Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 4 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (2)
$549.99
Amazon
4.8 (4)
$769.99 Used
Reverb
5.0 (18)
$849.00 New
$785.79 Used
Gear4Music
£785.00

Average Price: $739

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

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Price History

Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Guild S-100 Polara". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Guild S-100 Polara, a modern reimagining of a '70s classic. This electric guitar boasts a slightly off-shape design and a unique 24.75" scale neck, epitomizing Guild's vintage swagger with a contemporary twist. Its solid mahogany neck and body seamlessly blend with a rosewood fretboard, providing a rich, resonant tone and an enchanting playing experience. Equipped with a pair of potent HB-1 pickups, this guitar delivers a versatile range of tones, making it suitable for any genre. The S-100 Polara, part of Guild's Newark St. Collection, is lauded for its timeless looks and its infinitely playable soft "U" neck, coupled with modern updates like a compensated stopbar tailpiece. This guitar is not just an instrument, but a testimony to Guild's legacy in creating genre-defining guitars.

Key Features:

  • Solid mahogany neck and body
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Unique 24.75" scale neck
  • Infinitely playable soft "U" neck
  • Pair of HB-1 pickups
  • Part of Guild's Newark St. Collection
  • Compensated stopbar tailpiece
  • Slightly off-shape design
  • Suitable for any genre
  • Timeless looks

Product specs

Brand Guild
Model Newark St. Collection S-100 Polara
Finish Black, Cherry Red, White
Year 2013 - 2021
Made In Korea, Republic of
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Stop-Bar
Color Family Black, Red, White
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Pau Ferro
Fretboard Radius 10"
Neck Construction Set-Neck
Neck Material Mahogany
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Nut Width 1.6875"
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 24.75"

FAQs

What type of neck does the Guild S-100 Polara have?

The Guild S-100 Polara features a set-neck construction with a soft U-shaped mahogany neck, providing a comfortable grip and smooth playability for various playing styles.

What kind of pickups are on the Guild S-100 Polara?

The Guild S-100 Polara is equipped with HB-1 Dual-Coil pickups, offering a rich and warm tone suitable for a variety of music genres, from rock to blues.

Is the Guild S-100 Polara suitable for beginners?

While the Guild S-100 Polara is a versatile guitar, its features such as the dual-coil pickups and set-neck construction are often appreciated by more experienced players. However, its comfortable neck profile can be suitable for beginners looking for a quality instrument to grow with.

What is the body material of the Guild S-100 Polara?

The body of the Guild S-100 Polara is made from solid mahogany, which contributes to its warm tone and sustain.

Does the Guild S-100 Polara come with a case?

Yes, the Guild S-100 Polara comes with a gig bag, offering basic protection for transporting the guitar.

Guild Guitars

Guild Guitars

Guild S-100 Polara

Video thumbnail for Guild S-100 Polara by Guild Guitars

Guild S-100 Polara

Guild Guitars

Guild Guitars

Video thumbnail for Guild S-100 Polara Demo by Guild Guitars

Guild S-100 Polara Demo

Guild Guitars

Guild Guitars

Video thumbnail for Guild S-100 Polara  •  SN: KSG1200937 by Wildwood Guitars

Guild S-100 Polara • SN: KSG1200937

Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Video thumbnail for Guild S-100 Polara Newark St. Collection: Tone Review and Demo by MusicStoreLive.com

Guild S-100 Polara Newark St. Collection: Tone Review and Demo

MusicStoreLive.com

MusicStoreLive.com

Video thumbnail for Guild s100 Polara sound demo by Jeroen

Guild s100 Polara sound demo

Jeroen

Jeroen

Video thumbnail for Demo Guild S 100 Polara by Cutaway Magazine

Demo Guild S 100 Polara

Cutaway Magazine

Cutaway Magazine

Video thumbnail for Guild S-100 Polara white gloss demo at Basone Guitar Shop in Vancouver Canada by BasoneGuitars

Guild S-100 Polara white gloss demo at Basone Guitar Shop in Vancouver Canada

BasoneGuitars

BasoneGuitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Guild S-100 Polara.

Mods and upgrades

  • Some owners replace stock tuners with GOTOH SD90 Magnum Lock Traditional 3 x 3 for better tuning stability.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Issues with tuning stability may require nut replacement; stock nut can struggle to hold tune.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Coil splits are present, but the guitar excels with gain in humbucker mode, especially on the bridge pickup.

    Source

Build quality

  • The guitar's light weight is appreciated, but some electronics and hardware like knobs and tuners feel subpar.

