Gordon Smith guitars

[richard]

Don't seem to hear much about GS these days. I nearly bought one a few years back and can't remember why I decided against it. Anyone have one or used to have one ?

http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/products/category.php?id=1

[Philly Q]

I've owned a couple, and still have one somewhere under the bed.... I'm going to be lazy and copy what I said on another recent thread:

My impression is that with Gordon-Smith it's pretty much a case of order, wait and hope you get a good 'un.  There don't seem to be many in shops, except second-hand.  I haven't owned or played that many, but I've always thought they're either a bit over-rated or a bit over-priced. 

The big selling point has always been that they're simple, workmanlike guitars at a reasonable price, but they're not really that cheap (IMO) when you consider it's a UK brand so there are none of the usual import costs.  OK, on one hand they're very cheap for a handmade guitar, but quality-wise they're light years away from some of the custom guitars we've all seen on this forum. 

I don't think a £450 Gordon-Smith GS-1 is significantly better than a new £450 Gibson Melody Maker, to be honest, but the Gibson gets slagged off for shoddy workmanship whereas the Gordon-Smith is seen as having some kind of rustic charm.

(To be fair I haven't tried any recently, but they don't look any different)

[Brow]

I have a Graduate 60 that I custom ordered about 5 or 6 (possibly longer) years ago.

Anything in particular you want to know?  :)

[dave_mc]

I've really liked the ones i've tried, but i've also heard enough QC concerns from people I trust that I'd want to try the one I was thinking of buying.

I'm not sure if I'm repeating myself (like philly) or not... I know a thread came up about them recently but I can't remember if i posted or just thought that and didn't bother. :lol: I believe I've posted something similar in the past, though.

[Philly Q]

One thing I do remember - even though the GS pickups look like they were built in someone's kitchen, they sounded much better than the DiMarzios I replaced them with.

That's partly due to clueless decisions on my part (many years ago!), but they obviously do know what they're doing.

However..... I don't want to sound like I'm totally anti Gordon-Smith, but even though I like simple, straightforward guitars there's a lack of finesse about GS instruments which I've always found..... frustrating?  Depressing?  I can't think of the right word.

Take something like their SG models.  Basic, no bling, does what it says on the tin... OK, fine.  But then look what (say) Feline or PR Guitars do with the same concept.  There's so much more precision and craftsmanship involved, there's almost no comparison.  Yes, of course a GS comes at a much lower price, and as they say on their site "we like to make guitars not furniture, our products are like the Zippo lighter, there’s nothing to go wrong, so they don't".  I just get the feeling that they see themselves as tool-makers, no one there actually loves guitars.  And maybe that's fine, but it's not really for me. 

[Sancho]

I've played a couple of Gordon Smiths (but I have to add it was 15 years ago) and my experiences match Philly Q's : they look and feel cobbled together. The hardware and nut in particular struck me as being very low budget. Not a brand I'd ever consider myself.

[gwEm]

I have a Gordon Smith V.

It does feel a little rustic/cobbled together. There are some features I do like though and it sounds pretty good. In the £450 range, I would consider them an option but I certainly would want to try the guitar I was buying in the flesh.

One shop on Denmark Street stocks them. I believe Music Ground, but can't recall exactly.

[dave_mc]

However..... I don't want to sound like I'm totally anti Gordon-Smith, but even though I like simple, straightforward guitars there's a lack of finesse about GS instruments which I've always found..... frustrating?  Depressing?  I can't think of the right word.

I know what you mean and I can't think of the right word either :lol: This is way too strong, admittedly, but almost like "contempt for the customer's finer feelings", or something like that? Like almost if you walked into a cafe and they flung you a plate of food with no thought towards its presentation.

There's definitely a fine line between "stripped down and ready to rock" and "cobbled together", though. And the opposite, one person's high-end guitar with high-end cosmetic appointments is another's "way too ostentatious"... it is pretty subjective. I'm never sure which way i go on that... on the one hand i can see the appeal of something that looks nondescript but which kicks ass, on the other i like pretty guitars too :lol:

[Brow]

If you'd ever seen the Gordon Smith workshop you'd understand why they come across as 'Rustic and cobbled together'  :lol:

Alot of the equipment he uses to make the guitars is largely hand made. From what I remember he had a device fashioned out of a toilet seat (it looked like it anyway!) that he used to press the carved cap down on the Graduate/LP style models. He did an interview with a magazine a while ago where he spoke about his home made building equipment; I'll try and find it if I can as it was quite a good read.

