Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Chris
Table of Contents
Does Reverend Make Left Handed Guitars?
Yes, they do! At the time of writing, four left handed Reverend guitars are available. Unfortunately, however, there are no lefty Reverend basses currently.
Go straight to the left handed Reverend guitars here.
July Update: Reverend have added two new lefty models! The Sensei RA and the Airwave 12-String. Check them out below.
Who Are Reverend Guitars?
Reverend Guitars was founded in 1997 by Detroit native Joe Naylor, a seasoned guitar and amp technician, and luthier. His knowledge gained from years of study in Industrial Design, Lutherie School, and vintage guitar repair, he create the first Reverend guitars.
These original Reverend models were inspired by semi-hollow Silvertone and Gibson guitar models with their bodies made from non-traditional materials.
Reverend quickly gained recognition for its distinctive features, including one standout innovation; the Bass Contour control, offering players a versatile tool to shape a wide range of sounds, for example allowing single coils to take on a thicker, humbucker-style sound, and vice versa.
As the company grew, Reverend expanded its product lineup, meticulously designing and crafting a diverse range of guitar models.
By 2006, Reverend discontinued production in the USA, and started production in South Korea. Their instruments are made in Korea, but then inspected and set up in the USA.
In 2010, the company was bought by Ken and Penny Haas; Joe Naylor stayed on as a designer and technical advisor. Reverend Guitars soon expanded to more than fifty guitar models and more than ten bass models, and a few years later in 2015, the company moved to Sylvania Township, Ohio.
Reverend Guitars is now based in Toledo, Ohio.
Well-known musicians who have played Reverend instruments include Billy Corgan & Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins), Chris Robertson (Black Stone Cherry), Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), and Stacey Dee, Jennie Cotterill, & Linh Li (Bad Cop/Bad Cop).
Well-known left handed musicians who’ve played Reverend include Elliot Easton (The Cars).
What Do I Think of Reverend Guitars?
Reverend Guitars has built a strong reputation for its innovative designs, high-quality craftsmanship, and commitment to tone and playability.
The Bass Contour control is a unique feature that sets Reverend guitars apart from its competition.
It’s a versatile tone-shaping tool that allows adjustment to the low-end response, enabling you to produce tones to cut through a mix or emphasize the clarity of individual notes, as well as the ability to create warm, thick sounds, perfect for genres that require a deep and resonant bass presence.
You can roll off the bass to make a humbucker sound like a single-coil, or make your P-90 twang!
I think it’s great that they offer these high-quality and tonally versatile guitars at a relatively affordable price.
Different Types of Reverend Guitars
Reverend guitars are split into three main series, depending on the neck joint, or if it’s a signature guitar. It’s pretty self-explanatory.
- Bolt-On Series
- Set-Neck Series
- Signature Series
Throughout the range of Reverend guitars, there are several body shapes:
- Airsonic
- Charger
- Contender
- Jetstream
- Pete Anderson / Rick Vito
- Sensei
- Eastsider / T-Style
Left Handed Reverend Guitars
Which of these body shapes are available to lefty guitarists? Find out below…
Reverend Sensei RA Lefty
Based on the popular Sensei, the Sensei RA is aimed squarely at the rock and metal player.
It features Railhammer Chisel pickups and is built to play faster and sound aggressive. The Sensei RA blends classic style with modern features, making it perfect for today’s heavy music.
$1,499.00 MSRP, Made in South Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 24.75″ (629 mm)
- BODY: Korina
- BODY FINISH: Periwinkle Burst, gloss
- NECK: Set neck 3-Piece Korina with headstock access dual action truss rod
- NECK PROFILE: Medium Oval
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with block inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 43mm (1.69″)
- NUT TYPE: Boneite
- FRETS: 22
- TUNERS: Reverend Pin-Lock
- BRIDGE: TOM with Stop Tail
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Railhammer Chisel
- NECK PICKUP: Railhammer Chisel
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, Bass contour, 3-way pickup selector
Check price/availability at:
Reverend Airwave 12-String Lefty
The sweet-sounding Airwave 12-String features a Gotoh bridge where intonation for each of the 12 strings can be independently adjusted, so chords are always in tune.