    Source
  • The design features a slight offset, which is appreciated by some for its unique aesthetic compared to more traditional models.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The white and black color scheme is favored over red, which some feel resembles a knockoff SG.

    Source
  • The Guild S-100 Polara may offer sturdier build quality compared to a Gibson SG, according to long-term users of Guild guitars.

    Source

Other

  • Guild humbuckers were used in early BC Rich models before DiMarzio pickups became available, highlighting the brand's historical significance and quality.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 20 Ratings

5 star
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1 star
christoph_trummer

Great instrument, may need a bit of setting up depending on how you get it

Most people know this from Kim Thayil (Soundgarden). You don't need to play heavy on it though, it's a very versatile instrument. Also: I don't think it's really a cheaper SG. It's very much it's own thing. I bought the Polara mainly because of the interesting pick-ups (so be aware that some 90ies models are stacked differently!). It's a pretty cheap guitar and as usual, that means it depends a lot on how your seller sets it up (or doesn't). In my case, I had to order it online and when it arrived I had to have the saddle lowered and adjust the trussrod. there's also some questions on the wiring: there's a lot of cable in that electronics space, I had a fifties wiring done by my luthier and the sound is a bit more direct now. All this being said, I love this guitar. The overall quality is amazing for the price. The sound is unique, it's wide and huge, beautifully warm and full of textures and harmonics. There's a transparent warmth on the neck pup. The bridge-pup has a great powerful bite but also stays transparent. Think Telecaster meets Gretsch. Playabilty took me a bit of getting used to, coming from mainly Fender guitars. The neck is full and wide, frets are higher than I was used to as well. But now that I figured out just what this thing is good for, it's gonna be with me for a while.

paulius_azubalis

Dark / stoner rockery sounding guitar

It is gorgeous peace of art. I really like the sound of this guitar. My guitar sounds pretty dark and has this stone / doom metal vibe. Really inspires to create those type of dark riffs. Had some problems with pickup selector. Had to change it pretty fast after buying it. Also pot seems weak, paint around pot cracked and pot in self began to have connection issues. Probably I was just unfortunate with these things, couldn't safely enjoy instrument to fullest and use it in gigs as it lacked my trust.

Roles:
Genres:
branded72

Now my main electric.

This is a beautiful guitar. Adding to its beauty is the truth that you really have to work to get a bad sound out of it. That’s rare these days, especially with a guitar that you can have for under a bill. It’s especially good for dropped tunings. The thing stays in tune no matter how much I throw it around. You can get the specs anywhere, I’m just trying to give y’all a sense of this righteous instrument! Play one. Always play an instrument before you purchase it. Common sense, no? Well, with Amazon, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, etc., it’s easy to browse and buy just by looking and reading reviews, but quality can vary so always play before you buy. I’ll tell you though, Guild is an excellent manufacturer and this is a badass instrument.

jimmarchi1

you should try an old guild

branded72

Haha! I went into a local music shop about two weeks back where I had tracked one down. I played it until finally this cat came over and asked how I liked it. I asked him what time it was because I’d lost all track. Almost two hours passed in what seemed like a moment and I figured if that’s was true, how in the world could I pass it up? I ended up buying it right then because either they all sound this incredible, or I had stumbled onto an especially wicked example. Whichever the case, I wasn’t gonna let it slip away. I’ll post a review of it and a few photos as soon as I can get to it. Thank you for the suggestion, my man

skylinerr

Great Axe

Borrowed this from a buddy of mine great guitar sounds good he has it back now sadly

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Mike McCready uses Guild S-100 Polara

Mike McCready

Guitarist

Pearl Jam

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, one can see Mike playing a black S-100 Polara.

See how St. Vincent uses Guild S-100 Polara

St. Vincent

Singer, Guitarist

The Polyphonic Spree

...
Verified via Photo

In this picture, Annie Clark can be seen playing a black Guild S-100 with a Bigsby.

See how Kim Thayil uses Guild S-100 Polara

Kim Thayil

Guitarist

Soundgarden

...
Verified via Photo

In this article by Guitar Player, Kim Thayil says, "A particular attribute of the Guild S-100— which is still my main guitar—is that the low strings are very resonant behind the bridge. That helps create weird harmonics when the signal is feeding back. I pick below the bridge, and slide my left hand up and down the string around the 12th fret to create a pulsating, harmonic effect. The other prerequisite is hot pickups. I noticed as a teenager that my guitar was louder than my friends’ SGs and Les Pauls. The S-100’s pickups are also slightly microphonic, so they are great for distortion and feedback."

See how Patrick Stump uses Guild S-100 Polara

Patrick Stump

Singer, Guitarist

Fall Out Boy

...
Verified via YouTube

Patrick stump can be seen playing a s-100 throughout this video.

