Why I Love Gordon Smith Guitars

Gordon Smith guitars are hand made in Northampton. I have been raising awareness of these guitars for 22 years but their recent "re-birth" was hugely significant with a massive increase in quality whilst retaining the charm and immense value of the originals.

Why buy a mass produced, Far Eastern made guitar of any brand when you can buy a Taylor made guitar made here in England for under £1000?

[blackheart-originalguitar]

Greetings from brazil, i´m from a small guitar builder from são paulo brazil, and i can tell i´m very happy about local luthier´s just like us, focusing in what we call "middle market price", between imports "third asian builders" and the heavily brand costs like big g and big f. Your review and way you leads the guitar´s presentation its very clear. thanks sir! - blackheart original guitar

[secularscot]

I really appreciate the intimacy and objectivity of your videos, Richard. Do keep up the good work!

[wodenoftheangles]

Well said sir. About time we all started supporting British companies in general more. I walked in to my local guitar shop yesterday for the first time in ages and a guitar caught my eye - it was a Gordon Smith. Hadn't been on my radar before..

[bjl]

Thats a great video Richard and I agree on almost every point you made, particularly with Quality control . I met GORDON Whittam and John SMITH in 1974 when I was Sir Cliffs lead guitarist . They invited me to their `then` factory which was Johns Dads Garage ! They lent me the very first guitar they made ( A Mahogany body LP ) which they fitted with 2 GS Mini H/Buckers . It was love at first play . NOTE .... not at first sight . There were lots of issues for me with the way the pickups were adjusted, the neck rake was way too steep so the bridge was very high . But the Sound and the feel was fantastic . I ordered one but Totally to my spec. It was a Double Cutaway Les paul deluxe that John and I designed between us . 2 GSG Mini h/buckers, A Guild roller bridge, a Bigsby B Bender, Pull up Coil taps on the vol controls . Features that Yamaha, Ibanez etc weren`t doing until 75/76 ! Its serial no 0001 and still in my possession . I loved it so much, I ordered a matching 12 string which again I still own . ( No Ser. no. ) . I`m SO glad the brand is thriving under its new stewardship . I hope it will go from strength to strength with an owner who doesn`t have ` THAT`LL DO ` mindset, but cares about the guitars which bear the name `GORDON SMITH `.

[ricardobarron]

Beautiful guitar. Thanks for sharing your passion for them.

[andrewhendrix]

Excellent sir. I too am a big Gordon Smith guitars fan. I have a lefty SG and a P90 Les Paul. Damned fine instruments & great value for money especially as they charge no extra for left handed versions. The coil tapped pickups are superb giving you a great array of tones. Hooray for GSG!!!

[SNORKYMEDIA]

Had a tobacco GS1 in the 80's, always regretted selling it. much later I went to their little garage/factory in Manchester before it got sold and moved and John built me a replica of the original but with a single coil at the front making it a GS1.5 - FABULOUS GUITARS

[tonyiommi]

So many great luthiers are still unknown. Long times, people prefered brand names. There is a "Law Suit Guitars" issue too. But thanks to internet, forums etc, people learning about great luthiers and smaller but great working brands, law suit guitars more and more.

Thanks the amazing video!

[johngerson]

I just found this by chance. Bear with me for a moment. I've been bitching (to anybody who'd listen) for literally _decades_ that nobody builds a "flat-top, full fret access, full thickness, Melody Maker/Double-Cut LP style guitar", and this beautiful hand-made guitar by Gordon Smith has been in existence nearly the _whole time?_ And for all those years I've never seen one in the hands of _any_ of the _hundreds_ of guitar players I've watched over the years? (except "Noddy" of Slade, and I never could tell or find out what the instrument was 'til now) The irony is just staggering. Thanks Richard, and btw, whatever new deal has transpired with the fellow and his wife who originated and built these re the new manufacturer, I sure hope that he and she got paid handsomely for their decades of work and devotion to their product. _Will surely own one of these, and that soon!_

[markcooper]

One of my biggest guitar regrets was selling both Gordon Smith guitars that they made for me when I worked at Machinehead Music in the 90s. Black flame LP junior style to my spec and a black Graf with a maple reverse strat neck. Still keep a notification on eBay in the hope they are out there somewhere!

[garydean]

That's very interesting. I have noticed the drop in quality of some name brands & yet the prices continue to rise. As a teacher my advice is often sought so I shall refer folks to this video.

[Juliang]

I bought one this week that I ordered a little while back. Super happy with it and the prices are amazing for a custom built, British guitar. Good job Richard!!!! Buy British!!! and these guys are fantastic

[rsaragosa]

I loved the video very well done. Guitar looks great would have liked to hear more sounds from the guitar. Thanks for your honesty that is refreshing.

[ColinWard]

I own a Gypsy Semi Solid with 2 tapped Humbuckers (sunburst) that I bought new in 1986 from Allbang and Strummit in Soho London it is a wonderful easy to play great sounding great looking instrument and I will be keeping her... Gordon Smith make superb Guitars.

[anthonyroach]

Lovely great working mans /girls guitars .. Pure rock n Roll plug in and play .. Was privileged to visit the Gordon Smith factory .. on many occasion .. John .Lynda .. Chris ... they were so lovely to chat to over a cup of Tea .. Dust ..Wood and guitars hanging up in the making ..

[hammondsphoto]

As a kid I vaguely remembered GS guitars after learning they were UK made and seem to recall the basic 'GS1' model with the plain-looking woods and single pickup were really cheap for a Western-built instrument. But at the time I didn't get plain, simple one-pickup guitars so thought no more about it until I realised that some favourite punk bands were GS users, notably Leatherface.

Some time ago I happened upon a good condition GS2 in burgundy in a local used shop for a 'could sell it on for an instant profit' low price. It was a quirky little thing nothing like my favourite guitar types. Low wide frets. Brass nut, slim wide neck almost like some shred guitar, meat and potatoes slab of wood looks.

But after a set up I couldn't really put it down. It was so small and light it felt like some little flying V type thing. Effortless to play. All the coil taps and responsive pots meant I could at least approximate my other guitars' tones. So I took it gigging in a doom band and my punk band. Such a joy! Raucous, almost out of control sound when cranked with the original pickups, like a mix of SG and Les Paul Jr turned up to 11. It also got more comments from gig nerds and curious people, 'Hey, that's a nice Gordon Smith!' or 'What guitar is that?'

Even after a stint on my Strats (my longtime favourite guitar type) I keep going back to the GS2. I'd quite like a single pup GS1 too, perhaps even a p90 one so the ultimate in purity.

[raymondvaughan]

My mate had gs2 years and years ago played great gordon Smith makes some brilliant guitars for the money sold it before I could get my hands on it and ive had some big brand named guitars over the years nothing comes close to my blade rh2 for playability but still brilliant great review Richard keep them coming love to get to your shop one day be great to have a look round my mates mom lives right by it

[happiechappie]

I feel lucky to have been bought an original sunburst Graf for my 21st birthday back in 1997. Still my favourite guitar to play and i've tried quite a few over the years.

[psychoprosthetic]

Nice to hear what you say on this. I haven't played many GS guitars, the one or two I tried felt very lacklustre and I didn't look again, so I may have another look.

But your point about there being so many great British makers is true. Almost the best advice to a buyer, if you have the time, is to hunt around for a no-name handmade job second hand. They never achieve what they're worth on resale and often superb. But they're hard to find, probably because their first buyer loves them to much to sell.

[nickburmanmusic]

That really is a stunner! I love that binding too, with the grain in it (is that grain, around 5:30 ?) It's not often you see an LP-ish sort of style guitar with a maple neck. Nice!!