Mahogany Body and Neck with Guild 70’s Headstock
Utilizing Mahogany bodies and Guild 70’s large headstock reflect Kim’s favourite features of his ’78 S-100.
Grover Original Rotomatics® Tuners
Per Kim’s request, the signature model features Grover Original Rotomatics® tuners for stability and ease of use. Standard on vintage S-100 Polara models, these tuners are a reliable industry favourite.
Guild HB-1 Humbuckers with Alnico II Magnets
Guild’s flagship HB-1 Humbuckers replicate the warm yet articulate timbre of 70’s S-100 Polaras. A perfect match for Kim’s heavy tones, the added clarity of the HB-1 allows the guitar to cut through the mix. Also equipped with a phase switch, accurate to vintage spec, these features are essential to recreating the magic of Kim’s favourite S-100 Polara models.
Soundgarden “King Animal” Truss Rod Cover and “Badmotorfinger” Signature Back Cover
Honouring the long-standing legacy of Soundgarden’s 1991 album, “Badmotorfinger” and their 2012 album, “King Animal,” these symbols are quintessentially grunge and pay tribute to Kim and his band mates.
Additional features include a bound Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid block inlays, Tune-o-Matic bridge & compensated stopbar tailpiece. Available in a Black gloss finish with gold hardware.
Features
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Polara Kim Thayil:
Style: Polara - Solid Body Electric Guitar
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Neck Pickup: Guild HB-1 Dual-Coil Neck
Bridge Pickup: Guild HB-1 Dual-Coil Bridge
pickup switching
1. Bridge – This position has the most bite and responds very well to distortion. Perfect for solos or in-your-face rhythm parts, the Guild HB-1 humbucker possesses the bold mid-range typical of standard humbuckers but with tighter lows and sparkling highs that don’t get brittle. Rolling down the volume on the bridge pickup produces a chiming single coil-like tone. (Phase switch does not function in this position.)
2. Bridge + Neck – In Phase – This position combines the tonalities of the neck and bridge humbuckers. Thick, creamy mids, big, round bass and clear trebles make this a great all-around tone. Vintage-style wiring allows for more interaction between the controls and a broad pallet of tonal options.
3. Bridge + Neck – Out of Phase – Flipping the phase switch entirely alters the interaction between the bridge and neck pickups. Gone are the thick, creamy mids, replaced by a hollow, thin, nasally tone. Great for funk, reggae, or anytime extra cut is needed. The interaction of the pickups can be adjusted by slightly rolling off either pickup’s volume control, bringing the pickups gradually back into phase.
4. Neck – This position produces a smooth, creamy tone great for anything from blues to singing lead tones. Where many humbuckers can get muddy in the neck position, the Guild HB-1 brings the neck position back to life with added clarity. (Phase switch does not function in this position.)
Body
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Body Shape | Guild Polara |
| Body Top | N / A (Solid Body) |
| Body Wood (Solid Bodies) | Mahogany |
| Top Bracing Pattern | N / A |
| Soundhole / F Holes Binding | N / A |
| Top Purfling Inlay | N / A |
| Top Binding | N / A |
| Body Sides | N / A (Solid Body) |
| Side Purfling Inlay | N / A |
| Body Back | N / A (Solid Body) |
| Back Purfling Inlay | N / A |
| Purfling | N / A |
| Body Binding | N / A |
Neck
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4" (629mm) |
| Neck Shape | Vintage Soft "U" |
| Nut Width | 1 11/16" (43mm) |
| Neck Thickness 1st Fret | 20mm |
| Neck Thickness 9th Fret | 23mm |
| Truss Rod | Dual Action |
| Truss Rod Wrench | 4mm Allen Key |
| Fingerboard Material | Indian Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12.5" (320mm) |
| Fingerboard Inlays | Blocks - Pearloid |
| Fingerboard Inlay Location | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17 |
| Frets Total | 22 |
| Fret Type | Narrow Jumbo |
| Fingerboard Binding | Ivory ABS |
Finish
| Color | Black (BLK) |
| Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
Hardware
| Bridge String Spacing | 2" (50mm) |
| Hardware Finish / Plating | Gold |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic |
| Tailpiece | Guild Compensated Stopbar |
| Nut Material | Composite |
| Tuning Machines | Grover Rotomatics |
| Strap Buttons | Vintage Pawn |
| Pickguard | Polara 5-Ply Black/White/Black/White/Black |
Electronics
| Bridge Pickup | Guild HB-1 Dual-Coil Bridge |
| Neck Pickup | Guild HB-1 Dual-Coil Neck |
| Pickup Switch | 3-Way Toggle: 1. Bridge Pickup - 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups - 3. Neck Pickup |
| Controls | Neck Volume & Tone, Bridge Volume & Tone, 3-way Toggle Pickup Switch, and Phase Switch |
Other
| Strings | D'Addario EXL110 - Nickel Wound Regular Light (.010" - .046") |
| Upper Bout Width | 11" (280mm) |
| Lower Bout Width | 13" (330mm) |
| Body Depth Upper Bout | 1.4" (35.5mm) |
| Body Depth Lower Bout | 1.4" (35.5mm) |
| Body Length | 17" (432mm) |
| Overall Length | 40" (1016mm) |
Due to ongoing product development efforts, specifications are subject to change without notice.
