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Tyler Guitars USA 250 Limited Studio Elite HDX – Red, White & Blue Shmear
Information
Brand New w/ Warranty*. We are an authorized Tyler Dealer. *Warranty only available for James Tyler Guitar purchases made in the US. The Tyler Factory Warranty does not extend to overseas purchases.
Like what you see? All photos are of the exact instrument you will receive.
Either you know or you don’t… We are so very excited to let YOU know, Guitars To Be Played is an official James Tyler dealer! Tyler has been amongst the crème de la crème of boutique guitar builders since the start. Best known for their flagship Studio Elite model and wild ‘shmear' finishes, Tyler Guitars has always made their own rules. For years they have pushed the limits of boutique guitar design and innovation. Whether you are looking for a ‘back to basics’ Classic, a decked-out Studio Elite with all the bells and whistles, or an Ultimate Weapon for total sonic destruction, give us a call to spec out your dream Tyer!
What Does Cam Think?
Ever since my early days on guitar forums, I’ve been fascinated with Tyler Guitars. They had that aura of the unobtainable, and in a way, they still do. But I’m here to tell you, they absolutely live up to the legend I created for them in my head.
The first guitar we received as a dealer is the Limited-Edition USA 250th Anniversary Studio Elite HDX. This is a great model with most of the bells and whistles of the full-on Studio Elite, including the mid-boost circuit, Add Neck/ Bridge switch, and a Series/ Parallel button for the bridge humbucker. Rounding this out with a 5-way pickup selector, master tone and master volume knobs, and you have a guitar that does just about anything!
Visually, this thing is stunning. The finish is a matte/ satin over a Red, White, and Blue Shmear finish. The Tyler Shmear is a multi-layered paint job with so much dimension and nuance. There is even a layer of silver which adds immense depth.
This Tyler features the signature slanted HSS pickup setup, arguably the most iconic Tyler pickup configuration. The ‘Secret’ bridge humbucker is a medium output pickup. It has nice articulation but is still plenty fat. Output wise, it’s right in the middle as compared to the other Tyler humbuckers. The JTS5500 singles are nice and juicy with plenty of glass. They are Alnico 5 and have a healthy amount of output, which balances well with the ‘Secret’ in the bridge. They work great clean or dirty!
The midboost circuit is a thing of magic. You can use it in many different ways. The secret sauce is engaging it without even touching the boost volume. Just having it in the circuit adds a bit of glass to the high end and a bit more in the midrange. Of course, you can play with the boost volume to add midrange and output to your sound. This is a great tool in the studio. Adding the neck and bridge to the middle position, especially with the bridge pickup in parallel, is the ultimate funky ‘80s tone (think ‘Billie Jean’ by MJ). And the bridge pickup’s ‘series/ parallel’ option is great for getting single coil tones without sacrificing volume and balance. Rounding this out is a master volume, master tone, and classic 5-way selector. The middle pickup is RWRP, so positions 2 and 4 are hum cancelling.
The 2-point trem is buttery smooth and stays in tune great. It is set up to float, so there is bit of pull-up available on the bar. It’s one of my favorite trem sytems, and this is coming from a Floyd Rose guy!
As a Tyler owner, I was very happy about bringing them on in our shop. Well, our first one did not disappoint, and I am so excited about what else we have coming down the pipe!
How Does It Play?
The string action sits at a little over 4/64” on the low E string and right at 4/64” on the high E string, measured at the 12th fret. Tyler’s Standard ’64 neck shape is decently chunky, but totally manageable. It is finished in a satin clear that is silky smooth. The wide/ tall frets make bends and playing effortless.
Weight: 7lbs 10.1oz
The G&G custom hard case pictured is included!
Specifications
Body: Alder
Bridge: Gotoh G2TS with Tyler Saddles
Pickups: Super Humbucker and JTS5500 Single Coils
Tuners: Hipshot Locking
Inlay: Pearloid Dot
Radius: 10”-12” Compound
Scale Length: 25.5”
Neck: Quartersawn Maple
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood
Frets: 22
Fretwire: Wide/ Tall
Nut: 1 5/8”
Neck Profile: Standard ‘64
Hardware: Chrome
Knobs: Dome Knobs with Custom Switch Tip
Finish: Matte Red, White, Blue Shmear
Pickguard: N/A (rear-route)
Headstock: Matching Faux
Logo: Declaration and BIABA logo in red, white, and blue
Electronic: Master Volume, Master Tone, Midboost Level, 5-way switch, Midboost on/off, Add Neck/ Bridge, Bridge Series/ Parallel
Strings: 10 gauge
Tuning: E standard
Case: G&G Custom Tyler Signature Hardshell Case