Quick answer: The best left handed guitar for most beginners is the Yamaha FG820L, an affordable, solid-top acoustic that’s easy to find in lefty form. For electric, the Squier Sonic Stratocaster LH is the budget pick and the Epiphone Les Paul Special Left-Handed is the step up. The Taylor GS Mini LH is the premium compact choice.
About one in ten people are left-handed, yet lefty guitars can still be hard to find in stores. Flipping a right-handed guitar upside down can work, but the nut, bridge, controls and cutaway end up in the wrong places. A true left-handed guitar fixes all of that.
Here are six genuine left-handed models currently sold on Amazon, covering acoustic and electric guitars at different budgets.
New to this? Start with our guide on how to buy a guitar.
Related: 11 simple ways to know if a guitar is good and best wide neck guitars. Our guide to the best guitar brands covers the basics in one place.
New to this? You may also like my guides to best acoustic guitars and best electric guitars.
Our top picks at a glance
| Product | Best for | Key features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha FG820L Left-Handed | Beginner lefty acoustic | Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, dreadnought | Check current price |
| Squier Sonic Stratocaster Left-Handed | Budget lefty electric | Thin, light body, slim C neck, three single-coils | Check current price |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special Left-Handed (TV Yellow) | Lefty rock and raw tones | Mahogany body and neck, two P-90 PRO pickups, ’60s SlimTaper neck | Check current price |
| Epiphone ES-335 Left-Handed | Lefty worship and jazz | Semi-hollow body, Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers | Check current price |
| Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Left-Handed | Premium compact lefty acoustic | Solid mahogany top, compact body, gig bag | Check current price |
| Martin LX1E Little Martin Left-Handed | Lefty travel guitar with pickup | Compact body, solid spruce top, Fishman electronics | Check current price |
Best Left Handed Guitars: reviews
1. Yamaha FG820L Left-Handed — best for beginner lefty acoustic
Key features: Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, dreadnought
Yamaha’s FG series is one of the most recommended beginner acoustics, and the FG820L is the left-handed version. It has a solid spruce top and a warm, full dreadnought sound that’s great for strumming chords and singing.
Yamaha’s consistent build quality means it usually plays well out of the box, and it’s affordable enough to be a first guitar that you won’t outgrow quickly. It’s the safest left-handed acoustic to start with.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Solid top
- Reliable Yamaha quality
Cons:
- No electronics
- Dreadnought may feel big for small players
2. Squier Sonic Stratocaster Left-Handed — best for budget lefty electric
Key features: Thin, light body, slim C neck, three single-coils
The Squier Sonic Strat LH gives lefties a genuine Stratocaster shape at a beginner price. It’s light, has a slim neck, and covers clean, blues and rock tones with three single-coil pickups.
Leftover budget can go toward an amp, which you’ll need for any electric.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Comfortable and light
- Classic Strat versatility
Cons:
- Basic hardware
- Benefits from a setup
3. Epiphone Les Paul Special Left-Handed (TV Yellow) — best for lefty rock and raw tones
Key features: Mahogany body and neck, two P-90 PRO pickups, ’60s SlimTaper neck
The Les Paul Special is Epiphone’s simpler, lighter take on the Les Paul, and it’s sold in true left-handed form. It has a flat-top mahogany body, a mahogany ’60s SlimTaper neck and a classic TV Yellow finish.
Instead of humbuckers it uses two P-90 PRO single-coil pickups, which sound punchy and gritty for rock, punk and blues, and still clean up nicely for worship. It’s a fun, no-frills lefty electric that costs less than a Les Paul Standard.
Pros:
- Real left-handed build
- Punchy P-90 tone
- Lighter and simpler than a Les Paul Standard
Cons:
- P-90s can hum more than humbuckers
- Fewer features than pricier Les Pauls
- Gig bag not included
4. Epiphone ES-335 Left-Handed — best for lefty worship and jazz
Key features: Semi-hollow body, Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers
The ES-335 is a semi-hollow electric with a warm, airy voice that’s loved in blues, jazz and worship. Epiphone’s left-handed version gives lefties access to this classic design.
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