$1,619.00 MSRP, Made in South Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 12
- SCALE: 24.75″ (629 mm)
- BODY: Semi-Hollow Korina
- TOP: Solid Spruce Top
- BODY FINISH: Midnight Black
- NECK: Set neck 5-Piece Korina/Walnut with headstock access dual action truss rod
- NECK PROFILE: Medium Oval
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with block inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 44.5 mm (1.74″)
- NUT TYPE: Boneite
- FRETS: 22
- TUNERS: Reverend Pin-Lock
- BRIDGE: GOTOH Independent Intonation Bridge
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Reverend 9A5
- NECK PICKUP: Reverend 9A5
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, Bass contour, 3-way pickup selector
Check price/availability at:
Reverend Double Agent OG Lefty
Here’s the Double Agent OG (Original Guitar)! This single cutaway guitar has a Humbucker at the bridge and a P90 at the neck, and features a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tail.
$1,259.00 MSRP, Made in South Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- BODY: Korina
- BODY FINISH: Metallic Silver Freeze
- NECK: Bolt-on Roasted Maple with 6-bolt neck plate
- NECK PROFILE: Medium Oval
- FINGERBOARD: Roasted Maple with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 43mm (1.69″)
- NUT TYPE: Boneite
- FRETS: 22
- TUNERS: Reverend Pin-Lock
- BRIDGE: TOM with Stop Tail
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Reverend HA5
- NECK PICKUP: Reverend 9A5
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, Bass contour, 3-way pickup selector
Check price/availability at:
Reverend Double Agent W Lefty
Check out the Double Agent W! This guitar has a humbucker fitted at the bridge and a P-90 at the neck, and for fans of vibrato, it also has a Wilkinson WVS50 IIK Tremolo.
$1,379.00 MSRP, Made in South Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- BODY: Korina
- BODY FINISH: Outfield Ivy
- NECK: Bolt-on Roasted Maple with 6-bolt neck plate
- NECK PROFILE: Medium Oval
- FINGERBOARD: Roasted Maple with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 43mm (1.69″)
- NUT TYPE: Boneite
- FRETS: 22
- TUNERS: Reverend Pin-Lock
- BRIDGE: Wilkinson WVS50 IIK Tremolo
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Reverend HA5
- NECK PICKUP: Reverend 9A5
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, Bass contour, 3-way pickup selector
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Reverend Bass Guitars
Sadly, there are no left-handed Reverend bass guitars at the time of writing. Let’s hope there will be some available in the near future.
Final Thoughts
At the time of writing, four left-handed Reverend guitars are available, two of which (Double Agent W & OG) are similarly specified guitars with the main difference being a fixed bridge versus a tremolo bridge. The body shapes are also a little different.
With two more recently announced (July 2023) lefty models, we get a new solid-body, and even a 12-string! There aren’t many guitar companies that make lefty 12-strings! Danelectro comes to mind though.
It’d still be nice to have a more lefty models available, such as the Billy Corgan signatures, and it’s a shame there are no left handed Reverend bass guitars at the moment.
As with most other guitar companies, we can only hope that there’ll be more available in the future. The recent two models are a fantastic start though!
What are your thoughts on Reverend guitars? Let us know in the comments below.
Image credits: reverendguitars.com, Official Reverend Guitars Facebook page
Ken Haas said that the signature models are built for the artist. To their specs, for them to he able to grab it and jump on stage with it. So unfortunately for now, no lefty versions of signature models. Unless they have a lefty artist.
Who are the top lefty artists?
Yeah, unfortunately none of the signature models are available lefty. We can only hope that in the future Reverend will have a change of heart.
As for top lefty artists, it’s very subjective.
As for Reverend artists, there are a few lefties, as detailed on Reverend’s website. Eliot Easton is probably the most high profile, although he plays all kinds of guitars from many different manufacturers.
There’s maybe Paul Cuddeford, who’s played guitar with the likes of David Bowie, Tom Jones, Bob Geldof, Robin Gibb, Cat Stevens and Paul Young, among others.
Other Reverend guitar/bass players include: Paul Connolly, Justin Laubscher, Ian Vargo and Gauthier Ivain.
We’d maybe have to wait for some high profile guitarist or bassist to switch to Reverend if we want signature models. Who knows what might happen though? You never know!