Article: My Second Visit To The Gordon Smith (Auden) Workshop

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Jan 18, 2016Gordon Smith Guitars

My Second Visit To The Gordon Smith (Auden) Workshop

This is just a quick update to let you know that I spent Friday with Doug at Gordon Smith guitars catching up and seeing how progress was being made on my guitar range and the hub concept.

Its always fascinating stepping into their workshop - the hairs always go up on my arm just being around such a positive and creative bunch of people.

The hub is still a month or so away I think - things never move as fast as you would like but it has to be organic and things will materialize in the right time. In terms of neck options we have decided that it makes more sense to offer neck depths which are measurable rather than offering "c - d - v" shapes. Offering different thicknesses and widths is much more "accountable" so people will know exactly what they are getting.

I saw several of my guitars in the build process which was fun to see as well as the pickup winder in full flow. I took a video which I will try and upload as soon as I can. Its so quirky and cool!

I was so pleased and excited to see a Gordon Smith Gemini. It was jaw droppingly beautiful. So I made a mental note to get one of these ordered asap.

A few months ago on my last visit my eyes and ears were impressed by their acoustic guitars - Auden guitars. The back story is they are hand made in a small workshop in China which Doug has built a great working relationship with. The bodies are made in the workshop and then sent to Dougs workshop to be assembled with the highest quality components. The result is highly impressive. Doug was kind enough to send 3 over to me to test out but 2 of the 3 were sold to customers who fell in love with them in store before I could even try them myself! That really is the ultimate accolade. On this visit I had some time to acquaint myself with them and reckon my customers can't be wrong! If 2 guitars sold to customers who even had access to Furch at the same time?!?! So I just had to get this moving..... expect to see this developing in store and online over the coming weeks - really exciting.

Mark at work in the spray booth. His work is first class as I have witnessed on all the GS guitars I have tried since the Auden take over.

Mark spraying guitars in the Gordon Smith workshop

Was really exciting to see some of my guitars drying out ready for the next stage before ending up in my hands!

Necks cut with fret markers installed - ready for the next stage toward final assembly

Some necks completed ready for asembly to the bodies hanging in the drying room...

Written by Richard Cholerton

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For me - there is no difference between "personal" and "business" life - It is all "my life". Interconnected and therefore highly personal. Every guitar I sell (EVERY) is one I can tell you the backstory - about the people who make them - the ethos of the brand and how they align with my own - they are a genuine personal recommendations based on 28 years in the industry.

With the industry dominated by marketing, hype, and "blinkered" brand loyalty - retailers focus on what they get asked for - with little effort in raising awareness of guitars that are better than the one you asked about. This leads to a lot of poor buying decisions!

Here is a quick introduction to the brands I often refer to as "my babies" but really you could simply refer to them as "benchmarks". Check the prices - check the specs - check the quality and back story - and find me a brand that does it better - or even close. The fact is you cant buy a bad guitar from Richards Guitars - you will only find the best - set up to your personal requirements.

Art Meets Craft - Artisan - Unique

Hand Made In Slovakia

I have the honour and privilege to be Englands exclusive dealer for Dowina guitars. A completely unique approach to guitar building that blends passion, art and craft producing the most inspiring and wondrous acoustic guitars that represent so much more than the materials they are made from.

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Furch Changed Everything...

I introduced Furch to to the UK over 20 years ago - with my good friend Keith Twine who has since retired.

At the time I was a leading supplier of brands such as Gibson, Martin & Taylor. Experiencing Furch guitars made me realize there is what you "know" and what you "should know". Just because you DON'T - doesn't mean it doesn't exist!

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Inspirational quality, tone & feel at a price you never thought would be possible.

A Benchmark British Brand

With an incredible Back story - A Truly Brtiish yet global brand utilising the shared skills of the Gordon Smith Team in England and a small boutique workshop in China - The result? Unbelievable quality that far surpasses that of recognised mass produced brands at the same price.

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....and continue to be their largest and most experienced dealer in the UK supplying Eastman guitars throughout Europe.

Originally known for their extraordinary quality, hand made arch tops - produced by violin makers - as their reputation spread they developed into the World of electric and acoustic guitar production which continue to be made by hand.

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The Truly Great British Electric Guitar Brand Since 1974

The Great British Electric Guitar Brand was born just 2 years after me!

I first became entwined with Gordon Smith in 1995 when I began selling guitars. My first experience was on receiving what I later learned to be a Gordon Smith Gypsy.

So powerful an impact that guitar had on me that I kept it and gave it to my Dad. Its the ONLY guitar in 28 years I havent parted with (well - My Dad has it and continues to enjoy it at 82).

The Gordon Smith Legacy rocketed to new heights when Doug Sparkes took over about 10 years ago - taking this great British Electric Guitar brand into new realms not just in terms of value but extreme quality too - making them not just a choice for people who want to support British Guitar Building but for people who want the finest electric guitars too.

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Canadas Finest

I have specialised in Godin guitars since 1995.

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Get one in your hands, and you will soon understand their unique contribution to the evolution of the guitar.

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Perfection

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I have to thank Stuart - Director of UK Distributor Selectron for thinking of me when he made a very special find in the guise of Luigi - A man building what can only be described as playable works of art. An extraordinary man - extraordinary guitars and I can only thank Luigi & Stuart for thinking of me as a perfect fit to help represent Luigis work in the UK.

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The most comprehensive collection of affordable electric guitars money can buy.

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I have been promoting Vintage brand guitars since the day they were "born" some 20+ years ago! In this time they have just got better... and better... and better! Not just that but the range has just become EPIC. Something for everyone!!

In the past couple of years ProShop has become one of the mmost exciting UK hand built guitars- using the Vintage range as the building blocks to create wonderful and exciting guitars that would normally cost thousands of pounds.

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My Second Visit To The Gordon Smith (Auden) Workshop

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