Converting a Violin for a Left-Handed Player

This summer I converted one of my fiddles for a left-handed player. The project was a lot of fun, and so was trying to play the left-handed violin upside down.

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The first step is removing the top. This is how the inside of a violin usually looks with the bass bar running the length of the top on the same side as the bass-side strings run on a right-handed violin. Converting a violin to be played left-handed requires that a new bass bar is installed on the opposite side, the tuning pegs are bushed and re-drilled to make room for the players hand at the nut, the fingerboard will be adjusted, and a new bridge and soundpost are fit to the now left-handed instrument.