NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
Post Reply
User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4574
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by stevejamsecono » Mon Apr 01, 2024 4:07 pm

Eyyy haven't done one of these in awhile. Here we go.

So as some of you remember, I was appealing to forumites in the UK to track one of these down for me about six months ago. We had a few near misses, but ultimately didn't find quite what I was looking for. Fast forward to a few months back and one of my good friends from back home moved to London with her boyfriend for a six month stint. She's a guitar player too and couldn't bring her Gibson with her, so we hatched a scheme to track down a GS1 that she could play while there and then I'd buy it off her when she was done. Lo and behold their first night there, we found this on on UK Ebay and it was promptly ordered. After playing it for a few months she got her own Gordon (a lovely blue Gatsby purchased at Regent Street), so this was shipped to me last week -- and now it's here!

Image20240401_170407 by Steve Bailey, on Flickr

The photos don't do the color of this wood justice. In person, it is a very appealing dark cherry that is either more brownish or more reddish depending on the light. I thought I'd be disappointed because I didn't get the gloss cherry finish I wanted but that is very much NOT the case. It's gorgeous and it matches my old Guild D25 brilliantly. Also the faded finish on these feels more 'real' than the old Gibson LP Special I had and just seems to fit like a baseball glove. Just a lovely hunk of wood.

Have had a bit of a play and it's sounding pretty good so far. The body feels rock solid and per the reputation the neck is AMAZING. Thin but not uncomfortably so, and it definitely seems to love the fast riffs. I only have my THR at home so jury is out on the pickup, but it sounds like it rocks and I certainly had fun laying into it this afternoon. I'm going to get some 10s on there and have my guy do a quick setup, but I can't wait to bust out some fun punk riffs.

More photos. Now to do some Buzzcocks and Leatherface...

Image20240401_170424 by Steve Bailey, on Flickr
Image20240401_170412 by Steve Bailey, on Flickr
Image20240401_170416 by Steve Bailey, on Flickr
Last edited by stevejamsecono on Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
Jonesie
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4076
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:00 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by Jonesie » Mon Apr 01, 2024 4:25 pm

One hell of a looker. Gotta change the signature to resident Yamaha and Gordon Smith fanboy.

User avatar
marqueemoon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 7405
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by marqueemoon » Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:09 pm

Nice. I’m glad that worked out.

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4574
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by stevejamsecono » Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:26 pm

Jonesie wrote:
Mon Apr 01, 2024 4:25 pm
One hell of a looker. Gotta change the signature to resident Yamaha and Gordon Smith fanboy.
Just gotta get them to form a joint venture so we get some Gordon Smith jetskis and washing machines.
marqueemoon wrote:
Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:09 pm
Nice. I’m glad that worked out.
Thanks man, me too! I've always had a soft spot for cherry doublecut juniors and this looks like it'll fit the bill perfectly.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
crazyzeke
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4969
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:19 pm
Location: West Sussex, England

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by crazyzeke » Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:30 pm

Gorgeous instrument, as Gordon Smith guitars often are. I've played several over the years and was never disappointed nor found evidence of shoddy workmanship. If I wasn't such a Fender nut and insistent on keeping very few guitars I'd happily have one. Very underrated, and I urge anyone who finds one selling near them to try it out.
"High yella high red high blue she blew
High Ella high Ella Guru"

- CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, "Ella Guru"

User avatar
JSett
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8970
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: Old Hampshire, Old England

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by JSett » Mon Apr 01, 2024 8:09 pm

Yes!

So glad you found one. I had a few saved searches for you but they all popped up 200+ miles away and no one would ship.

It looks like you snagged a really clean one too, bravo. I played a new one in a shop a couple of months back and it was extremely well put together.

Congratulations
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

User avatar
sal paradise
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 3664
Joined: Thu May 27, 2021 12:41 am

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by sal paradise » Mon Apr 01, 2024 11:04 pm

Glad this had a happy ending. Enjoy :-*
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4574
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: NGD: Gordon Smith GS1

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:10 am

Thanks everybody. It's nice to have a plan work out :)
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

Post Reply