If you love guitars with a story, Gordon Smith will be right up your alley.
Handmade in the UK since the mid-’70s, these instruments have been the go-to “working player’s” guitars for everyone from punk pioneers to platinum-selling rock and pop artists. And now you can get that heritage and hand-built feel right here at Colemans Music in Melbourne.
In this blog we’ll look at:
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A short history of Gordon Smith
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Some of the famous players who’ve relied on these guitars
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A closer look at four stunning models we have in stock
A Short History of Gordon Smith Guitars
Gordon Smith Guitars was founded in 1974 by Gordon Whitham and John Smith in Partington, near Manchester, at the height of the UK’s exploding rock and punk scenes.
From day one, the idea was simple: build no-nonsense electric guitars for real, working musicians – guitars that could take a beating on stage, stay in tune, and sound huge without costing custom-shop money. That down-to-earth philosophy, plus a strong local following, helped Gordon Smith become the UK’s longest-running electric guitar manufacturer.
In 2015 the company joined forces with Auden Guitars and production moved to their workshop in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. Today, every Gordon Smith is still hand-crafted in the UK, combining classic designs with smart modern touches like boutique electronics, upgraded hardware and carefully chosen lightweight tonewoods.
The result? Guitars that feel broken-in from day one, are built to be gigged hard, and have a vibe you simply don’t get from mass-produced instruments.
Who Plays Gordon Smith?
Because they were born in the UK punk and indie scenes, Gordon Smith guitars quickly became cult favourites among players who cared more about songs and shows than shiny, brand-name logos.
Over the years, Gordon Smith instruments have been used by artists and bands including:
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Billy Bragg – the ultimate socially conscious songwriter with a raw, direct guitar sound
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Buzzcocks – early UK punk legends known for their fast, melodic songs and cutting tones
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Captain Sensible (The Damned) – one of punk’s great guitar characters, with a taste for angular riffs and attitude
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Coldplay – yes, even stadium-level acts have turned to Gordon Smith for unique tones in the studio and on stage
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Peter Frampton, Tears for Fears, Jethro Tull, Ultravox and The Futureheads, among others
It’s a pretty wild spread—from punk clubs to massive arenas—but that’s exactly the point: Gordon Smith guitars are versatile tools that reward players who value feel, reliability and character.
Gordon Smith at Colemans Music – Model Highlights
At Colemans Music Melbourne, we’ve hand-picked a selection of Gordon Smith guitars that show off the best of what the brand does: lightweight builds, gorgeous finishes, and killer tones.
GORDON SMITH Blaggards – Vintage Burst
Style: Classic T-style workhorse with serious vintage attitude
The Blaggards in Vintage Burst is Gordon Smith’s take on a legendary “T” style guitar – but with a distinctly British, boutique twist. Built in Higham Ferrers, it’s designed as a no-nonsense, vintage-inspired rock and roots machine
Key characteristics (based on the Blaggards spec range):
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Body: Lightweight Obeche – keeps the guitar comfortably under ~7 lbs yet still resonant and lively
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Neck & Fingerboard: Maple with a classic thin profile for that snappy, immediate feel
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Finish: Nitrocellulose Vintage Burst with aged crazing for a broken-in look and feel right out of the case
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Hardware: GOTOH relic hardware and a vintage-style “T” bridge – aged, but rock-solid in usePickups: Hand-wound Higham Honk single coils, voiced for vintage clarity with plenty of bite and twang
On the couch it feels like an old favourite; on stage it covers blues, country, indie and classic rock with ease. At Colemans we love this one for players who want Tele-style response, but with a more boutique, small-shop story behind it.
GORDON SMITH Gatsby – Hove Pink
Style: Modern offset with P-90 punch and serious comfort
If you’re chasing something with more of an offset flair, the Gatsby in Hove Pink is a standout. It’s a modern reimagining of the classic offset shape, combining retro curves with smart modern hardware and a very comfortable, compact footprint.
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Body: Lightweight Obeche – super comfy for long rehearsals and gigs
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Neck: Roasted maple with a smooth, fast feel
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Fretboard: Rosewood for warmth and a familiar under-the-fingers feel
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Bridge: HK41 tremolo with Golden Age roller saddles – designed for tuning stability even with expressive vibrato use
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Pickups: Home-wound GS P-90s – bright, articulate and gritty when you dig in
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Scale Length: 25.5" – ideal for snap, clarity and defined low-end
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Finish: Hove Pink with matching white guard and chrome hardware, plus a Gordon Smith Deluxe gig bag included
Tonally, the Gatsby can do jangly indie, surfy cleans, crunchy garage rock and even alternative/modern worship tones. It’s one of those guitars that instantly stands out visually on stage without feeling over-the-top.
GORDON SMITH Griffin Flip – Tobacco Burst
Style: Flipped-body rock machine with mini-humbuckers
Listed as “Copy of Gordon Smith Gatsby Tobacco Burst” in the URL but now correctly titled on our site as the Griffin Flip Tobacco Burst, this one does exactly what the name suggests—flips the script on a classic rock guitar shape
From the Colemans description:
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Body: Lightweight Obeche with a slightly smaller footprint – super comfy standing or sitting
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Neck: Thin-profile mahogany neck for warmth and fast playability
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Fretboard: Ebony – smooth feel and extra snap
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Pickups: Nickel-covered mini humbuckers in bridge and neck – punchy, articulate, perfect for crunchy rhythm and singing leads
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Finish: Full satin Tobacco Burst with matching headstock
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Hardware: 18:1 GOTOH tuners, standard Tune-O-Matic bridge, CTS loom and foil/black top-hat knobs
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Case: Gig bag included, ready to hit the road
The Griffin Flip is ideal if you want something visually different from the usual single-cut or offset, but still want a familiar, rock-ready tonal palette. It covers everything from classic rock and punk to heavier indie and alternative.
GORDON SMITH GS1000 – Chambray
Style: Thick-body, single-humbucker powerhouse with boutique appointments
The GS1000 in Chambray is a premium evolution of Gordon Smith’s iconic GS1 thick-body design. It takes that classic double-cut outline and adds high-end materials and hardware for players who want an heirloom-grade instrument.C
Highlights:
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Body: Thick, 44 mm mahogany body for sustain and rich, mid-forward tone
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Neck: Roasted flame maple – visually stunning and very stable
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Fretboard: Ebony for clarity and a slick playing surface
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Bridge: Gotoh 510/Tune-O style unit for rock-solid intonation and feel
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Pickup: Single GSG humbucker – simple, powerful and highly responsive to volume and tone changes
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Aesthetics: Body and neck binding, colour-matched Chambray headstock, metal burled knobs and aged hardware for a true boutique look
This is the Gordon Smith for players who really care about feel and dynamic response. Roll the volume back for clear, almost single-coil-like textures, then open it up for thick rock tones that love a good valve amp.
Come Try Gordon Smith at Colemans Music
Whether you’re a punk lifer, an indie jangler, a modern worship player or just a guitar nerd who loves hand-built instruments with a story, Gordon Smith guitars are seriously worth a test-drive.
At Colemans Music Melbourne, you can:
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Plug the Blaggards, Gatsby, Griffin Flip and GS1000 into a proper amp and feel the difference
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Chat with our team about which model fits your playing style, rig and budget
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Order online via colemansmusic.com.au with Australia-wide delivery if you’re not local
