Gordon Smith Guitars
 | |
| Industry | Musical instrument |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974 in Partington, Greater Manchester |
| Founder | Gordon Whitham and John Smith |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Electric guitars |
| Parent | Auden Guitars |
| Website | gordonsmithguitars.com |
Gordon Smith Guitars is a manufacturer of hand-crafted electric guitars. They are the UK's longest-established electric guitar manufacturer[1] and have been called the English equivalent to Gibson on that basis.[2]
History
The company was founded in 1974 and is named after its founders, Gordon Whitham and John Smith. In April 2015 Gordon Smith Guitars was acquired by British-based Auden Guitars and production moved from Partington near Manchester, England to Audens Guitars' workshop in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.[3][4]
The company aims to produce quality guitars for working musicians and say that they make "guitars, not furniture".[5]
Gordon Smith Guitars are among the highest-rated manufacturers for use of sustainable woods in guitar construction, according to the Ethical Consumer.[6]
Range
The Gordon Smith range includes original designs, such as the Galaxy, as well as S-style, T-style and LP-style models[7]. All models currently use a brass nut.
The company offers many options for customising guitars, including a choice of hardware and finishes, single- or double-cutaway and left- or right-handed guitars. Twelve-string and double-necked versions of the range are also available.
Gordon Smith produce their own pickups in-house.[8][9]
Their humbucker pickups are coil-tapped as standard to give players access to a broader palette of sounds.
Players
The company does not offer any celebrity endorsements. Guitarists known to have used Gordon Smith guitars include:
- Mick Abrahams of Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig[10]
- Aaron Barrett of Reel Big Fish and The Forces of Evil
- Billy Bragg
- Nicky Garratt of U.K. Subs[11]
- Dee Dee Ramone of Ramones
- Kloot Per W of Polyphonic Size and De Lama's
- Pete Shelley of The Buzzcocks
- John Squire of The Stone Roses
- Midge Ure of Thin Lizzy and Ultravox
- James McCreedy of Motion Pictures/Dark Tower/The Biggest Thrill
- Members of The Futureheads
- Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters
- Larry Hibbitt of Hundred Reasons
- Adam Pearson and Mike Varjak of The Sisters Of Mercy[12]
- Frankie Stubbs and Dickie Hammond of Leatherface
- Members of Snuff
- James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers[13]
- Dave Wolfenden of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
- Paul Kostabi of Psychotica
- Bill McQueen of China Drum
- William McGonagle of Hell Is For Heroes
- JW of Hookworms
- John Otway
- Phillip Foxley
References
- ^ Burrluck, Dave (1 November 2011). "Gordon-Smith GS2 60 Review". Guitarist Magazine. Future Publishing. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ Erlewine, Dan (Winter 2000). "Luthiers of England, Part U". GuitarMaker Magazine (40). The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans.
- ^ "Gordon Smith / Auden Guitars Update". Gordon-Smith Guitars. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ Troake, Rhys (6 May 2015). "Auden acquires Gordon Smith Guitars". MI Pro. NewBay Media. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ "About Us". Gordon-Smith Guitars. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Free buyer's guide to electric guitars". Ethical Consumer. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Electric Guitars". Gordon Smith Guitars. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- ^ "FAQ". Gordon-Smith Guitars. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "The Truth About Gordon-Smith Guitar Pickups". Richards Guitars. 15 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Mick's Gear". Squirrel Music. Blodwyn Pig. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ Garratt, Nicky (23 August 2010). "Nicky Garratt's Guitar Notes!". U.K. Subs. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Guitars". The Sisters of Mercy. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ Manic Street Preachers - Motown Junk. Retrieved 27 February 2015.