James Tyler - The Black Classic

Based on a legendary classic, the James Tyler Classic S style is a master's vision of what this style guitar could and should be.

One of our best selling instruments, the Tyler Black Classic is now a mainstay at CR Guitars. So even though my POV that follows has appeared before rest assured this is a new listing - that's because we can barely keep one of these in the shop!

It's like Christmas every time I get a new guitar in from James Tyler. Yes, an absolutely fantastic Tyler has arrived at the shop. This particular beauty is one of my favorite looks: A beautiful black finish and a classic tortoiseshell pickguard. This one means business.

It has one of Tyler’s great '59 necks. I just love them. The size and profile are spot on, and Tyler's unique way of rolling the fingerboard edges just adds to the playing experience. And as ever, the fret work is perfect, and the fingerboard plays like glass.

Through an obsessive attention to detail, Jim has become a master of the complete guitar. What I mean by that is that this instrument is a true player’s instrument. It just feels like everything is exactly right. For those of you not familiar with Tyler's history, the Black Classic was originally called the "Mike Landau" model because of Mike's contribution to its design and esthetic.

I've said it before, but I think it's always worth mentioning that Tyler’s pickups are hand made in his shop, and his single coils have a sound that many other pickup winders would love to emulate. It's classic. Jim has spent much of his illustrious career making guitars for, and learning from the input of, extremely demanding LA studio musicians. It stands to reason that when you build for some of the best guitarists in the world, (trust me, those L.A. guys are the real deal), you have to become one of the best makers. Jim stepped up to that plate years ago and and as the years have progressed, he just keeps refining that magic Tyler recipe.

I particularly like the bridge pickup, a ‘Secret’ model that really shines. It's rooted in the essence of the traditional sound, but somehow delivers (and I can't think of a better way to put this) more of it. More goodness. More sound. You get the idea.

This beauty is a player's dream, with incredible sonic consistency and a simply fantastic feel. Tyler’s reputation speaks for itself, and I can’t imagine any guitarist not falling in love with this guitar and finding music and inspiration from deep in their imagination.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT TYLER GUITARS
James Tyler has had a guitar in his hand almost every day since he first picked one up the summer after seventh grade, in 1964. In college, Jim studied Architecture, Design, Music, Photography and for a couple years, Theology. He paid his way through these years of collage doing guitar repair work at local guitar stores, and as a factory trained auto mechanic for Alfa Romeo, Lancia, BMW and Fiat. Later into the 1970’s, he got connected with the guys at Norman’s Rare Guitars in the San Fernando Valley, and became their main repair and restoration guy. Jim’s abilities continued to expand and soon he had enough experience and reputation that he opened his first repair shop in Reseda, CA in 1980. Since then its been a whirlwind of successes, including being chosen to be displayed among the great California guitar companies such as Fender, Rickenbacker, Mosrite and Charvel in the Museum of California's exhibit The Ultimate Guitar Show and building for artists such as Michael Landau, David Williams, Steve Lukather, Michael Anthony, and Dan Huff. James' design shapes and various ground breaking guitar finishes and most recently his line of pickups have virtually transformed the guitar building industry.