Doug Sparkes (MD of Gordon Smith Guitars) Chats with the UKs Largest Gordon Smith Guitars Specialist
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
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Highlights & Time Stamps....
30:43 Gordon Smith & Auden Fundraiser "Giveaway". Make a pledge and the highest pledge takes the guitar(s)! All for our Movember cancer research campaign. TTHANK YOU DOUG :)
01:10 How I initially met Doug when he took over Gordon Smith Guitars
05:15 Doug pays tribute to John Smiths unique approach to guitar building from whom he acquired Gordon Smith guitars & I discuss my memories visiting his workshop
07:23 Where Gordon Smith are now
09:46 Doug discusses the frustration of educating the wider guitar playing audience on what Gordon Smith represents & their unique value that is often overlooked or misunderstood.
12:23 We announce our monthly collaboration to bring news & updates on Gordon Smith, Auden & FGN guitars to my CZcams subscribers!
13:25 We want your questions! We will reply in the following months video if you post them in the comments below.
14:22 Doug explains why its ok for Gordon Smith to remain "under the radar"
17:05 Doug discusses human welfare horrors in guitar production that he has witnessed first hand
20:04 Doug explains how Audens craftstmen in China are looked after
21:09 The discussion expands to the importance of being socially aware when making buying decisions and how people do seem to be more concerned these days - which is great.
24:09 My announcement! Gordon Smith Guitars supplied by myself now come with SMJ straplocks (Schaller design), Hand made Walsall Guitar Strap & LEGEND guitar pedal - Thats over £150 of the most immense guitar gear to compliment your guitar.
26:41 Dougs long term involvement in the Love Hope Strength Charity Work
See www.lovehopestr... website for details. The BBC documented the wonderful charity work carried out by Mike & wife Jules which can be seen here in this emotional fly on the wall documentary that I found truly inspiring.
www.lovehopestr...
30:44 Gordon Smith GS1 Heritage & Auden Artist Series Bowman electro charity "giveaway"! (Well... just a small donation may be required!)
There are SO many exciting developments occurring in the world of Gordon Smith guitars that Doug has promised to do a video with me every month so we can share with you the very latest news on everything Gordon Smith, Auden & also the wonderful FGN guitars line which he has taken on distribution for - to compliment his incredible hand made guitars.
We chatted for sooooo long (as you can imagine once we start you never know where to stop!) but managed to get what I hope you will consider the highlights into about 35 minutes.
I absolutely love Gordon Smith I'm about to order a graduate 60 to go with my GS sg 2. my only gripe is the website!! the custom build aspect definitely needs updating for example when choosing finish or vaneer options there is nothing visual to aid you in your choice, it's hard to make a choice just off of a name of finish or vaneer without seeing it first.
Obviously you can always call Gordon Smith which I'm doing but it would be great to be able to use the website.
At long last ! Thanks Richard for introducing us to Doug . Really enjoyed this & really like both of your business ethics. I am one of those who does think about where the really cheap stuff is coming from and the child labour and /or poor working conditions of those making stuff abroad.
Next time Doug comes in , can he please bring in a Graf and a No Cut ? Those guitars are hardly mentioned anywhere. Cheers ! 👍
I love my Gordon, wish I knew more about it. How could I find out more about it? Is there away?
Hi I’ve just watched one of your CZcams videos. There were three of you in the room. One of your staff was teasing another member about his choice of pickups on a classic T. I agree with the man who suggested that he wanted to have a p90 at the bridge and a humbucker at the neck. I’ve just ordered a custom thinline with this configuration of pickups.
Keep the faith and go for what you want.
Regards Mr O.
Hi! Did you order it with us ? If so you’ll certainly be in with a chance of winning a £2k custom build and you’ll get the beautiful Walsall strap too. If so - thank you ! Thanks for watching too
@@RichardsGuitarshop Hi, I’ve ordered my custom thinline direct from Gordon Smith. I’m looking forward to playing it. Hopefully by mid July.
Regards
Chris
@@chrisosborn7388 OK - We are here if you need us..
I’m breaking my No.1 rule of buying guitars online... don’t do it!! I am intrigued as you speak so highly of RS guitars and it’s for charity, so £600 is my bid 👍
Hello Richard .. I have been in contact with you B4 approx ? two years back .. B4 Covid etc anyway .. & even then I was in my own Lockdown isolation .. since I am partially disabled / Can't drive ( legally ) & I live in a No bus no pavements part of the world ( Forest of dean ) & too walk or cycle on the roads is dangerous .. Forgive me if I digress ( like you ) Anyway .. I am 65 & since I last was in touch with you I have been learning to fix up my old guitars myself .. But I fully agreed with your previous stance & decision to be a .. Shall we say ' Bespoke ' ? guitar seller to the more discerning customer .. However I am writing tonight 2am 25.1.21 in a room full of 17 plus guitars & three Cats .. No coal or shopping deliveries because of Covid & snow .. so My room is the warmest & the Cats think I will be the best place to wait near .. But the reason I am contacting you again ( a.) I have been saving up ££ ) & b ) .. I have a little story to tell you about Gordon Smith Guitars . In late 90's My wife ( & I ) ran a weekly club for jam sessions .. Keeping Music free .. No pay to play policy & a kind of open mic' thing plus a way to enjoy music live. I met a guy who used the stage name Geronimo ( John ? ) & he had a rare guitar a Double Cutaway Gordon Smith . Not only was he an excellent muso but he had what I used to call my " Dream " guitar .. Since when I was a young lad Back in the Days when SELMER .. had a Catalogue you could order for free .. ( & I did ) plus Selmer were the Distributers of Gibson guitars .. in the UK .. ( my Older brother used to delight in trying to make me red faced in front of girls & Guy's by telling them I had a collection of well thumbed ' Magazines under my bed ' lol the Selmer catalogues ) Anyway back then there was a guitar called the Kalamazoo Les Paul Junior ' .. I have within my reach the 2012 / 2008 ? re-issue The DC two p/up in red , which is as close as I could get. ( & an old Epiphone Casino ) but Back then the Hand made Gordon Smith was beyond my budget . Given the date & time this must have been one of the very early GS guitar's & Geronimo said he waited over a year for a good friend of his to make it & would not reveal how much he paid for it .. Some kind of trade in & lot's of cash etc .. So that is my story .. Well I could add that The club was held in a famous pub ( for music ) Just next door to where The Beano Album was recorded & I could tell lot's of stories .. of who also stood on that stage . But I think that is enough for now . I recently was on your website & will be again .. I still have a lovely old Takamine which was ruined by a gtr repair person & my other interactions with gtr repair people have been really dismal .. tales of Deceit & woe .. I have 6 acoustics & not one of them is really good for me .. Since my physical condition is getting worse .. I can no longer comfortably play a Jumbo or Dreadnaught ( named after a Warship ) dreadnought to most people lol .. But having spent an enjoyable few hours watching u tube content of yours I hope we can agree that while I am not able to buy soon ( especially as my wife's Birthday is coming up .. ) But if I can browse & chat that would be pleasant for me ( anyway ) .. But I have only a small personal pension which I can spend & ( since I am not making any money it would be unfair to use the household Budget ) So it is my " Hobby " money .. & I still have the problem of transport . In conclusion please do not feel that I am looking for a reply or any kind of ( sob story X factor Discount ) I do not need any validation .. I just would like to Browse & visit the website without any ' sales pressure ' Being Scot's / Irish in fact makes me resistant to & wary of any kind of Credit agreements etc so Until I have the Cash & the weather improves .. I will keep on browsing please .. wishing you & all of your family co workers & extended happy Customer based family a safe & healthy New year .. Ben .. ( ps. They say Tolkein used to take his holidays around here & that the Shire was largely based on these 'ere parts .. Remember Bilbo & Frodo & Sam etc were all unusual Hobbits & mostly they don't like furriners ( like me round ere ) Lol Peace & love man be cool I can say that because I lived thru the 60's & 70's etc etc bye for now .
Hi Richard,
Do you have any plans to put out a CZcams demoing your legend pedal range?
Ted
Really interesting and enthusiastic video guys, thank you!
I owe you both a debt of gratitude for introducing me to the 'world of Gordon Smith' and in particular for the wonderful Gordon Smith swamp ash bodied' T-type I bought from Richard a couple of years ago, which I continue to love!
I look forward to further videos featuring Doug and with that in mind, can I ask please why Doug feels the brass nut used on all Gordon Smith guitars has always been a 'no compromise' feature, especially since every other part of the guitar can be built to the buyers personal specification? I am not complaining at the use of a brass nut at all, I would simply like to know why Doug feels so strongly about using it! Wishing you continued growth and success.
We will certainly give you a comprehensive answer when we get together next month. Great question and will look forward to the answer.
@@RichardsGuitarshop Thanks Richard - will look forwards to the next episode!
Since ordering a Gordon Smith from yourself I am now waiting on my third. The only reason the other 2 were not from yourself is that I wanted them to be custom. I still look at your GS guitars as your customer service and Doug were superb. Well done on a great video to both of you. I did a blog post regarding Gordon Smiths as I felt so strongly about how good they are. The value for money, I feel, is second to none. UK built and not CNC, pure handmade skill (Btw I am a beekeeper to try keep the countryside in balance, drive an EV and about to build a ecologically house that will become zero carbon in 5 years, your butterfly conservation i have big respect for) the cancer research is very close to my heart too. I’ll make sure I promote the bidding with my mates. Did you say the straps give money to your butterfly trust? I’ll have a look.
That’s incredible!! Do remember we love speccing customs for customers!! I will make sure that’s another point to discuss in next months video as it’s a common view that a custom requirement needs to be done directly. Yes every SMJ product ensures £1 goes to the butterfly conservation. It’s all inspired by my mum and dads work on the SMJ conservation site . Please visit oursmj.uk/ which is a basic blogging site i created for my mum to update people on what they are doing. All done in their retirement to help butterfly’s and moths and of course the health of the countryside. Thanks so much and please.... next GS? From me! 😂
Hi guys ! Current bids are £650 for the GS 2 & £500 for the Auden.
From here we can take bids of £50 or more than what you see here - and I will update this section manually if I receive anything.
If you have the highest bid at midnight on 30th November then you keep the guitar (or guitars!)
THANK YOU to everyone who has made a bid. The winning bidders will be contacted to make their donation directly to the charity page and once thats done we can announce the winners! YEHAA!! (and the final total raised). IF you can please make a small donation to.... www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rguitars I would be so grateful. We havent actually raised much in direct donations but I do appreciate there is so much going on in the world and people are alway being asked to donate to something - I totally understand.... but rather selfishly this is the one I am involved in so wanted it to be as high a total as possible!!! x
Well done on the great donations for such a good cause. disappointing it all ended in secret, i suppose the "right " people had to win
The only thing that puts me off Gordon Smith is no nitro finishes and the flat fingerboard radius. If they did a 7.25" radius nitro finished semi-hollow with bigsby and aged parts I'd be severely tempted!
If you want to call me I will arrange it. Seriously 😉
@@RichardsGuitarshop damn me and my big mouth, you tempter!! Seriously though, I have 7 fenders I Iove, MIJ 80's to USA 2000s, covering all pick-up/body styles. But missing a semi-hollow (preferably double cut 335 shape rather than thinline tele). I'll need to think about finances. What kinda ball park figure we looking at? Was looking at Eastman T486B but know a 12" radius is not my preference.
@@darrenotoole5317 as long as you know they can do nitro finish if you want one. As for the semi 335 again they are working on this. I’ll bring it up as a topic in our next video next month
I'm having mine with a nitro finish. It does add a few weeks to the total build time because each coat has to dry thoroughly before the next is applied, as you know.
Excellent video by a couple of really cool guys. Kudos to you both for all that you do. Its a really nice touch to give away so much with every Gordon Smith guitar sold awesome man 👍🏻 I thought someone would have mentioend Michelle Taylor as she is a big presence in promoting Gordon Smith online and has got me and many other into them. I think its awesome what you do for the enviroment with your butterfly charity too. Kudos for that too.👍🏻
Aha... I just searched my records and it was Martin Smith not Gordon... but I have just found some Gordon Smith solid electrics and they look nice... I make wide neck guitars both solid and acoustic; both from old donor guitars.
Cannot find the bids in all the comments, so hope this isnt under the current total, but would bid 400 pounds on the GS1 , Thanks guys, good video :)
Hey STEVEN! Thats the top bid! Thank you. To be 100% honest I dont want to turn it into too much of a bidding war as I would love to repay the generosity of the donated value by giving you the guitar!!! BUT rules are rules so if someone scans through and out bids you I have to let them have it. I thnk thats about as fair as I can make it. Could you please forward me your email and phone number to richard@rguitars.co.uk so I can get in touch should your kind bid be the winning one? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! Between you and the other kind person we have now beaten our £1000 target for the month. Thank you so much.
I get it, I must come visit you
Did call into Stratford a while back, Convinced my Wife it was a good idea to let me visit the UK's largest GS Dealer
Even got her to get your address off google,
ended up sitting outside an empty shop
Lovely little old lady tending her flower pots said, ooh, they moved, to near the rail station
Found you opposite the station. Closed, Cannot remember the day, but shutters were down :(
So, next time, I will check your opening times, at least I know where you are :)
Hi Richard, how do i bid on the guitars? Thanks
Great video wanted it to be longer as I was enjoying it.
What's the story with Doug & FGN? I played one at the shop and it felt incredible if it wasn't black I'd have pulled the trigger on it 😅
Conflicted now over Auden Guitars as I want to support British but the whole "China conditions" put me off so I went with a Dowina Acoustic but now I know the ethos it seems like I could have bought an Auden.
If I'm understanding this correctly I'll get the ball rolling with a £200 commitment should I win the Auden Guitar.
Love my Gordon Smith GSX btw 👍🏻
Longer?!!! That’s amazing ! Lovely to hear. Doug is highly conscious of the labour issues in China which as you heard is why he only works with an incredible workshop that provides the best working conditions for their small team. When we get the video together on it you will be amazed. So try not to think globally about the issue. On a human level - if these workers are excluded because of an overall perception of buying from China then only they lose and then their only choice will be factory work - so buying an auden keeps these genuine skills alive along with good work environment for them. Best bet is to give us a call and chat with Jon and work out what suits you. He’s amazing! He also owns an Auden though!! 😂 however THATS incrdible tribute when you know the guitars we carry are all world class
Oh and regarding the FGN I edited a lot of that out as I felt it detracted from the message of the video which was more about Gs and Auden - his personal brands. FGN though is now distributed by Doug!! Sounds like you are talking about the boundary Iliad at £499 with a humbucker in the neck (tele) . Totally mind blowing quality . We’ve just had the new j series - Iliad models in which are incredible too in natural
@@RichardsGuitarshop yeah all valid points but without this video I wouldn't have known the ethical approach on the Auden guitars.
I don't remember the FGN having a neck humbukcker & I'm sure Jon said it was £449 so perhaps it was a different model but it felt and sounded great 👍🏻 might have to check out those natural finish FGN's 👀
@@sinnersdwarf7138 Ah! OK so it was the standard pickup model - gorgeous new colors back in stock including candy apple red and sunburst!
@@RichardsGuitarshop oh an FGN is definitely being added to my collection at some point but I've only recently added a Dowina & need to make sure I have £200 in the unlikely scenario I win the Auden (surely going to go for more than that).
Probably use the FGN purchase as an excuse to make the trip from Manchester to the store again once the pandemic is over.
I'm restricting myself to 13 guitar's no more & with the Dowina I'm at 8, I have a problem 🙈
Hi Richard and Doug. I would like to make a bid for £500 if it's the winning bid or £50 if I don't win. Thanks for donating the guitar to the competition. John
There is a lot of love out there for you guys and the work that you do,
I'll go for a total donation of £550 for the GS1
Thank you so much Elliot. That is so kind of you! Could forward me your telephone number by email to richard@rguitars.co.uk so I have this recorded on file and I will post your name and the other chaps who has the max bid on the Auden and stick it to the top of the comments. This way everyone who has nodded will see the winning bid so far. Really am so grateful for your support
Great Video. As I am also growing a MO and no one has started the bidding for the GS1 yet, lets start with £300. I'm sure it wont be long until its beaten, but is this my last bid??? Where are the guardians BTW!!!
Hi Elliot. Just to let you know - the current top bid I believe is £400 for the GS1 but am really grateful for your interest. A bid of £450 would currently get you the guitar but a small donation directly to the charity would be equally appreciated.
@@RichardsGuitarshop did the just giving bit straight away👍
When are you going to close the auction? I don't want to be annoying and bid a pound more than the last , just to get the guitar.
@@RichardsGuitarshop I've had a think and would like to increase my bid to £450
It's a lovely looking guitar that would find a loving home here😃
Could you ask Doug if he’d ever consider manufacturing Auden’s completely in the UK please Richard.
We will address that for certain in the next video for you! Watch this space Justin!
Y'know... one of these days you'll think about us lefties in these 'competitions'. I realise there's not a lot of us around and easily forgotten in the Great Scheme Of Things but seriously. Do we get to ask for a left hand version of the guitars rather than the ones in the giveaway? Unfortunately I'm not able to afford even a small donation but if I could and I couldn't swap for a lefty then what's the point?
I do hope that observation didn’t reward me with a thumbs down? What really really does my head in is how good will and generosity can be turned into an issue. I do more to support left hand players than any store in the entire country. Check out my Gordon Smith options and Auden guitars that I have made specifically because of my incredible focus on left handed players and in fact I will make sure we bring that up in the next video. As for the giveaway .... this is what Doug had available and considering he gave them to me totally 100 % free of charge I wasn’t going to question any aspect. By the way .... I ran a Gordon Smith custom build giveaway competition only last year and yes - left handed players were able to join in the fun. Please don’t tarnish me with a brush just because of your own frustrations but I am one of the good guys working hard for the lefties
@Richards Guitars No Richard, no thumbs down from me on this video nor any other thing you do. I have bought some of your SMJ stuff recently when I could have easily gotten them more easily and cheaply closer to home so I'm very in line with your ethos and values. I also do appreciate the stock of left handed gear you have as well. It's far more than any where else and I just wish I didn't live an hour and a half drive away from your shop. If I was in a position to afford a GS you'd have had an order for a Classic T or a very nice blue GS Deluxe that's been in your shop a while now (why, I've no idea. If I had £1050 to spare you'd have sold it a long time ago).
It's just an ongoing niggle at me that's been bugging me for years and years and nothing to do with you or what you do Richard and this is probably the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. It's just as a southpaw, I see these kinds of events, giveaways, whatever - not just run by you but by everyone in the industry - and the guitars are almost exclusively right handed. I feel left out, ostracised even, as if I'm the kid nobody likes looking at the cool kids through the classroom window. It's annoying and frustrating. I so want to get involved but get that 'no you can't you don't play the way we do' metaphorical slap in the face.
It's a great cause and what you and Doug are doing with this is really really good, don't get me wrong. It would just be nice to think that I can get involved every now and then as well. Maybe the next time something like this occurs you and Doug could possibly at least try and give the option of swapping for a left handed version of the guitars if it's available? Would be nice to think I can at least get a foot in the door of the cool kids classroom every now and then even if I know really that I'll never actually get to be a cool kid.
@@roberthadfield2839 I feel your pain and I couldnt agree more. I will be honest that sometimes I get as frustrated as you - as I have put SO much energy into left handed guitars but hand on heart never feel like its been appreciated I even run a left handed group on Facebook - /lefthandedguitars (I created it!). I couldnt do more yet I never seem to gain any "momentum" or recommendation as a place to go for lefties - Even the Dowina guitars - I have been really focusing on these as left handers too. Anything I can do - I do - but genuinely its SO SO hard to get any kind of ongoing momentum from oustide recommendations. Not entirely sure what I expect but maybe on forums for people to say "hey theres this guy - he does loads for us lefties - give him some support". I dont think I have EVER since a single comment online about it. I am here for you Robert and I feel your anxt. Let me take on board your comments and see what I can do - honest - Will right this wrong!
And yes, I do know you ran a competition last Christmas. If I remember there was one (possibly two I'd have to go back and check the emails I received) lefthanded acoustic guitar and yes I missed the entry window by about 4 hours and yes, I'm gutted I did miss it (even though I'm not really interested in an acoustic). You and Shane of InTheBlues (he's in Australia he's sort of got an excuse :-) ) are the only ones I've seen that have done this with lefthanded guitars. Unfortunately that's not what I'm talking about. If you're running a competition with right handed guitar X and Guitar X also comes as left handed would it be impossible to say "we're giving away Guitar X, this is the right handed version but if you're left handed we'll send that version of Guitar X instead"? I know it can't be done for every guitar. I'm not trying to be unreasonable. Maybe what I'm asking for IS unreasonable for reasons I'm not privy to. If there are issues with that I'd love to know what they are. Assuming you're willing or able to discuss them, of course.
This is not about what you're doing, why you're doing it or about who you are. It is about not giving that metaphorical slap in the face to an (admittedly small) audience and customer base - actual, potential or otherwise - over something that, from where I'm sitting at least, can be very easily rectified.
@@RichardsGuitarshop Unfortunately I'm not on 'those forums' so would be difficult to try and rectify that. Will look up your lefties facebook page though. Thank you.
It’s great to see two real people with a love for guitars talking rather than two big wigs talking about guitars just to make another sale. (I’m sure you know who I mean!)
Can’t wait for more of these!
How is the social distancing thing working here? You are very close!
We are indeed but we’re both married
@@jonathanb1471 I’ve just come back form 2 weeks of covid. Been there - done it - got the hat. Our entire business is covid protected to the max - hence teresa got it and.nobody else did. It went through my family. I am now to covid what James Bond is to villains. Sorry about the humour but it keeps me from being dragged down. Any small donation to our charity appeal would be warmly welcomed
If social distancing worked why try and enforce mask wearing and vice versa. Imagine a virus so deadly in the vast number of cases you have to have a test to even know if you've had it.
@@TheFairway8 Just to clarify and I should have made it clear. I have had Covid - Doug has just been tested and was clear - we check everyone for temperature at the door and have gel etc. I didnt even think I would have to preface the video with a government health warning - never was very good at school.
I owned a GS guitar years ago, and decided I would never buy another (sold that one, was glad to get rid of it).
This has inspired me to check them out again. There is a shop that stocks them in my area. Good video guys,
If I can give them a second chance - I know you can too - you’ll be amazed. Let me know?
I always wanted a GS1 when I started playing in the early 80's. There was a store here in Bristol (& two other branches in the South West) that stocked them and I always liked them . The only reason I never bought one was because I ended up buying a heavily used American Gibson & a used Japanese Epiphone at the same time for £185 instead of £299 for the GS ! I now officially sound like an old man lol !
Richard, this is absolutely amazing. You are really giving away all this stuff to the buyers of a Gordon Smith guitar ! I can’t believe it! You got a really big hart, and doing charity at the same time 👌👏🏻👏🏻
The thing is ... I love these guitars so much I need to remove any possible barrier from someone buying from me! That’s how I see it. So if I can do that by raising awareness of all the other cool projects I am building up then I just see it as win win! Just spread the word! 😊
10:28 - I know the exact video being referenced here. Said retailer never "got" GS and didn't even do research on the history of the brand.
So frustrating.
I love my GS1 that I bought earlier in the year. Likely won't be the last Gordon Smith I buy!
Trust me.... I wanted to say SO much more and this is the super super super polite version. Believe me I could dedicate a whole video on the crap they preach but...... breathe.... and relax ...... ahhh that’s better
@@RichardsGuitarshop I'll take the positivity here and in other videos talking about how great these guitars are, any day!
@@PantheonLincoln Can't imagine its got anything to do with Rob Chapmans own "UK" (cough cough) brand which STARTS at £3500!!!! Nooooooo..... never. More smoke and mirrors than my local fairground with those guys.
@@RichardsGuitarshop I think the people we are talking about only make videos to make themselves look good and to promote the more expensive items they sell. These are typical box shifters who must have the most expensive guitars going and like their music have no heart for the instruments.
@@RichardsGuitarshop I was sooooo disappointed with the so called "review" they did of GS guitars. I felt that you could tell from the start that they were not interested in the slightest to be fair and truthful or help to promote a true british brand (as it obviously goes against their own investment interests). I would like to think that Im wrong in that, but their remarks were so off the mark that its hard to think otherwise.
Awesome to see Doug and hear some background info. I was surprised that no one mentioned Michelle Taylor as she must be the poster girl for Gordon Smith as she is everywhere promoting them and Ive even seen her using the Wallsal straps you mentioned as well. Great vid though cant wait for episode2 👌🏻
What a cracking vid, my favourite you have done Richard. I real eye opener listen to Doug going on about the conditions people have to work in and the sad history of a guitar you could be holding. I am absolutely buzzing for putting my order into GS next month for a classic T.