See how Paul Banks uses Guild S-100 Polara

Paul Banks

Guitarist, DJ

Interpol

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo Paul Banks is seen playing a Guild S-100 Polara guitar.

See how Stephen Malkmus uses Guild S-100 Polara

Stephen Malkmus

Guitarist, Singer

Pavement

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Stephen Malkmus is holding his Guild S-100 electric guitar. In an 2014 article from The Current, he talks about it:

What kind of guitar are you playing?

This is a Guild; I think it's called the S-100. This is the same guitar that Kim Thayil from Soundgarden uses, and I was looking for a SG-style guitar, but I just thought I could take it in a more creative direction and get something a little more off the radar.

Do you remember where you got it?

My friend Reuben Cox sold it to me in Los Angeles. He's married to a good friend of mine named Miwa, and Reuben had just started a guitar store in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles. He was just kind of getting his feet wet, and Miwa said, like, "You should just buy this."

She kind of really wanted me to buy it, but I did also. It wasn't like I was doing charity work — not in the least — but I wanted to buy it from Reuben. And now, his business is expanded to a point where, you know, he's really successful and is going great. So this reminds me of him and his business and how he's getting his feet.

How long ago did you get it?

Only like four years ago. It's relatively new in my arsenal. I'm known as a Fender player by most people. I don't know how geeky this series is, but it's not that geeky to say there's Fender people and Gibson people, and there's kind of a divide there.

But this guitar kind of bridges the gap in a certain way because it's not purely — well, Guild is kind of Gibson, but not dyed-in-the-wool Gibson, so my Fender side doesn't get offended. "O-Fender-ed"!

What do you like about the tone of it?

It's how you play it. Like any guitar, it can sound good if you play it right. Almost any guitar.

And I'm still learning how to play it with my amp and everything, and how to hit the strings, hard or soft. I like how it is when you don't bash on it too hard. It's kind of nice. But it's hard to remember to be a little light-handed with your right hand when you're playing a concert. You want to dig in. But a lot of great people don't really dig in.

Is that something you've been trying to work on?

Yes. I play with my fingers a lot more, too. You can kind of create more dynamics when you play with your fingers. You can have your guitar quite loud, but you can not hit it as hard.

And of course, with the distortion pedal, you can get all the sustain you need. You don't need to be picking. You can just pluck it a tiny bit and it will ring out forever.

Did you write a lot of the album on this?

No, I write on acoustic. That's just my way. I don't play electric guitars except in concerts or in rehearsal. I'm all totally acoustic when it comes to songwriting. That gives you a more round sound, it enables you to imagine a band a little more, and to sing along with that is easier than with electric guitar.

I mean, you can write songs on electric guitar if you have a practice room with a microphone and you can kind of fantasize, "I'm in a band when I'm doing this!"

But I don't really do that in the songwriting phase; I save the electric guitar for later with the whole group.

See how Carrie Brownstein uses Guild S-100 Polara

Carrie Brownstein

Guitarist

Sleater-Kinney

...
Verified via Photo

In this live performance image, Carrie Brownstein is seen playing her Guild S-100 Polara.

See how Daniel Rossen uses Guild S-100 Polara

Daniel Rossen

Singer, Guitarist

Grizzly Bear

...
Verified via Photo

Daniel Rossen is seen using the Guild S-100 Polara electric guitar in performances of songs like "Sleeping Ute" and "Gun-Shy," as captured in a user-uploaded photo on Wordpress.

See how Ray Davies uses Guild S-100 Polara

Ray Davies

Singer, Guitarist

The Kinks

...
Verified via Photo

On this picture, Ray Davies seems to play on a Guild S-100, maybe in a natural finish.

See how Scott Avett uses Guild S-100 Polara

Scott Avett

Singer, Guitarist

The Avett Brothers

...
Verified via Fretboard Journal

They’ve even mixed in a couple of electric guitars, including a Guild S-100

See how Taylor Rice uses Guild S-100 Polara

Taylor Rice

Guitarist

Local Natives

...
Verified via YouTube

at 47:21 you can see him playing a red guild s-100

See how The Babe Rainbow (aus) uses Guild S-100 Polara

The Babe Rainbow (aus)

...
Verified via Photo

The Babe Rainbow (aus) is not using a Guild S-100 Polara in this photo. Please remove this entry.

Album Usage

The Guild S-100 Polara has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Guild S-100 Polara, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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paul_saltmarsh

paul_saltmarsh

Gear IQ 229

john_rebel

john_rebel

Gear IQ 271

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