As we've mentioned before, one of the things we love most about working at TME is spec'ing out guitars with the builders we represent. CO-based Don Grosh and his crew are always so gracious with the ideas we put forth, and this new NOS Retro we're unofficially calling a "GS-100" model is a great example of their willingness to humor us.
So what's the story with this one? A lot of us here at TME were teenagers in the 90s, and as such, we're huge Soundgarden fans.
Cool, I love them too....but they weren't really known for playing Strats, so what gives? You're totally right, they didn't really play Strats - but - Kim Thayil is famous for playing a white Guild S-100, and, we love Grosh NOS Retro Strats....so...."Hey Don, what do you think about building us a handful of Guild S-100 Polara-inspired Strats?"
This guitar is so incredibly cool and has some features that make it a one-of-a-kind (though there are two more coming in different color schemes). White painted lightweight mahogany body and neck, twin Grosh 302 humbuckers w/chrome covers, reflector knobs, reverse headstock painted black with a white Grosh logo, MoP dots on just the 3,5,7, 9, 12, and 15th frets (ideas taken from a vintage S-100, not like the one Kim played, truth be told), white tuner buttons, and a volume for the neck pickup, a volume for the bridge pickup, and a master tone.
People......holy moly. We try not to use the term badass too often around here, but is there another term for this guitar?!
This NOS Retro sounds incredible and can cover such a huge range given the twin humbuckers, long scale, twin volumes, master tone, and 3-way switch set up. Rock, blues, jazz...you name it, if you're technique is dialed in and you've got the right pedals and gear you can do a ton with this one. We can't promise you'll be writing songs like Chris Cornell on it, but you can at least give it a solid go!
Priced with hardshell case.
- Lightweight Mahogany Body & Neck
- Indian Rosewood Fingerboard
- Gloss Lacquer neck finish
- Black painted reverse headstock w/white Grosh Logo
- Medium/Large Roundback (.850"/.950")
- 10" Radius
- 1 5/8" Nut Width
- 6150 Medium Frets
- 25 1/2" Scale Length
- Gotoh 510 Vintage 6-Screw Tremolo
- Lefty Kluson Tuners w/white buttons
- Black 3-ply pickguard
- Black reflector knobs
- Grosh 302 humbuckers
- 3-way, volume (neck), volume (bridge), tone
- Custom Fit Hardshell Case
- SN 4072
So what would happen if you crossed a Guild S-100 Polara with a Grosh NOS Retro?
Why We Love This