I’ve been playing guitars for around 19 years. In that time I’ve learned what I like, and don’t like in a guitar – the result of buying and selling a great many guitars. I’ve never ordered a custom guitar, built to my exacting specifications before, so there was some trepidation when I took those steps back in February after selling off my guitar collection.

It wasn’t that difficult really. The best guitar I’ve ever owned was a James Tyler Studio Elite HD. Jim builds these guitars in his Custom Shop in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. He builds them to order, it just happens that the one I originally owned was a dealer order, and there were a few things I didn’t like about mine, specifically the body wood, the bridge saddles, and the lack of a midboost-bypass button. So, naturally I went to him with my own custom order. What makes a Tyler special is the neck – it’s a nice fat thing that fits the hand perfectly, and they have these kinda scalloped edges to the fingerboard, to make it feel worn in. They also sound really thick and fat, with plenty of that elusive Mojo.

Spec’ing out the guitar was relatively easy. I chatted to Paul at Tyler Guitars for 10 mins and got the basic order down, then had several emails with Jim Tyler himself, finalising the details. Then processed the order through Steve of Tyler Guitars UK / GuitarGuitar. The basic spec is as follows: Studio Elite HD, Solid Alder Body, Maple Neck with Rosewood Fingerboard and a Std ‘59 Neck Carve, Hipshot Tuners, Hipshot Saddles, Gotoh 510 Bridge, Mid-Boost with Bypass, Nickel Covered Tyler Supercharged Studebaker Humbucker, white 2Hot Single Coils, and Pearl White Pickguard.

In terms of finish, I was initially a little unsure. I really wanted the Antarctic Mint Shmear, which is a really nice white finish with streaks of grey and blue through it. Unfortunately it was discontinued, so with no other strong preference I settled on a Hazmat Shmear.

So the order was placed in February. Since then, there’s nothing I’ve wanted to change on the order, except the colour. I just wasn’t happy with it, but nothing was really jumping out at me as an alternative. Then last month, Flint over on Huge Racks Inc showed off his new Tyler Mongoose with a one off custom finish, a Glossy Orange Shmear. Now that was something very special. So I had a chat with Jim, and he was happy to do that same colour on my Studio Elite which is nearing completion, pointing out that mine will be the first Orange Shmear Studio Elite. I’ve since had word from Tyler Guitars that it’s looking beautiful, so the anticipation is building – even though it’s still a few weeks from completion.

Tyler Guitars are simply the best playing and sounding guitars money can buy. They fit me like a glove. The fact that mine is coming in a very unique finish only adds to the excitement.