John does all the guitar building and finishing, a guy called Chris (when I went) was doing the electronics and pickups and Johns wife did the accounts and email correspondence.

[Lucifuge]

I've played a couple in shops, never owned one.

I thought they played well and sounded good (as far as I could tell from plugging into unfamiliar amplification.)

The wood part of the guitars felt well put together, but the hardware, especially the bridges seemed as though they were a bit flimsy and made from low quality metal.

I think if you're ordering one you can get them made with other brands of hardware, eg Gotoh, Tonepros etc, but that obviously would add to the cost.

I wasn't impressed by some of their burst finishes - though the actual quality of the finish was fine, the bursts themselves don't seem to be done that well, with too abrupt a transition between colours rather than a gradual blending.

Still I've always rather liked the look of the Gypsy semi-solid models and have often thought about ordering one.

[Philly Q]

However..... I don't want to sound like I'm totally anti Gordon-Smith, but even though I like simple, straightforward guitars there's a lack of finesse about GS instruments which I've always found..... frustrating?  Depressing?  I can't think of the right word.

I know what you mean and I can't think of the right word either :lol: This is way too strong, admittedly, but almost like "contempt for the customer's finer feelings", or something like that? Like almost if you walked into a cafe and they flung you a plate of food with no thought towards its presentation.

Yeah, that's about it!

I remember reading articles describing the workshop and the W. Heath Robinson equipment they use, like Brow mentioned.  John Smith always seems to come across as a bit surly and not particularly interested in what customers want.  For example they asked about neck shapes and he said they vary a bit because of the nature of the machinery, but they flat out wouldn't offer a choice of neck shapes, despite building on such a small scale.

[sgmypod]

had a graduate slimline I liked sound, finish was a bit thin. balance very arse heavy . have played a few bit hit and miss

[d1dsj]

I agree that the fit and finish could be better, and as already said the hardware is not the best. However I have always been a big fan of the Gibson SG and in all the years I've been playing I've never found MY SG until I got a cheap used GS. Looks rough as a bears arse, the fret board looks like it was never sanded, the hardware wouldn't look out of place on a starter kit guitar and those mini pots are just strange! The good things are that it's made from good tone woods, 1 piece body, set neck, the board is about 6mm thick and is very dark rosewood of some description. I changed the stock pick ups and gave it a quick tune up and I'm not joking when I say this is a fantastic guitar. It balances perfectly (I have noticed this guitar is about 30mm shorter than a Gibbo from headstock to end of body) and sounds absolutely awesome.... out of all my guitars it is easily my favourite sounding and it plays extremely well. I'm that impressed I'm going to get it a pro make over in the spring to give it the looks it deserves!

[dave_mc]

If you'd ever seen the Gordon Smith workshop you'd understand why they come across as 'Rustic and cobbled together'  :lol:

Alot of the equipment he uses to make the guitars is largely hand made. From what I remember he had a device fashioned out of a toilet seat (it looked like it anyway!) that he used to press the carved cap down on the Graduate/LP style models. He did an interview with a magazine a while ago where he spoke about his home made building equipment; I'll try and find it if I can as it was quite a good read.

LOL

I think i remember that article too. No clue when or where it was, though, and i have way too many old guitar mags to start searching :lol:

Yeah, that's about it!

I remember reading articles describing the workshop and the W. Heath Robinson equipment they use, like Brow mentioned.  John Smith always seems to come across as a bit surly and not particularly interested in what customers want.  For example they asked about neck shapes and he said they vary a bit because of the nature of the machinery, but they flat out wouldn't offer a choice of neck shapes, despite building on such a small scale.

haha wow :lol:

I will reiterate, though, just in case this sounds like i'm being overly or unfairly critical- I did like the ones I tried.

[Philly Q]

I think i remember that article too. No clue when or where it was, though, and i have way too many old guitar mags to start searching :lol:

I think it was in a fairly early issue of The Guitar Magazine (aka Guitar & Bass), but Guitarist have probably done something similar at some point.

I won't be searching it out either!  :lol: