Gordon Smith Graduate 60

My Graduate 60 was not the same spec as most off the shelf versions due to me requesting a certain specification from the factory and having it built to order. I have only just recieved the guitar a day ago so I may post updates in the future. My Graduate has 3 chrome covered humbuckers all with coil taps(they can do that despite it not being mentioned on the web page) a tune-o-matic bridge, no scrath plate, brass nut, gloss black finish, satin black finish on the back (cheaper option)... and the rest is standard. Above all, the guitar looks fantastic.

There are just sooo many sounds that can be had out of this guitar, almost too many, due to the three pickups on an already extremely versatile guitar. All four of the volume (3) and tone controls (1) have a push pull switch on them, one for each of the pickups' coil tap and one disables the middle pickup and, heres the fun bit, all of them sound brilliant (with the odd exception). The amp I play this guitar through is a rocktek rk-20 (aka shite, couldn't be bothered to compromise the quality of my guitar to get a good one, I'll buy a proper amp soon enough) but the tone still shines through. This guitar has a good clean tone, especially played with the coil taps with plenty of clarity and charactor, and a nice funky 'sprangly' kind of sound that combined with some reverb or similar sounds beautiful. For ye of little faith, distorted this guitar roars, screaming with power and plenty of girth but with the huge variety of pickup options etc the sound can be fine tuned to pretty much however you want it. My brother described its sound as 'Killer Jimmy Page' when giving it a go. I am more than impressed with the sound of this guitar, In my opinion it leaves nothing to be desired. To be picky though, with clean sounds and the coil taps on at low volumes on the guitars volume contol, a strange violining effect occurs that can sound very nice but it can also prove annoying. Also, with the clean sounds with the tone turned down to zero (not that anyone ever uses that setting), there is is slight distortion. Due to these minor problems, I will have to give the guitar a 9 for sound but flat out, I'd give this guitar an 11.

The action is the usual gordon smith super low, that combined with its great fat but speedy neck, makes this guitar long to be played, it is such an enjoybale experience. The finish is flawless as is the cool mock binding. The fretting on the highest frets is very slightly lower quality than the rest but is still fine. The third pickup makes playing feel a bit weird but I'm sure I will become more used to it.

Rock Solid.
This guitar will never break.

The guys at gordon smith were great, accomodating for all of my needs. Top quality service.

This guitar really is incredible. I could buy it over and over again. I am in shire awe of its performance. I find myself playing this guitar far more than any of my others.

Nice Job lads from at GS.

This was my first Gordon Smith. I had an Epiphone Les Paul Classic and just felt ,well you know,we are not going to grow old together!! I saw the Smith in Music Ground, Leeds. I dont think I even plugged it it. It was like playing an accoustic, all "sprang" and vibration.

This is how a Les Paul should have been made! It`s not a copy !! Just wanted to get that off my chest. OK - visualise a Les Paul Standard and I will tell you the differences.

Brass nut [ adustable ]
Set mahogany 22 fret neck enters the body at 17th fret [ count em on your Les Paul ].
Compact stainless steel bridge with individually adjustable chromed brass saddles.
Mahogany body with an obeche [ a type of softwood I understand ] top sporting maple veneer [ mine in a woderful antique violinburst ].
A miraculously hidden truss rod with guitar end adjustment with a spanner[ hooray, no allen keys ! ]
Van Gent tuners.
A pair of GS humbuckers on black plastic with individual volume/tone controls.
Coil taps on the volume pots [ pull ]
Treble boost on the tone controls at points 8-10.
Fake edge masking on top of body [ some say like PRS but I`m sure Smiths will have done it first ! ]
No binding on neck with pearl dot markers.
No pickguard.

To be hyper critical I would probably prefer the coil taps to be on the tone controls rather than the volume pots.

Its heavy at 10.5lbs.Serial No is 6731 which probably puts it at around 1995 vintage.

The Smith sings with bags of sustain. Lots of different tones available due to the pick up configuration. No "mushy" tones here !Just as good with chorus laden clean arpeggios as it is with the latest Headmetal distortion pedal.

I use mine with an SJB Ant 16w valve amp for yer basic blues and load a huge string of pedals with it if I want to sound like Robert Fripp [wish I did !! ]It does everything I want it to.

Brilliant. Action very low. Frets well fitted and finished with flat , played in crowns. Neck feels well played in even at purchase which was another good sign.

Fitted Schaller straplocks [ always do ]. However it didn't stop a well oiled friend of mine picking the Smith off it`s stand by the strap, pulling the retaining washer through the strap end and sending the guitar crashing to the floor neck first. Problem? No its a Smith ! Just a small dink out of the neck by the 10th fret. It was even in tune !

