Gordon Whitham and John Smith founded Gordon Smith Guitars in 1974 and it is the longest running UK guitar maker.

In 2015 Auden aquired the Gordon Smith Guitars brand, when John Smith retired and it continues to trade as a stand alone business producing hand crafted British built electric guitars. John Smith spent his final year with the company helping to set up the processes in Auden's workshop and ensure that the Northhampton made instruments carried on the GSG tradition.

Source: Gordon Smith Guitars website (9 February 2017)