James Tyler Guitars | Studio Elite HD - Tuckerberry Shmear

James Tyler began his journey in the early 1970s, focusing on custom electric guitar work and repairs. As his reputation spread through word of mouth, Tyler became the go-to guitar technician for some of the biggest names in the Los Angeles studio scene throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. His passion for improving every aspect of the guitar, combined with a deep understanding of his clients' needs, cemented his status as a premier luthier. Players trusted him to deliver exceptional craftsmanship, and Tyler's hands-on experience with thousands of guitars gave him an unparalleled insight into what musicians truly want from their instruments. Today, owning a James Tyler guitar is synonymous with holding a piece of art, where even the smallest details - like the selector switch - feel like a revelation in quality and precision.

The Studio Elite models are the pinnacle of James Tyler Guitars' offerings, incorporating years of feedback from some of the most respected studio and live musicians in the world. These guitars are designed with both form and function in mind, making them the ultimate electric guitar for professionals. Whether you're recording in the studio or performing on stage, the Studio Elite delivers uncompromising sound and performance.

The Studio Elite HD sets itself apart in this range by getting back to basics - whilst looking far from it, thanks to the Tuckerberry Shmear matte finish. This Shmear finish is like a guitar fingerprint with no 2 looking the same!

Body: The Studio Elite HD is crafted from solid alder, a tonewood known for its balanced tonal response and light weight. This gives the guitar a lively resonance and a clear, punchy sound.

Neck and Fretboard: The neck is made from quartersawn maple, paired with an Indian rosewood fretboard. This combination provides exceptional stability, smooth playability, and a warm, rich tonal character. Featuring a comfortable Standard neck, this guitar feels amazing to play on with a 1959 Oval neck shape measuring .845" at the 1st fret and .975" at 12th. A 10"-12" compound radius helps to keep chords easy to fret on the lower frets and stops bends fretting out on the higher frets. Paired with a 1 5/8" nut width for a familiar feel.

Pickups: The guitar features an HSS (Humbucker-Single-Single) configuration with JTS5500 pickups in the neck and middle positions, and a Secret humbucker in the bridge. The JTS5500 pickups utilise Alnico 5 magnets and offer more attack, chime, and power than traditional single-coil pickups, making them full, balanced, and responsive across the tonal spectrum. The Secret humbucker in the bridge provides a medium output with low end thump and an articulate upper midrange that allows the high strings to stand out.

Electronics: The control system features a 5-way blade switch, master volume, midboost preamp, and master tone controls. The active midboost preamp is a high gain/low impedance circuit that gives you lower lows and higher highs with a 2dB volume increase - on top of this, you can utilise the midboost control to increase the mids and output further. This preamp can be bypassed easily with the touch of a button for passive tones or added in to give some extra "oomf" at the perfect moments. The second button is to add both the neck and (coil-split) bridge pickups to your sound, no matter what position your pickup selector is in, for an ultimately versatile switching setup.

Bridge and Hardware: The Studio Elite HD is equipped with a Gotoh two-post tremolo with James Tyler branded bent steel saddles, offering excellent tuning stability and smooth performance. Locking Hipshot tuners add to the guitar's reliability, ensuring that it stays in tune even during heavy playing sessions.

Case: The guitar comes with a Tyler Signature Hardshell Case, providing premium protection and durability.

James Tyler guitars offer an exceptional experience in every aspect. Even the selector switch is a joy to use! Once you hold one, you'll instantly recognise the sheer quality and craftsmanship. Tyler's distinctive design make the Studio Elite HD a guitar that is as visually striking as it is sonically powerful. Whether you're a studio professional or a live performer, this guitar can handle anything from smooth clean tones to high-gain distortion with ease.