• Model: Studio Elite HD
• Serial Number: 24686
• Finish: Antarctic Shmear
• Finish Type: Matte
• Body: Alder
• Neck: Quarter-Sawn Maple
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Neck Profile: Thin
• Nut Width: 1 5/8"
• Frets: Wide / Tall
• Side Markers: Blue Luminlay
• Headstock: Faux Matching Neck
• Headstock Logo: Silver Explogo
• Pickup Configuration: HSS
• Neck Pickup: James Tyler HCS-JTS5500, White
• Middle Pickup: James Tyler HCS-JTS5500, White
• Bridge Pickup: James Tyler Shark Humbucker, White
• Pickguard: White Pearl
• Controls: Volume / Boost / Tone
• Switching: 5-Way Pickup Selector
• Electronics: James Tyler Midboost Preamp
• Preamp Bypass: Yes
• Series / Parallel Switching: Yes
• Midboost Battery Compartment: Yes
• Bridge: James Tyler G2TS Tremolo
• Tuners: Hipshot Locking
• Hardware: Chrome
• Knobs: Dome
• Strings: .010 Gauge
• Weight: 7 lb 14 oz
• Factory Completion Date: 24 December 2024
• Country: USA
• Year: 2025

This is a spectacular Studio Elite HD and one of the most instantly recognisable kinds of guitar James Tyler produces. The Antarctic Shmear finish has a wonderfully chaotic, almost frozen appearance, with the white pearl pickguard and matching white pickups keeping the whole guitar looking bright and cohesive. The matte finish gives it a slightly more understated texture than Tyler’s gloss Shmear builds, while the maple board adds to the crisp, modern aesthetic.

The specification is built firmly around versatility. A quarter-sawn maple neck with Tyler’s Thin profile and wide/tall frets gives it a fast, precise playing feel, while the HSS setup pairs HCS-JTS5500 single-coils with the more powerful Shark bridge humbucker. This gives the guitar plenty of traditional S-style clarity in the neck and middle positions while retaining the extra authority needed for heavier rhythm and lead work.

Tyler’s electronics are a major part of the appeal, with the onboard Midboost preamp, bypass facility and series/parallel switching dramatically expanding what can be achieved from the familiar HSS layout. At 7 lb 14 oz it is also a nicely manageable weight for such a fully equipped instrument. A superb high-end USA build with unmistakable James Tyler character and a genuinely useful professional specification.

Mint condition. Presents exceptionally well overall with no noteworthy marks, fret wear or signs of use to mention. Supplied with its original case, factory order documentation and associated paperwork.

https://www.youtube.com/@squealingpigguitars