Author Topic: Gordon Smith Guitars (Read 6927 times)

badgermark · « **on:** January 08, 2008, 04:42:51 PM »

I've been seduced by the GS guitars. Namely the [urlhttp://www.gordonsmithguitars.co.uk/gs_series.htm]GS 1.60, [/url]the first one. Natural finish and one humbucker? Yes please. AND! They make them with a 25.5" neck. Sweet. Is screaming out for a Holydiver though, my new favourite humbucker.

Anyone had any experience with them? I know a few people have them on here, Caffeine Junky and his MQ loaded GS1.60 is very tasty, and I think I saw a GS SG around. Anyone ordered directly from them? I imagine with my neck problem it will have to be built properly, not an off the shelf model. Still a good price for a hand built instrument though. About time too, my LP needs retired and I'm still not happy with my buzzing Strat.

Anecdotes welcome.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2008, 05:23:48 PM »

I own a single pickup SG and used to own a doublecut single pickup GS. The GS in particular was excellent, my SG is "good".

Very nice guitars, especially for the money. Trouble is the build quality can be shocking - worse than the worst Chinese Epiphone :roll:

I personally wouldn't gamble on ordering a custom build as you can't try it before buying. A mate of mine specially ordered a GS Deluxe and didn't realise immediately that the sides of the neck aren't parallel......

badgermark · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2008, 05:45:20 PM »

Balls! I'm glad I started this thread then. It was either GS or a Warmoth build. Hmmm. Thanks for that.

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2008, 05:52:49 PM »

the ones i've tried have been nice. but twinfan doubtless has more experience with them than i have. :)

EDIT: i should add, i was half-considering ordering one of the cheap one-pickup ones from some online dealers, as they had good deals on in the sales... most of those are gone now unfortunately, but what twin/dave is saying is kinda scary. problem is, there are no dealers at all here in ireland, as far as I'm aware. though i guess the advantage is that if i did get one of the dodgy ones, distance-selling regulations would be on my side...

sgmypod · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:02:45 PM »

Graduate slimline I own is great has one of the best necks on any of the guitars I own....would ask them to fit Bareknuckles if your having one built...also look under accessories they sometimes have bargains....

Brow · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:06:33 PM »

I custom ordered a GSG Graduate 60 with a few 'custom options' (TOM bridge, I specified the pickups, matched headstock colour, picked the colour etc) and have no complaints about it.

Also, they tend to only route the pickup cavities to fit the pickups they fit at time of building. If you change pickups later on (as I did), you may have to route a little to get the new pickups to fit.

The neck is slightly slimmer than I usually like, but apart from that, it's a nice playing and sounding guitar

sgmypod · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:07:52 PM »

yeah had the pickup cavity problem when I changed my pickups...but not too much hassle to sort

gwEm · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:15:00 PM »

had the same pickup cavity problem ;)

agree with twinfan - build quality can be shocking! i've seem some properly, what i would actually call bad woodworking on some gordon smiths. on the other hand, they do make some great guitars, no doubt.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:40:53 PM »

avoid!!!

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2008, 06:54:32 PM »

Thats disappointing :( I was going to get a Gordon Smith 1 pickup SG but I dont think I want one any more.

Philly Q · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2008, 07:06:11 PM »

I agree with most of the comments really - they're decent meat & potatoes, workmanlike guitars. Built to do the job, but not much attention to fine detail. Tools, not works of art. They're very much handmade - so no two scratchplates are ever quite the same, and the pickups look like some sort of science project (although they sound good).

Having said all that, I've only owned bog-standard models like the GS-1 and GS-2, not any of the more upmarket models.

The thing I could never quite understand was that they were always described as great value for money. Maybe compared with the RRP of big-name makes, but you hardly ever see GS guitars heavily discounted like Gibsons, Fenders or other brands.

I don't think they're as good value as Japanese guitars. OK, one's handmade and one's mass-produced. One's buying British, supporting small local businesses etc., and the other... isn't. But for what you end up holding in your hands, I think GSs are actually quite pricey.

gwEm · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2008, 07:51:00 PM »

I think Philly's summed it up really well, I agree with his post 100%.

I have a GS Flying V, its a great gigging guitar... solid, even if the neck joint looks a bit hacked in. I won't be selling it.

Think the general message is : try one first.

opprobrium_9 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2008, 08:00:25 PM »

those scratchplates are damn ugly

Scotty477 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2008, 08:03:54 PM »

I've tried exactly 2 GS's.

One was pretty good and one wasn't.

For that kind of cash there are a lot of other options that would be a safer bet - and possibly better in all respects.

I'm thinking 80's Yamaha SG or even the new Vintage AV series that was discussed on another thread.

PhilKing · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2008, 08:48:23 PM »

I have a GS semi (Gypsy 2), and it is a decent guitar. The neck is very like the 60's Gibson necks in shape. I changed the pickups and bridge, but that is my own preference. I guess the bad point is that it is not a guitar I play a lot, because there isn't much neck angle on it, which makes it less comfy for the stouter player (or stout drinking player :roll:)