I just did a six hour session in rehearsal studios with the boys of the Shambollix and my shoulder did ache a bit with the 10.5lbs weight!

Everything is bullet proof.As to gigging without a backup. Could do as it would only be the strings that go.Depends if you can see straight enough to restring during a gig !!

Never contacted them about this guitar.Warranty doesnt seem to be a problem in the light of comments above.

The only downside to this guitar is its weight.Everthing else is spot on. It is my first Smith and I have acquired more since [ I`m getting round to logging reviews of them all ]It has got to the stage where nothing else will do. If it were stolen I would get another one without doubt.Guitar buyers are hung up with the wrong "G" on the headstock. It should be Gordon Smith.

Mine is a matt black Graduate 60, with the `false` binding as a result of clever masking. It looks superb. Body is mahogany with spruce arched top, neck is mahogany and fingerboard is `slab` rosewood. I hadn`t intended to buy the guitar (3 weeks ago) due to financial circumstances, but I have been looking for a `perfect` Smith for some time. Being largely hand-made, they are of course all different, and thank goodness I tried this one out whilst having some time to kill in the city with my daugher. The guitar immediately felt wonderful, and the tones/playability were awesome. The power is there, the subtlety is there, with the single-coil options, the quality is there with the tonewoods used (who needs maple tops?) and the guitar will jangle AND growl if you want it. The guys at Music Ground are very helpful and don`t `hustle` for time or a quick sale. Later that day, after meeting the missus from work, we went back to the shop and after trying the guitar again I was persuaded by the family to buy it. I kid you not! I am now the very very happy owner of a guitar that I know will last me - and all you other guitarists will know that we can rarely say that!

It sounds more or less however you want it to, to be blunt. A bit of judicious use of the coil-tap options, pickup selections and of course volume / amp settings, and I can`t think of a six-string sound that isn`t available from this guitar. It really does seem to have it all. To illustrate my point, I have always been an out-and-out humbucker fan (having played Gibsons aplenty and owning amongst other guitars a Aria Les Paul which is superb, if a little tatty now). However, this Smith has opened my ears to the possibilities of single-coil tones sounding really beautiful AND powerful, so much so that these are often my preferred settings. And of course the humbucker overdrive and power is there at the push and twist of a knob (pardon the expression). I play through a Laney LC15R, and the tubes allow the guitar to show its capabilities very well.

Set up was very good. It has a set of 9s on, which I will change to 10s shortly and then take advantage of the free setup offered by Music Ground. The action is buzz-free, but I prefer it a little higher (I`m clumsy) and so will arrange that. The finish on the guitar is not perfect - there is a small `shipping` dent on the upper bout and a couple of minor blemishes in the paint - but it still looks great, understated and tasteful, especially with the black pickups. Overall, I am more than happy with it and whilst others may prefer to have kept looking for `perfection`, the essential feel and sound of the guitar sold it to me. And everything feels very solid and durable, so thats good enough for me.

Durability will not be a problem, I am sure. The fittings appear very solid, the controls smooth and purposeful. The finish I assume will `buff up` from its matt look, but I really don`t care as long as it stays on - I happen to think that graceful aging is a virtue (at my age and condition, one has to think that way) and I am looking forward to this guitar growing up with me (if ever) in the future. It will probably outlast me.

Only E-mail contact so far, but fine. I hope to `pop` over to see the folks there sometime soon, and thank them! and encourage them to keep buildinh `em the way they do.

I`ve been playing for 27 years (though you probably wouldn`t think it if you heard me!). I love blues/rock, and up till now have relied on a series of Japanese guitars, the best of which has always been my Aria Les Paul - of largely identical materials to the `real thing` and plays like a dream. This Smith, may I burn in hell, knocks the Aria into a cocked hat tonewise - and therefore in my experience will treat Gibsons with similar disdain. All the tones and power are here, and I would not hesitate to stick with Gordon Smith, on this evidence alone. A friend of mine has 4 of the things, and each one I have played has impressed greatly. They are `no frills` but 100% professional guitars, so don`t pay into USA or Japan economy, buy British - the best.

This is an update to my earlier review. I contacted the Gordon Smith factory and they were incredibly helpful and told me my Graduate is made from poplar,the nearest tonewood avilable to Honduras mahogany in density. It certainly sounds as good. I compared my Graduate to a pukka Les Paul standard that belongs to my cousin and the Graduate wins hands down in the tone stakes. Even my cousin admitted that it sounded far more powerful and sweeter and said his Gibson had never sounded that good. I cut the slightly orange-peely paint on the neck back with cutting polish and it now feels a lot better.

