| Gordon Smith Guitars | |
| Industry: | Musical instrument |
| Predecessors: | --> |
| Successors: | --> |
| Founded: | in Partington, Greater Manchester |
| Founder: | Gordon Whitham and John Smith |
| Hq Location City: | Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire |
| Hq Location Country: | England |
| Areas Served: | --> |
| Products: | Electric guitars |
| Owners: | --> |
| 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]
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]
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.
Guitarist magazine reviewed the Gordon Smith GS1000 and gave it their Gold award.[10]
The company does not offer celebrity endorsements. Guitarists known to have used Gordon Smith guitars include: