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BRITISH

INSTITUTION

INTERVIEW JOSH GARDNER PHOTOGRAPHY JOE SUPPLE

Doug Sparkes is aware of the
responsibility he’s assumed

since buying Gordon Smith
four years ago. But the rebirth
and reinvigoration of the UK
brand might not have happened

were it not for some speculative
post-pub googling

Auden Guitars owner
Doug Sparkes cradling
a GS Deluxe Semi Solid

ow many of us have found ourselves on says Doug, as we tour the old Co-operative building
Reverb or eBay after a few too many in Higham Ferrers that’s now the workshop and HQ
beverages and, several days later, answered for both Auden and Gordon Smith.
the door to the postman only to discover “I got home from the pub one night thinking, ‘Is
H we’d tipsily bought something on the spur there something to do with guitars that could fill that
of the moment? One evening a few years ago, Auden space?’ So I searched ‘Guitar business for sale’, thinking
Guitars owner Doug Sparkes took online shopping to there might be a retailer that could move in, and on my
a whole new level when he placed a bid for something screen came ‘Guitar manufacturer for sale, Manchester’.
slightly more substantial than a new effects pedal. I thought, ‘That can only be Gordon Smith!’ So, over
“When I bought this building, the idea was that a few days and about 1,000 cups of tea, John Smith
half of it was going to be the Auden workshop and and I did a deal for Gordon Smith to join the Auden
office, and half I was going to rent out as a shop,” family and moved it all down to this workshop.”

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