Guild USA S-100 Polara Kim Thayil Electric Guitar

As part of Guild's 70th anniversary and in collaboration with Kim, Guild is excited to introduce the USA Artist Edition S-100 Polara Kim Thayil, a limited run of 30 master-built guitars celebrating Soundgarden's Kim Thayil and his connection of over 30 years to the S-100 Polara. A pioneer of the "Seattle Sound," Kim is synonymous with the iconic grunge tone of the '90s, all of which originated from his Guild S-100.

This signature model takes its specs from two of Kim's most iconic guitars. His favorite, a 1978 Guild S-100 Polara in Natural and his go-to stage guitar, a white model with gold hardware.

Specs and measurements taken from the 1978 were replicated by Master Luthier Chuck Sanzone in a limited-run of 30 guitars. Hand-built utilizing one-piece bodies of old-growth Honduran Mahogany, the Guild 70's neck shape and large headstock reflect Kim's favorite features of his '78 S-100.

These ultra-limited guitars include pickups hand-wound by Jason Lollar. Also a Seattle native, Lollar is world renowned for his designs and worked with Guild and Kim to authentically produce Guild's flagship HB-1 Humbuckers.

Kim's Connection to the S-100 Polara

Born on September 4, 1960, in Seattle, WA (raised in Park Forest, Illinois), Kim Anand Thayil picked up his first guitar in the mid 1970's. It was around this time that he bought a Guild S-100 guitar at his local guitar shop, which he notes "just felt different [and] did things which fit my personality."

Fast-forward a few years,… read more Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden was born, which Kim co-founded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. Using his S-100, Kim created his own original style that helped propel Soundgarden to the top of the Seattle rock heap in the '90s - where they are still considered one of the greatest grunge bands of all time.

With a 70's S-100 neck and headstock, nitro finish, and hand-wound HB-1 pickups, the Guild USA Artist Edition S-100 Polara Kim Thayil captures the same magic Kim discovered while playing his first S-100 Polara.

Features:

- Limited run of 30 master-built guitars
- Artist Edition of the guitar from which the iconic grunge sound was born
- Combines the specs of two of Kim's most iconic S-100 Polara guitars
- Neck and body wood are from old-growth genuine mahogany
- Indian Rosewood Fretboard with "Kim Thayill Slim C" neck shape
- Specs & measurements replicated by Master Luthier Chuck Sanzone
- Lollar HB-1 Humbuckers, hand-wound by Jason Lollar himself
- Signed backplate with iconic Soundgarden logo
- Custom hardshell case included

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