I had a GS 1.5 about 20 years ago and I regret getting rid of it. I absolutely love the GS No-Cut! Wish I had a spare grand to get one!
Mark in Sussex here... I thought I had stumbled across most brands in my little guitar conversion and restoration workshop (PCsGC) here, but I don't remember Gordon Smith... I bought a few acoustics which were something Smith but I forget what... I will find some on ebay to check out.
You are really missing out on something Mark. GS are making outstanding premium instruments.❤️💁🏼♀️
A single humbucker on a DC guitar... normally associate that with a P90. Interesting idea
Great video, definitely a brand or brands i can get behind and will, great to see a British company ethically working here and abroad from forest in to the hand, at a fantastic value , makes me wonder why other companies that charge more are not working in that way , pure greed I guess . Fantastic job wilĺ look forward to the monthly videos .
Thank you Paul. So glad you appreciated the video
Dougster in the house. Loved meeting him at the Guitar show in Brum this year - pre-lockdown!
Great video guys. Thanks. Looking forward to the next one
Great video. I remember meeting Doug at a London guitar show done years ago prior to Gordon Smith and immediately impressed by his knowledge and passion.
I will bid £500 for the Auden.
Hi Graham - That is really kind of you. Sadly the current maximum bid is £500. I dont want you to feel in any way pressured but if you wanted the guitar you would need to raise the offer to £550 - but please dont feel pressured and thank you for the kind offer.
I really enjoyed the video. The passion you both showed for the brands is amazing. I have an Auden Chester that I love and I think the Auden Parlour would go along side it beautifully. Accordingly, I will start the bidding at £500.
TOP MAN ❤️ thank you SO much 😊. Could you email me at richard@rguitars.co.uk your contact details so I can keep on record ? 🙏
That’s really generous - thank you.
Technically the bidding started at £200 but I'm glad someone could afford more than I could afford to bid as I felt cheeky 😂
I loved this! Im really looking forward to this being a regular spot. ❤️ You both have such vision and positivity. You are lucky that I dont live close by as I`d be popping in for a cuppa and a chat on a regular basis to bathe in those good vibes! You would be so sick of me! 😄 💁🏼♀️
Hiya!! You are the most amazing Gordon Smith ambassador and I know how much Doug appreciates your love for the brand and support you show. Your playing is awesome too. Glad you liked the video and one day we need you on here with us !
@@RichardsGuitarshop Thank you so much Richard 🙏🏻 , I simply tell it how it is from my own personal experience with these amazing guitars. Id love to come by one of these days and be there with you....not so easy to just "pop in" from Sweden however.😕 Everyone who is lucky enough to be in the UK should definitely take a road trip to you and have a lovely day out to try a few guitars and pick up a strap or pedal or two ( once this Covid nightmare is over of course ).❤️
Just learned that my GSG 2 will be ready next week! Can't wait!
The dreadnaught I played at the guitar show was glorious. Absolutely glorious.
That is why I love my Gordon Smith T , Ethically sourced, great build quality perfect price point
Fantastic stuff! 👍
The one thing this awesome brand needs more merchandise , t shirts , hoodies , hats ....make it happen
We have all those things in production. Will be with us and in the next week or so.
@@dougsparkes1037 Beltin to hear , The Classic T shirt , The classic S shirt for Christmas ... I have to mention the British hand made strings by Newtone strings stunningly good .
Yep. That’s what capitalism does. And that’s why Doug and your approach is so refreshing.
You could of give him the chair Richard lol
Really interesting video and insight behind a brand that I have to look at. Thank you guys.
A wall full of guitars tut tut Richard, you haven't sold them all yet? Lol
Believe me - Its NOT easy!!!!!!!! Its a crazy scenario and a constant juggling act but I generally have a 6th sense of how to keep things flowing the best I can.
@@RichardsGuitarshop no I don't think it's easy for anyone these times, but you have a huge thing in your favour you do a job you love not many can honestly say that sir. Stay positive test negative. Keep selling those guitars
Best video you've produced so far. Good to know there's some humanity left in business
That’s a really kind and well appreciated comment. Thank you so much. The content is so personally important to me - so it’s brilliant when I hear it resonates with someone watching too.
Mike and Jules are amazing.
They are very special people
Please stop with the ethical BS . Where are your jeans and tea shirts made Richard.