs. Fender Player’s Alnico 5s – more versatile and quieter). The G&L has the Saddle-Lock bridge (more sustain). The G&L has the PTB tone system (independent bass and treble cut). And the G&L has 12 pickup combinations vs. 5. For roughly the same price (sometimes less), the G&L wins on features and tone. The only reason to choose Fender is if you absolutely must have the headstock logo.

Q2: Is the tobacco sunburst finish available on the lefty model?

A: Yes. That’s the finish we’re discussing here. It’s a G&L standard color for the S-500 lefty. Some retailers also offer vintage white, black, and sonic blue, but the tobacco sunburst is the classic choice. It looks incredible on stage under lights.

Q3: Does it come set up for left-handed playing out of the box?

A: Yes, but “out of the box” setup is always a baseline. G&L sets them up at the factory with 10-gauge strings and standard action. You may want to adjust the truss rod or saddle height for your personal preference (just like any guitar). However, the nut is correctly cut, the bridge is intonated for lefty stringing, and the tremolo springs are balanced. It’s playable immediately.

Q4: Can I put heavier strings on it for drop tunings?

A: Absolutely. The neck is stable. You may need to tighten the tremolo claw springs or add a spring if you go to 11s or 12s. Many left-handed metal players use this guitar with 10-52 strings in drop D or C#. The pickups have enough output to handle lower tunings without getting muddy.

Q5: I see “Tribute” series. Does that mean cheap?

A: No. Tribute means made overseas (Indonesia or Korea) to G&L’s exact specs using U.S.-designed parts. The pickups, bridge, tuners, and electronics are the same as the U.S. G&L models. The difference is the country of assembly and some finishing steps. Many players argue the Tribute series is the best value in all of electric guitars because you get 90% of a 1,500+ U.S. G&L for 600-$800.

Q6: Will this Leo Fender design guitar fit in a standard Stratocaster case?

A: Yes, but with a note. The G&L headstock is slightly larger and offset differently than a Fender Strat. Some molded plastic cases (like SKB) need a little foam adjustment. A universal rectangular hard case or a gig bag works perfectly. For lefties, make sure the interior padding is reversible or universal – some cases are molded for right-handed bodies.

The Problem This Guitar Solves (And Why You Need It)

Let’s step back. Why am I so passionate about this specific instrument?

Because being a left-handed guitarist in a right-handed world is exhausting.

You’ve experienced it. You go to a friend’s house to jam. They say, “Hey, try my new Les Paul!” You can’t. It’s backward. You go to a music store. The one lefty they have is a cheap beginner model with a warped neck. You look online. Most listings don’t even mention left-handed orientation. You order a “left-handed” guitar from a big brand, and it arrives with the strap button on the wrong horn.

It feels like the music industry forgot you exist.

The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty solves that problem by being unapologetically, proudly, professionally left-handed. It says: “You matter. Your playing matters. You deserve a real instrument.”

And that feeling? Of finally, after years, holding a guitar that fits your body, responds to your hands, and sounds incredible? That’s not just gear acquisition syndrome. That’s liberation.

I remember the first time I plugged mine into a Fender Deluxe Reverb. I played an open G chord – just a simple G. And I cried. Not being dramatic. I actually teared up. Because for the first time, I heard the sound I’d been chasing in my head for fifteen years. No mud. No thinness. No fighting.

Just music.

How Does It Compare to Other Left-Handed Electric Guitars Under $1,000?

Let’s do a quick comparison, because you might be shopping around.

• Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster Left-handed: Great budget option. About $450. But pickups are generic, hardware is cheaper, and the neck is narrower. Good for beginners, but you will outgrow it. The G&L is a keeper forever.
• Fender Player Stratocaster Left-handed: About $850. Good, not great. The pickups are anemic compared to MFDs. Tremolo is less stable. No expander switch. You’re paying for the Fender name.
• Yamaha Pacifica 112V Left-handed: About $350. Solid student guitar. But the build quality, sound, and hardware don’t approach the G&L. It’s a starter instrument, not a lifelong companion.
• Harley Benton ST-62 Left-handed: Cheap (150−150−200). And it feels cheap. Heavy, rough frets, weak pickups. Skip it.
• G&L Tribute S-500 lefty (this guitar): ~750−750−850. Professional pickups, pro bridge, pro electronics, pro playability. It competes with $1,200+ guitars. This is the value king.

When you factor in the tobacco sunburst finish (which looks far more expensive than it is) and the Leo Fender heritage, there’s simply no better left-handed electric guitar in this price range. None.

Final Thoughts – Your Hands Deserve This Guitar

I’ve played lefty for over 20 years. I’ve owned cheap knockoffs, mid-range Fenders, even a custom partscaster I assembled myself. The G&L Tribute S-500 lefty is the first guitar that made me stop thinking about the instrument and just play.

The neck becomes invisible. Your hands just go where they need to go. The sounds in your head come out of the amp. The tobacco sunburst finish makes you want to pick it up every time you walk past it.

If you are tired of compromise. Tired of fighting your gear. Tired of feeling like the music world built everything for right-handed people and left you an afterthought – stop that cycle today.

Leo Fender was a left-handed player himself, by the way. He knew. He understood. And this S-500 is his gift to us.

What You Need to Do Right Now

Look, guitars like this don’t stay in stock forever. Left-handed models especially. G&L produces them in batches. When a retailer gets a shipment of G&L Tribute S-500 lefty in tobacco sunburst, they sell out within weeks – sometimes days.

Don’t wait. Don’t tell yourself “next month” or “after I practice more.” You’ve waited long enough. You deserve a real instrument today.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• A genuine Leo Fender design guitar with MFD pickups and Saddle-Lock bridge
• A stunning tobacco sunburst finish on swamp ash
• True left-handed ergonomics – no compromises
• 12 pickup sounds in one guitar
• Pro-level build quality that will last your entire playing life
• The respect and recognition that you, as a left-handed musician, matter

Call to Action (Affiliate Link Below)

Ready to stop fighting and start playing?

Click the link below. Order your G&L Tribute S-500 left-handed electric guitar in Tobacco Sunburst today. Add a comfortable strap (I recommend 3 inches wide for the weight) and a cable. When it arrives, clear your schedule. You’re not going to want to put it down for hours.

I promise you: the moment you plug this in and strum that first chord, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this years ago.

[Click Here to Check Price and Availability on Amazon – Left-Handed Model in Tobacco Sunburst]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click the link above and buy this guitar, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally played and genuinely believe will improve your life as a musician.