Tyler LA Studio Classic—Pre-Owned

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

This particular pre-owned Tyler comes with a very interesting story.

I originally ordered this guitar from Jim in 2003 for my personal use. It was my usual Tyler custom request: lightweight alder with Jim hand shaping the neck and rolling the fingerboard edges as only he can. I asked Jim if he had a lightly figured piece of birdseye maple to make the neck, and he said he had a really nice stash to select from. For a body, I chose the LA Studio Classic design, which is basically his classic model with added mid boost and bypass button electronics.

Every time I get a new guitar for my use, I like to experiment a bit, so Jim suggested I put a tele style pickup in the bridge. It turned out to be a great choice, one I love and have since done again. Everything was cool.

When it came time to choose a color, Jim suggested one I had never had on a guitar before: Burgundy Mist.

So I get the guitar and it was just killer. I called Jim and told him it was one of those extra special Tylers he had made for me and he agreed. Very soulful and organic sounding and feeling, and it had all the versatility I needed for doing sessions.

But I have to tell you as time went on I found that I just couldn't bond with the color. I have no idea why. It’s really a cool color. Burgundy Mist just wasn't me!

So 3 years after I got it I traded it for something else. (I’ve forgotten what for, to tell you the truth).  But like every great guitar I’ve ever owned, I never stopped thinking about the Tyler. It just played and sounded at the highest level. After 6 months had gone by I knew I had made a horrible mistake so I got the courage to tell Jim I had traded it He was surprised I had let the guitar go because of the color and then said something to me that I remember to this day

"You know Craig, It takes a real man to stand behind a burgundy mist guitar." In one fell swoop he just chopped them off!

Cut to a month ago. I now own this cool guitar shop and a client comes in with a case and wants to do a trade for a Collings 290. I opened the case he brought in and lo and behold there is MY BURGUNDY MIST TYLER in close to perfect condition. I had Rick Mullen set her up and clean her up and get ready for the dance. Just like I remembered, this is one great vibey guitar! And because it's so good I'd love to share this instrument with the world. So here it is for sale. Just don't forget what Jim said: "It takes a real man to stand behind a Burgundy Mist guitar" Are you man (or woman) enough? If so, this is one special guitar.

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.