Guild Kim Thayil signature Polara/S-100 coming up

[Pacafeliz]

It looks great. I wonder what that phase switch is.

Isn't it just exactly that... a phase switch?

[Unicorn Warrior]

It looks great. I wonder what that phase switch is.

Isn't it just exactly that... a phase switch?

Haha. I guess I should’ve said, I wonder what will it do in terms of the sound? I’ve never found out of phase sounds useful. So I was maybe hoping it split coils or something.

[Pacafeliz]

It looks great. I wonder what that phase switch is.

Isn't it just exactly that... a phase switch?

Haha. I guess I should’ve said, I wonder what will it do in terms of the sound? I’ve never found out of phase sounds useful. So I was maybe hoping it split coils or something.

Yeah actually I'd been thinking about making a thread about that question lately. Who needs or out of phase sounds? It used to be a boom but who actually ever used it?!

[Embenny]

Definitely GAS inducing. I might take a serious look at this. It could dethrone my SG Standard.
If it’s anything like the Polaras I’ve tried in the past few years, it should be excellent.

The Newark St. Guitars were previously all made in Korea. I have two, and they're absurdly nice for their price point.

This one is Indonesian, like the Surfliners, and all the reviews of those have left me with the distinct impression that they're a sizeable step down in quality from the MIK Guilds.

[LVC]

I hope this doesn't come off as bitching about prices, but isn't CHF950 (about €1k / £850 / $1.1k) unusually high for a MII guitar?

[ThePearDream]

Isn't it just exactly that... a phase switch?

Haha. I guess I should’ve said, I wonder what will it do in terms of the sound? I’ve never found out of phase sounds useful. So I was maybe hoping it split coils or something.

Yeah actually I'd been thinking about making a thread about that question lately. Who needs or out of phase sounds? It used to be a boom but who actually ever used it?!

In series & out of phase is a whole different sound! From the way the specs are written, I'd expect the switch to put the individual humbucker coils out of phase, with their mate. It's still a scooped sound, but with more girth. It makes for cool dirt tones.

[Embenny]

I hope this doesn't come off as bitching about prices, but isn't CHF950 (about €1k / £850 / $1.1k) unusually high for a MII guitar?

It's not bitching about prices, it's legitimately concerning. I pointed out the same thing with the Surfliner Deluxe. These "premium" Indonesian guitars they're making are overlapping with the Korean prices, and that's not to imply one country has superior guitar factories than the other, but WMI (the Korean factory making the regular Polaras) has been doing a particularly exceptional job on those.

It's honestly like having a Squier Mascis overlapping in price with the AmPro JM. Yes, it's a signature model, and yes, it's probably particularly nice for the "cheaper line," but when budget models start overlapping with your flagship line you've got a problem as a business.

I've long held that the MIK Guilds, especially on the used market (where they depreciate like G&Ls due to lack of brand recognition) are among the best value guitars you can get for your money, period.

If you want a Polara, get one of the MIK ones. They're seriously great. My two WMI-made Guilds have nicer fretwork and fit/finish than the last three Mexican Fenders I've owned. Easily on par with the last few US Fenders I've picked up (and better than at least a couple of them).

[Sebastian]

In the late 1990s, Soundgarden was my favourite band. So I bought one of these when they came out in September.

I never played a S-100 before, but I'm pleasantly surprised, the Guild is a great and versatile sounding guitar - a warm vintage sound that goes well with my Jazzmasters, unlike other humbucker guitars (I once had a SG and still have a hollowbody PRS).

[F15hface]

I think the white one looks super cool, a shame they've only made 30 and they're laughably expensive. Not interested enough in Kim, gold hardware, or a phase switch to go for the price increase over a regular Polara. I did play a standard one the other day and thought it was fantastic, comfy and unusually for me I liked the neck pickup. Been in the mood for something vaguely SG shaped with hum buckers so it's definitely in the running.