James Tyler Guitars | Studio Elite HD - Alien Guano

Earlier on in the year James Tyler did a custom guitar for Jim Root - you can see him playing it on his Instagram channel. We ordered this based on that model, with a few tweaks such as having Tyler pickups rather than EMGs and an Indian rosewood fingerboard instead of Brazilian rosewood . Tyler must have been pleased with how it came out as they just posted it on their Instagram, a few hours prior to me writing this.  

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 Alien Guano finish and matching headstock.

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 Fingerboard. This combination provides exceptional stability, smooth playability, and a punchy, articulate tonal character. Featuring a comfortable "Thin" neck, this guitar feels amazing to play on with a 1959 Oval neck shape measuring .825" at the 1st fret and .950" 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 a dual humbucker configuration with a California Special in the bridge and a Retro humbucker in the neck. The California Special bridge humbucker delivers a chunky, punchy tone with rich low mids, a balanced upper midrange, and a deep, powerful voice, offering strong attack, great sustain, and the clarity of Alnico 5 magnets. The Retro humbucker in the neck provides a Vintage PAF output with a nice top end that's not too bright. It sounds super creamy when overdriven, with excellent articulation.

Electronics: The control system features a 3-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. 

Bridge and Hardware: The Studio Elite HD is equipped with a Floyd Rose locking tremolo, offering unparalleled tuning stability and smooth performance. Hipshot tuners add to the guitar's reliability, ensuring easy and accurate tuning with a classy open gear look.

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 makes 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.