Guild S-300 Deluxe NBM

Guild S-300 Deluxe NBM review

The Guild S-300 Deluxe NBM is an offset electric guitar with a mahogany body and set mahogany neck. Its Neptune Blue Metallic finish gives the model a clearly specified appearance, while the listed hardware and electronics point to a conventional two-humbucker layout with several control options. The supplied price is $799. This assessment is based only on the published specifications; no customer reviews or hands-on impressions are available.

That distinction matters. The specifications identify the materials, dimensions, pickups, and controls, but they do not establish the guitar's weight, setup quality, acoustic response, tuning stability in use, or how it feels while playing. Those points require direct inspection or reliable user feedback, neither of which is provided here.

Body, neck, and dimensions

The body and set neck are both mahogany. The set-neck construction describes how the neck joins the body, but the available information does not give details such as the neck joint's shape or access to the upper frets. The body has no separate top listed, so there is no additional top wood to factor into the construction description.

The neck has a Vintage Soft U profile and a rosewood fingerboard. That profile name indicates the stated neck shape, although it cannot tell us how substantial the neck feels in the hand. The fingerboard has pearloid block inlays, a visual detail that contrasts with the Neptune Blue Metallic finish. The guitar has 24 frets and a 628 mm scale, equivalent to 24.75 inches. This is a shorter scale than a 25.5-inch design, but the specifications alone do not determine string tension or playability, since string gauge and setup also matter.

The offset body is the principal shape detail in the listing. No body measurements, weight, or contour information is supplied, so claims about balance, comfort, or how the guitar sits while standing would be speculation. Buyers who prioritize those qualities should try the instrument in person or seek measurements from a reliable source.

Pickups and controls

The S-300 Deluxe NBM uses two Guild HB-2+ humbucking pickups with Alnico V magnets. The HH configuration means there is a humbucker at each pickup position. The listing does not provide output measurements, coil specifications, or frequency-response data, so it is not possible to make a firm prediction about the pickups' output level or tonal character from their names alone.

Controls comprise two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way toggle switch. A mini-toggle phase switch adds another option for changing the relationship between the pickup signals. The specifications do not explain exactly which pickup combinations the phase switch affects, or whether its operation is tied to a particular toggle position. The basic control layout is clear, but its full switching behavior should be confirmed in a demonstration or product manual.

Separate volume and tone controls can provide individual adjustment for each pickup, depending on the instrument's wiring. Since the supplied data does not include a wiring diagram, that interpretation should not be treated as a confirmed circuit description. The three-way toggle establishes three selector positions, but the exact wiring details are not listed.

Bridge and tuning hardware

The bridge is described as a Tune-o-matic-style design, identified as Ultimate Angle, with a compensated stop tailpiece. This specifies a fixed bridge arrangement rather than a tremolo system. The product data explicitly lists no tremolo. Players looking for a vibrato arm should account for that before buying.

Grover G2 machine heads are fitted. The specification names the tuners but provides no gear ratio or locking feature, so neither should be assumed. As with any guitar, tuning performance depends on the complete setup and condition of the strings, nut, bridge, and tuners, not just the machine-head brand.

What the specifications establish

• Construction: offset body, mahogany body, and set mahogany neck.
• Fingerboard: rosewood with pearloid block inlays and 24 frets.
• Scale: 628 mm, or 24.75 inches.
• Electronics: two Guild HB-2+ Alnico V humbuckers, two volume controls, two tone controls, a three-way toggle, and a mini-toggle phase switch.
• Hardware: Ultimate Angle Tune-o-matic-style bridge, compensated stop tailpiece, and Grover G2 machine heads.
• Finish and included items: Neptune Blue Metallic; no case or gig bag is included.

Verdict

The Guild S-300 Deluxe NBM has a defined feature set: a mahogany set-neck construction, rosewood fingerboard, 24.75-inch scale, two humbuckers, and a fixed bridge. Its phase switch gives the control layout an option beyond a basic pickup selector, though the exact circuit behavior is not detailed in the available specifications.

At the listed $799 price, the central buying questions are practical: whether the Vintage Soft U neck profile suits your hand, whether the offset body feels comfortable, and whether the pickup and switching arrangement matches your needs. The published data cannot answer those through direct playing evidence. There are no customer reviews available, so this is a specification-based assessment rather than a report of real-world performance. The product's item number is 648826, and neither a case nor a gig bag is included.