Free and functionalized gold nanoparticles are synthesized by laser ablation of a gold metal plate immersed in dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran. Functionalized gold nanoparticles are synthesized in a one-step process thanks to the solubility of the ligands in these solvents. It is possible to have significant control of the concentration, aggregation, and size of the particles by varying a few parameters. UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy are used for the characterization of the nanoparticles. The Mie model for spherical particles and the Gans model for spheroids allow a fast and reliable interpretation of experimental UV-vis spectra.