Gordon Smith Slimline 60

Made in 1996 near Manchester, this instrument has a solid mahogany body & set neck. The top looks like flame maple with a cherry sunburst on it. It basically looks like a double-cutaway Les Paul. The gubbins are as described by the previous reviewer, 2 tappable humbuckers and all GS hardware.

I've been a classical player for 13 years and bought this instrument just for kicks. I'm not in a band so its never been treated badly. I find that the variety of different sounds this guitar makes is very impressive. Completely different voices from the 2 pickups. The coil tap adds sparkle, but its not as big a difference as switching pickups makes. The neck pickup is really fat and punchy, and the bridge one is quick to 'snarl'. Very versatile. Some readers may scoff when I say I use it with a Line6 2x10 spider and a Marshall Guvnor, but thats plenty for me to be able to immitate any sound I want from my record collection. This guitar sounds better than any of the strat & tele copies I have tried. Its a completely different animal I know - I should be comparing it to Les Paul copies. Even so, you can see, feel and hear quality when its staring you in the face.

I bought it second hand, but it was immaculate - even down to the plastic still covering the electronics plate on the back. Its action is low and even. Its a doddle to play. The flame maple top is nicely bookmatched and its a very pretty thing.

I get the impression its as hard as nails, although I must say that it gets the kid glove treatment from me. The hardware is chrome, which looks thick and even with no signs of wear. The knobs are black plastic, as are the pickup covers.

I rang the company (a) to find out where to get one and (b) to find the age and new value of the one I'd bought. They were very helpful,and when I later rang about the pickup switch being unreliable, they told me they'd sell me a replacement if I insisted, but advised me to 'flick the bugger a few times' each time I pick the guitar up. It works. I like them. They weren't just after my cash, they seemed to like talking about the instruments.

This is a versatile instrument which oozes quality and which looks great. Its a bargain new, but second hand I can't believe my luck.
I suppose a more expensive (ie reliable) pickup switch would add to it, but other than that it suits my needs perfectly. I hope it never gets nicked, because I'll have to have another one just the same - and I've never seen one just the same. I'm sure they'd make me one.