Blah,blah,blah......Its all been said already.
Mine is a 2002 satin black (gothic) finish and was bought brand new in London. It has masked off mock binding, like a PRS, which looks cool against the black. I think its probably the best guitar I've ever owned and can do virtually everything from Tele to Les Paul thanks to the coil taps. The neck is just so comfortable and felt immediately right. The only complaint I have is that the neck is a little roughly finished on the back, but I'd imagine it will get better with playing. I'm planning to cut the paint finish back a little with T-cut to smooth it a bit more. The tuners are Van Gent items made in Holland and were used on original Burns guitars in the 60's. They are really nice and smooth and hold the tuning well. The frets are beautifully polished with no rough edges. I took the plates off the back, but I don't know what kind of wood this guitar is made of; it feels heavy enough to be mahogany, but it looks far too pale.
I would have preferred the volumes not to have been linked on the both-on setting, I don't know why GSG have gone for this option. The bridge saddle adjusting screws are rough on the tops and dig in my hand, so need a bit of filing. I bought a hard case to protect my investment.

Like I said, I'm really impressed with the range of tones I can get. The pick-ups are a bit thinner sounding than a Les Paul, but with my Marshall they have a real clout on overdriven tones. With a clean setting you are into a Tele-like sound, which is strange for a humbuckered guitar. The tone controls get a little getting used to, as they need rolling off to about 7 or 8 to get a "normal" tone...9 or 10 acts like a treble boost. With the coil taps on there is a little loss of volume and although the tone thins out, I wouldn't say it was a single coil voice, although it is still usable. A great sounding guitar overall and very versatile.

I didn't intend to buy this guitar! I was originally going to get a Tokai Love Rock ( flame top Les Paul copy ) but the two I tried at the shop were appallingly set up and that put me off. I only tried the Graduate because they were recently given a great write up in Guitarist Magazine ( UK ). The set-up on this guitar was superb straight off the shop wall; low slinky action and not a buzz or rattle in sight. It came with 9's which I'll probably swap for 10's very soon, but I don't anticipate any problems. If I'm super-critical, the paint could be better applied in a couple of areas and the control knobs are a bit wonky on the pot spindles, but on the other hand I'm getting a hand-built guitar for Les Paul Studio money, so I'll live with a couple of minor glitches.

This guitar feels absolutely bullet proof, but I'd always have a back-up just in case.

I've heard the company is family run and really cares about their customers, so I have no worries.

I've been playing for over 30 years and have a Strat, Tele and a Takamine acoustic, plus Marshall and Crate amps. The Graduate is probably the best of the lot and is certainly the most versatile. It is incredibly good value for money. It doesn't look flashy but all the money has gone into decent hardware, pickups and good quality tone woods. I would get another if anything happened to this one. I just love it!

i only wanted to put an overall rating for this guitar, because i am a bit sic of people ratteling on about the features ect, and complaining about the fact the volume knobs are not 100 % responsive!!
i just wanted to say this guitar is exellent!! it's the bes i have ever owned, I would even go as far as to say i prefer it to my gibson classic les paul, if only for the variety of the sound available!!!/
if it were stolen i would definately track another down, in the same wine red, with tiger stripe finish (beautiful!)
if there is any beginer/intermediat players who have recently purchased a graduate 60, you have an exellent guitar!!

Excellent. H/H pu config, both with coil taps. Gives really comprehensive range of sound possibilities. Hardware is unbranded but durable looking and reliable. Special praise goes to the bridge design: One -piece wrapover style bridge, but with individual string height adjustment & intonation. One piece mahogony neck and back, Spruce top and maple cap. Beautiful jet black finish. Looks and feels very classy, much like a Les Paul.

HANDS DOWN the best guitar I have owned in 18 years of playing. All pu positions sound rich and full. I can set up all the sounds I will need for a set purely via the pickups; neck with coil tap and vol about 4-5 gives me a mellow, almost stat like tone, but with Les Paul fatness. In between gives a sweet bluesy howl. Bridge only (A SD custom) yields a gorgeous fat, woody sustain with harmonics a plenty. All sound great via my cranked JMP 2204 half stack. Neck is quite thick, but is very comfortable. Is backed with a smooth satin finish - very nice.

Superb. Everything about this guitar screams class at you. Most remarkable of all is that this and all GSG's are HAND BUILT. Yep, read it again - I had to the first time I saw a report for one of these things! Action is low and comfortable without a hint of buzz. Easliy adjusted to taste, with plenty of play available. Sustain is long and rich, due to the woods, bridge and brass (trademark) nut. Finish is immaculate aside from a small body ding and a little excess glue on one fret.

