Gordon Smith Guitars
Encyclopedia
Gordon-Smith Guitars create hand made electric guitar
s, basses and mandolins from a small workshop in Partington near Manchester
, England
.
The company was founded in 1979 by Gordon Whitham and John Smith who combined parts of their names for the company name. Only the Smith part of the partnership remains now, assisted by his wife Linda. They have produced over 11,000 guitars. They are probably the largest manufacturer of guitars in the UK.
Gordon-Smith say they make 'guitars, not furniture'. They aim to produce quality guitars for working musicians.
Guitar players describe Gordon-Smith guitars as "the British Gibson". Numerous references to this can be found under review pages for various models. For example at Harmony Central
(http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Gordon%20Smith)
Gordon-Smith Guitars come top of the table for use of sustainable woods in guitar construction. (http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/FreeBuyersGuides/AudioVisual/guitarselectric.aspx)
, Gibson Les Paul
, Gibson Flying V
, Gibson Explorer
, Fender Stratocaster
and Fender Telecaster
. Most are available with various options for the finish and parts, e.g. different bridge.
Although GS often borrow designs from other established guitar makers, they also produce a line of their own designs. All modern designs currently use a brass nut, compared to a plastic nut used by many other manufacturers.
Gordon-Smith make their own pickups. They were the first manufacturers to offer coil-tapped humbuckers.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s, basses and mandolins from a small workshop in Partington near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The company was founded in 1979 by Gordon Whitham and John Smith who combined parts of their names for the company name. Only the Smith part of the partnership remains now, assisted by his wife Linda. They have produced over 11,000 guitars. They are probably the largest manufacturer of guitars in the UK.
Gordon-Smith say they make 'guitars, not furniture'. They aim to produce quality guitars for working musicians.
Guitar players describe Gordon-Smith guitars as "the British Gibson". Numerous references to this can be found under review pages for various models. For example at Harmony Central
(http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Gordon%20Smith)
Gordon-Smith Guitars come top of the table for use of sustainable woods in guitar construction. (http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/FreeBuyersGuides/AudioVisual/guitarselectric.aspx)
Range
Their range includes their versions of classic guitars such as Gibson Les Paul JuniorGibson Les Paul Junior
The Gibson Les Paul Jr. is a solid body electric guitar introduced in 1954 as an affordable, entry level Les Paul. It was first released with a single cut body style however models with a double cut body style were later introduced in 1958.-History:...
, Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
, Gibson Flying V
Gibson Flying V
-External links:*, , , , and , from the Gibson website*, a June 2001 article from Guitar Collector magazine*, a tribute site that lists all models and re-issues and most notable players**...
, Gibson Explorer
Gibson Explorer
The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar that made its debut in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its sibling, the Flying V. The Explorer was the final development of a prototype design which years later Gibson marketed under the name Futura.The...
, Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
and Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
. Most are available with various options for the finish and parts, e.g. different bridge.
Although GS often borrow designs from other established guitar makers, they also produce a line of their own designs. All modern designs currently use a brass nut, compared to a plastic nut used by many other manufacturers.
Gordon-Smith make their own pickups. They were the first manufacturers to offer coil-tapped humbuckers.
Players
The company does not do any celebrity endorsements and so players will have to buy the guitars themselves. Well known players include:- William CollinsWilliam CollinsWilliam Collins may refer to:* William Collins , Bishop of Gibraltar in the Church of England* William Collins , English poet* William Collins , English landscape artist...
of The Ratistas - Mick AbrahamsMick AbrahamsMichael Timothy 'Mick' Abrahams was the original guitarist for Jethro Tull. He recorded the album This Was with the band in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave once the album was finished...
of Jethro TullJethro Tull (band)Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and Blodwyn PigBlodwyn PigBlodwyn Pig were a British blues–rock group founded by guitarist–vocalist–songwriter Mick Abrahams, after he left Jethro Tull in 1968 due to a falling-out with Tull leader Ian Anderson.-Career:... - Aaron BarrettAaron BarrettAaron Asher Barrett is the lead singer, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Reel Big Fish. Prior to forming with Reel Big Fish, Barrett played trombone in another ska-punk act, The Scholars, along with future Reel Big Fish bandmates Scott Klopfenstein and Grant Barry...
- Billy BraggBilly BraggStephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
- Nicky Garrett of UK SubsUK SubsThe U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
- Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
- Pete ShelleyPete ShelleyPete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
of The Buzzcocks - John SquireJohn SquireJohn Thomas Squire is an English musician, songwriter and artist.Squire is best known as the guitarist for The Stone Roses, a rock band in which he formed a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ian Brown. After leaving The Stone Roses he went on to found The Seahorses and has since released...
- Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
- Members of The FutureheadsThe FutureheadsThe Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
and The HellacoptersThe HellacoptersThe Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies... - Larry Hibbitt of Hundred ReasonsHundred ReasonsHundred Reasons are an English rock band from Farnborough, Hampshire, composed of Colin Doran , Larry Hibbitt , Andy Gilmour , Andy Bews and Ben Doyle . Originally, the band was signed to Columbia Records in mid April 2001, after fourteen months of near-constant touring...
- Adam and Mike of The Sisters Of MercyThe Sisters of MercyThe Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
- Frankie Stubbs & Dickie Hammond of Leatherface (band)Leatherface (band)Leatherface is a British punk rock band from Sunderland fronted by Frankie Stubbs. The band is known for an eclectic style spanning American folk music, hardcore punk and post-hardcore.-History and background:...
- Snuff (band)Snuff (band)Snuff are a British punk rock band formed in Hendon in 1986. Their name reportedly came about after a long discussion about names ended up with one of them claiming "That's Enough", which was then shortened to Snuff...
- James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers can be seen playing here http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzblp_manic-street-preachers-motown-junk_music