The Serial number is AJ321885. I can't find this number on any of the Guild websites. It has a Westerly sticker with handwritten numbers in the soundhole and the stamped numbers on the back of the headstock also match. I'm thinking about selling it but I need to know all about it first. The Guild S-300 was launched in 1977, effectively a replacement to the SG-style S-100 solid body guitars. Guild had not tried any particularly original solid body designs for several years, so the S-300, (along with its companion S-60 and S-70 guitars, and B-301 and B-302 basses) was a welcome change for the guitar buying public. There are two serial numbers on the guitar. One on the inside label, which is GAD 46831. The other is stamped on the wood inside and is. I’ve tried to no avail to find out the date and place of it’s manufacture.
The Guild S-300 was launched in 1977, effectively a replacement to the SG-style S-100 solid body guitars. Guild had not tried any particularly original solid body designs for several years, so the S-300, (along with its companion S-60 and S-70 guitars, and B-301 and B-302 basses) was a welcome change for the guitar buying public. Functionally the guitars were well-equipped, with dual humbucking pickups, three-way (neck/bridge/both) pickup selector switch, volume and tone control for each pickup, and a phase switch for 'reversing pickup polarity'.
The 1978 Guild guitar catalogue (right) featured a pair of white S-300 guitars on its front cover.
Guild S-300 variants
The S-300 was available in a number of different forms. Different wood and pickup combinations, for a much wider range of tones.
Guild S-300 mahogany body and neck, two Guild humbucker pickups
Guild S-300D mahogany body and neck, DiMarzio PAF and Super Distortion humbuckers
Guild S-300A ash body and maple neck, two Guild humbucker pickups
Guild S-300AD ash body and maple neck, DiMarzio PAF and Super Distortion humbuckers
All models have a 24 fret curved ebony fingerboard, with dot markers (24¾ inch scale), and traditional Guild Chesterfield headstock inlay.
The ash models were available in blonde (natural) and sunburst finishes. The mahogany models were also available in natural (though obviously much darker than ash) aswell as sunburst, cherry, black, walnut and white.
The S-300 remained in production until 1989, when it was discontinued. The Ash and Dimarzio pickup options were stopped earler still in 1982.
How To Read Guild Serial Numbers
Vintage Guild S-300 Advertising
Electric guitar advertisements originally published from 1977 onwards. Click on the images for larger copies. Check out other vintage Guild advertisements
Guild S-300 - New Generation of Solid Bodies By Guild (1977)
United Kingdom Guild advertisement for two new solid body models, the S-300 guitar and single pickup B-301 bass.
[more]
Guild S-300 - Youve made it the most popular solid body guitar weve ever built (1978)
The Guild S-300 came in a number of variations, the model pictured is an S-300D, signifying the standard mahogany body and neck with (D) DiMarzio PAF and Super Distortion humbuckers. Non-D versions...
[more]
Guild S-300 - The Guild Rush (1980)
The Guild S-300 came in a number of variations, the model pictured is an S300-AD, signifying (A) ash body and maple neck, and (D) DiMarzio PAF and Super Distortion humbuckers.
[more]
Guild S-300 - Balance of Power (1981)
1981 Guitar Player advertisement for Guild solid body guitars, featuring the S-300, available since 1977. The S-300 was available with different body and neck woods and a choice of Guild or Dimarzi...
[more]
Guitars and Parts for Sale
Out Now
2021 Vintage Guitar price guideNeed the value of your guitar? The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide 2021 is out now
Latest Forum Posts
create a new post
Decoding Guild Serial Numbers
Julio Cesar
Comments are closed.