Here for sale we have a Gordon Smith Graduate Electric Guitar in 'Cherry' finish. As it is one of Gordon Smith's earlier guitars, we are only able to say what we see with some of the specifications. The guitar has been named as having a 'Cherry' finish as this is what is written in one of the pickup cavities along with the date.
Made in the United Kingdom in 1979, this guitar consists of a Mahogany body with a carved Mahogany top, a Mahogany neck, and a 22-fret Rosewood fingerboard. Other appointments include a 6-saddle Stoptail bridge, a set of Chrome Schaller sealed tuners, an aluminium nut (observed), and a set of Gordon Smith Humbucking pickups. These pickups are wired to two independent volume controls (push/pull split coil), two independent tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector.
The Mahogany neck has stood the test of time and sits comfortably in the hand, with the profile resembling a Slim ‘C’ profile, allowing for easy fretting in any register and providing ergonomic thumb positioning up and down the neck. The Rosewood fingerboard is pleasant to the touch, and with its 14” radius makes bending and vibrato techniques a breeze, whilst offering a nice balance between comfortable chord playing and practicality for quick lead lines. The smaller, more compact size of the body makes it easier to play for extended periods of time compared to larger semi-hollow or hollow body guitars.
The Gordon Smith humbucker in the neck position sounds thick and full, with a rich low end great for rhythm tonalities. The middle position provides a punchy, tight midrange great for chordal styles of playing whilst being able to cut through a mix. The Gordon Smith humbucker in the bridge position produces a clear and articulate top end, balancing very well with a punchy output, providing a great feel and clarity, allowing the player to achieve a wide variety of tones all at the fingertips. The addition of independent coil splits adds the versatility of single-coil style tones for those softer sections.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Gordon Smith Graduate 'Cherry' 1979 Electric Guitar
Brand- Gordon Smith
Model- Graduate
Finish- Cherry
Year- 1979
Made In- United Kingdom
Top- Carved Mahogany
Body- Mahogany
Neck- Mahogany
Neck Profile- Slim 'C'
Fingerboard- Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius- 14" (measured)
Frets- 22
Scale Length- 24.75"
Nut Width- 1.835"
Pickups- 2x Gordon Smith Humbuckers
Controls- 2x Volume (Push/Pull Coil Split), 2x Tone, 3-way Pickup Selector
Our ID: 1210126174040
Weight: 9.45lbs
Serial: 00237
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall excellent condition. Light scratching is present to all aspects of the headstock which can be seen under direct light, as is common with gloss finishes. Very light indentations can be seen to the center of the rear face, this appears to be from factory and can only be seen under direct light.
Neck: Overall very good condition. Light markings can be seen to the fingerboard across the register, these can only be seen under direct light and can not be felt in the playing position. Light scratching and marking can be seen to the rear of the neck across the register, the most apparent of these can be seen behind the nut and to the 2nd fret.
Body: Overall very good condition. All aspects of the body display light to mild scratching and indentations which can be seen under direct light. The most apparent indentations can be seen to the bass side lower bout waist and to the rear face lower bout, none of these have broken the finish. The most apparent scratching can be seen to the center of the rear face, this is consistent with regular past use.
Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate notable signs of use, not affecting playability. Moderate denting and flattening of the frets is apparent throughout the register. There is no material remaining for any fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional & adjustable. No truss rod tool included (socket stud 5/16")
Hardware: Overall very good condition. All aspects of the hardware display light to mild signs of past use. The most apparent of these can be seen to the pick guard with scratching present from previous use. Light cracking can be seen to the control knobs, these have been tested and present no structural concerns. The neck pickup ring has a crack in plastic housing on the upper side. This does not affect functionality.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 10-46
Electrics: Fully functional.
Case & Accessories
Unbranded hard case.
Overall good condition and fully functional. A previous owner has applied the words"Freddie Smith" to the exterior lid of the case. Ripping of the tolex is present to the exterior near the handle, this has exposed the wood beneath. A previous owner has applied stickers to the exterior of the case. Light to mild discoloration can be seen in all aspects of the case.