Only had it for a couple of weeks, but I own a GS1 which has given me many years of trouble free service.

When researching my instrument purchase, I wrote to GSG (a small firm in the north of England). I recieved a polite, prompt reply with details of the entire GSG range. Being hand built guitars, the company is happy to tweak their basic designs to individual requirements. Fantastic company!

I have owned many guitars, much to the amusement of my bandmates! Another GSG, Squier protone tele (nice!), Ibanez Roadstar II, Mexican Strat, Yamaha SG (nice, but HEAVY), Gibson '74 SG (nice, but dodgy neck). Seriously, this is the BEST. Wonderful, full-on rock sounds that clean up nicely. Classy, built-just-for-me feel about the instrument. Forget paying a fortune for a Les Paul - I have tried several and can honestly say that not a single guitar sounded as good as this one. It's a real head turner! Great guitar, great value for money, great company. Rare in the US at present. Worth a trip to Blighty - I mean it!

Hand finished guitar made in Manchester, UK. Has 22 frets H/H with coil tap, 2x volume, 2x tone, 3-way selector, Mahogany body-Les Paul shape, beatiful flame maple top in cherry sunburst, rosewood 'veneer' fingerboard, brass nut. All the hardware (inc pickups) is unbranded.

I play all sorts of stuff on it, i can get loads of sounds with the coil taps and my Zoom 8080. The pickups are quite good for stock pickups but they are noisy in coil taped mode. One thing i like about this guitar is that it has a good musical tone with lots of sustain even when its unplugged which is always a good thing. Might get a new bridge pickup one day cos the stock unit is a bit weak, other than that the only other thing that would improve it is a peizo pickup in the bridge...

The action is pretty low, the top is not bookmatched at all just one big lump, the finger board feels ok and the fret work is excellent.

The unbraded hardware all seems pretty solid and looks like it will last, the finish looks durable as well. the strap buttons are probably ok but i always fit straplocks anyway, i would not gig without a backup just in case i snap a sring.

N/A

been playing around 9/10 years and this is the best guitar i have owned in that time. My favourite features are the flame maple top and the coil taps, neither of which are present on the roughly equivalently priced Les Paul Studio that i looked at. If it were stolen i would buy a new one with a different pickup at the bridge. An all round good guitar and excellent value for money.

English HAND made Les Paul-a-like, 22 frets and a gorgeous maple cherry burst top. Looks amazing.

2 volume, 2 tone and pickup selector switch. As I purchased it 2nd hand it is a bit different to the standard - mine has two tapped Seymour Duncan pickups and has some Schaller locking tuners fitted, and also has a tune-o-matic bridge which doesn`t come as standard.
Mahogany neck with a satin finish.
Came with a case.

Gordon Smith-->Zoom GFX8-->Marshall VS100R w/Extra Cab
I play punk and hardcore with a bit of Ska and this guitar sounds amazing!!
For dirty parts I use the Bridge P/U and for clean I use the Bridge in single coil mode and it sounds glorious.
Sounds and plays better than the more expensive Les Paul studio and some standards.
Get hum on the single coil mode but you would expect that.
I dislike nothing about it.

The shop I purchased it from set it up beautifully with the strings I requested for no extra charge. Action is lower than low - I can play some quick stuff on this beast.
The finish is beautiful, apart from a small mark on the body behind the bridge.

This guitar is tough,the finish is tough. The strap buttons are good but I always use strap locks so it doesn't really matter.
I will use my old Eiphone SG as back up, just in case a nuclear bomb is dropped on it.

The company are fantastic - quick to respond with queries and very informative.
They will have a website up soon...
www.Gordonsmithguitars.com

Check it out.

Been playing 7 years and this is the best purchase I've made in that time.
If it was stolen/lost I'd use the insurance to get one custom made in blue with the same pickups/machineheads/bridge.
I love the tone of this guitar - it sounds like a Les Paul but more musical.
I compared it to the more expensive Les Paul Studio and the cheaper The Paul, and this British Beast just stuck out like the class instrument it is.

Why pay for a name on your headstock when you can pay for quality?

I just submitted a review of this guitar, but I have to make an amendment to this section. Yesterday I said that when both pickups are on, both volume pots become like masters and you couldn't mix the volumes. Well, I was wrong... but with some sounds the result is not too obvious. Backing down the neck volume certainly has a different effect than backing down the bridge volume. And this is also true while using the coil taps, unlike another review posted here. Sorry about the confusion